Template Materials for Applique

Today I wanted to share with you different material that can be used for applique template. My plan is to make a series showing how to use some of them and what I like best about the material. If you like doing applique and use something else please leave me a comment. Quilter are great people and love sharing. So let’s get started.

The first material I have used is cardstock. I like gluing pieces together if the cardstock is thin. The good thing about cardstock is it can be used over and over but, will eventually wear out. The squares that come from fat quarter of fabric are good to make templates from They are a bit thicker. Cardstock and cardboard are cheap and easy to come by.

Cardstock & fat quarter spare cardboard

Freezer paper is a wonderful material, and I am using it more and more. It easy to find in the grocery store. I’ve only ever use Reynolds brand. I’m not sure other brands work as well. In my grocery store I don’t even think they carry other brands. I like that you can iron onto the fabric and leave it until you’re ready to sew.

Freezer Paper

Then we get int plastic template. You can make your own or purchase ready-made plastic templates. I’ve seen the Flexible Cutting matt found in dollar tree. I’m ready to see how these come out. I have yet to try them. Template Plastic that can be purchased in most fabric store. There are several types. Some are thinker then others and some are heat resistant.

Heavy Duty Template Plastic and flexible cutting matts

There is also the No Melt templates. I’ve purchased these at a quilt show from The Stencil Company. I’m love to give these a try. I have several set of Karen Kay Buckley’s Perfect Templates that are heat resistant. These work very nicely using the starch method of applique.

Perfect Stape from The Stencil Company and Perfet shapes by Karen Kay Buckley

Using these templates materials with success also depends on a few factors. The applique method you’re doing. How well the template is cut. And the fabric you’re using. There is also more the one way to use some of this material for applique. and did you know you can also use some of the for other applications such as scrapbooking and designing. I’m sure if you use your imagination you can think of other uses.

I will be creating more content on how I use some of these template materials. That it for today. Thank for stopping by and keep creating.

Test template images for reversing in applique

Testing Images for Applique

Some patterns in applique will say image reversed for fusible applique, or you may have to reverse the pattern to face the way you want or need. Letters and numbers are good for creating this confusion. There is a way to test the images before using the actual material. Let’s face it some of the quilting materials can get pricey .This test process will help prevent making errors and waste.

The tools you will need are standard copy paper, pencil or marker, lightbox, or window, tape, scrap fabric, paper scissors and your image.

Trace the image you’re working with onto a piece of copy paper. For my purpose I’m going to use the little bird. If you can’t see the lines, use the light box or window to make it easier to trace.

Cut the image out on the line drawn.This is now your template.

Write “paper” on one side of the template and on the same side write the direction in which you want the template to face. L for left or R of right will work. This will indicate the paper side of the fusible web or the drawn side of the template. In this case I want the bird to face right.

Put a piece of tape on the other side of the template. You can use rolled up scotch tape or double sided tape. This is the adhesive side or fusible side of the template.

Using a scrap piece of fabric, put the adhesive (tape) side of the template to the wrong side of fabric. Cut out the template . You don’t have to be exact as this is a test and you’re using scraps.

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Then flip it over. Is the fabric with the template going in the correct way? In my case it is not.

If not the pattern needs to be reversed. Try this with a number like “2” or the letter “E”..or shapes that are not symmetrical. Use the paper template pattern to adjust if necessary by simply flipping it over.

I found it helpful to use this process of testing a pattern when I was working on a quilt and the pattern didn’t come out the same as the picture. The pattern did say it was reversed for fusible web but it really wasn’t. I found that this process works for fusible applique and freezer paper applique After much frustration and money spent for the project I really didn’t want to abandon it. I have yet to try this with other forms of applique but, if you do let me know how it comes out. If you would like to see the process in action check out my video on youtube.