Techniques & Blocks

Applique tools you'll love

by Karen Johnson

What tools?! I'll include Perfect Circles by Karen Kay Buckley, Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter and how to make bias stems using Bias Pressing Bars.

Interview. When I think of appliqué, I think of Karen Kay Buckley. I had the pleasure of meeting her last summer at the Long Beach Quilt Festival, where I took her appliqué class. We've stayed in contact, so here's our interview, for your appliqué pleasure.

Perfect Circles®

I've been using these circle templates for years and love them. They are on my all time favorite list of must have tools! They are designed by Karen Kay Buckley and come in two different size packs. For those of you that follow my blog, you might remember I recently volunteered to make a twin size quilt that had approx 80 circles to appliqué. I didn't even hesitate because I knew I could use these templates to make the job go fast! Here's my video demo:

 

Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter. If you love circles like I love circles, then you need this tool. Cutting circles can be tedious with scissors, and it's challenging to be precise. This handy little rotary cutter will help you whip out circles fast and perfect every time. Judy joins me here to demo how it works:

 

Bias Pressing Bars. A common theme in appliqué is flowers. And flowers have stems. And stems are narrow....and tedious. But with Bias Pressing Bars, you can make skinny little stems without the cursing. Here's my demo:

 

 

Perfect Circles

Olfa Rotary Circle Cutter

Bias Bars