DIY Templates

When I first tried English paper piecing I was frustrated by the heavy plastic templates, which are cumbersome, and flimsy paper, which can only be used a few times. Instead, I've adopted a patternmaking technique that my grandmother used in the 1930s and '40s: sandpaper templates. I now can choose the weight that I desire for support, and the rough surface grips the fabric to limit slippage.

-Joan Cannon

Noblesville, Indiana

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