Yes you can make your own stencils. You use a double blade knife (made by Olfa but no long manufactured) and a flexible plastic. check www.quiltingstencils.com You can make them with a single blade knif but the double is much faster and easier. The plastic is available by the foot and is about 18" wide. It is difficult to cut on stiffer plastic. I wrote an article for the Fon's and Porter Mag that included some instructions but The Stencil Co has a sheet that gives instructions.