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?
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!
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!
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?
Wow – you free motion your hands? Yikes – I don’t think I would be able to get a nice curve doing that. Pretty amazing!
That was so helpful. Hands have always been my bugaboo…
Thanks, mimi!
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!
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.