While cleaning out my craft room to get rid of things I no longer use and make room for the quilting things I am already beginning to aquire, I have found some foam core board. Has anyone ever used this to make templates? If so, how did it hold up? Thanks, for any answers.

I wouldn't use it for templates but I'd save it for storing fabric on. You cut it into mini bolt boards and wrap your fabric around it so it's nice and neat on a shelf.

I've not ever tried it for templates. Usually, I use the NON MELT template plastic sheets from Joannes or Clotilde. ASK ME HOW I KNOW I NEED THE NON-MELT KIND!!! lol.

For templates that I know I'm not going to iron around a whole lot, I cut up the plastic sheets from bacon, plastic margarine covers, anything stiff enough, but flexible.

The foam core board. Hum. Depending on which style it is, I can think of a few uses... like under my sewing machine or serger. 1 to raise it up just a bit higher so that I'm closer to my work on the machine bed if I'm going to be sewing intricate points or something. or 2. under the serger to cut down on the vibration/noise sergers make.

I suppose you could also pin block pieces to it, to try out placement of fabrics used, contrast, one-ways, etc. Just to see how the finished block will look best sewn together. Like a mini, on the table, display board.

You could cover it with scrap fabric and make yourself a pin board so you can pin up your quilt pattern/instructions for easy read as you go along. lol. I use a lucite cookbook/photo stand for this. Comes in so handy if my pattern is photo copied or torn out of a flimsy magazine or something.

But no, never tried foam core for templates. And I don't think I would.

Cut to fit purse bottoms if you are a bag maker. I tape a couple of bamboo kabob sticks to the foam core to keep the piece from bending once its installed in the purse. Works great and is very inexpensive if u get the foam core at the dollar store.

Oh yeah... another GREAT idea. The Polar Notions boards are a hard plastic but they are the best. (polarnotions). The other boards you see offered for sale, are usually foam core. After awhile/use, they tend to crease/bend and not work as well. IMHO. I ditched that system when I had the chance to goto 24" x 15" deep pantry cabinets with doors. (keeps the sun off, cuts down on the 'clutter look'.)

I fold my fabrics onto shelves. BUT I'll be the FIRST to say, that it's much easier to find and access your fabrics if they are stored on boards. (don't use the cardboard bolts from the fabric stores - they have acid in em, bleaches your fabrics out over time). Foam core would be great for 'bolting' up your fabrics.

BTW... LOVE your stash!

I bought a poster frame and used the acrylic part to make templates just taped clear tape where I was going to cut it worked pretty good I used Kitchen shears to cut it. Then I used a permanent marker to put the size on it or any lines I needed.

never thought to use it for bag bottoms... thanks

I absolutely love your fabric choices!

Thanks for all of your ideas--I won't be putting it in my donations box now.

Great suggestions!!

That is what I use to display my fabric on. I buy large sheets of the boards from the dollar store and cut them into whatever size I need depending on my fabric yardage. It works great!

The problem with using foam core boards to store fabric on is that they are not PH Nil - they are not acid free. They are however ok to use on purse bottoms (as long as you don't get them wet). I sue the flexible chopping mats (clear) from the dollar store to make templates out of.

Please don't use those to wrap fabric.

The "foam boards" are not acid free either. Search "Easy Cores" on this board when you're ready for storage boards that are about half the cost of polar notions boards.

My question has to do with the non acid free - does this mean if you store your fabric for years, or does it do something to the fabric when it is stored for shorter amounts of time? And then, what happens to the fabric? does it lose the color? Or does it become too weakened to use?