quilt templates
 

I am just addicted to templates. I have twist and stitch, apple core, tumbler etc so what is your favorite template for those of you that use them. I know lots just use rulers and not sure if I could ever do that. Most of my quilts are from scraps and can't consistently measure big strips. So if you have a fantastic template that made a fantastic quilt please let me know. Right now I am in the middle of tumbling block and the template is fantastic. So easy to cut and assemble.

Love to hear from other template addicts.

Evelyn

Day and Night template (eleanor Burns) and any of Deb Tucker's templates. Love them!

I have several rulers that I use for both quilting and art work. On my wish list for quilting right now is the small Dear Jane set of templates. With applique I like to make templates out of the sheets that bacon come on.

Wow. This is one of those "Who Knew". I bet they work great. I will be keeping my next one. Thanks

Judy in Phx, AZ

I just used the twist and stitch for my twister quilt, I'm working on......it's much easier than the regular twister ruler. Right now my all time favorite is my june tailor shape cut plus......I'm cutting strips for diamond jubilee bargello and the shape cut has saved me mega hours on cutting all these strips

I'm trying to envision this, Auntie V. Is it a specific brand of bacon you are speaking of? Wouldn't it be hard to clean up?

hugs,
Charlotte

i am loving the creative grids storm at sea ruler. not sure if it counts as what you're describing as a template, but it sure is helping me create blocks that are accurate with sharp points.

aileen

Not at all when the bacon is gone I just toss the plastic(?) sheet that it comes on in the dish water and wash it like I would a plate. then I let them dry on a dish towel and put in a file folder till I need them. I have friends and family save them for me too. I always use Dawn dish soap so there is no grease left over.

My most used templates are the flying geese rulers from quilt in a day. I have all of the and get much better results with them than any other method I've tried.

I think the issue we are trying to envision, maybe, is my bacon comes on cardboard or a heavy paper. no plastic.
Evelyn

I can't remember the brand of bacon I used to get with the plastic pad but another item to use for templates is if your reusable grocery bags are seeing the end of their lives you can use the bottom pad for a template also. I use them to cut more bottom supports. Dollar stores also have cheap cutting boards you can use for templates.

I know that not everyone likes them but I love the Marti Michell templates. I have done a couple of her BOMs and the acrylic templates makes it easy to cut and also fussy cut.

I agree, I also use only standard rulers. The only template I have used is a Tri Rec Triangle.

I have used templates that I have made myself, for the quilting part of the procedure. Not sure if this is what you are talking about, or are you referring to cutting the fabric?

My fav is the one I am using at the moment...I have a great collection...but when it makes the job easier it is worth it...ps...love that idea about bacon plastic....oh, I have tossed them, but now I won't!

We recently had a Trunk Show from a fabulous award winning quilter who happens to live in our area. She showed some simply beyond beautiful quilts & shared her tip for templates. She prints the pattern & covers both sides with clear contact paper & trims them. She passed around a couple she had used for a large appliqued quilt & they were just like new. Could hardly believe they would hold up, I'm going to buy contact paper.

I have several templates handed down from my DM. she used heavy boxes, she even had some made of heavy brown bags. I remake the one's I use out of the plastic sheets. If I really like a pattern I make templates and put then in a ziplock bag with the pattern and file it so I can go to them when looking for a pattern and I am ready to go with it. I started quilting way before the rotary cutter so I guess that is why I love my templates. I now use my rulers over the templates for rotary cutting and a lot of the time just the ruler, both ways are good for me but I still love my templates.

My favorite template is the 5 inch tumbler. I have made several scrappy quilts with it. I plan to make a flag with it for July 4th later this month.

I did several $5 quilts through the LQS, and we used the Marti Michell templates. Hated them. About the only new template I have purchased this year is for the Dresden plate, and after I had purchased the template, I found a June Tailor shape cut that lets you cut 3 blades at a time before moving it, instead of having to move the template each time you cut.

I like them. I didn't the 1st time I used them for a bloc of the month. Then I took another one w/ the wild rose fabric & took care to have a true scant 1/4" seam & cut with the same ruler family. It made a big difference.

I also like Cara Gulati's templates for the Varigated Vortex quilt & the Radiant Suns quilt.

I'm curious why you dislike the Marti Michell templates so much (if you don't mind sharing). I bought several sets when they first came out but have to admit I've never tried them. They currently reside in the box (the very large box :rolleyes:) of specialty rulers/templates I've purchased and never used. Maybe someday. Joyce in DE

Me too! I just priced a sheet today at Hancocks $9.00 wow!

June Taylor without a doubt, 2nd up is my Accuquilt Go lol

I'm a hand piece and use Ardco. These are metal window templates you can mark the sewing line and cutting line at the same time. Vi

It wasn't so much the Marti Michell templates in particular, just hated the fussiness of having to cut each individual piece. If I'd been doing several of the same blocks and could stack the fabric, I might have felt differently about them. I will say that the blocks I made using them always came out the right size, as long as I sewed the scant 1/4" seam allowance. Someday, I will put those blocks together. Until then, I have 4 sets of blocks waiting patiently . . .