I recently watched a Peggy Sagers DVD and she talks about using your French curve with your rotary cutter to cut out patterns.
I had to trace a Jalie pattern the other day and had a lightbulb moment. Why not use my French curve to follow the lines? That's what I did and it made things a lot easier. I was tracing a very simple skirt with yoke and attached panties. I could find almost every curved line in the size I was tracing on my French curve by just moving it around a little. The few that I couldn't get the full curve on, I was able to get about 1/2 or 1/3 on, readjust the French curve, and do it again.
Just running the marker along the curve was much easier, faster, and made my lines so much smoother than my normal method of either free hand or adjusting a straight ruler.
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excellent tip
10/21/10 6:27 AM
Good idea!
10/21/10 8:40 AM
Thanks for posting. This is definitely a light bulb moment for me!
10/21/10 8:41 AM
Great tip!
10/21/10 8:48 AM
Great tip! Funny, I use my STRAIGHT ruler to cut out straight lines, I never thought of using curve shape to cut around curves. Another one of those "Gee, why didn't I think of that?!" moments!
10/21/10 11:56 PM
I have agree with quathy, I just cut something out the other night using my meter stick for the straight edges and winging it for the curved areas. Definitely a "why didn't I think of that" moment!
10/23/10 9:59 AM
Great tip. There are special French curve rulers made for sewing, too, such as the Styling Design Ruler. http://www.overstock.com/Crafts-Sewing/Styling-Design-Ruler/3665088/product.html
10/23/10 3:22 PM
do you think this dulls the blad any/?
12/13/10 0:44 AM
No I don't. The cutting edge of the blade doesn't contact the edge of the ruler. Frankly though, I've ALWAYS used my rotary cutter against a plastic ruler so I'm not sure I'd be the one to notice a difference.
12/13/10 10:52 AM