What are Patchwork Templates

Patchwork Templates provide an accurate way of cutting your designer quilt blocks or your applique pieces.  They make sure that each piece cut is exactly the same size and will fit together perfectly when sewn.

Patchwork templates can be made out of *paper, *cardboard, acrylic, plastic or metal.  Paper, cardboard and plastic templates are usually cut by the quilter themselves, but acrylic and metal are usually purchased as a block set or a particular design or shape.

*Paper and Cardboard are not recommended if you require more than a couple of cuts, they are hard to draw around or if you are using a rotary cutter, it is far too easy to slice just a fraction of the actual template leaving your template no longer accurate.

Template plastic is available for sale at most quilting supply stores both physical and online, and is an excellent idea if you are making a pattern that has supplied just a paper outline, and you require more than one or two to be cut.  You can use the original pattern (Keeping it intact and reusable) transfer the pattern to your plastic and then use your new template for cutting.  If your plastic gets damaged in any way, you can simply cut another and continue. Rotary cutters can be used to cut your template, but try to keep a separate blade for cutting the template plastic, will dull your blade.

By far the most used quilting and patchwork templates are the pre-cut acrylic templates, these templates are available in countless designs and sizes, Sewing Buddies Australia stocks well over 100 different types of acrylic templates ranging from full blocks to hearts, circles and stars of different sizes.

 A good quality acrylic patchwork template last forever, it won’t lose its shape and can be used over as many times as you like.  It will have seams allowances included, plus seam junction points built in. (when you are piecing your blocks or patterns, often you need to know where your seam line ends, because if you simply sew to the end of the fabric, curves etc. may be out of shape, sometimes we also need to pivot our fabric at the point.  Having those junction points marked for us can save lots of un-picking) And it can also stop the bulkiness of crossed sewing lines when we are trying to press and flatten our finished seam.

Some of the more advanced patchwork templates like the double weddings ring can make the most daunting pattern or block so much easier.

Sure we can draw each one by hand, and cut without the use of a patchwork template, but patchworking smarter with less headaches, hair pulling and groans, is often much better, not only for ourselves, but for everyone around us who has to listen to our grumbles. 

Designers like Meredithe Clarke have developed complete sets of templates that are all different, but fit together perfectly, so you are able to create a set of blocks to create a single design, or join lots of designs together for a totally different perspective and look.