Templates & Rulers

I have obtained a fabric tube (from my local fabric store), and after I wash and iron my quilt fabrics, I roll the fabrics onto it to keep them smooth and ready for cutting. I use a small piece of masking tape to secure the fabrics on the roll.

To make your rulers "grip" your fabric so they don't slip, glue small squares of sandpaper in the corners on the underneath of the ruler.

I MAKE QUILTS OUT OF OLD T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS. I PURCHASED A 16X16 PIECE OF PLEXIGLASS TO LAY ON FRONT OF THE SWEAT/TSHIRT SO I COULD SEE TO CUT OUT THE PICTURE OR LOGO ON FRONT OF THE SHIRT. THIS WORKS BETTER THAN A CARDBOARD TEMPLATE SINCE YOU CAN SEE THRU THE PLEXIGLASS

Using wide scotch or painter tape (2-3") cut off about 6 to 7 inches of tape. Make a circle of it and put on the back of the template, side towards the fabric.  Place on fabric and voila! no slipping.  I am able to reuse quite a few times before I have to replace.  Adjust length of tape according to size of template. Smaller templates will need a smaller circle.

After I make my templates, I use sheet protectors to store the picture of the pattern, and the templates. I then use a notebook with dividers for 3", up to 24" quilt blocks. That way if I want to make a certain size block, I go to my notebook and make a decession. Sometimes I put swatches or small sample block of that pattern in there too. Then it is easy for someone to choose a block to make into a quilt. Sometimes I store the templates in envelopes and put those in the sheet protector too. It works well for me. Hope this helps someone else.

To make a permanent stencil for marking the quilt for machine quilting, trace your pattern on mylar stencil plastic and use a fine tip on a woodburning tool to punch holes in the mylar along the traced lines. Use your pounce pad to transfer design to quilt. An additional benefit of doing this is that the top of the stencil is slightly rough, and as you swipe your pounce pad the roughness grabs the powder making it easier to obtain  even markings.

I did not know what category to put this under.

I have been making plans for scenic quilts.  I sketch until I am happy with the picture.  I then tape paper to the size of the quilt I wish to make.  I draw the final sketch onto this paper, including the border and binding.  I then fold the pattern to the length of an empty wrapping paper tube, roll the pattern up, and place it with the sketch into the tube.  I write the planned name of the quilt on the outside of the tube and tape a typed list of supplies that are needed on the tube.  As I get things that are on the list I scratch them off.  When every thing is scratched off I know I can start the quilt.

                                      Tadsgram

                                (Judy Mielitz)

I found pre-cut freezer paper to be expensive and I hated to measure and cut my own from the roll until I found these precut sheets of acrylic at my local builders supply.  These come in 8 x 10 or 11 x 14. Purchase the freezer paper on a roll and use these acrylic templates to cut paper  to fit your inkjet printer.

I got tired of my template get bent or torn. As we all know some template are also big! what to do? I hage mine in my closet on a hager wire hagers work best. If the template does'nt have a hole I just punch one in the top edge. This way I can store alot of template out of the way. Paper templates can be put in zipper bag and hug the same way. You can organize them easy like things together on one hager. Darlene Rose Ramona, CA.

Cut templates out of butter bowl lids you can trace around them and when they get dirty put them in the dishwasher, also i make some of my templates out of plastic canvas, just cut them the size of the pattern you need, when your'e through with them i use a safty pin in one of the holes to keep all of them together.