Back in the day when I started sewing, the dressmaker’s tracing paper offered to house sewers was waxy, similar to professional waxed tracing paper. It made great marks, however they were permanent. The wax-free tracing paper commonly offered to house sewers these days washes out better, however it barely marks fabric, it comes in small, thin sheets, it doesn’t last very long, as well as the marks frequently brush away before you are done with them.
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Because of these issues, I rarely use tracing paper for marking my garments. I usually use tailor’s tacks, washable markers*, or a chalk wheel* . However, there are times when I want to use tracing paper, such as when I trace patterns onto paper or mark the stitching lines on muslins.
Since I can barely see the marks left by my wax-free tracing paper, I’ve been using the same raggedy strips of waxed tracing paper I’ve had for the last 25 years, however those little scraps aren’t going to last much longer. I’ve been implying to get some professional tracing paper for a while, however it hasn’t made it to the top of my wish listing yet. There’s always something else I requirement first, like some fabric, or a new pair of scissors, or one more vintage sewing device . . .
I had just been thinking about the problems I have with tracing paper when I stumbled across the vintage patternmaking book contemporary Pattern Design* by Harriet Pepin. You can likewise discover pdf versions of this book online. The book begins with a listing of tools as well as materials you requirement for patternmaking. The author describes exactly how to make a “chalk board” (used like we use tracing paper to mark fabric) by painting a water/chalk blend onto a paper surfaced board as well as covering it with cheesecloth.
That got me wondering what sort of pigments I might use to make colored tracing paper. perhaps something waxy, like crayons? I decided to try washable crayons, since they can be dissolved in water as well as they wash out of fabric. instead of using paper, I used a piece of quilter’s cotton. I figured material would hold up much better than paper as well as would hold the pigment better. Also, by using material I might make a double-sided tracing cloth, so I might sandwich it between two layers of material to mark both layers at once.
I asked my kids to get out their boxes of old crayons, as well as luckily they still had a few jumbo sized washable Crayola crayons left over from their toddler days.
Crayola washable crayons* are made out of water-soluble polymers instead of wax. They dissolve quickly in water as well as melt at a low temperature (don’t leave them in a hot car!). I chopped up half of a blue crayon as well as half of a purple crayon, added two tablespoons (30 mL) of water, then microwaved the mix 10 seconds at a time until I might stir it into a smooth mixture.
This experiment reminded me of my high school science teacher. He often made fun of the wicked witch in The Wizard of Oz. He’d say “She was dissolving, not melting!” My washable crayons were simultaneously dissolving as well as melting, which is kind of unusual.
The thick, slippery crayon blend felt like finger paint. I got my 4.5″ by 12.5″ (11 cm by 32 cm) piece of material wet, wrung it out, as well as dunked it into the goop. I flattened out the material on a flexible cutting board as well as smoothed out the layer of crayon mixture. I had plenty of crayon blend left over. I probably might have coated two pieces of material that size with the equivalent of one jumbo sized crayon. It was a bit messy, however cleanup was easy, since hey, it’s washable.
I hung the material up to dry. After letting it dry for a day, I briefly ironed it between two sheets of paper with a barely warm iron, just to flatten it a bit.
I was worried that the crayon would flake off of the surface as well as make a mess, however it doesn’t at all. The cloth just feels stiff, like oil cloth.
And . . . it works! I tested it by tracing onto both paper as well as fabric. I sandwiched it between two layers of fabric, as well as got great marks on both layers. I’m still going to get some professional waxed tracing paper one of these days, however I think I’ll likewise get some much more washable crayons as well as make a larger piece of tracing cloth. I can use my tracing cloth when I want marks that wash out, or when I want to mark two layers at once. The tracing cloth should last a really long time. When the cloth needs much more pigment, I can always paint on a bit much more washable crayon blend to rejuvenate it. as well as I can make tracing cloths in great deals of colors, too!
I’m thinking a sewing notions business needs to team up with Crayola to make us some much better washable dressmaker’s tracing paper!
* links in this post identified by an asterisk (*) are affiliate links. If you click through as well as make a purchase, I will make a compensation (at no extra expense to you).
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