DIY templates
#12
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If your template has straight sides like squares or rectangles, I go to Lowe’s and have them cut it for me out of their plexiglass. If it has curves, then I get my son to cut them out for me. It cost me about $1.50 to get a nice template that I use with my rotary cutter. I ask them to use their leftover plexiglass as my pieces are rarely larger than 10 x 10”.
#13
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I haven't heard of using linoleum before but if you know someone who lays tile you might ask for broken pieces of leftovers that they are going to discard. These wouldn't have the adhesive on the bottom. You might even stop by a house under construction and ask the contractors. Bet they would be glad to give you a few if they're using that.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 303
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I go to my local hardware, take them a pattern or tell them the size I want and they cut 1/8 inch plexi glass templates for me. I use a permanent marker to make an " X " thru the middle to easily determine the middle of my block. This would only work for basic circle, rectangle or square shapes and, of course, doesn't have any other accurate markings. The cost is usually under $5....less than commercial templates.
#15
Super Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: California, USA
Posts: 1,318
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Sorry my question was so broad. I was looking for a product with some thickness similar to my quilting rulers. I like the creative Grids patchwork templates for crazy quilts but I want to make scrappy 10” or 12” blocks and they don’t make templates that large. I heard about using linoleum but the top would be too slick and the bottom would have the black goop on it. I want to use my rotary cutter so I’ll look at the hardware or fabric store. Thanks.
Also took a class from a well-known quilt teacher (so well known that I can't think of her name at the moment, I need more coffee!) and she made templates out of the laminate plastic that you would glue onto a kitchen counter. She said that her husband cut them out with a jig-saw. They were well-made and I still have them 30 years later.
#17
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: California
Posts: 702
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We have a Tap Plastics near by so if I intend to use the pattern more than once I usually take my template pattern to them and have them make me an acrylic template ... usually fairly inexpensive ... If it is a one time use I use template plastic from Joann's or cardboard.
#18
Power Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 41,521
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If you can draw out the pattern pieces with the seam allowances on a piece of paper, you could get a couple of peel and stick 12 floor tiles from the $ store. Peel off the paper and stick your pattern pieces on it. You would need heavy duty scissors or an exacto knife to cut out the shapes along the seam allowances on your paper. This should give you your pattern pieces to use with your rotary cutter.
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08-20-2012 06:56 PM