How to Save $52.45
I'm watching a Bernina (sewing machine) group on FB, and today they posted this circle template, which for some reason costs a little over fifty bucks. The post says it has holes every 1/4 inch for marking circles. I guess so you can poke a pencil or marker or whatever through and make dots which will show you where to cut when you want to cut a circle out of fabric. I can only see holes spaced every 1/4 inch along the radial lines though, not around the edge of each circle... granted, that would be a royal pain in the neck if that was really how you had to mark your outline. You'd have to mark about 150 little dots on just a one foot wide circle, imagine how horrible it would be if you were trying to mark a bigger one! However, since there seem to be holes only along the radial lines, and not around the edges of each size of circle, I guess you're supposed to stab something through the very center hole to act as an axis and then stick a pencil through one hole and spin the whole thing around to mark your circle.
If that's the case, you can do the same thing with string. Tie a small loop in one end, measure down the string half the width of your circle and tie a knot, and stick a pin through the knot to act as an axis. Voila! You can now stick a pencil through the loop and draw a circle. You could also use a strip of poster board with holes poked in it. Then you can use your $52.45 (plus shipping?) for a delicious dinner, a movie, and perhaps some new shoes. :)
It also claims it helps with positioning things, but since you would have to remove the template every time you needed to adjust something, then adjust it, then put the template back on, then repeat the process until everything was in the right place, it doesn't seem like it would be all that helpful. Besides, it only shows you how far out from the center stuff is. There aren't measurements around the edges of the circles either, so you'd still have to bust out a normal ruler or measuring tape for that.
It kinda reminds me of the wooden hand models they make for people to use as a drawing reference. Sure, they look interesting sitting on your desk, but they're mostly useless. They claim to be "fully posable and adjustable" but try making it into a fist. Or the "live long and prosper" sign. Or... well anything a real hand does. Real hands are amazingly complex and capable of conveying all kinds of action or emotion. Those wooden models convey absolutely nothing. Now drawing hands is hard, but you're much better off asking a friend or family member to act as a hand model and snap some pictures. If you don't have a camera or a friend who's willing to hold still long enough for you to draw their hand, you can practice by drawing your own hand (the one not holding the pencil). There's even a few decent books out there on drawing hands that are a much more worthwhile investment than buying one of those dopey wooden things... unless you just want it as a funky paperweight.
And when it comes to drawing circles on fabric... I'd just stick with the string.