How to Make a Hand Quilting Stencil
A quilt takes a great deal of work, and should be a reflection of the quilter. Just piecing a quilt takes hours and hours, and if you decide to quilt by hand it multiplies that time exponentially. Many stencils are available for hand quilting, but if you want to create a unique piece of craftsmanship, you can create your own stencil for quilting.
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Things You'll Need
- Design
- Fine-point permanent marker
- Scissors or sharp craft knife
- Large needle or drill with small bit
- Translucent plastic sheet (available in quilting section of craft stores)
Instructions
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1
Find a simple design you like. Remember that you will be creating this design with a needle and thread, so try not to use short lines or tight spaces. Many clip art sites have simple designs you could use, or you can draw something freehand.
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2
Scale the design to the size you want to quilt.
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3
Tape the design to the back of the plastic sheet.
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4
Trace the design onto the plastic sheet.
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5
Use a large needle, drill with a very small drill bit, or sharp knife to create holes for the interior detail. Don't cut interior detail with a continuous line as it will cut your stencil apart.
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6
Cut around the outside of the stencil with the scissors or sharp craft knife.
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Tips & Warnings
If you don't want to cut out the interior detail and it isn't too complicated, you can draw in the interior detail free-hand or with another stencil. For example, use the bottom of a spool and a thimble to trace circles in the center of the petals on a flower.
Wear proper eye protection if using any power tool.
