Candy Circles Mini Quilt Tutorial with Lapel Stick

A few weeks ago, the folks at LAPEL STICK were looking for someone to try out their new product.

Free samples, um hello! I jumped on the chance 'cause I love a good freebie and things that make my life easier.

Now, let me tell you about this little stick. It works just like a glue stick but is non-toxic, washable and safe to use on fabric. It could not be easier.

I tried it out with a mini quilt I had in mind and it worked just great.

If you'd like to make a Candy Circles mini quilt using a Lapel Stick, here's how:

Supplies: a Lapel Stick, neutral fabric for the quilt top and bottom, colorful fabric for the circles, binding fabric, a rotary cutter, a circle cutter or circular template.

First, cut two 18 x 22 pieces of fabric for your quilt top and bottom. I used Kona Ash. You could certainly put something different on the back but as I knew this would be a wall hanging and no one would see the back, I opted for the same fabric on both sides.

Press all of your fabrics and set aside the top and bottom pieces.  Use your circle cutter and cut 2-3 circles in various sizes from your colorful fabrics.

My largest circle is 5.75" wide. The rest of the circles are random sizes.

After all of your circles are cut, press each one.

Now audition each circle on your quilt top. Try out different combos, see what looks best.  Switch them around and take pictures. Looking at a picture will help you see the layout more objectively.

Once you like what you see, pin the circles to the quilt top. This is temporary- just so you won't lose your layout.

Now, take your Lapel Stick and glue on the smaller circles to the larger circles.

Using a zigzag or blanket stitch, sew on the top circles.  No need to pin- the Lapel Stick holds the fabric in place.

Do yourself a FAVOR and leave LONG THREAD TAILS so you can pull them to the back for a more polished look.  (You can also backstitch instead.)

Repeat for all circles, gluing the smaller fabric circles to the larger ones then sewing them on to the larger circles.

Not to worry if a circle is not in the right place, you can pull it apart and reposition it.

Now, take a couple minutes to pull your thread tails to the back of the circles.

Use a straight pin and tie the threads in a knot.

Once they are all tied, apply some Lapel Stick to your large circles and position them on the quilt top.

You can now sew the circles on the quilt top. Again, NO PINS needed!

Leave long thread tails again, take care to pivot slowly around the circles, and leave your needle down as you turn your fabric.

After your circles are sewn on, pull your threads through to the back and tie them.

Then make your quilt sandwich and quilt it. I hand quilted mine with Perle cotton.

 Last, bind, wash, and wha-lah!

You have a great mini quilt that was fun and easy to do and required no pins!

If you make this mini quilt, I would love to see it. Please add it to the Ellison Lane Quilts Flickr group.




PS: Lapel Stick did not pay me for this tutorial. I just enjoyed using the product.