Say I have a set of four flexible rods, made out of say, fiberglass. Each rod is 36" long.
I have the rods mounted in an X or a + fashion, each rod at 90 degrees from its nearest neighbor.
Now I take the four fiberglass rods and bend them so the free ends of each rod are now pointing in the same direction, effectively making a sort of "tent frame".
So if I wanted to make a tent out of this structure, I'd have to skin it with fabric.
Since fabric is cut flat, how would I draw the pattern to cut it out? (Essentially "unpeeling" the tent?)
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magicmarmot- Tom Ramcigam
- Magic Marmot Studios
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The easiest way to make a pattern is to use cheap fabric or paper and form it to your frame, then cut it where you like. All fabric stores have a remnant or discount area, usually the cheapest is 99 cents or $1.99. It doesn't matter if it's got pink duckies - it's just for building the pattern.
(pragmatic things - make the frame, take large amount of cloth and make a mock-up, and then in marker mark the outlines.)
If you don't want to go the fabric route and you'd like a *very* tight fitting pattern, duct tape works great. Tape it to your form, put paper or something on all of the exposed sticky parts, cut out pieces (mark where your cuts were), add 1/2" at cuts for seam allowance.
The same method is used to make custom "form fit" clothing - put on a T-shirt that you don't mind losing, cover with duct tape to whatever tightness is desired, cut off garment pattern with scissors, add 1/2" for seam allowance.