[Question] Tracing patterns

Have you tried photo copying? How about tracing paper?

Inexpensive non-woven interfacing works well for tracing patterns and is sturdy, and has the added advantage of almost clinging to fashion fabrics when you lay the pattern out, so not as much pinning is needed (if you rotary cut, sometimes you don't have to pin at all!)

Pellon used to make a product for this purpose called Red Dot Tracer, so called because it had a grid of red dots every inch in both directions. I really liked it because it was very wide. I haven't been able to find it recently but Hancock's has another brand that is similar, just not as wide. It can be stitched together if necessary to get a wider piece.

Doreen in Alabama

Photocopying is really hard to do with a pattern sheet that is that large (over a meter wide and almost 2 meter long) and regular patternt tracing paper they sell in sewing material and crafts store is too thin for using over and over...

but thanks for the comments! :)

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Doreen was not talking about pattern tracing paper. She was talking about Pellon non-fusible interfacing. You *can* use that over and over.

I use dressmaker's Dot & Cross: it's like newsprint with a 1" grid of dots and crosses. It stands up to many uses, and you can always iron some fusible interfacing to the corners and other high use areas.

I use examining table paper. You can find it at stores, that carry canes, support stockings, and such. Or you could ask your friendly neighbourhood physician. The roll of paper is about 40 cm wide and loooooooong (maybe 100 m), and cheap, really cheap. I've been using that kind of paper since I started sewing Burda patterns 20 years ago. Just make sure, you get the smooth and not the crepe.

HTH, Michaela

• I feel like a squirrel - my family tree is full of nuts. *

If you're in the US, Do-sew, Red-dot tracer or lightweight interfacing should work, as will various spunbonded geotextiles like Carrif soil separator. If you really want permanent patterns, and especially if you have to add seam allowance, trace onto what ever is easy, then staple the traced pattern on to oaktag, add the seam allowances, and cut the oak tag. Punch a hole in each pattern piece and hang on pattern hooks for storage.

I do a lot of pattern drafting & alteration (by hand, not CAD) and I use standard canary yellow tracing paper available from most art/architectural supply houses including ArtMart. You can get it online in larger quantities even cheaper. It comes in 50 foot rolls in widths from 12" to 36". I keep rolls of 12, 18, 24 and 36". It is crisper than normal patterns you buy (ie McCalls) but sturdier. You can use indelible pens on it without it going thru to the other side and it irons well. And you can use many layers and still see thru it quite easily. It's cheap. For patterns I use more than a few times, I trace them onto a sturdier medium like a translucent interfacing. But it's very rare that I have to do that.

Phae

Hello LDSM: Freezer paper works okay. After tracing it, I've acutally LIGHTLY ironed it to the fabric, then cut. It can be used several times like that, then pinned for further projects. HTH. PAT in VA/USA

That's what I use now, but I used to keep no iron-on interfacing. I was going to buy more interfacing one day and mentioned it to the nurse that the paper used on the examining table would be perfect. She gave me a roll on the condition, that I bring photos of DGD wearing the outfits I make; her two children are still teens in high school. Emily

I've used freezer paper for this. It's cheap, plentiful, you can cut it as long as you want, it's durable and see through.

Cookie

In the US, freezer paper is opaque.