Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild

PIECED (Inset) CIRCLES

Due to popular demand from our Mon Nov 25, 2025 Skill Share, here are the instructions for pieced inset circles per technique from Susan Madu of Modern Blended Quilts.  We can't wait to see all of you circles at the next sew and share😉!

Modern Blended Quilts Inset Circles

Material required:

• Freezer paper

• One sheet of parchment paper 

• Glue stick

• Frame fabric

• Circle fabric

Make Template:

• To make a stiff template you will need two sheets of freezer paper of the same dimension.  Freezer paper should be at least 1.5” - 2” larger than the intended circle

• Trace or photocopy a circle template on the dull side of one sheet of freezer paper

• Layer in this order: parchment (bottom), blank freezer paper shiny side down, template freezer paper shiny side down

• Press to fuse, cool, and cut out the inner circle.

Attach Template to Frame Fabric:

• On an ironing surface, place frame fabric wrong side up.

• Position the template shiny side down and press to adhere.

Make the Circle Opening: 

• Cut out the circle opening, leaving a 3/8” seam allowance.

• Clip the seam allowance at 1⁄4” intervals, stopping 1/8” from the template.

• Working on a quarter of the opening at a time, fold and glue all the tabs onto the inside of the opening in the template.

• Center circle fabric right side down over opening and press to dry glue.

Sew the Inset Circle:

• Shorten stitch length to 2.0

• With fabric right side up, lift the frame fabric from the template and stitch just a smidgen beside the template. Do not backstitch but stitch a few stitches past the start. 

• Press on the right side.

• Trim circle fabric seam allowance to 1⁄4”. Working from the right side, gently release the tabs from the template.

• Press both sides. Trim block to desired size.