Does anyone make their own templates (out of template plastic)? You can buy it at Joann's etc.. what Im curious about is does anyone have one of those stencil/template cutter things, kinda looks like a soldering iron..and if you have one, how do you like it? simple to use??

I've made my own templates.

If they have straight edges, I use my rotary cutter and ruler to cut them.

If they have curved edges, I cut them out with a scissors.

Don't have a template cutter, so can't offer any comments about them.

you do better with an exacto knife!

I make my own using either rotary cutter, scissors, or exacto. Often thought of the template cutting tool but never took the plunge to try one.

I have had my template/stencil tool for close to 30 years. In that time, it has been wonderful to make special/one of a kind stencils for friends and families. It has allowed to create unique designs that can't be purchased. I don't use it as much now as I have in the past but it has been well worth the investment and doesn't owe me a dime should it quit.

Do you use your rotary cutter with the templates you make? I find they are thin and dangerous to use with the rotary. Any advice would be appreciated!

Thats great. Im going to keep my eye peeled for a good price on one. I wonder if harbor freight might have one.. will have to check that out.

I use my stencil tool all the time. I also have the Clover iron with interchangeable tips and it has a stencil tip also. I use a picture frame with the glass in it and lay the plastic on top when cutting the stencil. Keeps me from burning something accidentally!

I use my stencil cutting tool and it works wonderfully. Great for making quilting stencils. I always put glass underneath it when I'm using it. I use it for stencils when I'm making them for stencil painting also.

Do you use your rotary cutter with the templates you make? I find they are thin and dangerous to use with the rotary. Any advice would be appreciated!

no you do not use your templates like they are a ruler--you are right that would be very dangerous!
you can place the template then put your ruler over it and cut- or you can trace around it (normal template use) then line your ruler up on the lines and cut- or trace around your template and use scissors to cut out your pieces.

I've been using the plastic from cat litter containers to make curved templates, and I'm using old (used to be for fabric) scissors. Nearly free! :D

I use my rotary cutter to cut around the templates - I usually manage to avoid cutting them. My technique is probably a bit different than when I'm cutting against a "regular" 1/8 thick acrylic ruler.

I don't quite get the "dangerous" part of cutting around a thin plastic template - other than to avoid slicing off part of it.

Okay - I got it! The difference is cutting AROUND as compared to cutting AGAINST!

Works for me, anyway.

I tried cutting the template plastic with x-acto knives. That didn't work out very well for me. Maybe I needed different blade(s) than the one I have.

REAlly?? I have one of those irons, will be looking for the tip now! THANK YOU!!

How expensive is template plastic? I haven't gone looking for it yet.
What is the least exspensive way some of you have made a template?
This first quilt will be a simple applique of my own making on simple square blocks.

Dollarama has a set of two boot inserts...to hold high boots in shape... that are just the right thickness of plastic for templates. Two pieces about 12" x 16" for $1.25. I just cut them with my rotary cutter or with my old pair of (ex) fabric scissors.

If you are making appliques out of solid fabrics or all over designs and do not need to be able to see through the template inorder to fussy cut your fabric, your cheapest template is cardboard. If you need to see through it, almost anything stronger than paper that is transparent will work.If you're making templates that are not one quilt only, but ones that you want to use over and over, then real template material is probably the best and it is so easily cut, doesn't turn yellow with age and won't curl when stored flat. Unless you are making a lot, a sheet of template plastic is not prohibitive in price. You can also use plastic carpet protectors, the ones that are sold by the yard at Home Depot. However, they have a texture that may be hard for some to compensate for.

You need to score with the xacto a couple of times and then just break the plastic on the score line. I ususally cut the template out with scissors, though. But that probably doesn't give you a perfectly straight line like using your acrylic ruler with the xacto.

I use one of the burning stencil tools to make the stencils for quilting motifs, but not for making templates for quilt block pieces.

Stencil cutting pen at Connecting Threads: http://www.connectingthreads.com/too...L60050118.html.

I love it!! For me it's much easier than an X-acto knife....perhaps not quite as precise but for quilting designs, usually just the general placement is all you need to keep the design evenly spaced.