If you use very fine sandpaper, the cutting of it will actually help sharpen the blades... Of course not to be recommended on scissors with specially prepared blades. But the run of the mill paper scissors or old rotary blade should not be harmed.

suehenyon wrote: The answer there is 'yes', I used my paper scissors, but if you want to try old rotary blades, let us know how you got on
They are really easy to hold on the fabric and stitch around, so in my book it was definitely worth it.

While I see the advantage of sandpaper templates, what in the world do you cut the sandpaper with? Dedicated trash scissors or old rotary blades?

TQS not interested in your wisdom? How short-sighted of them! I'm so glad they've seen the light!

PosyP wrote:
I know Rosemary! But I am not a "keeper" of things, and especially at this stage of my life, I'm purging a lot of stuff to simplify as much as possible.

It was fun to share those tutorials (at that point TQS wasn't interested) but maybe the stuff that TQS is now posting in my CLASSROOM link will be available for the duration!

Sandpaper!!! What a great idea. Never thought of using that.
Thanks for the tips.
Lori

That's a bit anti-social, isn't it. :shock: Just goes to show if you don't want to lose anthing permantly, keep copies at home.

suehenyon wrote:
Sorry Sue, but Webshots just closed down the entire link and everything I had posted is lost!
It would have been nice to have advance notice!!

Margo wrote:
Margo, this link no longer works. Is there an updated link?
Thanks

Sandpaper, eh? Another good way to dig into DH's "stash"...

I've used the same method Margo described since the" very long ago". I use double or triple thickness of
freezer paper ironed together if I haven't card stock of some kind handy.

I do the same thing that Margo does...that must be where I got the idea! It works great. My sheet of sand paper is glued to an old clipboard. Anything that works is a good idea!

Once upon a time I made quilt templates out of some of my dad's real fine sandpaper. I think he thought I was crazy at the time as it wasn't cheap stuff. It did work great without shifting on the fabric.

Lorna

Rosemary, I make my templates from old manila (file) folders. I can trace the shape on freezer paper (easy to see through) then press the freezer paper to a manila folder and cut it out on the sewing line.
Then I use a sandpaper board (which is just a sheet of fine grit sandpaper glued to a piece of cardboard to keep it stiff and stable) under my fabric to trace the shape onto the back of my fabric. The sandpaper holds the fabric in place so I can make accurate tracings.

Here is a tutorial I made for the 2008 TQS BOM where I have photos of this technique: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2995463060102889971TlTcNG