Never thought of that. Great idea!

What a smart idea and great use of that plastic. I like people who think outside the box.

Somewhere along the line, Joann's must have hed June Taylor (http://store.junetailor.com/store/p-...ch-circle.aspx), they go as a group on to little chains, and they were $1, so I bought all they had at the time, 7 sets
I've noticed there aren't as many shapes available now. I do use them all the time, a set includes one shape in varying sizes

I use them a lot.

I use the 2 for $1 cutting mats in a package from the boxes set up at the flea markets and peddler malls. Usually these areas have alot of things in boxes on the floor and I always manage to find the cutting mats.

I've used whatever is handy; paper, cardstock, cardboard, plastic canvas; but if it's a pattern/template I'll be using over and over, I cut one from plastic. I've been using the quilting template plastic from JoAnn's but from now on will be using featherweight's solution!

I use these too but they come from The Dollar Tree. I also have a lot that I have purchased.

When I know I will re-use a template I use plastic lids like coffee cans or all our containers or yogurth or sour cream...that kind of lids. They are easy to mark with a pen and easy to cut with scissors. Hope this helps :-)

I don't usually use templates for patterns for quilts but I do use old x-ray sheets from the hospital for templates for marking quilting patterns on the quilt for hand quilting. If I need one for patterns myhusband cuts it out of material he has as he is a machinist.

I'm with you Featherweight, the cutting mats at Dollar Store are 2 for $1 and they work GREAT.... and way cheaper than what you can buy at Joann's or the craft stores.

I have been known to use plastic water jugs , xrays , clear plastic lids, and more.

So far, I've only done piecing that calls for triangles, squares and strips, so no templates.

My husband makes mine for me from plexiglass

Thats what I use too....I am a Nurse and one of my girlfriends asked me if I could get them from radiology...I thought she was nuts...now I am hooked....I have my family members request copies of xrays now so I have the sheets :)

I had the local hardware store make me some basic size squares from plexiglass and they didnt cost more than 3.00 for the ones I had made.

I went to our little hospital and selvaged their x-rays. Timing was great because they were throwing them away since the digital machine came in. I took them home and soaked them lightly in clorox and all that black came off. They are great and had no trouble taking the heat. They don't buckle like the mylar that I had---I used them many times over. Those of you who had used the plastic from bacon package, etc. How do they take the heat? I use mine for applique, putting starch on the fabric and ironing the seam around the template shape.

Wouldn't it be nice if LQS had a lending library on templates? Their name could be on the template and 1-2 weeks would be enough time to cut your pattern(and also make your own template).

I have a stash of discarded x-rays that I had the local radiologist office save for me. Transparent enough to see and trace through, sturdy enough to last through any number of tracings. Also I can use them to make stencils with a stencil iron if I want to. I have enough to last a very long time and best of all they were free.

Great idea! though do you think they'd go for it? After all they are in business to sell-sell-sell those things! :)

This what I use and you can't beat the price. I have also found the disposable cutting mats at the 99 cent store.

I use the mylar sheets if it is something I will only do once. Cardboard/posterboard always get shrivelly (is that even a word??) when you trace continuously against them. Sometimes I buy the plastic at the lumber store and have hubs cut them out if I will use them a lot.....

I copy and print on freezer paper

Where do you get the thick plastic?

I never make or buy templates. I cut everything with the rotory cutter.

I didn't see anyone mention Plastic Placemats for your table. I go to the thrift shop and buy plastic place mats. They always have lots of them and are super cheap. They work great.

I cut them out of plastic or double tempered masonite, on a table saw or band saw.

I've done the same thing. Started with cracker and cereal boxes, moved on to poster board then cardboard, then to the plastic sheets that come in the bacon. I also recently used the plastic cutting boards from the dollar store. It is a little thicker than poster board. For Christmas, I asked my DH for an 8" square ruler. He bought me the whole packaged set. He's very supportive of my "habit". :lol:

I have a stack of old exrays thanks to a nurse friend of mine. I'm still using them for templates.

I have used Avery Clear Translucent Binder Dividers. They last a real long time and are easy to cut.

I use all kinds of things. I buy templates that I use a lot. I cut pieces of templates from plastic and I use freezer paper. Just depends on what I am doing. I might even use old folder paper or boxes...... I doubt I'll buy many more, but you never know.

Love your idea. Thanks for sharing. I have used lids (coffee cans, whipped topping) and cut with an x-acto knife.

For circles I use glass jars, glasses, shot glasses, 45 and lp records, dvd's, tunafish and soup cans, and mixing bowls. For squares or rectangles I get creative and sneek into my DDs leggos and put together what ever size square/rectangle I need and it works great with the rotary cutter. I make sure to stack a handle on it too.

What a great idea using plastic milk jugs!!

Have rarely used templates in many years, but when I do, I use the plastic that is marked off with a grid. I also have cut paper and taped it to my ruler, and use that to cut shapes, usually have to retape the paper template a few times...so it takes awhile, but works.

I have read so many interesting ways and materials for making templates that I have never even heard of. Thank you all for sharing these ideas with me!!

Great idea!

Another idea~ I will have to check that out here. :) Thanks

I have used those too!

I've cut mine out of poster board and plastic and even used the plastiic to make stensils. After using over time I knew they weren't accurate anymore so when Joann's had Omnigrid Templates for 50% I found a package of 5 sqs. for $11.45 and the last time they had the sale picked up a 2 1/2" ruler and a 1-12" triangle template. This will take care of my charity quilt needs for a long time.

I copy the pattern onto freezer paper then iron 4 or 5 sheets of the freezer paper together. Really easy to cut out.
Robin in TX