TEMPLATE TIPS

Try putting Steam-A-Seam 2 on the wrong side of a template. Steam-A-Seam 2 is sticky on both sides, so it will adhere to the template easily. Just remove the paper from one side, stick it onto your template, and trim the excess. Then removed the paper from the other side of the Steam-A-Seam 2. Now the template grabs the fabric just enough to keep the template from sliding while rotary cutting.

Steam-A-Seam 2 sticks well to a template. But it doesn't stick to other surfaces in the same way. It adds a non-skid surface to the back side of the template. And it's relatively transparent, so you can use it on the back of acrylic templates and still see your fabric for fussy cutting.


Want to save all the work of hand tracing master templates, cutting out vinyl or cardboard, and then tracing around on the fabric. And be more accurate, too. Well, here's a template cutting tip...

Make accurate photocopied sets of your master templates from magazines, books, etc. Always use the same photocopier to make sure the copies are all the same size. Keep your master templates in a file folder for future use. Use a yellow highlighter to mark your masters with a "m" (it won't show when you make a copy). Always copy from your original masters, don't make copies from copies. Cut apart the paper templates from one photocopied set. Cut approximately 1/8-inch away from the outside lines.

Four layers of fabric can be "stuck" together using spray sizing. Don't use spray starch. Cut four pieces of fabric large enough to lay out several paper templates. Make sure the fabric grainlines run parallel. Spray the first piece, cover with the second piece, iron firmly, spray, cover with the third piece, iron firmly, spray and place the fourth piece on top, iron firmly. Let the stacks dry thoroughly.

If you need to make reverse patches, place two of the fabric layers in the stack with the wrong sides up. When you cut the patches you will have two reversed patches.

Place small pieces of two-sided sticky transparent tape on the back of the paper templates in each corner. You can use rolled pieces (sticky side out) of one-sided transparent tape instead. Stick them on the fabric stack. Watch for correct grainline placement. You can put the templates quite close together on the fabric. The paper templates can be lifted and repositioned until they are just right. Smooth the paper so it sticks firmly on the fabric.

Use a see-through plastic ruler and rotary cut along the template line, going through the four layers of fabric and the paper. Continue cutting and moving the ruler to line it up with new edges.