I was just wondering, you do make your own templates or use "store bought templates". And, what do you make them out of? I usually trace mine onto a sheet of typing paper and then transfer them over onto poster board and cut them out. But, I always do everything the old fashioned way because that is how I learned to do it. Am I totally out of date???

i purchase alot of templates but when i need to make one i generally use mylar template sheets= they are large- i can make alot of templates out of one piece and it is heat resistant so i can iron over them if need be.
i have made plenty of templates out of card stock but prefer the ones out of template plastic- the edges stay much longer than the cardboard ones.

i usually just rotary cut. but when templates of odd shapes are needed, i use heavy cardboard. if it's a template that i might use over and over, i use plastic milk jugs.

I have tried making a stencil, but it just does not turn out.

I buy the acrylic templates. I used to do it the old fashion way but never again.

I have been known to use those plastic sheets that bacon comes in. Of course I wash it well first.

Mary

If it's one that I'm going to do much cutting with, I take it to the glass shop and have them cut them for me out of the same plastic as our rulers. The cost is minimal!!

I like having the solid thickness of the plastic .... can zip around it pretty quick with a small rotary cutter, and not worry about lopping off the edges of the template, or slicing my finger!!!

My mother used fine sandpaper to make templates, they did not slide on fabric when she traced them. I use the backs of tablets, a thin cardboard for the templates I need that cannot be cut with the rotary cutter. Template plastic works good too but it is a worthwhile investment and lasts forever.

Carol J.

I purchase a lot of mine

I am drasticly trying to cut out all un-necessary spending so I now make my own.Getting along fine so far using butter bowl lids, cereal boxes, really anything that can be re-used. I don't think you are out of date just being thrifty and look at how much money you save!

It depends on how many times I use the template.

If it's just a few, I use freezer paper.

Medium usage, I use cardboard, usually old cereal boxes, as I also learned the old fashioned way. My first quilt was a grandmother's garden, templates made from boxes.

If I will be using the template alot, and plan on keeping it for future use, I will use the plastic material.

I kinda do like you..I usually draw or print them, cut them out and I take a empty box of like cereal and trace it onto it and cut it out and use that..That way, I can pin the cutout onto my fabric..

whenI first started, I made my own from heavy cardboard from the backs of tabletsss. I would glue fine sandpaper to the backs to keep them from sliding. This works fine if you are hand-cutting each shape. But, it is much easier to rotary cut around the hard acrylic templates, and faster.

I bought a large poster frame and used the plastic part made lots of templates. I did tape clear tape along the edges and cut carefully with my kitchen shears. They are lasting and great because they are cheap! I have some I bought but more home made ones in sizes I use most. Made a 5 inch one for charm squares. Love it!!

I use the disposal plastic cutting boards. They are 2 for a dollar at the dollar store and they are a little heavier than the mylar plastic that we spend over 2.00 for.. These work great!!!

I just made one last night using a plastic ice cream container. Actually, made 2 and glued them together to make it thicker. Was going to use scissors to cut them out but I knew they would be wavy so grabbed my ruler and an old rotary blade. Came out perfect!

If I can't find a template in the shape I want on-line, I have it made at my local glass shop; he uses a 1/8th inch thickness of plastic.
He's n/g on curves though - has to be straight edges.

When I need a template, I use those template sheets you can buy in a pack. I think they last quite a long time.

depends: if it's something I plan to rotary cut around I use the store bought templates. If something I plan to trace around and scissor cut -I make them from plastic container lids- margarine, coolwhip what ever fits the size I need and is flat.

That's too bad ... the first one I had done at the glass shop, were two apple core templates. They came back smooth and accurate as could be. I just take him in a printout of what I want and he does it from that.

Do you have another glass shop that might be able to do a better job?

cardboard will distort if used often.
some will use old x ray film if available.
Any plastic will work. Just make sure it is flat.
Plastic lids, etc etc.
It is useful to glue a strip of fine sand paper to the back to keep from slipping. If I am making one a few shapes, I will cut out of graft paper and then use rotary cutter to cut using the paper as the shape. Have to be careful for accuracy.

I never thought about using milk jugs. Thanks for the idea!!

Good idea! Thanks for sharing.

I use heavy paper or cardboard if I will only use them for one quilt. If it is something I will use again I use template plastic. I bought a package years ago and have not used it all so it has not been expensive for me. But then I don't use a lot of templates except for hand quilting designs and those I buy.

I use a lot of cerel bowls, notebook backs & fronts, mylar, hard plastic, sturdy cardboard for templates. Something which is more intricate, I use my mylar.

My grandma used to cut hers out of fine sandpaper. i opened up a book I got of hers when she passed and found some tucked inside. They are some of my most treasured quilting things. When I need to cut some I use old xray plastic. When I first started quilting a friend would save the over exposed film for me. I have a ton!

butter lids, old plastic shoe boxes, cardboard. For circles, I use scratched CDs that won't play anymore.

If the template is only for a few pieces, then I use a manila file folder to make my template. If the template will be used over and over for a long time, then I use the hard plastic (that sometimes covers things that you buy like a curling iron...you know the kind that you need a scissors or knife or box cutter to open it). I also found that manila file folders come in plastic. And any kind of plastic such as the commercial grade shelving came with plastic liners for the shelves. What a score on that one as the pieces were super large and 6 of them (one for each shelf)!!! But if the template might be something like squares or a triangle, then I might buy the template if the size fulfills the need. On the issue of cutting the plastic, I purchased (but haven't tried as of yet) an electric wood burning tool. I'm thinking that maybe it would be better using this idea for those areas where you cannot manipulate a pair of scissors to cut through the plastic very accurately. I also thought that if the wood burning tool makes the edges of the cut jagged, then I could use fine sand paper to smooth it out.

Both! Use snapper when I make them. Doesn't slide

I am very fortunate because we have a local plastic company that will cut anything I want. Literally. I can take in a drawing to size and that is what he cuts for me.

He doesn't mark the templates though. That is why it is so cost effective.

He even cut the inset for my sewing machine cabinet when I got a new machine ... so now I can use either machine with my cabinet.

nice.

ali

gotta go with the cereal boxes--they're great for making the right size for foundations for strings...also the lids for margarine & store bought icing are great for little shapes...but mostly i just cut strips!

cereal boxes, sheets of plastic you get at joann's.

I trace & cut when needed; use acrylic templates for certain patterns, use rotary cutter method following pattern recipes (directions; and sometimes use freezer paper/heat bonding for appliques.

Great idea!
:shock:

Wow, that's a great idea!!

I usually wait until Joanns have theirs on sale or I use a 40% off coupon and get them when I need them. I am sure you can find some great prices on EBAY too!

I just had some made at the glass shop. I took a photo copy of what I wanted and he cut all 5 of them for $8.00

I prefer making mine using plastic

i use old tupperware lids which i buy at thrift stores they last a long time

A man in a town about 60km away will make any template I want I and he charges reasonable prices. Other than that I sometimes buy from internet and sometimes make using mylar or template plastic.