Mirror image patterns

[Patti P.]

Hiya all

This is Nigel, Wendy's 'better half'. She showed me a pattern she had drawn on one eighth of a square of folded paper and asked me to copy the pattern across the balance of the square. It was a square of paper folded in half, half again and half again resulting in an equilateral triangle. Wend wanted me to use a rubbing technique.

I initially thought she wanted me to cut pieces out rather like we did at Xmas for decorations but chose a much simpler and faster technique that is based on the home made candle lanterns used in Australia during Colonial days. They were made with tin cans, a nail and hammer to punch out a pattern to let the light through.

Worked it out yet? Take your folded one eighth of a square, draw the pattern you want and then push a pin through the folded paper along the drawn lines. Open the paper, place over a dark surface (to easily see the holes) and draw along the dotted lines. Hey presto, you have a multi-mirrored pattern.

Alter the number of folds and you easily alter the pattern. The bigger the paper the more folds you can do easily. If the folds are too thick for pushing a pin, try a stiletto - not a heel (bradel for timber workers) with a bit of padding in the palm of your hand and push through to the cutting board. After a couple of practice goes we started to work straight onto the freezer paper.

To longer term applique workers this may a well known technique, but for the newer people it may be new and we hope it helps others.

I need to work out how to use a chainsaw in this hobby!

Cheers, Nigel from Pucka.

[Patti P.]

This is way cool! One of those "why didn't I think of that?" ideas.
It could also be done with a sewing machine unthreaded, as we sometimes do for making several copies of paper piecing patterns.
Thanks for posting this.
Now as to the chain saw part..........................

[Margo C.]

Well, DUH? We should have thought of that! Thanks Nigel!! Glad to have you looking over Wendy's shoulder!

[Judith T.]

Couldn't you run the pattern through the sewing machine without using thread to make the holes while it is still folded? That way we could do Ricky's Rhapsody without the rubbing. Is this possible? Judy in AZ

[Margo C.]

Sure, Judy! That's what Elsie described! It's probably more accurate than the rubbing method, too!

[Patti P.]

Nigel, Elsie and Judy - I love these tips! I am really going to try it. Thanks

[Hannelore N.]

Just one little, potential problem, Nigel: The more folds you have got, the less accurate your mirrored images will be because the folds add bulk.

Lorchen

[Judith T.]

Margo, I think I wasn't paying attention to what Elsie said, because you are so right, it was the same thing about the unthreaded needle. Judy in AZ

[Margo C.]

Lorchen is right about the bulk, but I bet it could be done one layer at a time, just like Ricky shows with the pencil.

[Judy M.]

Hi, Nigel! Here in America we call that method "punched tin." It became popular again for decorating items about 15 years ago. I understand the method with paper you're talking about. Good idea. It would be good for transferring quilting patterns, too. Judy in Torrance, CA

[Judy M.]

Hi Nigel and Wendy,
How nice to have a guy checking in with us :wink:

I have a surprise for you Nigel!!!! You said: "The bigger the paper the more folds you can do easily". :shock:
Its not that way at all, try with any size paper and you will realize you can fold it only a limited amount of times..if you are good at it you can fold it ok 6 times only, any size paper :shock: :twisted: 8) :!: