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A helpful Hint.

I just made some cutting pattern templates, that were generated from my Quilt-pro software for a Hollow Cube pattern. I have done this pattern before, but I used the paper templates that were generated to cut out the fabric. This was a problematic way of doing it, because if you strayed from the line of cutting, as shown on the small piece of paper you got a less than accurate template. This necessitated making multiple copies of the templates to account for the nicking of templates and rendering them not true to shape. I realized I could make some plastic templates that would allow the use of a rotary cutter with careless disregard to staying outside the line of the outside of the paper template by first cutting the paper template out to exact size, and then using spray adhesive and sticking the paper templates onto the piece of plastic, and then cutting out the shape to the desired dimensions of the outside line of the paper template. What I ended up with is a professional set of templates, out of plastic, that are useful over and over again. Just like commercially made templates. I got the plastic sheets from a local plastics manufacturer, who has lots of scraps and cut offs that arise from their own production, and they sell the stuff cheap. It comes in various thicknesses so there are plenty of types to choose from. If you have Quilting software, and the ability to generate cutting templates, and the use of a jig saw with a very fine tooth blade, you can cut the plastic and end up with a permanent set of templates, to use over and over for the same pattern. It all costs less than the purchase of a set of templates that you might buy from a kit. I may not be the first one to think of this approach, but I thought others might like to use the method, to their advantage.

John (Not to be confused with Helpful Hints from Heloise)

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John
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Well John, thank you for your idea. I need some templates for my machine quilting and this idea of yours will do the trick. I've checked into buying the templates but the price is out of my reach. You have solved that problem.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Reply to
Kate T.

Some times I have those DUH! moments. I have made templates for years for use in woodworking, but never thought of translating the idea over to quilting. Glad to have helped. I know it has helped me speed up the cutting of this hollow square pattern.

John

Reply to
John

Waaaayyy baaack when I first started quilting in the late 80s, I was able to come into possession of some clear faceshields used on the helmets of the oil refinery workers. They have made wonderful templates over the years, although I no longer have any left to make templates of.

G> I just made some cutting pattern templates, that were generated from

Reply to
Ginger in CA

For those unfortunate enough not to own a jigsaw, you can make acceptable plastic templates out of thinner plastic, the kind used on high-end report covers for example. Superglue the paper pattern to one layer, cut carefully using on old rotary blade, glue on a 2nd layer, and cut that. Let the glue dry before you cut.Add a 3rd layer if you want it thicker. Check against a control paper template to make sure it's accurate.

My supply of template plastic came from some company auditor's reports, slightly >I just made some cutting pattern templates, that were generated from

Reply to
Roberta

Since I mainly do hand-piecing I use stencils for templates. I have the plastic sheets with 1/4" grid all over, and cut holes, all exactly

1/2" apart, and have sheets covered with 2" holes, 1" holes, half- square triangles, quarter-square triangles, etc. I lay the stencil on the back of the fabric, take an ordinary pencil and trace the inside edges of the holes, and then cut them apart. The pencil marks are the seam lines, and the cutting doesn't have to be precise. I save the stencil sheets, of course, and have used several of them for various quilts. It's much easier and faster to run a pencil around a stencil hole than around the outside of a template, of course, and there is very little wasted fabric.

For templates for machine-piecing, I have several commercially-made sets of templates that are great, but they can get pretty expensive, so when I need something I don't already have I tend to make-do, and have used plastic from old Tupperwear lids, plastic margarine container lids, shampoo bottles, etc. My oddest template is actually a piece of plastic given away by Gates Learjet and is a sample of the fail-safe windshield! It is exactly 1" thick, and 2" by 4". If I'm in need of the oddball circle or oval now and then I just rummage around the kitchen and/or my desk, and have used mixing bowls, lids from all sorts of things in the pantry, pill bottle lids, those very small tin oval pill boxes, and table lighters. I have even used sample pieces of vinyl flooring. Whatever works . . .

Reply to
Mary

Vinyl flooring works great even with the rotary cutter. Around here they just throw the scraps in the garbage. Last time I went and asked if I could go through it they said no problem. Well there was actually a big enough piece I lined a four shelf bookcase with it and I'm sure will not need any for years to come. The bookcase is actually being used as a pantry shelf. But when we redid our bathroom I put the left over vinyl on the linen closet shelves so it matches the floor it looks great and was easy to do. Take Care Joanna Alberta

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Joanna

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Susan Laity Price

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