Making Stained Glass Templates

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Making Stained Glass Templates

Score Glass to a Pattern

There are basically two ways to make stained glass templates. There is the traditional way and the paper pattern method.

Traditional Method

The traditional method for making stained glass templates is done by tracing your pattern pieces directly from your pattern.

Transparent Glass
When using transparent glass, you can place the glass directly over your pattern. Then trace the pattern piece onto the glass. Be sure to allow for copper foil thickness.

Dark Glass
When using darker glass, place your pattern on a light box. This will allow you to see the pattern lines.Then trace the pattern pieces onto the glass. (Again, remember to leave room for thickness of copper foil)

Solid or Dense Opalescent Glass
To trace the patten piece directly onto the glass, place a piece of carbon paper face down on the glass. With your pattern on top, trace the pattern outline of the piece you want to cut. Trace exactly where you will cut, again leaving room for thickness of copper foil.

Paper Pattern Method

The paper pattern method for making stained glass templates, uses paper templates that are traced onto the glass, then marked and cut.

There are two ways to make paper pattern templates.

Paper Pattern Method 1

Make two copies of your pattern

One copy will be for laying out cut pieces, the other will be used to cut individual pattern pieces

Be sure to number pieces and mark directional or grain lines as well as colors you will use

When cutting out individual pieces, you can use pattern cutting scissors that will automatically leave room for thickness of copper foil.
Once individual piece are cut out, then place them on top of the glass you want to cut and trace with a thin permanent marker.If you are using textured glass, turn the pattern over so you can cut on the smoother side of the glass.

You may want to cut your largest pieces first, leaving scraps for cutting smaller pieces.

Once pieces are cut, assemble then on your pattern.

Paper Pattern Method 2

Using white paper, trace an individual pattern piece. (you can use a light box, or darken lines on pattern)
Cut out individual pattern piece, you can use pattern cutting scissors that will automatically leave room for thickness of copper foil

Depending on which foiling method you use , you can then trace and cut out your next individual pattern piece.Be sure to number pieces and mark directional or grain lines you will use.
Once individual piece are cut out, then place them on top of the glass you want to cut and trace with a thin permanent marker.If you are using textured glass, turn the pattern over so you can cut on the smoother side of the glass.

Now that you have made you stained glass pattern, cut and foiled, you are ready to solder.

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