Graphite Transfer Paper

I have been asked by people who visit my studio what I use to transfer my stained glass patterns with. Most assume it's the commonly used means of transferring material "carbon paper".

Carbon paper works fine to transfer your pattern but if you need to erase it this is nearly impossible. Graphite paper on the other hand works just as well for transfers but it also can be removed with an eraser.
In an earlier post I showed how a pattern is created using folds. The transfer paper used here is also graphite.

Graphite paper is used by woodworkers needing to recreate a pattern or template on wood and again is easily removed as compared to carbon paper. Graphite paper is available in rolls and large sheets from most art supply stores and online merchants.

Bienfang Graphite Transfer Paper 20 in. x 26 in. sheet each

Cleaning soldering iron with sal ammoniac block

Here's the way I clean my soldering iron tips when they get crud build up or the solder flow gets poor off the iron.
Though not about patterns... What good is a great stained glass drawing and pattern if the end product takes a hit from rough looking soldering?

Stained Glass Pattern Software

Stained Glass Pattern Software Sites

Many other craft patterns including scroll saw, mosaic and quilting can be imported into these pattern software programs besides stained glass.

Dragonfly Software Glass Eye 2000
Includes many free stained glass patterns.

Rapid Resizer Easily enlarge & design stained glass patterns.

American Bevel Designer 2.0 CAD Program. You can create your own stained glass windows and designs or use templates with American Bevel Clusters.


Connected Lines Software program that lets you create line art patterns from imported digital photographs, scanned images, and clip art.

Stained Glass Pattern Contest

The creative pattern skills by a member over at StainedGlassville are on display and is the pattern that is being used in the latest contest.
The member Kev created the pattern and theme for this event.
It's called the "Summer Friends Pattern Glass Contest".
The pattern is of a butterfly and three orchids.
The contest is open to all SGV members and will end 10/31/08. There is a growing Vault of prizes for this event donated by other members and company sponsors.
Here's the color version of the pattern. It is also available in black and white as well as Dragonfly (eye) format.

Free Stained Glass Patterns

Stained glass patterns can be found both free and for sale online. The web is a great place to find stained glass patterns and I found one of the best ways to find specific patterns is to do a google image search.
Here's an example image search for cross stained glass pattern. What is nice about doing image searches is you get to see the actual stained glass pattern and can browse the results.
Once you have found a pattern to your liking click on the image to visit the hosting site. Be sure to check with the web site owner for use restrictions prior to printing or downloading their pattern.
Searching for more free stained glass patters using the standard search of web pages works well too but again browsing images works best :)

Here's a great free stained glass pattern resource... Free Stained Glass Patterns

Glass Eye 2000, Part 2

Part 2 of designing a stained glass pattern on your computer using The Glass Eye.

More information on... Stained Glass Pattern Software

Glass Eye 2000 Stained Glass Pattern Software Video, Part 1

Hands on demonstration using Glass Eye software to create a stained glass pattern on your computer.

How to cut stained glass using a hand cutter.

This technique for cutting glass is sort of unusual but has been the way we have cut glass for many years. The advantage is great control of the cutter especially when going over divots and lines in art glass. The wheel of the cutter is easily kept in the parameters of the pattern template. The downside of this technique is it takes months if not years to master.

Stained glass pattern transferred

click on image to zoom in
Here's the previous design made from the folding process transferred to another copy ready for template cutting. I'll use copper foil shears due to the intricate design even though the window will be done using lead. Reason for this is the narrower 1/8" lead I will use has a thin heart or vertical core thickness.

The pattern segments have been numbered to coincide with the original draft to keep tabs on where the glass when cut ends up.

Stained Glass Shears

Stained glass pattern using page folds

click on image to zoom in
Here's an example how to create a stained glass pattern using page folds. The original draft in the upper right section is easily tranferred (mirrored) into the bottom right section of the pattern.
Now you can fold the pattern on the vertical line and transfer the design to the left side of the pattern. Once done you now have a completed pattern that can be duplicated onto a working copy for templates. The original drawing is used for constructing the stained glass window.

Stained glass expose from Chicago

A colorful slide show of antique stained glass windows.

Creating a working and pattern copy for stained glass.

With all of the new computer software allowing printed versions of a stained glass template we seem to forget about basics. The best technique still today is to create a full size draft of the panel to be made and when doing so create a "pattern" or template copy.
Print out tiled patterns as you would straight from your computer then transfer the pattern to a heavy weight working copy. Then transfer that copy to another pattern copy that will be used to create the actual template or pattern pieces.
Once you have the two copies you are ready to cut up the pattern copy with pattern shears. This may seem a bit of work but in the end will make a lot of sense and will guarantee a good fit.
A good type of paper to use that remains rigid but is easy to cut with pattern shears is #70 lb. kraft.
Large size graphite paper will be needed for pattern transfers and is available at most drafting and craft supply stores.

Stained glass patterns for quilts?

Quilters have often used stained glass patterns. The great thing is many websites that offer stained glass instruction and galleries also offer free stained glass patterns that may be used for other crafts including quilting.
The patterns may also be adapted to many other crafts where a simple line drawing is all that's needed.
One of the oldest websites for free stained glass patterns is still going strong looking for the newest offerings online. You can visit it here...

Free Stained Glass Patterns on the Web