One of my wonderful customers, Debbi, has sent me another great tip that she learnt way back when ‘Knitwit’ was the sewing craze here in Australia (sometime in the 70’s and 80’s) to help preserve her original patterns.
Debbi prints her pattern pieces out using standard copying paper and keeps this as her ‘master copy’. She then pins or tapes a Chux cloth over the printed page and traces over the pattern pieces with a black Texta or pencil. The Chux pieces are then cut out and carefully rinsed to get rid of any excess ink and then Debbie uses them as her ‘working’ pattern pieces when cutting out her fabric.
Debbie tells me these Chux pattern pieces are easier to pin to the fabric and will last for many years while your ‘master copy’ remains in perfect condition and is always available for future use. Now that I think about it, these Chux pieces are similar to the interfacing or Easy Trace (costs about $1.50 /m in Australia) that I use as my pattern pieces when designing patterns.
So I purchased some Chux this week and gave it a try. I found I had to be careful with the Texta as it went through the holes and marked whatever was underneath but it was certainly easier to see than the pen or pencil which made cutting it out easier. It was definitely easier to pin to the fabric than the paper pattern pieces and the pins did not damage it like they do the paper.
Tracing the original paper pattern onto a Chux cloth
Showing the results using a texta and then pen on Chux and pencil on interfacing.
Chux and interfacing pattern pieces ready to use while keeping the ‘Master’ copy in perfect condition.
So thanks Debbi for sharing this tip with us, whether you use a Chux cloth or interfacing, it certainly will make cutting out your fabric a little easier and keep your pattern master copies in perfect condition. If anyone else has little things they do to save time or make their sewing easier, please send me an email and I will share it in a future blog.
We all love learning tips and tricks that make sewing easier because that makes it more enjoyable and my How to Make Doll Clothes video course has tons of tips that take the fear and frustration out of sewing small doll clothes.
Happy Sewing
by Rosie Saw
Wonderful idea! I found some time ago that I was lazy and didn’t want to trace. I’ve taken iron on interfacing and adhered my purchased tissue pattern pieces to it. This makes the tissue paper more durable and I didn’t need to do tracing. Love any tips you have 😉
I always said that I’ve met the smartest people on Rosie’s website.
Thanks for such a great idea Debbi.
I’m stepping out of my comfort zone this week and am going to attempt a civil war era type dress for my American Girl Felicity doll. I think prayer will go a long way on this one…LOL!
Happy sewing everyone!
Ann,
Good luck to you on the Civil War Era dress. One of my favorite time periods. I’d love to see a picture of it. What pattern will you use?
I have used interfacing to trace my Ottobre patterns for years. It is fabulous. I find a dark colored pencil…red, dark green, dark blue….works great. Doesn’t bleed through, but easier to see than regular pencil.
Susan
I like to use clear plastic sheeting to trace patterns. You can get huge rolls in the painting section of home improvement stores. Having something clear is really helpful when you’re matching stripes or centering motifs.
Hi Rosie, this is such a clever ‘out of the square’ idea. I have c use vellum for my ordinary multi size pattern, as a matter of course, but hadn’t thought to save the wear and tear on my doll clothes ones. Have had a break from lessons for a couple of months but Kayla and I are back into it all this afternoon with a pair of PJ’s for her baby doll..should be good fun.
Good luck to Ann with her costume dress. I hope she posts a picture. Best wishes.
Thanks everyone for your wonderful contributions and alternatives, it is this sharing of ideas that makes life easier for us all.
Crystal has sent me an email with another alternative that I also use and it is really handy if you use the pattern time and time again. I will expand on this further in a future blog so keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks for that one.
Oh wow Ann, that is fantastic news to hear you are making a civil war era dress. I am sure you will be fine and we are all looking forward to seeing a photo….no pressure!
Happy sewing, Rosie
Can you tell me what Chux is? I only know it as a disposable pad.
Thanks!
Hi Laurie, Chux is a brand of cloth cleaning wipes that has been around for many, many years in Australia. The cloth wipe I am referring to is made of an open weave cloth that is quite thin and the small size is at least the size of a man’s handkerchief. It is more flexible and durable than paper which makes it ideal for pinning many times without tearing. Sorry for any confusion.
Thank you so much for such a fast reply! I will look for that and also try using some of the other suggestions. I am enjoying my How to Make Doll Clothes DVDs so much. I’ve learned a lot in a short time and have a few more to review. Love the way you do elastic and hems. Brilliant! I will share some pictures when I finish my new clothes.
My pleasure Laurie, I look forward to receiving your photos.
Happy sewing, Rosie.
For those of you in the United States who are wondering what Chux is, I believe it is the same as our Handi- Wipes. You can purchase them in the grocery store.
Yes you are correct Mary, thanks for clearing that up 🙂
Hi All 🙂
what wonderful ideas love them all 🙂
My thought on this is maybe you could use Freezer paper…. you can trace on it, cut pattern out and iron it onto your fabric saves using pins or weights etc…and when you have finished cutting all the pattern pieces out the freezer paper just peels off….only downfall is, not sure how many times it can be used again, but just a suggestion 🙂
happy sewing everyone, and I love all these tips and tricks
nice to meet you all 🙂
Margaret (magz)
Wonderful idea Margaret, thanks so much for sharing 🙂
i think this would be wonderful on stretchy or slippery material thank you
Must try this idea with my new patterns. I have up to now printed out 2 copies of the pattern pieces. Keep one copy whole so I can copy it again when needed. The other copy I cut out the pattern pieces and use them to cut out the material. Can use them for quite awhile before I have to photocopy the original. Kept in a folder with the instructions.
Catherine, I would love to know how you go if you give this a try. Remember, with all my patterns, you can log in at any time to download a new copy and watch the step-by-step videos. Happy sewing 🙂
Transferring pattern pieces onto calico is so easy too and it lasts well and pins easily to fabrics. It’s also easy to transfer pattern markings onto with a ballpoint pen or a lead pemcil
Yes Penny, that is also a great option. Thanks so much for sharing. 🙂
I’m in Canada and I’m thinking it looks like what we call j-cloth, can’t wait to try it , thanks for sharing
Yes, I just Googled J-cloth and it’s the same as our Chux cloths. Have fun Dawn. 🙂
i love all these idea’s i have printed the wedding dress pattern several times as i alter or wear it out
Yes, it is certainly handy for our most used patterns Jackie. So glad you like the idea. 🙂