should I cut pattern up or not?

[$$hobby]

if you cant find a large format copier, just piecemeal it using copies as large as you can find.

[whinewine]

You can also go to a place like staples of kinkos & they have machines that will copy a sheet up to 36" (I believe)- that's how i copy my leathercrafters' journal centerfolds. Then I can spray glue the pages to posterboard & cut them out & you haven't destroyed your pattern pages.

Darn it, I should learn to write, walk away for at least an hour, come back & proofread before I post... I meant to say, staples OR kinkos, not staples OF kinkos.

In the words of the immortal Bugs Bunny, ..."What a maroon!". (And to think that 30-some years ago I used to write all my articles on a typewriter and had to proofread as I wrote and BEFORE I hit the keys.)

[Hoyden]

I have issues with patterns (some commercial sewing patterns are too confusing for me) so I make almost all the patterns I use.

Depending on the pattern and what it's for I use either the white paper with 1" grid lines that you get at the office supply store that is used for presentations. It looks like a HUGE pad of paper 24" x 36". I can't remember what it is called.

If it's a pattern that is going to get milage, I trace it out onto posterboard. I have a big file that my husband made me from scrap panel board that I store them in.

My best source of of paper and cardboard for patterns is a friend who works at the newspaper. He brings me the ends of the rolls of paper that they throw away and the huge cardboard spool caps 24" x 24" to use.

[Ross]

hmm. i've been using bag stiffener from tandy's for my patterns. lasts a long time and it's just a matter of tracing around it. i also use the carbon paper to transfer the pattern to the bag stiffener.

[sheathmaker]

I have a file cabinet full of "hard" patterns. I do sheaths for about 28 custom knife makers and many of them create the same profile over and over. I buy 4' X 8' sheets of sign maker PVC from a sign company here in town. It cuts very easily with Exacto knife or scissors and the patterns last forever....and then some. This is basically the same stuff you see in the sign depatments of Wal Mart etc. The For Sale, For Rent, No Trespassing and so forth. The 4' X 8' sheet costs less than $30. I've used it for saddle parts, chaps, Chinks and of course knife sheaths, and any thing else I plan on making more than one of.

Paul

[Randy Cornelius]

In my oponion you guys are putting way too much work in this. Here is what I do. Take cardboard, I use a product from a local paper company called chipboard. Lay it under your pattern and take your stitch marking wheel and run over the pattern and the little dots from the stitch wheel will transfer onto the cardboard. Then you remove the pattern, play connect the dots and you have your pattern on cardboard and you can cut it out. I have an older head knife that I use to cut the chipboard as it makes a cleaner cut than using sissors.

Another sourse for free cardboard is the feed store. Most of the feed that come in on pallets will have a piece of heavy cardboard laying on the pallett before the feed is stacked. My local feed store saves these for me. I have enough saved to last for a long time. I use them to make saddle patterns.

For making patterns for smaller items I use quilters pattern plastic sheets I buy at the sewing department. Heavy plastic sheets 8X10 or so.

Randy