Make A Temporary Compass
For Drawing Circles

It is not possible to draw large circles with a drafting compass unless you have an extender bar.
Most of us don't purchase this add-on unless extensive drafting of designed blocks will justify the expense.
The other alternative is to purchase compass points which can be fitted onto a 12" x 1" ruler or a yardstick.
They aren't very expensive and provide a steady circular line.
I would recommend purchasing some kind of device for drawing large circles at some point in time.

But what if you need to draw one tonight?!
Here's a way to draw any size circle using something normally already on hand....Template Plastic.

Simply cut a strip 1" wide and a little longer than the radius of the circle needed.
Punch a hole in one end, which the point of a pencil can be placed through for marking.
I use a 1/16" paper punch. A large needle can also be used to puncture the plastic.
Place a pin or thumb tack on the other end...precisely the distance from the pencil hole which represents the radius of the circle.

Simple Compass

To draw a circle, stick the pin into your drawing surface, put a pencil in the hole and rotate around the pin 360 degrees.
The result...a perfect circle. Well, maybe not perfect enough to use for drafting blocks,
but certainly much more precise than using string tied to a pencil!

Circles of this type can be marked on poster board to make templates
for setting circular blocks into a background square.

By adding more pencil holes it's possible to create quilting designs such as the Baptist Fan.

Simple Compass

Using the same holes, concentric circles for quilting the bullseye type patterns
are produced when arcs are completely drawn all around.

Drawing arcs and circles this way doesn't require a large stencil and is very economical.
Also, your new tool is easily stored away for another project.

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Make A Temporary Compass For Drawing Circles

Make A Temporary Compass
For Drawing Circles