I have never used any templates! They seem a little expensive?!? Are they actually worth investing in?

Do you mean plastic templates for making blocks?
I make my own with template plastic.

I'v not used any yet, but did purchase a quarter circle one at the quilt show I went to. Not quite ready to branch out into curves yet!

I have a few templates for blocks with odd angles, or curves. I love the sets I have for melon blocks and drunkards path :D:D:D You can even use rotary cutters on the curves :wink:

I have only bought one, and I really don't know if it is even a template. It is a half circle with many different sizes to cut. I used it for a quilt I was making for my (unborn at the time) son! I got it at hobby lobby with a coupon so it wasn't even that much in the end and it saved me a TON of time and alot of fabric since I could cut nested circles!

Yes, they can be expensive, however, they may be a good investment if you plan on making several of the same style quilt. You can always make your own templates and if you're only going to do one of a pattern that may be way to go.

I have several for designs for hand quilting
I like to collect them. LOL

I did block of the month kind of thing with templates. Well, I started it anyway. It used the Marty whateverherlastname is template sets that one of my girlfriends had. I would borrow them and try some blocks before investing in them. I thought they were a huge pain.

I used to use templates a lot more than I do now. They are really nice for marking quilting designs these days :)
And yes, you can make your own. They can be pricey.

Yes I was thinking of the ones to make different blocks. I really want to try the wedding ring quilt! Not right away but hopefully in the next while! I have seen a lot around but never thought about making my own from plastic! Great idea! I may have to look into that!
I actually have never tried the ones to use for your quilting itself either. All these things to try!

I make my own also, just can't see paying that price when I can make them myself.

I make my own too, I just buy the plastic stuff, or sometimes I use cardboard!

For the Double wedding ring quilt they make a fusible interfacing that makes it a piece of cake, would get that before the template :thumbup: But that is just me :wink: LOL

They can be a blessing or a pain. I have half circle one, and I have used it lots of times...so it was a good investment. I have some my DH and I bought at a quilt show on a whim, and they are in the drawer they went into when we got home, and never have been used. So....consider carefully before buying.

You might want to check out the book, "Rings that Bind" by Cheryl Phillips. It is an easier method for double wedding ring and includes the arc tool.

Quiltsmart for the double wedding ring

http://www.quiltsmart.com/khxc/index...acing_doubleWR

I make my own from template plastic, you can see through it to get the exact measurements, I borrow my patterns from the library and trace the block pieces from the pattern sheets in the back of the magazines, photo copy the instructions and put everything together in a clear file folder to use again and again. I am a beginner quilter and not into very difficult patterns but honestly it is SO easy!!!

Gal

Thanks for your ideas. How thick is the plastic you use and how do you cut it. I am a do-it-yourself type of person and would like to try to make some myself.

I have lots of them, especially curved ones. The first quilt I ever made I used the gridded plastic sheets and cut my own templates, but that quilt has no curves, so it was doable. I much prefer acrylic ones for rotary cutting. Except for the Giant Dahlia and the Wedding Ring sets, I bought all of mine at 40 to 50% off over the years.

I would be interested in knowing how thick of plastic do you use too!!! I guess it would need to be a little bit thick especially if you are going to use a rotary cutter. Is the plastic hard to cut?!?

I agree. I did 3 different $5 quilts at my LQS using the Marti Mitchell templates and each one required 2 different sets. I loved the quilts I got from them, but I hated the templates. And I now have 5 sets (A through E) that I'll probably never use again. They were a pain to use and were expensive, too.

I could see getting the template for dresden plates or drunkard's path, but I won't do another Marti Mitchell.

I've done a couple of hers (Marti Michell) too and find the templates a pain! I cut my own out of the flat sheet template plastic and I don't clip the corners anymore. I used to, but found they did not all clip evenly. I love her patterns tho.

Any various plastics. You can buy it by the roll (what a pain - never lies flat) or I can get flat sheets for $1.29. Old X-ray film is popular for the make-it-your-selfers.

I have made my own templates when the same pattern is repeated in multiple blocks - like the quilt pictured in my Avatar and the one below.

I'm using a Dresden plate template & it is great and a French curve for drawing quilting lines.

I make my own out of 1/4 inch plexi-glass. For patterns like the wedding ring where you make a lot of the same cuts or drunkards patch they are priceless. I use a rotary cutter and find that the thin plastic they sell for making templates would be cut clean through so I use plexi.

Is it hard to cut the plexi?!?
I have never heard of Marti Mitchell before! I may have to google her and see some of her stuff!!

I have cut it with a saw. Keepine the edge flat/straight is a challenge.