How to Make a Circle Pattern Template
Stacy GrissomDescription
If you have ever tried to make your own pattern from a tutorial, you know that it can be a struggle without pattern pieces. Stacy Grissom shows us what she did in this situation, when she needed a 5-inch circle. Watch this quick tip on how you can create your own circle pattern – it may come in handy!
The other day I was making a pattern from a tutorial. And of course there were no pattern pieces. It said to you is a five inch plate or something round as my template. Well, my plates were seven inches and my bowls were six inches. And I couldn't find anything in the house that was five inches. So I had to figure out how to make my own template. So that I could make the project. So I used graph paper, and I went back to eighth and ninth grade math class. Made a dot, to be the middle from that dot, half of five is two and a half. So I went two and a half and I made the little mark. And then, just keep doing that all the way around, little marks, two and a half inches, right from middle of that dot. Not using my slider. I'm gonna get that out of the way, so I don't accidentally use it as my mark. Just keep going around where I can get two and a half inches. This way you don't have to hunt through the house. You don't have to buy fancy expensive templates. I would definitely keep all of my different circles and as I make them, mark them what they are, instead of I need to make them again in the future, I don't have to go through this process but it's not too time consuming. We've got all of my dots, but I'm just gonna kind of gently connect to them. And if you need to make more closer together that's perfectly fine. That one right there might need to checked a bit. Looks pretty good. Just connecting the dots. You were a kid it's felt like such a great artist when I would connect the dots and there'd be an amazing picture. And then when you're done, you can look at it and make sure everything looks okay that you don't have any wonky parts to your circle. Once you've got it, you can either cut it out or you can trace it onto pattern paper.
It is amazing the pattern maker could not find an easier way to make a 5" circle. I found plenty of 5" circles in my kitchen. Please do not send me anymore directions as silly as this is.
Why don't you use the little circle at the top of your ruler for the pivot point and then spin it around at 2 1/2 inches?
Not all of us do, but if you have a circle sewing attachment for your machine, simply set it for a 5 inch circle and stitch around once using tiny stitches. Remove it and you have a perfect circle. You can use the stitch line as a press under guide or cut it on the line, whichever you serves your purpose. Better yet, remove your needle (to prevent possible thread problems) and use it to make a 5-inch paper pattern. Just another idea.
Instead of marking a whole circle, the paper could be folded in quarters and reduce the number of markings AND ensure that the circumference was more consistent.
Eyes rolling...
That is one of the most inefficient and time consuming ways to make a circle template. For $2.00 one can purchase a protractor and compass to make all sorts of shapes and sizes
Doesn't she have a compass????
A compass would be much easier.
The metal ruler/point turner has a little hole at the zero inches mark - clearly visible in the video - especially for you to push a pin through into your paper pad and use as a pivot. The middle section of the metal ruler is hollow so you can insert the point of your pencil into it at the required measurement (just push your slider down at that measurement) and simply swing the ruler around the pivot point and draw your circle. That is what the little hole is for. This is precisely why I will NEVER join NSC - your instructors are total amateurs and I have yet to learn one solitary technique from NSC.
Why would you simply use a compass?