I cut a 4.5 inch square from template plastic
then I put 1/4 inch masking tape around the edges to "frame" the cutout
(or you could just mark a "seam line" on the template
cut your first piece
if you are OCD - you can cut your first square - then lay the cut square on the next "cutting site" - line up the pattern - and cut them one by one -
This is one place/time where I do think starching/sizing before cutting is worth the effort.