Cutting The Pattern

by Marilyn Unick
(Sparta, NJ)

I've been working with stained glass for about 2 years and am still trying to perfect each aspect of it. After all this time I am still not certain about where to cut when cutting the pattern! Inside the line or outside the line? Do I cut outside the line with the black line still showing? If I cut inside the line, then I am eliminating the black line altogether. None of the instructions I've read (I've even taken classes) are specific to this problem, it only says to "cut the pattern pieces out".

Thank you.

Marilyn Unick

Answer

Hi Marilyn,

You want to get rid of the black line. If you leave the line there, your piece will grow by the width of the copper foil around each piece, or by the width of the heart of the came (if you are working with lead).

Here are instructions for making pattern pieces: Pattern Pieces

After you trace around the pattern pieces, on your glass, you cut inside the trace line. Like your pattern pieces, you want to get rid of the line. Make sure you cut right along the edge of the line, so you don't cut the piece too small or too large.