Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Folding Templates (free download)!



I've gotten so much great feedback on the printable folding templates that I include with most of my e-patterns. They are just little cardstock guides, but they are really great for making accurate folds. I've gotten to the point where I use them with almost every project, and if I don't have one that has the fold I need, I'll draw an extra line (or I'll try to eyeball it, which I'm not so good at - ack).

Anyway, I thought it would be nice to have some universal folding templates with multiple lines. I've put together a pdf "e-booklet" that you can download here. It includes a straight template and a curved template, each marked with multiple lines at 0.25" increments. The instructions are included with the file, but I will go ahead and post them here as well:

Folding Templates
Templates are great tools for making accurate folds. Print the templates on regular cardstock and cut them out along the dashed lines. Important note: The folding template is designed to be printed at 100%. Before printing, make sure that page scaling is set to none in Adobe Acrobat print window. To be sure the template printed at the correct size, measure the box. It should measure exactly 1 inch by 1 inch.

For a straight fold, place the numbered edge of the Straight Folding Template near the edge of the fabric to be folded (a). Starting in the center, bring the fabric over so that the edge meets the desired fold line on the template (b). Press, working the edge down to the line (c).

Slide the template over to one end of the fabric piece and press (d).
Repeat at the other end (e). Flip the fabric over and press the length of the fold (f).




The procedure for using the Curved Folding Template is very similar to that of the Straight Folding Template.

For a convex (hill-shaped) fold, place the convex edge of the Curved Folding Template near the edge of the fabric to be folded. Starting in the center, bring the fabric over so that the edge meets the desired fold line on the template. Press, working the edge down to the line (a). Slide the template along the edge and continue to press, wiggling the template as needed (b). Note: for wider folds, small pleats may be worked into the edges to accommodate any excess width at the edges. Flip the fabric over and press the length of the fold (c).



For a concave (valley-shaped) fold, place the concave edge of the Curved Folding Template near the edge of the fabric to be folded. Starting in the center, bring the fabric over so that the edge meets the desired fold line on the template. Press, working the edge down to the line (a). Slide the template along the edge and continue to press, wiggling the template as needed. Note: for wider folds, snips may be made to allow the edges spread out (b). Flip the fabric over and press the length of the fold (c).



Here is the download link again: Folding Templates - Happy Folding!!!

81 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great idea. Thanks for sharing!

Char @ Crap I've Made said...

I wonder how I ever lived with out these! It's why I first fell in love with you....er, your designs!

Unknown said...

folding templates are my fave. I knew you were a genious the first time I used them! Thanks Carla. the universal template is just PERFECT!

CJ said...

These are wonderful! Thanks for sharing them with us.

Cathy said...

This is awesome Carla! Thanks! Is there a template that will fold all of my laundry too?

Faye Lewis said...

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!!

Cathy said...

I can't wait to download this a get it printed! What a great idea! Thank you!

Granny Zann's Children's Boutique said...

Thanks so much Carla - I just love these templates!

Allie said...

Thanks so much for sharing!

...t. said...

YAY for free stuff!! You know I love me a free pdf LOL. And since I'm crap at folding this is AWESOME. If I need to hem something I usually just adjust the cutting so I can change to fold to match one of you're guides from a pattern LOL. Now I don't have to!

jenclair said...

Thanks! Such a great idea!

Christine said...

Thank you so much! This is a wonderful help!

belle007 said...

Fabulous! Thanks very much.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

What a great idea! Thank you so much - I know I will use this over and over!!

Becky said...

Thank you x infinity!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Simply amazing!!! So simple yet so useful and effective! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! (from Spain)

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Whoa... I think you just rocked my world. This is fabulous! I would love to link to your templates if you didn't mind.

Classic Elements said...

Very interesting...October 01, 2009
http://twowildflowers.typepad.com/two_wildflowers/2009/10/kathys-easy-peesy-iron-up-hem-guide.html

Abi said...

This looks really useful. Thanks for sharing. Though having problems with the download. Will try when I'm on my home PC.

Jeri said...

What a really simple but super idea. It's one of those ideas that makes you think "why didn't I think of that - duh". Thanks!

rachel said...

GENIUS! Thanks so much! I'm here via Crap I've Made and am a new follower!

megan said...

This might be the most brilliant sewing tool I've seen!! Thank you so much!

Barbara Fisher said...

Miss Carla--the folding templates are wonderful. When I first made the Molly dress, I was like, "Folding template? Bah! I've been folding for years without a template!"

Five minutes into working on the bodice pressing, I was printing out the template! I learned my lesson!

Thanks for sharing your wonderfulness with us!

Abi said...

I'm always using these now when I'm sewing they are brilliant! So much in fact that when I take photos of doing seams I always comment on where I got these from.

Many thanks for making life easier.

Kitty said...

I've always used a hem gauge but this might work better. I'll give it a try. thanks, Kitty

Kim said...

What a fabulous idea and THANKS SO MUCH for sharing it with us!!!

Carrie @ Dittle Dattle said...

Can't thank you enough for making this available! You're the best :D

Francisca said...

Thank you so much, it works like a charm. I am from the Netherlands and everyting is in cm and with this inch template I don't have to calculate anymore and I also use it to set my sewingmachine in the right position for the seam allowance.

corina said...

Thank you for sharing! Sometimes it's the simplest of things that make life easier!

Anonymous said...

Just found this post through pintrest! Awesome thanks for sharing!!!

marisa said...

This is awesome! I have the metal one and stopped using it because I kept burning my hands on it!

Teresa @ Crinkle Dreams said...

This is great! I have an older metal one that I use (and love), but the sheer portability and ease of the paper template=awesome.

<3!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for these! What a great tool!

Pickled Pink said...

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I wish I would have had this a couple of hours ago...

Pickled Pink said...

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I wish I would have had this a couple of hours ago.

Maggs Creates said...

Thank you for sharing, these look like they took alot of time to create.

LolaMont said...

Thank you!!!!! I've made my own templates before but I have them all separate. I never thought of making one master, and now I don't have to!

Anonymous said...

I have no cardstock, but need this desperately! My solution? I printed on regular paper and glued it to a file folder and trimmed.
Thanks so much for being so generous!

Angela said...

I never would have thought of this - it makes the task SO much easier! Thanks a bunch for the free download!

Donna Madden Interiors said...

i am wondering what kind of things you all are using folding for.

Artemisia Moltabocca said...

Thanks for the free template. Now I can throw away my metal Dritz EZY-hem ruler that burned my fingers!

K-Sue said...

Cool! Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

This is such a great idea! I am having trouble downloading it though? I tried on two computers, and it does nothing.

TJ said...

Wow! Thanks! I have a folding template from ages ago that I drew myself on cardstock. It's nice to have one I can print out and looks nicer!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Where has this been all my life?! Thank you.

Lainy said...

Awesome! Can't wait to try this! Thank you so much!

neslinin atölyesi said...

great idea thanks :)

micisip.blogspot.com said...

Thanks so much this will come in handy!

theperfectnose said...

Hahaha, I use a piece of graph paper the same way!

PS OpeID doesn't work for non-blogger users on your blog. Can you install disqus or something similar so we can comment easily (without having to put in all our details/ sign up for Google) please?

Anonymous said...

I found this on pinterest and now use it all the time! Thank you so much! This beginner sewer really appreciates it!!!

cBOlaViE said...

Many thanks ! I try it yesterday and it works wonderfully.

Krissy said...

I love this idea!! Thank you so much!

Debbie said...

Oh my gosh. This is wonderful. I have linked to you on my blog.

PSD To Wordpress said...

Wow awesome!They're beautiful. You do such a great job. I love your work style keep it up..

maria said...

What an awesome gadget.

Bea said...

Thank you for sharing! Genius!

true2beeme said...

I just found this on Pinterest thank you so much!!

Dahn said...

I was making curtains last night and remembered that I had added this to my Pinterest list. YEAH!!! It was just what I needed. Thanks for the great template!

Unknown said...

Pure Genius! I just shared this as my Sewing tip of the week.

http://sugartartcrafts.blogspot.com/2013/02/tip-of-week-folding-template.html#

renee said...

this is genius!!!!

Julia said...

Thanks for this I tried to make one my self but it didn't work.

Nora Andersen said...

Many thanks for sharing.
Warmest greetings from Germany,
Nora :-))

Lady Dragoness said...

Great idea! Thanks so much for sharing.

Akamatra said...

Amazing trick! Thanks for sharing!

My post-doc studies were on molecular biology and biochemistry so I am thrilled to have found your blog!

Here is mine
akamatras.blogspot.com

xo

Sirina said...

Thanks a lot.

PJ Ponders said...

thank you! thank you! thank you!

Thread Riding Hood said...

Thank you so much for these! I have been using them for years and just posted you to my Sew Essential series as Tip #1! (http://threadridinghood.com/wordpress/sew-essential-tips-tricks-and-notions-1-fold-like-a-pro-a-giveaway/) ~Sherri (sherri@threadridinghood.com)

daisyrodriguez said...

You are so generous, and, clever! I cannot say thank you enough.

The Checkered Apple said...

Thank you so much for sharing these!

Idoia said...

Wow! This should make my life so much easier, thank you!

Jackie W said...

This is so simple, like all great ideas! Many thanks.....

Tanisha said...

Thanks so much for the printables! I love this. It will help me so much!

Unknown said...

This is great! Thank you

Victoria Peat said...

I bought a metal one of these on a trip to America a few years ago and I really love it. It's not something that you can easily find here in the UK so I point all of my students in your direction so that they can print out their own. Thanks, they all appreciate it :-)

sci5 said...

I am a science teacher who also sews. thank you these were well thought out

MoniqueB said...

This is the best thing ever. I am sitting here kicking myself in the butt wondering why I didn't just think of this. Good thing one of us was on it! Thanks!

JaneT said...

Thank you so much for the straight and curved pressing templates as well as that darling periodic chart. Very good to have and so clever.

Lynne said...

Thank you for these templates. They will be very useful.

Unknown said...

Thank you for posting these folding charts. Printed them on card stock . going to try them out today on my cafe curtains. So clever. Thank you for sharing

Shoshi said...

Thank you so much for sharing these templates. I have just downloaded them and I am sure they are going to prove very useful! I could have used something like this for years! So clever, and yet so simple.

Shoshi

Anonymous said...

This looks pretty cool! Plus it can serve as a nice fan in a pinch. W Carrier