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shantell Dec 30, 2005

I have been using the clear plastic type material for my pattern templates and I'm starting to have a hard time seeing them against the mohair/mini fabric backing.  I purchased these from Edinburgh months ago.  Does anyone know if they come in colors?  And, if so where?  I can't seem to find them but perhaps I'm not searching the right terminology.

Thanks!!

Any other recommendations would be greatly appreciated as well.

Shantell

DebbieD Dec 30, 2005

Ummm....rather low tech, but Nancy Tillberg recommends using plastic dinner mats to cut out your templates.  I should think they would come in a wide range of colours.  Would that help? 

I've just found the clear plastic myself, and am in love    as its easy for me to lay them on the backsides of my coats, and see if the pelts are good underneath.  Cannot tell you how frustrating it is to cut out that "perfect" head gusset, only to find it won't work because of a weak spot.

Dilu Dec 30, 2005

awwww honey, I am so sorry.      I will do a web search and see if I can find them in colors.  Would any color work?  Or just something that will show up against backing but not be so transparent you can't see it?
 

dilu

Dilu Dec 30, 2005

http://www.jfreeman.com/acrylic_polycarbonate.html

http://www.grafixplastics.com/info_request.asp -this is a drafting film company, they have several thickness starting at .003 I think they may have opaque....you could ask

http://changzhoujuli.en.alibaba.com/pro … owimg.html

this one doesn't say the thickness unless you e-mail question

http://changzhoujuli.en.alibaba.com/pro … /E310.html

again, can't tell the thickness

You can check these out and see the sizes, ask questiojs whatever.....I am positive what you want is out there, but I think I need to reframe my question before I google again......

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorDec 30, 2005

Shantell, what if you, or someone at home, just drew a line around the edges of the templates, using a fairly thick, permanent black, marker?  Sharpies can bleed, but I'm talking the real fatty pens, that smell really terrible, and kill ten thousand brain cells per use, and are used for signmaking by your local fruit stand, and make people high.

:)

To protect work surfaces from permanent pen damage, your helpers should place the templates on top of several layers of paper so the pens don't bleed thru.  Then, have your helpers simply trace around the edges of your templates, being sure to get right out there, as thick as necessary for you to see them well.

I actually do this with my cardstock or manila-folder-made pattern pieces before I laminate them.  My sight isn't troubled, but even with two good eyes, it makes visualizing the edges when I trace pattern pieces much easier.

???

starlite Dec 30, 2005

Hi Shantell,
I think maybe coloured acetate of a similar thickness might be of use - I have used it before as I had some laying around from some previous projects and found it better for my eyes
Here are a couple of links to show what I mean - the first is incase you area bit of a bargain hunter like me - the second a standard supplier

Acetate offcuts
http://www.grafixplastics.com/offcuts.asp

coloured acetate sheets
http://www.yourartsncrafts.com/grafix.html

Hope you find what you are looking for 
:hug: Anne

Dilu Dec 30, 2005

:hug: Shelli, I would like to hear more about your laminating the pattern pieces....  'does the laminating plastic need to be cut afterwards or does it just form around the piece?

The laminator I am looking at have the ability to do sheets.....is this what you would need?  What kind of laminator do you use, and what kind of plastic does it uses, sheets, envelopes......

Can you elucidate?

dilu

Shelli Retired Help Advisor, Banner SponsorDec 31, 2005

I love to elucidate!  You know me!

I use a scrapbook-friendly laminator from Michael's, which is basically a cartridge system with a hand-crank that rolls my pattern pieces between two sheets of laminate as it comes off the cartridge.  It's made by Xyron.  My particular model is the XYRON 900.

The cartridges aren't cheap but they last a very long time and I can make many, many patterns from them, as they contain something on the order of 40 feet of laminate per cartridge.

As with all flat laminating, the pieces do need to be cut out after laminating.

The interesting thing is that you can also buy magnet cartridges (laminate on one side, magnetic material on another) to create your own promotional magnets.  You can also get sticker cartridges, which adhere sticky backings to any printed image you desire, making it into an instant sticker!

There are also cartridges that allow you to temporarily adhere things to paper, which is ideal for scrapbookers that like to rearrange before affixing their photos and embellishments.

Look here:  http://www.xyron.com/products_list.php/ … 4ec309b5a0

shantell Dec 31, 2005

Shantell, what if you, or someone at home, just drew a line around the edges of the templates, using a fairly thick, permanent black, marker?  Sharpies can bleed, but I'm talking the real fatty pens, that smell really terrible, and kill ten thousand brain cells per use, and are used for signmaking by your local fruit stand, and make people high.

Funny you should mention that...it's EXACTLY what I did to my current templates.   I just made a new set of templates for a new pattern and could barely see the line I drew on the plastic (I used a fine line sharpie)   Very frustrating.

I'm actually considering the laminating system because of it's multi-use...templates, hangtags, the cat...    I thought perhaps I'd see if there were colored sheets before investing in ANOTHER gadget when there are a few other things I'd like to invest in first.

Thanks for the links...I'll be checking them out.

And...I had to look up "elucidate" 

Gail Dec 31, 2005

I have heard that old x-ray films make a good template material if you can get your hands on any. I use bristol board for my pattern pieces. I believe you can also buy laminating sheets from Walmart that you just have to press on by hand
Hugs
Gail

WildThyme Dec 31, 2005

I guess that this has not been a huge issue for me as I am always redesgning even my favorite patterns so often... it just doesn't make sence for me to make them somehow "permanent".... I'm always enlarging, reducing, curring out a dart, widening the gusset, etc.... I have on occassion used the exact same pattern if I am going to be using a completely different fabric than the one I previously used... So, I tend to just use whatever is around... poster board, manilla file folders, I've also used the plastic placemats that Nancy Tillberg suggested in her book, and I love those when I want something that is more "permanent."  I's assume that the laminated placemats are very similar material wise to what you'd get if you ran a piece of card stock through one of those lovely laminating machines.... 

I can see the benefit of completely clear templates for users of real fur though... that makes perfect sense.  If the permanent marker doesn't work out Shantell, you could give the placemats a try maybe before investing in a laminator... Though, WOW they do have so many other interesting applications!!!!!  I usually grab a few placemats whenever they are on sale at our discount store... I think they are ordinarily 4 for a dollar... but often I find them 1/2 price, and try to stock up when I do.

Beary truly yours,
Kim Basta
Wild Thyme Originals

jenny Dec 31, 2005

I am with Kim..I am always searching the house for bits of card to make new patterns...though I do have some marked up on the plastic sheets...I do it with the pens that you use for writing on CDs ...they are pretty permanent.

I got some foam sheets from Hobbycraft that is used for kiddies crafts...that's good as it comes in all colours...is thick enough to draw round and is easy to cut and draw on .

Pijangibears Mar 30, 2006

Why not try to draw the lines inside the plastic before warming it in the laminator.

Birgitte

Eileen Mar 30, 2006

Shantell,

It might help to make pattern templates in two fused layers, very dark on one side and very light on the other.

This way the template will contrast sharply with whatever color of mohair you use. Of course, you'd need separate templates for right and left pieces!

Eileen

kbonsall Mar 30, 2006

What an awesome idea, Eileen!!!!!