TO TRANSFER PATTERNS.
There are several ways in which designs may be transferred to the material on which they are to be worked. The first and easiest method (short of drawing it free hand) is by means of tracing and transfer paper, both of which can be obtained from an artist's materials store. Tracing paper can be made as follows:
Lay the sheets to be prepared flat on each other, and spread varnish made by dissolving Damara resin in spirits of wine over the uppermost sheet by means of a brush, until the paper appears perfectly colorless without, however, the liquid therein being discernible. The first sheet should then be hung up to dry, and the remainder treated the same way. Rather tough, smooth paper should be used for this purpose. A good supply of this is very useful for any one who does much decoration work whether with needle or brush, as hints and ideas can be hastily traced and thus preserved for future use by those who have not the time to copy a design, nor the skill to sketch it quickly.
Having traced the design, place it on the object to which it is to be transferred, fastening it securely in place with pins or thumb tacks. Now take a piece of transfer paper, it need not be large, and place it color side down, between the tracing paper and the material to be stamped. Go over the lines of the design with a sharp pointed hard lead pencil, a dull stiletto, or some similar utensil. Slip your transfer paper along so as to go over every line of the design. Before removing the thumb tacks entirely, lift the tracing paper and examine whether the design has been thoroughly transferred.
In using transfer paper be careful about using a new piece on handsome goods as the color comes off in undesirable places.
When possible, it is far better, however, to draw your pattern directly on the material, sketching it at first lightly and when all is correct, going over the lines with either India ink, or with a common pen and ink.
For very handsome material, it is safer and more convenient to have the stamping done by those who make a business of it. As there are some, however, who cannot conveniently have this done, I will give another method called pouncing. Having drawn or transferred the pattern on to stiff drawing paper, prick the outlines carefully with a sharp knitting needle, or stiletto or stitch it on the machine, using a rather coarse needle. Then having very carefully and firmly fastened it in position, brush flour, or starch (if the ground be dark), or powdered bluing, or artists' charcoal over the lines. It can be put on with a soft brush or flannel pad. Remove the pattern carefully, and go over the lines with a fine paint brush, or stiff pen with India ink or some suitable water color. If the latter is used a little gum in the water used for mixing the color will ensure you against the rubbing out of the lines. Brush off the superfluous powder and your pattern is secure.
Designs can be easily enlarged in this way.
Cut a piece of paper the size of the space to be decorated, preserving the proportion between length and breadth. Mark this off with perpendicular and horizontal lines. Divide the pattern by an equal number of lines, and you will find it easy to copy the whole on the larger piece of paper. If done carefully, the proportion of each part will be maintained.