Tell me about templates....
 

I'm thinking about doing my first quilt using templates. I will have to cut out 192 pieces total for the size I want to make, of four different shapes in many different fabrics.
Can I use a rotary cutter to cut these out or do I have to use scissors? (They are all straight lines.)
Can I stack the fabrics?
Any hints on the best way to go about cutting out templates?

Thanks!

Watson

Here's the link to the quilt I'm thinking about....

https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/pat...pattern/190932

I used templates for my DWR and I can't imagine doing it anyother way. :) But I am talking about the clear plastic templates - not sure if that's what you mean or not

I used my rotary cutter and yes I did stack the fabric. the most I could cut cleanly at a time was 4 or 6 layers - depending on how sharp my blade was ... maybe someone stronger could cut more if they could push down harder

that's a very cool quilt you are looking at there!

I have made a couple of quilts similar to the one you are looking at. One time I cut out the template on paper and used my regular cutting ruler on top with a rotary cutter. The other time I bought a sheet of template plastic and cut the template out on it---then used the rotary cutter next to the template plastic. Both methods worked fine.

templates that are thin sturdy plastic i might lay my ruler on top and then cut. i prefer thicker acrylic templates if possible. but then sometimes i trace around those and cut with scissors. depends on shapes.

love that quilt... good luck

Some people have taken easy templates like that to Home Depot and had them cut them out of plexiglass. I'm lucky to have a DH who will cut them for me. Good luck. Cute quilt.

Yes you can stack fabric, yes you can use a ruler & rotary cutter- place template on fabric, line up ruler over template & cut. Remember you will need some mirror images so will have to flip the template over - I Mark my templates so I know which side is my ( right side) so I know when I have it flipped.

I agree with everything posted about templates so far. However, I looked at the quilt and to me this seems like quite a difficult quilt to attempt with templates. Both cutting and piecing need to be very accurate in order to get all seams to match, plus it can be quite challenging to get all the points sewn together as neatly as in the photo. It is even more difficult because you are working with a lot of bias edges.

Personally, I would probably attempt this pattern only if I could die cut the pieces (or possibly piece by hand). At the very least, I would recommend heavily starching the fabric before cutting with the template pieces to help keep the bias edges from distorting.

ckcowl's ideas are what I would do. I find that just using my template without the ruler on top, usually means I "trim" the plastic sheet template and my cuts start getting inaccurate.

Neat quilt, but if it was me, I'd be tempted to try and figure out a pattern for paper piecing.:)

I love that pattern! I saw it awhile back, I think, in Fons & porter mag. Look see if they have the templates in acrylic....a good investment. I think the designer was ----Nolte, one of their staff. If you're planning on doing it with cardboard or template plastic, probably 2/3 layers would work.Mark with fine line sharpie across strip, then take a ruler and rotary cutter and cut out...that's how I've done....but I try to find the acrylic version first...have fun!

I ended up cutting the template out of cardboard, then putting a piece of double sided tape on the bottom so it wouldn't slip. Used my rotary cutter and cut out all of the colours. As the two coloured pieces are mirror images, each time the fabric was folded, I got both of those templates out. (Sort of a two for one deal!) For better or worse, all of the coloured pieces are cut and it's on to the white pieces!
Thanks for all the tips!
Wish me luck.

Watson

I don't know if that blogger (Cynthia of https://ahhhquilting.blogspot.com/) had worked for Fons and Porter, but she has recently returned to blogging so if you need help, you can probably get in touch with her. She makes beautiful quilts and I've eyed that pattern often over the years, so hope it turns out just as beautifully for you!

I remember seeing that and wanting to make it. In the book I saw it recommended paper piecing.

If any of your templates have curves, you may be better off using the small (28mm) rotary cutter as it fits better.

If you use a rotary cutter a rotating cutting mat would be extremely helpful. I love my Martelli round mat and don't know what I would do without it!

I can't wait to see the completed quilt. This is a pattern I have considered doing more than once. I would like to buy the saw that will cut my own templates as there are several I would like to make. A lot of people have mentioned having Home Depot cut them for you. I have tried a couple of local Home Depot and Lowes stores and haven't had any luck getting them cut. Sometimes I can get them to cut a square, but have found they aren't exactly accurate. They are usually off by just a tiny bit. Of course this doesn't work in quilting.

When cutting from templates, I usually use a size 28mm rotary cutter/blade. After looking at your post again, I think for this pattern I would purchase a special Kaleidoscope ruler. A lot faster than using templates!

I use templates often and always use my rotary cutter with no problem.