What materials do you use to cut out a quilting template?

Some people have used old x rays, if it's a template that you'll use a lot, I would see if there's a place in your town that manufactures or sells plexiglass, our grandmothers and before used cardboard, but that you have to keep remeasuring or at least you do if you use a rotary cutter. I just use the quilting rulers. Get them at Joann's with a 40% off coupon. They also have sales quite often at Joann's 40%-50% off cutting supplies. To me, the rulers are just so much more versatile.

I buy inexpensive plasit cutting mats fron The Dollar tree or places like that they seem to work fine and are about the same thickness as the heavy template material from Joanns. I found a place where I can get 2 for $1.00. Cool Deal!!

I photocopy the templates and then use a very lightweight laminate sheet over it. It was a technique taught by Linda Jenkins and works wonderful. That said, if I were going to do a large quilt, I plan to go down to the local glass shop and have them make me templates. They use a plexiglass, can make templates to exact sizes, and it isn't very expensive. I have several friends who have done this and they love it because the templates last forever. Hope that helps.

I use freezer paper. If it's a quilt with all the same blocks, I'll sometimes use plastic but I tend to make one block at a time so freezer paper works for me.

I use old X ray film. My daughter has access to it working in a hospital. It works great for me.

:roll: :roll: I just had a thought!!!!! Has anyone ever tried using old plastic place mats? Even if the edges are not sturdy enough to hold up to a rotary cutter I bet they would make good templates for pencil or chalk markings. They're thick enough and I think the rough side would hold fairly well to paper or fabric. What do you think?

I have thought about placemats. You could get quite a few from just one.

What a great idea. I never would have thought of that.