I would continue doing what I do, even though it sounds
silly. As for templates, I found a lot of thin plexiglass at a
yard sale, and cut double taped downloaded template patterns
on it, then cut them out with my scroll saw. Sanded the edges.
Now I don't have to pay from 6 to 15 or whatever dollars for them.
And I use almost anything for a template..cups, glasses, cardboard,
wooden yard sticks, plastic boxes, anything that looks like it would
make an interesting piece for a quilt.