If Icut in one pass, it shears off the parts with an end-grain, so I gotta do more and smaller passes. *

Are you cutting finished parts that match the pattern on the edge and
not engraving in the face? If so, it is actually typical to cut the
part nearly to size\shape using a bandsaw or jigsaw or scroll saw and
then just sort of do a trim pass with the template.

It may seem silly to cut it almost exact and then do the pattern to
finish it up but is (in my opinion) the most efficient way if you are
doing more than one of a part.

I use the template to to draw on the blank with a sharpie and then I
use a bandsaw or jigsaw depending on the shape to trim it first. It is
easy to cut fast of you jest need to be near the line without crossing
it. If you leave just an 1/8" or less it cuts across end grain like
buttah. Of course I am using a 2 1/2" dia by 1 1/2" high rabbet cutter
on my shaper with a matching bearing over or under depending on the
template setup.