I bought this template and the woman told me at the FMG shop that i would have to cut out the center marks...ok...so I bought it. My husband said if I do that the template will fall apart...Yikes...has anyone used these to FMG with there machines?

you use a washable pen or pencil and trace the lines, I think you can use chalk too

You can draw it on your block with a pencil or use pounce pad to mark your quilt top, just make sure whatever you use is removable. then sew on the marks

has anyone had problems washing out washable markers or pens?

I use the chalk all the time and have no problems. If you do not wait to long, you can use an old tooth brush and just brush it a way. Good luck!

I trace onto tissue paper then pin it on and then sew on the lines. Then I just tear it away.

Thanks...this sounds like a good idea!

Your DH is right. I cant imagine someone saying to cut them out! I dont think I would be asking her anymore questions!

I would use a Pounce Puff - it is filled with chalk and comes out like using a powder puff. Place in place on your quilt, pounce it then quilt! The pattern is great - I like it.

Power puff...Looking that up now...thanks!

I would lay several layers of freezer paper (stapled together) over the template and trace the lines, then cut out. Use the center section as the template. Iron the freezer paper template on the quilt and FMQ around it. You can peel it off and use it again and again.

That woman was an idiot! The bridges have to stay. I use a blue washable marker with never a bad result. I will mark a red snippet of fabric or sometimes all of the fabrics (just a test snip) with the marker before I start piecing the quilt. After I am done piecing and am ready to mark, I will soak my test snips in COLD water. If all the marks come out, I know it is safe to use on the quilt. I always wash my quilts when I am done, so first I put the quilt in my washer and fill it with COLD water, agitate a bit, then spin. Now you can wash with detergent. If you just wash with detergent first without rinsing with cold water, you might set the marks.

You shouldn't need to cut out those lines, just use one of the methods mentioned above and then you just sew across the "gap" in the line! I'm glad your husband told you not to cut them out! That would've been frustrating to spend money on the stencil and follow directions just to find out that ruined the stencil!

Sorr double post

I think what she meant was that if you cut it out, you can then sew around the OUTSIDE of the pattern. I have done this with my own patterns, but I prefer to mark it on freezer paper, cut THAT out and iron it in place. You won't be unhappy if you nick the freezer paper with your needle, your pattern is still intact,

Cutting the stencil is insane! As someone else said, do not take any more quilting advice from her. Follow the advice previously given about using removable markers to mark the fabric, test it out on some scraps from your quilt and go from there.

QM , I like this idea, thanks.

This is what I do too. Much easier than messing with a template. That is how I do my sashes and borders. Just cut a strip the width of your sashing/borders, trace the quilting design, pin to the quilt and FMQ. Works well.

You have all been so helpful! Thank-you!!

does it leave bits of paper behind or tear clean? I'm struggling with marking my quits.

I had residual permanent blue marks left over from a quilt that took me months to quilt. First quilt and marked the entire quilt at once.....lesson learned, mark as you go, remove.

Your DH is right...if you remove those connectors you will have an empty hole.

With this template I would cut it all out. it would leave the outline of the inside (this is what you want on your quilt) Then just lay in place and trace the inside design onto the area you want to put the design on. I use the pens that are heat erasable. or the powder that irons away. on black I have used the white clover pen, it to removes easily. For FMQ this will not ruin this template as the design is the still intact.

if you use a design it is not FMQ..it is just simply Machine quilting..FMQ means to FREELY move around while quilting...

I prefer to use Golden threads paper for this style of Machine quilting!

I have used the washable markers 2 or 3 times. There have been a few times that I had to re-wet the marks a couple of times, because the marks started to reappear in some areas. But, after that it never came back.

Never thought about doing it that way. Thanks

Don't cut the stencil.Trace the design onto your quilt top before you make it into a sandwich.You join up the lines so that they are continuous.It is best to use chalk or water soluble pen to draw the design as graphite can often be hard to remove the marks.

I used a blue water disappearing marker on a quilt with a template like that. It never disappeared. Soooo very disappointed. I had to over quilt in that area to hide the light blue marks. Then scrub!!! to get off what I couldn't hide.
Be careful. I have been told to use a #2 pencil lightly and it will disappear in the washing of the quilt. Haven't tried it yet.

No don't cut it yes you can use chalk and yes I have had trouble washing out the marking pens!!

You can also use parchment paper. It tears off cleanly and doesn't leave fuzzies.

At our guild meeting a lady said to cut out shapes from shelf paper then put them in place, quilt around and then move to another place until the adhesive is gone. I think you would need to be careful not to stitch into the paper as it would be harder to remove.

i also have some of these templates but was unsure how to use it...thanks for the post, and the info...

That sounds like the best idea yet! And it would not shift out of position either.
That lady at your store must have meant to use the stencil in the same way, quilting around the outside edge. Although I would make a pattern off of the stencil and preserve the integrity of the original template.
I have trouble even getting chalk marks to go away and there is now way i would try the markers after reading all the negative comments about them.

I use these templates all the time. I assume you're going to use this template more than once on your quilt. Get some Golden Threads paper, sold by the roll at your LQS. Draw the design on one piece of the paper then use your pen or pencil to fill in the broken spaces so you have the full design. Count out how many times you will use this design on your quilt. Stack up enough pieces of paper for the design. If you will use it 10 times, cut out 9 pieces. Stack them up, design on top. Staple or pin around the edges to stabilize. On your machine, use a size 16 needle, drop the feed dogs, remove thread and bobbin. Stitch around the design, thereby punching holes along the design. (You can stack up to 14-15 sheets at one time.) When finished, undo the sheets and place them on the areas of your quilt where you have planned this design. Pin sufficiently to hold the paper in place. Change your needle back down to 12 or 14, thread your machine and start stitching along the design lines you have punched in the paper (feed dogs still down). Remember to start with one stitch to pull up your bottom thread to the top, do a few tiny stitches then start your regular free motion stitches until you get back to your starting point. Once finished, simply tear off the paper. As it's slightly heavier than tissue paper it tears very easily. I keep a pair of tweezers for corners. This is also a great way to do borders. I would suggest you try a sample piece first and see how easy it is.

I see why the clerk said to snip the 'bridges' as someone called them. She meant once you do that, then you can follow the design left behind which is the same design as when left as one piece with the 'bridges. Her way, you just don't have as much template in the way. This is the same as some of the templates I have used in the past for painting and you have to remove the inner plastic to get to the outer design.

However, I think it would be better to leave together and use powdered chalk and 'pounce' it on the design, lift, move pattern to next spot, etc. or use a washable marker.

I guess it is one of those things you have to see used to understand.

I use traceing paper all the time-just trace the design and sew on the lines. I have a friend that loves to tear the paper and so I let her. I am just a beginner quilter so I have trouble with FMQ.

I do this all the time. If the pattern isn't too big I also use the scanner the make copies onto light weight paper. Both ways work great.

Maybe she thought the quilter wanted to lay the template on the top for FMQ. Not that that would really work, but in that case, the tabs would have to be out.

Somebody recently introduced us to "Frixion" pens by Pilot. You trace with them then put the hot iron on it & it disappears.

I found a pkg. of 2 at Walgreen's for $2.99. I tried one on a practice fabric & it definitely works.
I also found a pkg. of about 6-8 in colors on line & I think they were $11.99. Didn't order them though for now. Not sure I'm remembering the price right though.

You can also use Crayola washable markers. I had a quilt marked for about a year, finally finished it. Washed it and the marker came right out. Still use them. They come in all sorts of colors that make it easy to use on all colors of fabric.

The lines make it a stencil. If you cut it apart, it becomes a template. Your choice. To use it as a stencil, you can use chalk pencil (ONLY WHITE OR GREY..ask me how I know!), purple markers, or pounce chalk. When I use pounce chalk, I put a small amt in a plastic cup and dip a disposable foam brush in it. Wipe across the stencil, checking now and then to see if I have enough. I found 'pouncing' produced a cloud of chalk dust. YUCK (this was not my idea. I got it from a Kimmy Brunner DVD) Mark it as a template the same, but no chalk.