Hot Take on Homemade Templates - cut the template to the finished size - ready why

Ok, this is the opposite of a hot take, it's old school Jen Kingwell style that I thought I'd share in case some of you waiting for templates or choosing not to purchase.

First let me say, as a longtime admirer of Jen Kingwell and her patterns - put yourself on the wish list for the templates and thank me later. They're totes worth it ESPECIALLY if you're hand-piecing like me.

Back before Jen used to offer acrylic templates in the early days of her patterns, she never included seam allowances on her templates. Instead, you would trace the inner shape, aka the stitch line and cut your template out on that stitch line. Then when you go to cut out your fabric, you can use an add a 1/4 ruler or Jen's 1/4 seam wheel (which is particularly helpful around curves) to trace the outer edge. Since you've traced your inner stitch line before you cut out your fabric, you don't have to worry about adding the dots or making sure you stitch accurately because you've got the whole line already marked.

Plus if you're a stickler for accuracy or just not that comfortable at eye-balling a stitch line you've marked the stitch line all the way around, so you have more opportunity to align your pins down the seam.

I do a lot of these so I usually write "no seam allowance" (just to be sure) the letter, the name of the pattern, and the designer in case I want to make it again.

[Helen W.]

Great information. I will give it a try next month. I already have this month done. HelenW

[Lynnanne]

Terrific idea! Thank you

[Azenath W.]

thank you for posting making your own templates. I am waiting for the acrylic ones.
so on home made, you trace on fabric then measure your seam allowance from the traced line?