Quilting Templates – Why Should You Use Them to Save Your Time – Sewing Machines Los Angeles

Accuracy is critical when you’re making blocks and pieces for applique and this is where quilting templates come in. There are several types of templates, whether you make your own from card, though these won’t last and when you’re cutting out the pieces it can blunt your rotary cutter.

Acrylic plastic templates are great as they can be used time upon time. When you’re cutting out many pieces of fabric the acrylic or metal templates are better as they are going to give you an exact size each time while not having to get out your measuring tape.

Window templates and stencils are the ideal way to make motifs like flowers. There are lots of styles and sizes when it comes to quilting templates, like stars, diamonds, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, even hearts and these can be employed for other craft projects also as an example scrapbooking or card making. Some templates have small holes to meticulously find your pencil and this makes it far faster and less complicated.

When using templates ensure you have a seam allowance as some templates don’t make allowance for this, it actually depends on whether or not you are hand piecing or employing a machine. Also if you’re a piecing by hand don’t include the seam allowances.

Trace round the template on the incorrect side of the material and leave an 1/4 in. seam allowance. When cutting use the pencil line as a tenet, the cutting doesn’t have to be correct. When you’re stitching, stitch on the line. If employing a machine you must include the 1/4in. seam allowance and this should be actual.

To make a straightforward template you want to select plastic and/or paper. Then trace the template onto paper, adding seam allowances, then stick this on to your hard copy. Duplicate your patterns so you can experiment with them. Add letters or numbers on your pattern and this can help you when placing your templates.

Cut your pattern out. Remember you’ll need one template for each piece. Then trace the patterns onto plastic or paper. Confirm there are one inch spaces between each piece. Employ a ruler to draw a 1/4in. line on the outside line. On the template mark a dot, the dots need to meet two seams per count, these are vital for marking the stitching areas.

Then use the grain lines to transfer the arrows you made from the model parts and transfer them to the template.

This may appear sophisticated, if so then it’s likely worth while spending the money on quilting templates from your craft store. But there are free patterns available on the web and also there’s software available to build your own templates.