Tips on Cutting Paper for Quilting
Quilters use templates to cut out blocks, patches joined together to create a design, that they will employ for their quilting designs or for appliqué work. Templates are drawn or printed on paper and then transferred to a more robust medium. They also show where fabric overlaps or the position of decorative stitches.
-
Finding Your Template
-
Templates are available on the Internet, in magazines or in books. Some templates are full size and can be photocopied directly onto your paper, while others need to be enlarged. Increase the size of your pattern by increasing the size on the photocopy machine. You can print the patterns that you find on the Internet directly from the site. If the templates need to be enlarged, import them into a graphic design program and increase their size before printing.
Selecting Paper
-
Standard white printing paper works well for printing patterns from the Internet. Use this kind of paper when photocopying your pattern too. You can trace patterns from books and magazines onto the printing paper and cut out the pattern with scissors. You will need to transfer this pattern to another kind of paper, as it will not withstand the wear and tear of being used over and over again. When quilting, you will sew together a number of fabric squares in a pattern to form your quilted item. The template must be made from sturdier materials to last. Choose thick cardstock, or recycle cereal boxes for this purpose.
-
Transferring Your Pattern
-
Transfer your white paper templates onto cardstock, which is strong enough for you to trace your templates onto the fabric -- you will be able to keep the templates for future use. Hold the white paper down as you trace around the template. Cut the cardstock out with a craft knife or scissors; rotary cutters also work well for cutting out templates. If you are using a more elaborate design, stick the paper template to the card stock so that it doesn't move or bend while you are cutting out your templates. Your paper patterns are ready to be used. Place the templates on your fabric and use scissors or a rotary cutter to cut the fabric to size. When cutting patterns, many quilters place a sheet of sandpaper under the fabric to prevent it from slipping.
Storing Your Paper Templates
-
Place all of the template pieces into a large envelope so that they will not get bent or folded. Draw a picture of the template on the front of the envelope, or print out a picture of what it looks like, cut it out and paste it on the envelope. Write a detailed description that will help you to easily recognize the template in the future. If you find that you are using a template often and your cardstock is starting to bend or tear, consider tracing the pattern onto an acrylic sheet. Cut out the acrylic template with a craft knife, and you will have a template for life.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
