Your choice of quilt templates on fabric makes a huge difference. You can enjoy every step in the process when you start with templates that make the preparation and sewing easier.
The goal of any template is to give you confidence that you will be able to finish—and that you will love the quilt—whether you use Inklingo or not.
Monkey says quilt templates can be the difference between making a quilt or making a UFO (UnFinished Object).
Our quilting ancestors made do with templates of cereal box cardboard. They also boiled and bleached handkerchiefs. They scrubbed and waxed floors on their hands and knees. No thank you. Monkey has the right idea. (No affiliation. LOL)
It’s time to update our thinking about floor maintenance and about quilt templates.
Of course, I choose Inklingo (US Patent 7,814,832) to print quilt templates on fabric. I think you will choose it too.
Every step of the process is simple. The sewing is easier AND more accurate, so the pressing and quilting are better too.
MY FIRST CHOICE FOR QUILT TEMPLATES ON FABRIC
This 7-minute video explains how Inklingo works and describes many reasons why Inklingo templates should be your first choice. No other quilt templates compare. There are so many advantages to printing the shapes on fabric—whether you sew by hand or by machine.
For beginners and experts, it is a great feeling to know from the start that you will love the results.
Printing with Inklingo does more than any other quilt templates on fabric. My first choice is Inklingo—by far—but I have a second option too.
MY SECOND CHOICE FOR QUILT TEMPLATES ON FABRIC
Now that you know about Inklingo, you might ask why anyone would use anything else. There are a few reasons: Inklingo shapes not available (yet), no computer, no printer, some dark fabric, some fussy cutting situations.
What then?
When I cannot use Inklingo, I use Freezer Paper (FP) templates WITHOUT seam allowances and add the seam allowance when I cut the fabric.
FP templates are almost as good as Inklingo but not as fast or quite as precise. They are always better (and less expensive) than acrylic templates or paper pieces for EPP (English Paper Piecing).
FP templates are cheaper (almost free), more versatile, more accurate and make the preparation and sewing easier. Avoid templates that include the seam allowance and require you to mark dots and sew dot-to-dot.
For Monkey and me, the very best thing about FP is that it inspired me to invent Inklingo because I loved sewing with lines and matching marks on the fabric.
I have written about using FP templates on fabric many times before (like this) and in my Quilted Diamonds books (2002, 2004).
TWO OPTIONS, WONDERFUL BENEFITS
Quilters have moved on from The Olden Days but there have been some wrong turns along the way. There was a huge move towards acrylic templates when the rotary cutter was introduced.
The good news is that now we have at least two options—Inklingo and Freezer Paper—that are better than acrylic, or plastic or paper templates.
Acrylic templates are in the same category as VHS tapes, mimeographs and typewriters. (Remember Wite-Out?) They were all we had but we don’t want to go back to those days! Why I don’t sell acrylic templates. The best quilt templates on fabric cost less and do more.
WHAT WOULD OUR QUILTING ANCESTORS THINK?
Inklingo is a huge leap forward but printing quilt templates on fabric is consistent with our quilting traditions. We value beautiful things. We enjoy making gifts for the people we love. We are creative. We admire precision.
Like today, quilters in the past pre-washed fabric—even if only because they repurposed old, worn out clothes. I am not as thrifty but I always use fabric that has been washed. Russ jokes that “only a quilter would go shopping and bring home a full load of laundry.” (I’ve written about that before too.)
Ready to print? I always recommend starting with the free shape collection. It includes the first chapter of The Inklingo Handbook (pages H5 – H48) and some great shapes to print on fabric.
Please start on the Main Beginner’s Page.
When you are ready to choose from more than 200 shape collections, you can check out the Index of Shapes and the Smart Shopper’s Idea Book under the Support & Goodies tab on the website.
I hope you will join the Inklingo quilters on the Inklingo Facebook Page, on Instagram, and Pinterest. It’s fun and you can meet “Inklingoists” from more than 65 countries.
There is also an Inklingo IO group where you can interact with other quilters even if you don’t use other social media.
Ink for Inkjet, Lin for Linda, Go for fast or portable. Inklingo is the quilting tool we’ve always wanted.
Let’s get those quilt templates on fabric!
Thank you for visiting.
Linda & Monkey in Canada
Do you have La Passacaglia template sets?