r/myog • u/Thin-Fee4423 • Jul 05 '26
Pattern Trouble with making stencils.
So I make custom upcycled clothes —mainly jeans. I am trying to make a freezer paper stencil for a patch that's 4×5 for a knee patch. I keep tearing the letters because the there's not enough room to make decent size spaces. Any tips or tricks for doing more intricate designs?
10
u/510Goodhands Jul 05 '26
Use heavier paper, and a much sharper knife. If your blade is sharp, you will not have to press so hard.
Try using something like an index card, or a file folder. An X-Acto knife, or a craft knife with blades that snap off. The latter are usually actually sharper than an X-Acto.
0
u/Thin-Fee4423 Jul 05 '26
I've been using an x-acto knife with freezer paper. I guess the replacement blades are from the dollar store but still very sharp. If I use an index card will I have issues with bleed still?
7
u/andiroarback Jul 05 '26
If this is a design you want to reuse, you might want to look into block printing with linoleum blocks. It’s easy enough to learn from some YouTube tutorials, and r/printmaking has a ton of posts covering beginner troubleshooting tips. Speedball is a common brand that makes some inexpensive starter tools and fabric inks.
3
u/Short-Sound-4190 Jul 05 '26
It looks like you really just need more practice, and potentially the design and materials for what you want to accomplish need to be tweaked.
As far as practice, find some paper cut art YouTube channels and you'll see it's more about cutting away negative space vs cutting out shapes, so you want to sort of 'nibble' sections instead of dragging the blade across entire shapes, and sort of cut into corners in smooth strokes like you're removing a single slice of cake without disrupting the rest - instead of twisting or turning the blade you turn the paper and try to get it in one single go. It's almost better to over-cut one line and be precise on the perpendicular line, that will prevent those little flags in the corners.
You definitely want to do something thicker like cardstock paper or cereal box cardboard, and use a cutting board meant for exacto knives. Make your letter designs with cutting in mind, there might not be a lot of room but they should be balanced enough to have distance between letters. You can also always make two different stencils - one just the letters for inside, and one for just the shape around it - that will help keep the stencils stronger and lay flatter.
2
u/1234golf1234 Jul 05 '26
Make more attachment strips. Experiment with screens to hold the stencils down and keep them in tact.
2
u/stoicsticks Jul 05 '26
Before you drive yourself crazy trying to get clean cuts, I would do some test swatches on some scrap denim to see if the freezer paper stencil is even going to do what you want it to. Does it keep the bleach from bleeding under the stencil or would a bleach pen give you more control with less bleeding. Can you still read the words? Maybe paint would be clearer.
If the stencil is your best option, I would look to see if your local library has a maker space with a cricut machine. Test that stencil too as it may not adhere and block bleeding or it may be the best but you'll only know with testing.
If you're still going to freehand it, as mentioned, you have to use a sharp knife and replace or snap off the tip as soon as you see it tearing the paper. Work from the inside and smallest details outwards towards the largest areas. In other words, start with the lettering and those fiddly details first while the paper is intact and supportive and save the biggest cuts like the outline of the fish last. Since you're going to be ironing this onto the fabric, you could do it without the connecting lines, but you have have to keep track of all of the little bits like the inside of the O and the A and not throw them out accidently. Using tweezers can be helpful for positioning them, but they will also be fiddly to iron in place. Do those ones last.
Keep us posted.
2
u/whydoesitmatterwhat Jul 06 '26
You can also use multiple layers if it will help you not need so many bridges
2
u/scarletweidig Jul 06 '26
Maybe invest in a circuit joy. You will be able to make so many different kinds of stencils
1
u/Thin-Fee4423 Jul 06 '26
They are super cool but I'm really not profitable enough yet to sink $180 into it. Maybe if my items start selling. All the feedback I've been getting is I am now making my jeans loud. I like a couple subtle knee patches and some red accents. Apparently people like very loud jeans with lots going on.
2
u/scarletweidig Jul 06 '26
I get it! But time is money. Make loud jeans and make them nice.
It doesn’t have to be new. Lot of used stuff on marketplace. Other wise, sharp blades and use card stock or something thicker than paper
2
4
u/tweedlebeetle Jul 05 '26
Tearing indicates a dull blade. You can get very fine details with a sharp enough knife. Xacto, or a snap knife as the other person said. Also, I prefer contact paper for my bleach stencils. Since there is a backing paper, you don’t have to limit yourself to elements that connect.
1
2
u/AccidentOk5240 Jul 05 '26
I wonder if this is a job for a cricut?
3
u/510Goodhands Jul 05 '26
Or a laser cutter, but I always see that requires access or money.
Most maker spaces have laser cutters, and some libraries have maker spaces.
2
u/Thin-Fee4423 Jul 05 '26
Yeah I don't have money. Unless they sell Lazer cutters at the dollar store lmao 🤣. I'm just starting out. It's more of a hobby for me. I both do thrift flips and custom upcycled stuff. My thrift flips pay for my custom stuff that sits. I'm curious if my designs just suck or if the market is just over saturated with custom upcycled stuff.
3
u/510Goodhands Jul 05 '26
Then check out micro spaces in libraries. Like I said they almost always have a laser cutter, if not a cutting machine like a Silhouette, or a Cricut.
You just need a line drawing file, which you can make with a free app like Inkscape. You can even scan a hand drawing, and trace it.
ETA: laser cutter will also cut, and mark fabric. It’s just a question of adjusting the power of the laser.
It is important to know the properties of the fabric, some materials like vinyl, cannot be cut in a laser cutter because they produce poisonous gas.
3
u/AccidentOk5240 Jul 05 '26
I doubt your stuff sucks, but it may not be everyone’s taste. Since all I can see is the one photo in your OP, I can say the fish makes me think it’s a Christian thing and I wouldn’t buy it for that reason.
But also, clothing is highly individual In both size/fit and style. So the intersection of the people who fit in a specific pair of jeans and the people who like your artistic vision may be small even if there are lots of people in both categories.
1
u/Thin-Fee4423 Jul 05 '26
Oh I was going for a nuke lmao 🤣. I totally didn't see the Jesus fish until you pointed it out 🤣... I might wanna go back to the drawing board here lol
2
u/AccidentOk5240 Jul 05 '26
Ohhh yeah that’s super different. And now you say it that makes at least as much sense!
1
26
u/yungnuna Jul 05 '26
Sharp craft knife and plastic sheet. Also design the actual graphic with cutting in mind.