Cutting Patterns

[Chavez]

Well, got myself some plastic folders which come down to about 40p per an A4 side. The plastic is good and they are of different colours, so its easier to find the required pattern.

Thanks all!

[DoubleC]

Well, got myself some plastic folders which come down to about 40p per an A4 side. The plastic is good and they are of different colours, so its easier to find the required pattern.

Thanks all!

Hi Chavez. I just had a friend me acrylic in all kinds of sizes. I haven't actually made a pattern yet to cut though (well only got it yesterday). I'm going to try some grave rubbing techniques with rice paper and India ink on parts of an old saddle I have along with a Victorian embossed leather chair seat. He also sent me an exacto knife to cut out the patterns after I trace them onto the acrylic. I am the world's worst at cutting things, so will post a picture after I run through the house with scissors AND an exacto knife

[malabar]

Hi Chavez. I just had a friend me acrylic in all kinds of sizes. I haven't actually made a pattern yet to cut though (well only got it yesterday). I'm going to try some grave rubbing techniques with rice paper and India ink on parts of an old saddle I have along with a Victorian embossed leather chair seat. He also sent me an exacto knife to cut out the patterns after I trace them onto the acrylic. I am the world's worst at cutting things, so will post a picture after I run through the house with scissors AND an exacto knife

Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot. Get a sheet of white heavy-duty flexible shower liner. Should be about $15 for a 4x8 sheet. It's about 1/16 inch thick. Easy to trace around. Flexible enough to store in a roll. You can cut it with a utility knife or bandsaw, or shapr it with a belt sander or drum sander n a drill press.

Works really well. Lasts forever. And you can write on it with a permanent sharpie.

tk

[UKRay]

I use vinyl flooring. Tough as old boots and cut and handles much like leather so you can also use it to make prototypes without spoiling good leather.

Ray

[DoubleC]

Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot. Get a sheet of white heavy-duty flexible shower liner. Should be about $15 for a 4x8 sheet. It's about 1/16 inch thick. Easy to trace around. Flexible enough to store in a roll. You can cut it with a utility knife or bandsaw, or shapr it with a belt sander or drum sander n a drill press.

Works really well. Lasts forever. And you can write on it with a permanent sharpie.

tk

great idea, especially since I have so much trouble cutting. I still haven't used the acrylic, doing freehand at this point STILL LOL.

Thanks, Cheryl

I use vinyl flooring. Tough as old boots and cut and handles much like leather so you can also use it to make prototypes without spoiling good leather.

Ray

Now there's one way to get the landlord to replace the flooring, it I pull up this junk vinyl floor and make templates, LOLOL

[leatheroo]

Xray film is great for patterns you want to reuse...it is very strong and easy to cut.

[Eirewolf]

I've been using the thin cardboard of cereal boxes, for small enough pieces. (Hey, it's free, after I eat the cereal.) Plastic would certainly be more durable though.

[Poohbear]

At my local WalMart I have found the plastic for making your own stencils to paint on you wall will go through my printer I use if for templates and patters. Works great it is carried in their craft section. Here is a link to a pre-cut one but they have blank ones also http://www.walmart.com/ip/Plaid-Craft-Stencils-Home-Decor-7-x-10/17300174

Hi and thanks in advance for your advice!

I've recently started designing cutting patterns in inkscape and I am wondering what do people usually cut their patterns from?

I can print the test ones on regular A4, but then once the pattern has been tested and I'm happy with it, I would prefer to cut it out of something a bit harder. Do you use thick paper? Sheets of plastic? Anything else?

Thanks!

[lightningad]

i've started doing my design on the computer (Adobe Illustrator - because i have it!) then printing onto A4 sticker sheets, which i then stick down onto thin Styrene sheets bought from a model/hobby supplier.

These are great because i can cut it easily to shape for cutting around , and i can imprint points by pressing into the plastic with a sharp stylus, so with my leather cased i can rub the sheet onto the leather (like a craftaid) and then use the dots as cutting guides (and they are also great for marking stitch holes)

[WindupWombat]

One of my personal preferences for pattern work is manila folders...they're a nice mix of stiffness and flexibility that allows me to essentially prototype a piece with the folders by making rough cuts, using tape for the seams, making fine-tuning cuts, then simply removing the tape and unfolding for the pattern.

My laser-cutter-owning friend and I do this for both my leather and his acrylic, testing patterns on the outrageously cheap folders before attempting them on the more expensive mediums. In fact, we now refer to them as "prototyping sheets," simply because both of us felt like using a laser cutter on manila folders sounded like overkill...