When the tracing is done, I use the printer setting of  “fill the page” to make a copy because I like to work in the 8.5 x 11 size. At this point, I adjust seam lines if needed with the understanding that more changes can and will be made during the sewing process. I may want to further divide sections or even eliminate some of the seams, depending on the fabrics chosen. I have some fabrics already in mind but final selections can not be made until I have the full size pattern and scale of the piece.

The printout is such a jumble of lines at this point that I sometimes use colored pencils to help sort things out.

A clear overhead projection sheet is taped in place over the printout and all of the lines are traced for the projection transparency. I use a fine marker for this as the projection will make them bigger.

I need to decide the size desired for the finished work and prepare the newsprint or freezer paper to project to. This time I’m skipping the newsprint and going straight to using freezer paper which is pinned up on the design wall paper side out. The prepared transparency is reversed and taped in place on the projector and adjusted to fill the paper. I want this piece to finish at about 40″ so I prepared my paper to be 43″ wide. The length of the piece will be whatever it turns out to be after the tracing is finished. the extra 3″ are for the shrinkage caused by the machine quilting later.

It took over an hour to trace all of the lines. Even with a step stool my arms are killing me!

Tags: Mt Goats, work in progress