How to scale up to four times the size when drawing?

[Deleted User]

I was not sure where to post this, but as a few technically minded people hang around in this area I decided to try here.

I need to scale something up to four times the current size. 

I am currently in the process of creating my own sewing patterns (clothes sold in the shops never fit me and so I am going back to sewing my own).  I have some basic outline 'slopers', for example the outline of a sleeve, that I need to trace and then make 4 times bigger so that I can then adapt and shape these basic outlines to make my own pattern pieces.

I could try measuring and then doing it freehand, but does anyone know of a more accurate way I could do this?

Thanks.

williamgriffin

Use a scale rule?

grumbler

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantograph

rach_k

If you have (or can have) them scanned in as a PDF, you can use Adobe Acrobat Reader to scale them up or down when you print them.  You can tell it to print over multiple pages and how much overlap (or none) you want for each piece.  

Just make sure you print a test with a piece you know the size of before you print everything e.g. take a line you know should be 4cm when scaled up and measure that it is exactly 4cm when printed.  Tweak the settings if needed, then print everything.  

goldfinches

I get the Cashmerette emails which give you all kinds of links to other people sewing their own clothes and their blogs etc. Lots of those are about scaling up and down and grading within patterns from one size to another so I reckon a look at their blog would really help you. It's here https://blog.cashmerette.com/

Owain_Moneysaver

photocopier (eg at the library if it's open ...)
From A6 to A2 is exactly 400%, as is A4 to A0 (there are plan printers for architects that can print A0 and mail it to you in a tube if you don't have anywhere local). 

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all of the suggestions and ideas.  I think I will use a combination of the pantograph* and printing techniques.

* Many thanks to grumbler for the pantograph idea.  I had thought of using one of those, but could not remember the name of the damn thing to be able to buy one.