some place to get acrylic templates cut???
 

On a bus trip shop hop this week I bought a pattern that has 5 pieces per block for a unique curved pattern. I can see either myself or my daughter using this pattern several times (plus it included several sizes). So I'd like to have some acrylic or plexiglass templates cut to make it easier and more accurate.

does anyone know of a place that will cut the for me? Home Depot? Lowes? a glass company? or just my local lumberyard?

Also what material works best and is most durable and accurately cut?

And lastly, do you just tape the pattern to the materials and cut?

Thanks

I would probably try your local hardware store or local glass cutting place. The glass cutting place will have plexiglass as well. Are the templates particularly curvy or just mostly straight? When I had custom glass tops cut for some of my furniture (with curved fronts) the glass place told me to provide a life-size paper template for them to use.

Or...do you have a friend that has a scroll saw? If so, perhaps just some MDF board from Home Depot or Lowes with the templates copied/pasted onto the board which could then be cut with the scroll saw? MDF is very stable.

Not sure which of the above options would be the most cost-effective.

Depending on how much you plan on using the template and how accurate you want them to be, I would recommend Baycreek Quilting Products. http://www.quilttemplates.com/
Their custom acrylic templates can be used with rotary cutters. They also can laser etch guidelines etc. on the template. I had a couple made earlier this year and was pleasantly surprised at the cost. They provide free estimates.

I have had this done for just that reason and I took the pattern to a glass shop. They cut the pieces precisely, and smoothed the edges. I asked for 1/4" plexiglass so I could use it with my rotary cutter. The price was very reasonable. Seems like there were 4 or 5 pieces and the bill was around $20. That was in 2013. Depending on your location, the prices would vary - I would tell them the limit I was willing to pay so they would be able to determine whether they were interested in the project since your shapes might be more intricate and take more time to cut. As quilters we understand that some projects like 4 patch are fast, and some like applique are slow, so is cutting plexiglass. Not just the price of materials. Good luck

I believe there are sellers on the site Etsy who do this, too. Check it out.

If you happen to have a Go or other die cut machine you can get a custom die made. My friend had one made for the Cleopatra's Fan block for her Go machine. The price was very reasonable considering it had eight different shapes. I had a few templates made at a local glass shop. They were laser cut and accurate. Hand cut is hard to get each perfect.

Great info, PaperPrincess, tks.

I am surprised that the pattern didn't already have a ready made acrylic template for you to purchase. So many do including patterns design by Jaybird.

I would at least check.

I heard Home Depot would cut them.

my husband takes mine that I want enlarged to work
a guy in the office in larges it to the size I want and another guy in the factory cuts it out of plexi glass
after the third one the guys asked what I was doing with them
husband told them sewing and about my knew computerized pfaff sewing machine
they were impressed, now I will make table toppers for them

We have a place called Tap Plastics that will cut any template you want. I bet their is a similar business near you. Check the yellow pages.

http://www.brandysquiltpatterns.com/index.html Brandy's does them too

I used to have my local glass shop cut my templates, but they were never that accurate. So I get them made by a laser cutting company. Here's a link with their information. http://www.ziplocalonline.com/b/syra...b08d5a78ae7239 When you get templates made by laser cutting, the laser burns the acrylic, so you want to tell them to "leave the paper on." When they leave the paper on, the burn marks are on the paper, and not on your template.

Find a laser engraving shop to cut them for you.

My husband cuts acrylic templates for me with our laser.

I have all mine cut at Lowe's . My friend does hers at Home Depot. I did try our glass cutting place. the cost was really high.

My husband makes my templates for me from plexiglass. I make a paper pattern in EQ7 or Photoshop. He then paste the pattern onto plexiglass and cuts out the template. He then scribes the 1/4 inch seam and drills a small whole to mark the intersection of the corners. He is very supportive of my quilting and is so willing to make any template I need.

Home depot, lowes, or a glass place, not sure.

If you are using them for a pattern only, then Home Depot would be a good place to get them cut. If you are planning to use them as a stitching guide, then they won't be thick enough and you may accidentally stitch over the plexiglass and break your needle and perhaps even damage your machine. That is why long arm guides are soooo expensive, they are thick enough so you can't accidentally stitch over them.

Wow love this idea , wonder if our answer to Lowes in Australia (Bunnings) does the same thing so many times I have thought a I wish I had a template for this . Guess were I am heading tomorrow .

I have had templates cut at the local Ace Hardware store - a 6" square cost me 25 cents, and it was accurate. I drew lines in it with a sharp point from corner to corner and got the center as I was fussy cutting.

I had 3 templates for a drunkard's path block cut out of 1/4" Plexiglas by my local glass shop.

As far as getting things cut at a lumber yard, some will only do straight line cutting. You just have to see what your local one will do.

I believe your best bet would be a glass / window co. I went to a local glass place and had them cut me a large dresden plate out of acrylic/ pexiglass . I suggest you make a copy of your templates and take it to them and see if they can cut them out of their left over pieces.

Angel Oak Stitchery https://angeloakstitchery.com will make custom acrylic templates.

Thank you to all who posted!! This has been very helpful.