Who Wouldn't Like Free
Quilting Templates?

Imagine Using Plain Ol' Freezer Paper to Create Your Masterpieces

Free Quilting Templates, can you imagine??? Ok, so it isn't completely free, you have to actually own some freezer paper (for you folks outside of the U.S., it is commonly called butcher paper - it is waxy on one side and solid white on the other). You should be able to find freezer paper at most grocery stores and it is really inexpensive.

All you will need to do is to create a thick free quilting template using your freezer paper.

Applique Templates:

Draw your design on the white (not shiny) side - you can usually see your design through freezer paper, if not hold it up to a window and that will usually help.

Then cut out your design. Now cut 2-3 or even 4 sheets of freezer paper about the same size. Now you will just iron one one top of each other, the shiny side facing the ironing board. Yes, it will stick, that is the beauty of it. It will stick beautifully to your fabric too!

After you have pressed all layers together, now take that wonderful free quilting template and press it to the top of your stack of freezer paper. You should now have a thick fussy cutting or applique template.

Next, cut out your original applique design. Ta Da! You have just created a free quilting template. You will be able to have it stick to your fabric about 3-4 times so you might need to create a few freezer paper templates, depending on your project.

Fussy Cutting Templates

You will be creating a window to fussy cut your fabric, either so you cut out the same design every time or because you want to use a different part of each design.

First you will need to determine the size of your inside square. Remember that this is what you will cut out of your fabric, don't forget your seam allowance or where you will be stitching your block.

Next you will need to know your out side measurement. To make this really accurate and see what you will see when your quilt is assembled, you can glue your block fabric on this outside edge to make a mock up or even use colored pencils to give you an idea of what your finished block will look like.

Now you are ready to start to layer your fussy cut window on the freezer paper. Draw your window on the white (not shiny) side.

Then cut out your fussy cut window. Now cut 2-3 or even 4 sheets of freezer paper about the same size.

Now you will just iron one one top of each other, the shiny side facing the ironing board. Yes, it will stick, that is the beauty of it. It will stick beautifully to your fabric too!

After you have pressed all layers together, press your window as the top layer so you can see where you will be cutting.

Next, cut out your fussy cut window. Ta Da! You have just created a free quilting template.

Reminder your template will stick to your fabric about 3-4 times so you might need to create a few freezer paper templates, depending on your project.

I hope you enjoy this hint and you get yourself some freezer paper. It is the perfect medium for a free quilting template and you never know when you will need it for another project.

Happy Quilting, Eileen