Method of producing patchwork

#This invention relates to the making of patchwork, and is designed to produce better results in a convenient, relatively foolproof fashion.

#In the manufacture of patchwork, such as quilts and the like, it is conventional to produce a design on a sheet of thin paper or cardboard and then to cut out the individual patch patterns. Where paper is used for the original design, the individual paper patch patterns are then used to prepare cardboard patch patterns. The cardboard patch patterns are then traced onto the fabric with some marking device; the fabric patches are cut out with appropriate seam margins and sewn together, following the marking lines. The whole process is time-consuming, requires considerable skill, particularly in sewing along the marked lines, and generally produces a wrinkled, dirty patchwork fabric which requires laundering and ironing. In addition, it is difficult to determine where the fabric patches are to go unless they are marked for identification, and this marking must be removed from the fabric.

#This invention aims to overcome the major difficulties in making patchwork, and enable unskilled persons to produce superior products.

#In the drawings which illustrate the method and product of this invention,

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sheet of cardboard carrying a design for patchwork thereon.

#FIG. 2 is a section through line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

#Referring to the drawings, a master stencil 10 is provided, comprising a sheet 12 of thin cardboard or other relatively stiff material (as compared to thin paper or to patchwork fabric) which carries a coating 14 of strippable adhesive on one side thereof, to which is adhered a thin protective backing sheet 16. This strippable adhesive adheres more strongly to the sheet 12 than the backing sheet 16 and is designed, in known fashion, to adhere more strongly to the sheet 12 than to the fabric used in making the patchwork, either intrinsically or by the use of a parting fluid which can be applied when it is desired to strip the stencil and adhesive from the fabric. The exposed surface of the stencil sheet 12 is designed to readily take impressions; a design 18 is applied to the said upper surface either freehand or by printing. The design divides the stencil up into individual patch stencils 20; preferably indicia, as shown circled in FIG. 4, are applied to identify the position of the individual pieces in the patchwork.

#In the preferred form of stencil sheet, shown in FIG. 3, the individual patch stencils 20 are actually cut apart by cuts 318 corresponding to the design lines 18 in FIG. 1. The individual patch patterns 20, carrying the adhesive film 14 on the surface opposite the top surface, can be removed from the backing sheet 16 and used in the process. The same result can be obtained, of course, by having the maker of the patchwork fabric cut up the composite master sheet 10 with a scissors, razor blade or other adequate cutting tool.

#In either event, each individual patch pattern is adhered to the fabric to be used for the particular portion of the finished patchwork designed for that patch, and the fabric is cut out with enough border for a seam allowance, to produce individual patches as shown in FIG. 4, consisting of cardboard 12, adhesive layer 14 and fabric 40 having a seaming allowance or skirt 42.