Comments on: Tools and Supplies

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:00:31 +0000

[sorry for the duplicate posting] Yay! I found a source for green back pattern paper in Dallas that is reasonably priced. Here are the details: 2X, 9" diameter, 48" wide, $139. Sunny Sewing, Dallas TX

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:51:27 +0000

Sorry Helen, this isn’t something I know anything about. There is a world of difference btwn drafting paper in home sewing vs industry. We typically use oaktag (paper #2 above) but I know some will make test drafts in paper #1. I suppose durable is relative. No paper of such weight as to be translucent would last long on the job and I have never seen it used for patterns. Perhaps you could get kraft or white rolled paper from Uline?

By: Helen McCracken

Helen McCracken — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:12:52 +0000

Can you suggest an online source for durable, translucent pattern drafting paper?
For years I have used Pattern-ease which I dislike because it stretches and it is coated with chemicals that I’m allergic to.

By: Dia

Dia — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:49:05 +0000

Back in ancient history when I worked as a marker, I used the yellow china marker when the fabric was too light for white to be visible to the seamstresses, i.e., on white or off-white. Otherwise white was the rule because it generally vanished when the finished garmet was pressed. If I had to use the yellow, I was supposed to go easy on the garment so it wouldn’t show. So there is a reason for a yellow china marker.

The selection went:
white china marker: general purpose
yellow china marker: white or off-white
white taylor chalk: wool or rough surfaced (boucle) fabrics
blue or grey taylor chalk: white or off-white wool or rough surfaced (boucle) fabrics

On one very irregular day, I used a regular graphite pencil for 2 hours because all my chalks and markers were missing. They were fast to go to a stationary store to get me something else because graphite is greasy and doesn’t go away easily. (Work started at 7, the stationary store opened at 9. That ought to tell you how important my boss thought it was.)

By: Bunny punch

Bunny punch — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:38:04 +0000

[...] we hung our patterns. I thought I’d taken a picture of the tool we use when I did my entry on Tools and supplies but it wasn’t in there. So here it [...]

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 17:20:19 +0000

Bump, commenting to let people know this has been updated. Someone told me this product is now available on Amazon. This sewing hammer is exactly the one I use.

By: Dream Sample Room

Dream Sample Room — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:32:29 +0000

[...] tools and supplies (rulers of varying [...]

By: sfriedberg

sfriedberg — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 13:46:44 +0000

Nina, search for “Fairgate kit”. Fairgate sells pattern making supplies to students and their fashion design kits are widely available.

By: Nina

Nina — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:48:41 +0000

Hi,

Does anyone know if there are pattern-making starter kits available? You know, that bring with them some of the tools you mentioned? I heard from someone they exist but have found no such thing while searching the net. Thanks so much for the help!

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:35:05 +0000

In engineering school, I was introduced to those erasers. We purchased the stick kind (http://www.misterart.com/store/view/001/group_id/8578/Staedtler-Mars-White-Plastic-Stick-Eraser-and-Refills.htm) I never used this vendor but just wanted to link to an example of the eraser … I got addicted to the slimmer shape of the stick version and thought I’d share.