Comments on: Paper patterns, soft or hard?

By: Meet Martha. Need hard copy patterns?

Meet Martha. Need hard copy patterns? — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:02:02 +0000

[...] to help out part time. She’s been working with me for a week now. Speaking of, she can make hard copy patterns for those of you who need them. Please don’t hesitate to inquire if you need [...]

By: Handmade or CAD patterns: which are better?

Handmade or CAD patterns: which are better? — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 20:07:53 +0000

[...] also read: Paper patterns, soft or hard? How to know if you need digital or paper patterns Why pattern makers resist learning CAD CAD vs CAD [...]

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:03:30 +0000

Jacquelyn, you weren't the only one with questions, it evolved into a thread called How on earth do you use oak tag to make patterns? Your specific question was answered here.

By: jacquelyn

jacquelyn — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:39:22 +0000

Thanks for all this helpful information. Kathleen, you mentioned that you use oak tag to draft on, and you also said you don’t like to fold it due to degradation. I fully agree, but, for a symmetrical full pattern piece, I am puzzled as to how to copy the drafted right side to the left without scoring and folding the oak tag. I appreciate your thoughts.

By: Fashion Incubator » Pattern grainline notation

Fashion Incubator » Pattern grainline notation — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:51:30 +0000

[...] Notation: Now we can discuss grainline notation as it applies to hard patterns. I have to limit discussion or we’ll be here all day. [If you need to know about pattern [...]

By: Kiya

Kiya — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 13:57:28 +0000

I start with contractor’s paper from Home Depot. It’s heavier than craft paper and at $8 a roll with no shipping…it works for me.

By: Monica

Monica — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:16:52 +0000

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to make a pattern table? What can I use for the top? I was thinking cork maybe (covered with oak tag) but I don’t know. Plus, I can’t find any thick enough. Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

By: Kerryn

Kerryn — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 12:01:28 +0000

RK said: Do any of you know a trick for un-curling the oak tag once it gets closer to the center of the roll and is so curly its hard to work with?
Iron it. Really… the solution is that low tech. Turn it to the reverse side and iron it with a dry iron until it unfurls.

An even quicker way to solve the curling issue is to use what your standing next to. Turn the paper to the reverse side and holding the corner pull the paper down firmly over the patternmaking table edge (as if you were trying to curl it in the opposite direction). This should balance out the curl in the card*.

*I can’t imagine using anything else!
My dream ‘tool’ is a plotter that plots and cuts on card (or oak tag as you all call it? where does that name come from??) it even cuts a pattern hole for hanging!

By: andrea

andrea — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:37:22 +0000

an addendum to my previous comment: I didn’t quite express how important hard paper is to sewing….my bags go together twice as quickly because hard paper allows me to mark accurately and cut accurately making them a breeze to sew. I will never again even draft a sample pattern in newsprint!

By: Andrea

Andrea — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:39:03 +0000

I just got serious about my handbag collection. 7 styles and growing. One of my newest designs has 11 pattern pcs! I can’t express how important correct seam allowance and hard paper are to making a correct bag (all squares and angles). My bags go together 2x as quickly with less mistakes (and I am, sadly, still using a home machine). Accuracy in your pattern means less money lost on mistakes…better cutting and ultimately better sewing!