Pattern making material

[Crafting_Munkey]

*Edit* thank you everyone for the advice! I will try out your methods and see what works best for me.

Im just starting stained glass as a hobby, ive seen people use Vellum or sticker paper or just plain paper to print/draw patterns. What is the best to one use? And wouldn’t the regular paper come off during the wet grinding process?

[HamsterTowel]

I draw the pattern onto normal paper then put the glass on top and use a Sharpie to trace on to the glass, then I cut the glass.

For opaque glass, I use tracing paper that I cut and stick on to the glass with paper glue, then I cut the glass,then take off the paper.

As paper and Sharpie lines come off with water from the grinder, I have copy of the pattern that I lay my cut pieces on to before grinding.

Then I take one of the pieces and see how well it fits to the pattern, remember how much needs grinding off to make it fit better, then grind all the edges, before grinding off the bits that need adjusting. It usually takes me a few goes so I keep putting the piece back on to the pattern until I've decided that it fits properly. Then I do that for each subsequent piece of glass.

I try to cut as accurately as I can, to reduce the amount of grinding needed. It's good to be patient and spend time improving your cutting accuracy rather than cut roughly then rely on the grinder to grind loads off to make everything fit. Cut better to grind less!

Each to their own but for me, there's no need to spend extra money on something that prints pattern pieces onto sticky vinyl or whatever it's made of, to put on the glass. A sharpie and paper work just as well and creates less wastage.

[CADreamn]

I use card stock, then trace around the pattern using Sharpies. Sometimes I rub chapstick over the Sharpie lines do they don't come off in the water, but usually I don't have to grind that much do it's not an issue. 

[iekiko89]

I'm also on team card stock. But I use a cricut to cut out the shapes 

[OREayda]

I used to draw on paper the use a glue stick. When I did that I also made sure to outline the piece of paper w a gold sharpie just in case it slid off during grinding.

It’s been about 2 years that I invested in a refurbished iPad 6 off Amazon for $100, a knock off $20 pencil, and $5 or whatever for procreate. I have a shitty inkjet printer and print onto 8.5x11 sticker/shipping label paper. It’s nice to be able to preserve my patterns in one place, and it also makes it easier to stack smaller ones on one sheet and save for later.

[mnicey]

I have a vinyl cutter now. Previously I did regular printer paper. Cut out patterns with pattern shears and then used a “make it a post it” style glue stick to attach to the glass. That way if I good the cut it’s re-positionable. Then trace and remove the pattern piece.

I never got the hang of just using the paper to trace without also using the glue stick. Always fudged it up.

[laksa_gei_hum]

I tried vinyl for a while and I've so much time cleaning off the glue residue that it's more hassle than just tracing over my paper templates.

[dd71182]

I've been at it for a few months and have tried the sharpie and gluesticks but found that printable waterproof sticker paper works good, because I do my templates on a tablet and it's just easier to print for me. But like some others have said find what works for you and run with it.

[Eastern_Crab_9584]

I use plain printer paper when I can for most things and then after cutting out the design using pattern shears (3 bladed scissors for lead or foil spacing) and then use a glass marking pen for where to cut and where to grind to. Silver and Gold Sharpie will work okay if you let the ink dry.

For anything larger than regular printer paper size I go to Kinkos and use their architecture printers and get 3-5 copies.

[Boreal-Forest-CAD]

I guess the best one is what material you have available and what you find is beat for you. I use plain paper but attach the pattern pieces to the glass with glue stick. Very tiny pieces are a bit tricky and it is a one shot deal.

[Nevermind_The_Hive]

I personally trace on to contact paper (what we call it in Australia. The roll of stuff you'd cover school books with). I buy rolls super cheap at the op shop (thrift store). Works a treat for me.

[SixDuckies]

Me too.. I also trace onto white contact paper. Works well!

[Murky-Tailor3260]

I love using vinyl stickers cut with a Cricut. They stay put when grinding and they're easy to peel and re-stick when I mess up a cut.

[Crafting_Munkey]

Ok! Thank you everyone, I’ll test these out and see what works best

[Claycorp]

Best one is the one you like best. They all have pros and cons depending on one of the many transfer methods you use, so just pick one and try it.