How to make a template

[kristilynette]

Hello everyone. I am making my dh a "corvette" quilt for Christmas and am wanting to hand quilt the "Corvette Emblem" in the center of every other block. I have made a copy of it on a copier and have it the size I want but am not sure of the best way to transfer it to a template. I usually use templates and mark them on the fabric with chalk pencils. I just dont' know how to cut the slits in the template material. Any help is greatly appreciated

[SharonG/FL]

My DH uses a xacto (sp?) knife.

[Quilter7]

I have usedd an exacto knife to make slits, it works for me. there is a special tool (surprise) available to cut slits to make them perfect. If you can deal with "about" and then draw it in an exacto knife is fine.

[kristilynette]

Thank you both, that's what I'll try :>) Kristi

[TexasSewGal]

How about using a stablizer that washes away. Sorry I don't know what the brand name is but I was reading on another web site yesterday evening about a suggestion a women sent in where she uses this wash away stablizer to transfer her patterns onto her quilt tops. She draws/traces (yes even uses a dark permanent marker)the design she wants onto the stablizer. Cuts it out. Irons it onto the quilt top. Does her quilting. When finishes she throws it into the washing machine and away goes the washable stablizer. If this works this would be way COOL. If you decide to try it let us all know how it works. Sure that your local QS would know about the washable stablizer. Good luck.

[kristilynette]

Thanks so much TexasSewGal! That sounds like a really good idea. That way I can get more detail than if I just trace around the pattern. I won't get to a store until next weekend but I'll try it & let you know. Thanks again! Kristi

[TexasSewGal]

Please be sure and test this out before you put it on the real material. Went back this evening to try and find where I read this but was unable to locate the site. Now I wonder if I imagined reading this. No way! I don't come up with this good of idea on my own. Let us know how this works.

[gardenquilter]

the water soluble sounds like a good idea i think sulky makes one

[scrapmama]

have you tried using a large unthreaded neeedle to sew the slit pattern? or an ice pick point or something simular to make small holes that can be marked through with a wash out marker, connecting the holes to make lines to quilt on. i have used both with sucess.

[Suzquilts]

Found this site on the water soluble idea but don't know if it's the same one TexasSewGal found.

http://www.taunton.com/threads/pages/t00085.asp

Sounds interesting.

Suz