Paper for making sewing patterns?

[QuantaFille]

I have an old pair of pajama bottoms that I took apart to use as a pattern to make more.
I was wondering if there was some kind of paper I could use to trace the pieces onto so that I can use the fabric for other things. My first thought was newspaper endrolls since I could get some in the right size, but that would probably tear too easily.

Any suggestions?

Q.

[$cirisme]

mossrose's post was lost in the shuffle

[mossrose]

I said:

The newspaper paper can't be any more likely to tear than the tissue used in purchased patterns.

You might be able to buy paper from a fabric store. I bought some once (here in Canadia) that had a 1-inch grid printed on it that was expressly for making patterns.

But I would use the newspaper if I had it.

[QuantaFille]

I said:

The newspaper paper can't be any more likely to tear than the tissue used in purchased patterns.

It seems like once you get a tear started on the edge of newspaper, especially along the grain, it falls apart. To me, it feels like if I tried to pin it to the fabric it would tear too easily. The tissue paper that patterns are made of just seems harder to get a tear started.

You might be able to buy paper from a fabric store. I bought some once (here in Canadia) that had a 1-inch grid printed on it that was expressly for making patterns.

I didn't know any such thing existed. It's probably expensive.

But I would use the newspaper if I had it.

I'll see about getting an endroll then, since they are free, and see how that works.

Thanks!
Q.

[mossrose]

You could be right, sweetie. I personally have never used newspaper, so I really don't know if it would tear easily or not.

Do you have access to a fabric store that you could phone and ask them what they would use, or ask them if they have the pattern paper?

[QuantaFille]

I went to Hobby Lobby the other day and they didn't have any pattern paper. I'll have to check somewhere else another day.

[Teallaura]

Try butcher paper - it's more durable than newsprint and only tears when you mean it. Any restaurant or school supply store will have it but it may be more than you want to buy. If so, try catering places - they might be willing to part with a few yards.

[Crow]

I go to Walmart and buy the cheap clear plastic that old ladies use to cover their furniture. They sell it on big rolls in the fabric area and cut it to order.

It's 54" wide and less than a buck a yard. I only use it on patterns I really like and use over and over again, and it's a little pricy (but not compared to new patterns) and it is very durable. You can mark on it with a sharpie pen.

[Teallaura]

Ooohhh!!! I like that idea!

[QuantaFille]

I go to Walmart and buy the cheap clear plastic that old ladies use to cover their furniture. They sell it on big rolls in the fabric area and cut it to order.

It's 54" wide and less than a buck a yard. I only use it on patterns I really like and use over and over again, and it's a little pricy (but not compared to new patterns) and it is very durable. You can mark on it with a sharpie pen.

Why didn't I think of that?

It is a pattern I will likely use over and over, so yeah, it does need to be durable.

I did think of butcher paper, but I didn't know where to get it, as I have not seen it in stores. But I think the plastic might be better than the paper anyway since I'll be using the pattern a lot.
(Whenever my pajamas wear out I'll just make a new pair instead of buying new ones, since I don't much care for the pajamas I see in the stores nowadays.)

I did finally find some suitable fabric, I went to a Westpoint Stevens outlet store, and everything was on clearance since they were closing that location. I got a sage green, queen size flat sheet for $6, and it is Ralph Lauren, which is usually expensive. I'm thinking I might make a housecoat to go with the pants.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[Teallaura]

Yeah, our textile outlets are going out of business, too, with so many jobs moved overseas.

[mossrose]

The plastic is a great idea, thanks, Crow! And really great if you want something really durable.

And I went to my local grocery store and asked once for a little butcher paper. I offered to pay for it, but since I happened to ask the owner, he ripped off about 6 feet and gave it to me. I only needed about a foot to try something.......

The nice thing about the butcher paper, or freezer paper (which you can buy by the roll in the tinfoil/plastic bag section of the store) is that they have a waxy side, which means you can iron it to the fabric and it sticks, then removes without hurting the fabric when you need to take it off.

I used some of the butcher paper that I was given, but it wasn't working for me, because I needed to trace a pattern onto it, and because it is opaque, it doesn't allow light to show through very well and it is hard to trace.

But a box of 25 or 50 feet of freezer paper only costs a couple of dollars, and is white and more translucent than the brown butcher paper, so it works great for what I use it for.

It never hurts to ask. Sometimes people are nice enough to give you at least a sample of what you need so you can try it out.

[Teallaura]

Psst! It's called a 'tracing wheel'....

[mossrose]

They aren't patterns that can easily be traced with a tracing wheel.



The pattern goes onto the paper, and then the paper gets ironed on to the fabric.

It's complicated.



But thanks for the tip!

[semmie'ssister]

I go to Walmart and buy the cheap clear plastic that old ladies use to cover their furniture. They sell it on big rolls in the fabric area and cut it to order.

It's 54" wide and less than a buck a yard. I only use it on patterns I really like and use over and over again, and it's a little pricy (but not compared to new patterns) and it is very durable. You can mark on it with a sharpie pen.

that's an awesome idea! I've used the brown paper....like from grocery bags, or that you can buy in a roll for wrapping boxes for the mail. But only for smaller patterns. I must say though, that I like the plastic idea much better