Plastic template
 

Good morning! I have been looking at a pattern that requires plastic templates. How do I do that? Do I have to have a piece of plastic cut somewhere or can I make my own by using something else? Thank you for your suggestions.

You can use plastic cutting mats, or go to a fabric store like JAF or Hancock's or your local quilt shop. depends on what kind it is. You can make your own or buy them locally or online.

I use Mylar. You can purchase it in sheets from Joanns or Quilt Shops. You can also get it on line.

Depending on the type of template that you need (especially if you need to be able to SEE THRU the template) you can use cardboard from a cereal box, or buy template plastic from you LQS or an online store. I really must check my dollar store for cheap plastic kitchen cutting mats too.

The cheap cutting mats from the dollar store are what I see lots of folks suggesting lately. Depending on how much the templates are being used in the pattern (cut 1 piece or 20 pieces) you can even just use paper.

I save the plastic tops from boxes of greeting cards which are clear and stiff plastic and use it for templates and in making wallets where I want a see-thru pocket for my drivers license. Works great and didn't cost anything!

I use the heavy covers of brochures, like the thick glossy ones from car dealerships. You can't see through them, but the thick, slick paper works really well for me as a template. And is free!

The problem with the thinner plastics, used for templates, is that one mistake in cutting with a sharp blade and you have likely damaged your template. I find that using 3 to 4 mm plastic gives you a better edge to cut against and can be shaped with heavy kitchen shears. The heavier plastics are frequently semi-opaque but can still be seen through enough to get your template spot on. I have searched the internet and find the well know auction site to be a good resource, but you have to buy fairly large sheets and it is somewhat costly. However, I make a lot of templates and find it cost effective, less problematic and more precise.

It depends on if you are going to trace around the template with a pencil or use rotary cutter against your template. If you are going to trace with a pencil then the clear cutting mats from the $ store work well but you can use a cereal box cardboard, the lid from a margarine container, if it's big enough or sometimes the clear hard plastic packaging from a product. Here is a picture of the $ store mat.
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If you plan on cutting against your template with your rotary cutter, then some hardware stores will cut a simple shape for you from thick acrylic.

I usually buy sheets of plastic specially made for making templates. You can find them at QS and box stores. Some of the sheets have a ruler grid, usually by 1/8" so you know you are making your template exactly square.

You can use a sheet of sand paper and it wont move like plastic when you mark or cut around it.

If you are like me and like templates rather than using just rulers I have bought a lot on Missouri Star Quilt Co. in fact probably have 75% of hers and have used every one of them. If you google quilt templates lots of stuff will come up. I have the entire set of half hexie templates and the set of apple core and have done both in 2 diffrerent sizes.

I sometimes use the heavy plastic that is on the outside of binder type notebooks, or if I'm really lucky my next door neighbour sometimes cuts them from plexi glass for me.

You might want to check out youtube - to start you off this might help https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDMQyerht9E or


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E84zpv478ZE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWLGFzxj7Gc

You have been given a lot of good ideas. I use the plastic from Hobby Lobby and other places I buy quilting supplies. I still use some that was handed down from my DM that were cut from boxes from her kitchen and brown paper bags. She even had some cut from wax paper. I guess back in the 30's, 40's and 50's you had to use what was on hand.

great idea!

I try to stay away from any pattern that uses templates. If you use the Mylar at JAF, you have to be sure to draw and cut out the template accurately. You can't use a rotary cutter unless you are able to tape the template side to an acrylic ruler. Just not worth the effort for me. I don't miss the old days before acrylic rulers and rotary cutters.

Heres what I do. I have the plastic you can buy anywhere, for templates. I went to a business/ menards-Lowes, etc. I went and ask for a plain sheet of bathroom paneling. It a sheet 4 x 8 white, give or take 1/8'' in thickness. When I make the thin plastic template. I go out to my garage, and cut a peice of that paneling, a little bigger. And trim it down to what I need, when I go back inside. It works great for me. And everyone, else that have mentioned what they do, are great suggestions, also

What a lot of great ideas.

I still have lots of old exposed Xray films I use. I also use the template plastic from Joann's.

If it is a template I want to reuse then I go to my local plastics dealer and they cut it out precisely as I give it to them. They also made my extension table tops to my machine sizes. I use my own table feet and the plastics folk drill the set in holes for the feet, again as I want it done.

You can use old x rays, just soak in bleach to remove the black image

I use self laminating sheets. One side is sticky so I just stick it to a photocopy of the templates and cut them out. Works great.

For templates that are going to get minimal use, I cut out the smooth, flat sides of gallon milk jugs. You'll get at least 2 that are about 3.5 x 5 inches.
Hope this helps.

I get Mylar "cutting mats" at the dollar store. They make excellent templates 3 for a dollar :).

I copied 9-10 templates from the 1st Quilting Quickly mag. that were done by MSQC. Used a glue stick to put them on Priority Mail envelopes & took them to a local glass shop (hardware store sent me there). Got all of them done in plexi glass for around $40.00. Now I'll be able to use my cutter & not worry about cutting the template. Also much less $$ in the long run than buying each one.

I have used these plastic binder dividers for templates, if you want to trace around them. They work great!

http://www.officesupplyking.com/Prod...FYeBfgodg6QA9A

I use Myar to make templates. I buy it at Hancock...

You're probably asking this because you need the template to be transparent. But, if not, try using cardboard. I get mine from the can separators in Fancy Feast cat food boxes. (I have 2 cats...they eat a lot.) The cardboard is just the right size and thickness and I can transfer the pattern by placing the cardboard under the pattern, then tracing the pattern with a ball point pen. This creates an indentation in the cardboard that I can easily see and cut out. If I accidentally lop off a slice of the template when cutting out my fabric, I just make a new template very quickly and easily.

~ Cindy