Loews plexiglass for templates - thanks
 

A Board member awhile back told us that some of the Loews would cut plexiglass into the size templates we wanted. I can't recall who it was - but, a big thank you to her from me.

My son was going to one in Upstate NY and I asked him to get me two 8 1/2" squares, which he did. He had to purchase a large piece of plexiglass for $24. The squares' edges were very rough and required alot of sandpapering.
Several weeks later I went back with the remaining piece and had 7", 7 1/2" and 9 1/2" squares cut. This time the edges were smooth. Art, the Loews' employee, said to be sure to have each side cut in both directions to get the smooth edges.

Thanks for the info!

Oh, that is good to know. We learn the best things on here. Everyone is so willing to give us good tips. Thanks

Double check to make sure that it is exactly the size you think it is!

I did; they are.
Art was fastidious

Good - some people are more careful - and caring - than others.

My husband has made several of these rulers and templates for me, also. I love them. I have a question, though. Someone on the board suggested putting Visigrid on the rulers to make measuring easier. I did purchase the Visigrid but how do you attach this grid to the ruler?? Thanks for the information. :)

It "sticks" by itself! Just measure the Visigrid to fit, cut and smooth it onto the ruler with your hand.

Thank you, Sunnye, I will give this a try. :)

I had templates made in the sizes I frequently use - then I drew diagonal lines on them -

These work great for squaring up HST units. Don't have to 'think' when using these - except for making sure one is using the correct size.

I have a piece of flexiglass that my father gave me before we moved to Texas. We live a couple hours away from a city with a lowes....I always forget to take it with me and have it cut. Thanks for the reminder.

I have had mine done at a local glass shop. Bob, my ruler guy, is fastinated with the quilting stuff I show him. I give him the magazine photo or template that I need, he cuts and when I have a block or two done I pop in and show him "our" work. Gotta love a man who wants to see what we've done...

You are lucky
Our Lowe's won't do that for me.
They said take it home and cut it yourself.

That's what I used to do. He was terrific on straight edges, not so hot on curves. Went out of business so I had been using large rulers that I marked to the sizes I needed. A nuisance and I never quite got the blocks accurate. Hurray for the Board member who told us and to the Loews who'll do them.
The stores who say no, in likelihood don't have the machine that does it.

My son works for Lowes corp in customer service and he said if you call corp and complement the rep who helped you, they get REWARDED. Just a head up! Just say the location of store and follow the lead with the cust service rep. Sorry on way to work and dont have phone #. bye

Good to know - how nice it would be if we could all follow up for the employees that have helped us along the way...

My quilting teacher said to go to an Ace Hardware store for a 6 inch piece of plexiglass, which they would cut from scraps. I was fussy cutting some fabric for a quilt and not sure if I would use one again. After buying templates that cost a lot, I visited my Ace store, got a 6 inch piece of plexiglass cut, and went home. It was accurate and cost 25 cents! It was the thicker plexiglass as well and the edges were smooth. I did draw diagonals on it so I could find the center. So try Ace, they were great!

To make the templates- scan your designs and print out on plain paper to check printing size. If OK, print on a sheet "Avery ink jet Removable full sheet labels". Rough cut out the designs, peel off backing and apply to plexiglass, then cut out online and smooth edges. Leave printout on glass and label pieces.

Just to let you Ladies know you can take your sewing machine to a glass place that does windows and other things and they will measure your machine to make a table to fit.That is if you have a machine that you can slide the part off for doing himming and pant legs.Call ahead and ask if they carry plexi glass and what you need to be cut.The guy here in casa grande even drilled holes for the little legs we put on it.We then bought rubber feet that you put on the bottom of chairs to stop the legs from moving. I paid I think $35 instead of the $180 to buy from a sewing center or on line.I saw a sight for a plexi glass table for a feather weight.Hadent thought about one for it but im now going to get one made for it also.The guy who cut it for me even decided to make it longer than I thought i needed because he said it would hold more fabric on the left side of machine.Im glad he did.When he drilled the holes for the legs he made it so the screws would go deeper in the plexi glass so my fabric wouldnt catch on the screws. Have a great day.

Dawnmarie, thanks for the portable table idea. I've enjoyed reading all these tips. Thanks to all of you who contributed.

My son is an architect, so he got me some plexi glass, and on his computer he has a program where he puts in all the sizes i want and the markings on the ruler and the machine cuts and marks, how neat is that, i guess all that college education finally paid off a little. Makes me happy

you can go to a glass shop and they might cut them from scraps cheaper

Good to know,thanks