How to make plastic templates
08-05-2010, 09:51 PM
#21
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Canton, Ohio
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Originally Posted by AbbyQuilts
Originally Posted by Chele
Never thought about those plastic folders for templates. Great idea! My kids bring used ones home from schools every year. Now I know how to recycle them.
Do try rotary cutting and quilt rulers if you get a chance. Most quilting templates are made just for odd shapes. Plastic folders would be great. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much time and energy you save using a rotary cutter and quilter's ruler. No templates, seam allowance or scissors necessary. And the precision cutting really helps in your piecing. You can still draw a stitching line if you're hand sewing or haven't mastered that quarter-inch.
Do try rotary cutting and quilt rulers if you get a chance. Most quilting templates are made just for odd shapes. Plastic folders would be great. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much time and energy you save using a rotary cutter and quilter's ruler. No templates, seam allowance or scissors necessary. And the precision cutting really helps in your piecing. You can still draw a stitching line if you're hand sewing or haven't mastered that quarter-inch.
I am just doing the templates for the farmer's wife quilt as that is what was provided for the book. I think someone is doing rotary cutting directions but I chose to do it this way for this quilt. Once you get all the templates made like for the farmer's wife there was 106 templates. Its not so bad as we are only doing 2 blocks a week so the time thing isn't a factor.
This is my slow down and enjoy the roses quilt.
I think that we have become so rotary cutting only that some people dont know how to do templates. This was how I started out in quilting so when some quilters were asking how I thought I would do a tutorial on it.
08-05-2010, 10:12 PM
#22
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Monroeville, PA
Posts: 547
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
OOPS! OK, now that I understand the concept forgive me for butting in. Your directions are just right the way they are without me putting my two cents in. Great job and thanks for sharing an alternative way of doing things.
I dont mind at all when people butt in hehe.
If I was doing a tutorial because I thought that templates were the only way and had not tried rotary cutting then your hints and others would be spot on.
Thats how we all learn sharing and being there. Otherwise we would all still be quilting with only a needle and nothing else. (some still do including me but now its a personal choice instead of the only way because we all learn form one another)
P.S we are nearly neighbors Hi from Pittsburgh!
08-06-2010, 07:11 AM
#23
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 611
THANK YOU!!! I hadn't been doing the dots, now I will.
Also, guys, remember to check that chart I made to see how many of each template you need. Theres a lot that you will only use once, so I am just printing those on heavy cardstock instead of "wasting" my plastic!
There are about 10-20 that you will want to make plastic, you will use them over 100 times!
Also, guys, remember to check that chart I made to see how many of each template you need. Theres a lot that you will only use once, so I am just printing those on heavy cardstock instead of "wasting" my plastic!
There are about 10-20 that you will want to make plastic, you will use them over 100 times!
08-07-2010, 06:42 AM
#25
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ suburb
Posts: 4,664
A suggestion -- when I am cutting straight edges on the template plastic, I use my plastic rulers and an exacto knife on the self-healing cutting mats -- works perfect, and you have super straight edges with no little snags on them.
08-07-2010, 07:00 AM
#26
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Palmerton, PA
Posts: 11
Originally Posted by AbbyQuilts
Originally Posted by quilterguy27
Great tute! Thanks for sharing. here's a helpful hint: maybe use a ruler so your lines are more accurate? Maybe use a rotary cutter so your cut lines are more accurate? It would have to be new and sharp and of course BE CAREFUL. What do you think? Just a suggestion, hope it helps. Not trying to infringe on your tute, but I thought It might help a bit.
I use a ruler on the only line that needs to be accurate and thats the sewing line. Also I use scissors instead of rotary cutter because you need something to cut against at least I do.
This is just a different way of cutting out fabric and I have tested it and it is very accurate. Thanks again
Also Donnajean I PM you about the fabric
08-07-2010, 08:17 AM
#28
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Somewhere inTexas
Posts: 968
Originally Posted by AbbyQuilts
13. Once your inside lines are drawn you can cut out the shape. Cutting on the outside line.
14.. And you are done
If you are hand sewing you sew from the inside line corner to corner.
If you are machine sewing I think you sew all the way to the edge I have not done it yet so someone here who has may be able to correct me on machine sewing them
14.. And you are done
If you are hand sewing you sew from the inside line corner to corner.
If you are machine sewing I think you sew all the way to the edge I have not done it yet so someone here who has may be able to correct me on machine sewing them
08-07-2010, 09:47 AM
#29
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lake Charles, LA
Posts: 1,330
Another source for template material -- I go to the Dollar store ("Everythings a Buck", "99 cents", etc.) In the kitchen department they usually have plastic "counter savers" -- flexible cutting matts for chopping food, etc. They are opaque, and come three to a package for $1. They're a good size, too. (Also good for purse and tote bag bottoms)
08-07-2010, 10:04 AM
#30
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: NY
Posts: 1,501
For the people who make lots of templates I wanted to tell you about my find... Sams has the plastic subject dividers that Abby used. It has 6 8packs for $10. So if I did my math right its like getting buy one get one free on the packets if you think about it. I don't think ill need that many but better to he safe then I have plenty for the kids to use or if I decide to do another quilt like this one.
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