How to Make Your Own Graphite or Transfer Paper

Here's an easy and inexpensive way to make your own graphite paper.

Start with a fairly thin but sturdy paper - like tracing paper. If you don't have that, regular bond paper will work too.

Then, using a soft lead pencil, color in to cover the whole of one side of the sheet.

If you can get a solid graphite pencil (art supply stores carry them), or even a solid graphite pencil from the hardware store, you can cover the page a whole lot faster and easier.

Now use a tissue or paper towel to gently rub the graphite into the paper.

You could use the sheet this way, but it probably will have a tendancy to rub off quite easily.

So moisten a tissue or paper towel with rubber cement thinner and rub it over the graphite - use enough to get it all coated with the thinner. This will help to keep the graphite from rubbing off as easily where you don't want it, but will still transfer well when you use a pen or pencil to trace your pattern.

Sometimes if I just have a small bit of writing or design to transfer, I'll just scribble over the back of the pattern page with a soft pencil and then use that as a transfer sheet and pattern all in one. Saves having to fuss with a separate transfer sheet.

If you're working on dark paper, then graphite may not show up well. In that case, try making a transfer sheet by using white or light-colored chalk instead of the graphite.