Stencil cutters
 

Does anyone have a recommendation for cutting one's own quilting stencil? Has anyone tried the Clover hot tip knife?

I haven't heard of anybody cutting stencils. I bought a double Xacto knife but the results came out not usable.

I've used a hot tip knife. It's a real skill that takes practice to acquire! If you hesitate, you get a glob of plastic & a larger hole than you really wanted. Never got the hang of it, but maybe didn't want to put in the time. Personally, it would be less expensive to purchase a stencil, or, if you want your own design, draw it on tissue & quilt thru that.

I've used a hot tip, although not the Clover brand. I did not like the results. It was difficult (impossible) to get a smooth line and the plastic melted into a ridge along the sides. One of the template plastics gave off a chemical odor; another brand was okay, but do it in a well-ventilated area. Maybe you'll have better luck with it than I have.

i have always made my own quilting templates and pattern templates. i learned from books years ago. i used the double bladed exacto knife because of the even spacing between the two edges od the opening. sometimes i goof and don't get my bridges right, but i have figured out a fix for when that happens. to use the exacto knif i "drag" the points of the blades slowly & firmly w the straight edge of the blade almost touching the template material (usually the new heavy multibag cereal boxes like found in costco). i have never used hot knife to cut plastic, didn't seem a good thing to stink up the house w melting plastic. but whatever technique you try, it takes patience & practice.

I had the same unsatisfactory results with a hot tip tool. I prefer cutting stencils with the exacto double-bladed knife. DBK plastic is far easier to cut than rigid template material, IMO, and can be rolled up for storage. This is a stencil I made for quilting a border:
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Daphne, where did you get the DBK plastic?

quiltsRfun, I've had it so long I don't remember! But if you search for DBK stencil plastic, you can find some sources. For instance, at this shop a 4 foot roll is $8.50, which is not so bad when you consider it's 16 inches wide.
http://columbiariverquilting.com/dbk...l_plastic.html

Daffy

I have several pieces of thick plastic my husband gave me from the hospital where he worked. I trace the shape I want, and just use regular scissors to cut it. It's good and stiff, thicker than what I can buy. I do not make continuous lines but individual shapes. I recently finished one with dolphins on it, and have one ready for the clamshell stitching I want to do soon.

I use the Silhouette cameo. Just adjust the line with dashes.

Gotta ask! What sort of "quilting stencil" are you asking about? If you are talking about a pattern to follow when you do the quilting on a completed top--------it's very common to make your own.

Take a piece of fairly durable "stuff" like maybe a manila folder . Draw the pattern you like. then take the folder to the sewing machine, set at your longest stitch length and sew --------sans thread---------------to make holes in your folder to use to mark on your quilt top.

I have used the clear page savers for binders. I have the double blade stencil cutters (Xacto knife). Heated those up against one of my irons. made it just warm enough to cut through and didn't stink the house up.

Stencil Company has it online and they have the double blade stencil cutter.

You can also use template plastic sold in Joann’s or similar stores for cutting out cutting templates and do what Grannie described. Use a large needle and keep it special for this purpose.

Not sure if this will apply for you, however, there is a class on Craftsy and I believe it is called "dot-to-dot quilting. I believe the theory is to make dots rather than lines and then follow the dots. I have tried the heat tool; no success. I have used a craft knife and made ONE stencil. It took me forever, however, it worked well and I still use it! I like the idea of more holes and more dots. Will try this one myself. Such a good question and great answers.

Same here. Never tried it again.

Same here. Never tried it again.

I have found the DBK plastic from The Stencil Co to be the easiest to cut. They also have the only double blade knife available. Xacto and Olfa knives are no longer manufactured. However you might be able to find the knife in craft and hobby shops.

I have had experience with stencils, cutting them for the intricate designs on Hitchcock style chairs. This for the purpose of rubbing bronzing powder into tacky varnish. I used a single blade xacto knife and small manicure or sewing scissors. The curve blade scissors was helpful. This was cutting from a similar stiff placticized cloth.

Very clever!!! I use Manila folders for templates but never thought to use them to create stencils. Awesome idea.