Making Templates

Making Your Own Templates

I use plastic template material to make templates for each of the shapes in the block I'm piecing. As recommended in last month's tip about handpiecing, by sewing from dot to dot you maintain the accuracy in the finished piece.

Placement of these dots on the template is crucial to the construction of the actual block. Last week I drafted templates for the eight-pointed star you see here.

There were only three shapes necessary to make these templates : a diamond, a square and a triangle.

I first drafted the entire block full size. Then, laying a piece of template plastic over the drawing, trace one shape (diamond) onto the plastic. Use a ruler to add 1/4" seam allowances on all sides. Reposition the plastic and trace the next shape (square) and add seam allowances on all sides.

If you were to extend the lines of your shape into the seam allowance, the intersection of the lines should be where you want to place your dots for marking your match points.

To insure absolute accuracy, I lay the template pieces together exactly in the same position as if I were sewing them together.

aligned templates

<--- I push a pin through both pieces at the intersection, making a SMALL hole. Then rotate the piece to the other side of the diamond, find the exact intersection and make another small hole with a pin.

With perfectly fitting templates you should be able to place a pin at each intersection and connect all of the templates on at least one side. --->

When the small holes are aligned perfectly, (sometimes you need to make more than one until you get it just right) take a stiletto and enlarge the correct pin hole just big enough to get your pencil point into.

Your handpiecing will turn out perfectly when marked with these perfect templates!

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