tools and techniques
I’ve been thinking for a long time that I want to put up a free pattern on my blog. Then, I get overwhelmed at the idea. So, I’ve decided to try doing it in baby steps. First I will post about the tools I use. Let’s see how far I get with this- ha!
The first tool is my camera- I just got a new one, a Canon A610. So far I am very happy with it. I had a Nikon 5400 before and was never able to get it to take photos the way I wanted- I thought I was inept until I read all the reviews on Amazon and realized a lot of other people had the same focus issues that I did- phew. This new camera makes this project seem a lot more doable.
This is my light box- my newest favorite tool-
it is one of the many things I picked up from my parents house in the big clear out. It is an old x-ray viewing unit. I use it to make patterns which always seem to involve a lot of tracing. And here is what I am often tracing onto- freezer paper-
This is an old roll that I also got from the parents house, but it is available in supermarkets in the US. I have heard it is called deli paper in other parts of the world. It is paper on one side and plastic on the other.
What I love about freezer paper-
-It sticks to your fabric by ironing it on- Any fabric from bulky felted sweaters to slippery light silky stuff.
-You don’t have to worry about seam allowances.
-You can reuse the same piece several times- I usually ruin the paper before it gets to the point where it won’t stick to the fabric anymore.
-It is cheap so it’s not precious.
Freezer paper saves a lot of frustration from patterns slipping around. I always use it for my wool dolls. The photo of the hands show another tool I use a lot- the darning foot for my sewing machine. When I make the hands for my wool dolls, I do a free-motion embroidered outline on the machine. Then cut close to the stitching, around the edge.
That’s all for today- any questions?
March 10th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Is freezer paper the same thing as waxed paper? Do you put the plastic side against the fabric when you are going to iron them together and do you use a low setting on the iron? Thank you, Mimi!
March 10th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
Freezer paper is different then waxed paper. It is paper on one side so easy to write on. You iron the plastic side to the fabric- paper side up. I haven’t found any ideal temperature- I usually iron it at the temperature right for the fabric- ie wool setting for wools, synthetic for synthetics!
March 11th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
I have had a big roll of freezer paper on the floor of my crafty room for months now, always intending to use it. I hadn’t considered using it for patterns, but not I will. Thank you! And I wish I had a darning foot for my machine! I can’t do free motion sewing now because I only have an all-purpose foot. Maybe I need to buy myself a little gift, huh?
March 12th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Wow - you free motion your hands? Yikes - I don’t think I would be able to get a nice curve doing that. Pretty amazing!
March 15th, 2006 at 7:55 am
That was so helpful. Hands have always been my bugaboo…
Thanks, mimi!
March 17th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
The fingers in your lesson look like they’re apart. Your big people dolls appear to have fingers that look like they started out a mitten shape - and then top stitched to create the appearance of fingers. Do the hands in this lesson turn out like your big people hands when they’re filled? I love your big people dolls. They’re totally cool!
March 8th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
That is a brilliant use of freezer paper! I love the stuff and have used it for applique (and keep meaning to use it to stencil); I’ll have to try this next.