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Questions and Answers
S - U
Transferring Patterns
Laura's Question - "I want to put a pattern on tote bags, so that they can be colored using fabric colors. What do I use to make transfers for the pattern? I am needing to do 80 of them."
Craft Tales Answer - Thanks for your question! There are several ways to accomplish this, but not knowing how intricate the pattern is or what type of fabric you're using, my first answer would be to use a light weight card stock and print (or draw) the pattern onto it, then cut it out as you would a stencil. Place the card board "stencil" pattern on the fabric and using a fabric pen or pencil a little darker or lighter than the fabric color, trace around the inside and/or outside of the shapes. If the pattern has a lot of detail that will be lost in one cutting of the card stock, you may make several patterns to lay one over the other, tracing each as you go. This pattern may be used over and over until all 80 of the tote bags are finished. This is an inexpensive but time consuming method.
There are, of course, commercial products that you can buy that allows you to make an iron on pattern and then iron it onto the fabric. The pattern will transfer 3 to 5 times before you would have to make another. This is an expensive way to go.
If you have access to an overhead projector, you can make a transparency of your pattern and project it onto the fabric and then trace around it 80 times. The same can be accomplished with the use of a light box by placing the transparency and then the fabric, if the fabric is light weight enough, on the light box (or hold them up against a window) and trace on the pattern lines.
Hope we've answered your question. Good luck with 80 tote bags!!!!
Stringing Pearls
Kathy's Question - I have a question about stringing pearls. I want to go very traditional and knot between each pearl but I am having trouble with the string and keeping the knots tight. What kind of string should I use and any tips for spacing?
Crafttales Answer - Hi Kathy, It's good to hear from you again. You asked a doozie this time! I've done quite a bit of Native American beading in lazy daisy, but stringing pearls is not something I've had the pleasure of doing (yet)! However, I did do some research and found a website that I thought was pretty informative. Most of the sites I visited all seemed to think that silk thread size E was the way to go, and they all said all the pearls should all be strung before tying the knots. Some said tie knots every 4 or 5 pearls, others advised every other pearl and still others said every pearl. Some even said not to tie knots, so I guess it's pretty open. I did not find any that said how to tie the knots; I guess a knot is a knot!! Any way, here is a link to the ones I found most informative! http://www.karipearls.com/how-to-restring-pearls.html and http://www.karipearls.com/how-to-knot-pearls.html. These are both from the same site, different pages and methods!
I hope this helps you out!!
Scrap Paper Christmas Tree
Mary's Question - Last week, I saw a cute little Christmas tree that looks like it was made with a styrofoam tree shaped base, and strips of different colored scrapbook paper. It stood about 6-8 inches high, and was as cute as it could be. I didn't get a chance to talk to the other mom who had made it, and now I can't find her! Please help. These looked very simple and easy and I would love to try it. Thanks so much.
Crafttales Answer - Hi Mary, There are a lot of variations on this theme. Scrap paper on a Cone is what I think you are describing. You can also cut the free ends of the paper glued to the cone for a fringe effect. Or if you leave the scrap paper long enough or use scrap ribbon you can curl the free ends for a different look. We also included a link below to two paper circular trees (Martha Stewart) that we liked. Here are the two links below. Hope this helps.
