Monday, January 14, 2008

Tracing paper

Gaile asked what kind of paper I use to trace patterns. I use tracing paper that comes on a roll from an art supply store. Specifically I use this 24" x 50 yard white tracing paper. There's an Utrecht shop nearby so I buy it in person. I trace with a pencil because I always make some kind of mistake that needs erasing, but the cool thing about this paper is that you can write on it with markers, including Sharpies, and it won't bleed through.

The paper comes in different widths: 12", 18", 24", and 36". I feel like the 36" might be a little too unwieldy, for me at least. I like the 24" width; only a few times have I traced something that required me to tape sheets together to be big enough.

The first roll I purchased lasted me nearly a year; I just purchased my second roll a couple of months ago. Sometimes I try to be really conservative, saving all the little scraps I end up with, and other times I just throw them out.

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My Burda Easy Fashion coat is coming along together quite nicely. I just need to insert the lining and make the origami trims which will be hand sewn onto the sleeve and coat hems. I have a feeling this will take a while - making the origami trim itself requires a lot of hand sewing. I am going out of town for the weekend; if I get my act together, I'll get it prepped to the point where I can bring the trim (but not the coat) on the plane and tackle the hand sewing in transit.

9 comments:

Berry said...

I always keep the little scraps after cutting a pattern to eventually throw them out. I don't want to waste but they add to my surrounding mess and they are not that practical...

I can't wait to know more about the origami trim.

Anonymous said...

I use a similar paper. I treated myself to a roll each of 12", 24", and 36" but I agree with you that the 24" is the easiest one to work with.

Sometimes I save the big scraps but I've figured out that it's more practical to just throw out (recycle) whatever is left after I finish tracing all the pieces.

Melissa said...

So what happens to the paper once you fold it, does it crease easy and is hard to work with after folding? The price is very attractive.

Kitty Couture said...

Christina, I am really looking forward to seeing your progress on the coat. I bet it will be amazing!

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you. I was looking for tracing paper, but could not find it in the rainy city. Next week, I am definitely hitting the store. By the way, I have been reading your blog since last fall and really enjoy your work.

dawn said...

I've had a hard time finding tracing paper locally so I order rolls from Nancy's Notions. It's really economical.

Unknown said...

Hi, Burda novice here! :-) I have yet to buy paper for tracing with and tracing onto.

Does this paper transfer marks, or is it what you are tracing onto?

Christina said...

Hi Pirouette!

I lay the tracing paper on top of the Burda pattern sheet, it's sheer enough that you can see through, and I trace the pattern onto the tracing paper. I use a pencil just because it's easy to correct if I stray away from the line when tracing, but you can write on this paper with anything, including Sharpie markers, and it doesn't bleed through (miraculously).

Unknown said...

Okay, thank you! I will have to order some soon.