https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71p3lIaK2Rk

If you spend any time in the kitchen – and even if you don’t – freezer paper is likely somewhere in your cupboard. Freezer paper seems to stack up in my cupboards even though I don’t use it often at all. You can continue to use freezer paper to wrap frozen goods or cheese but know that the material can come in handy for cosplay and craft purposes, too. It’s effective for at least a couple of uses and inexpensive. Inexpensive supplies that I already have in my house are my favorite kind of supplies.

You’ve probably noticed that freezer paper has one shiny side. The slick coating adheres to surfaces like fabric when heat is applied. Note that wax paper is not the same thing as freezer paper since it’s coated on both sides. This isn’t a case where you can just substitute materials; freezer paper is necessary. Since the paper can stick to fabric, it’s really helpful in a couple of areas:

Preserving patterns – Sewing patterns can be flimsy and way too easy to rip. It’s one of the many frustrations I experience when sewing. You can alleviate some of those issues by tracing the pattern onto freezer paper with a pencil. You can then iron the freezer paper shiny side down directly onto fabric until it adheres. Using an iron on a medium to medium high (no steam!) setting will do the trick. Next, cut the fabric along the pattern. Once you’re done cutting, peel the freezer paper off the fabric. Tada, you have a reusable pattern that you didn’t have to pin or weigh down.

Stencils – Whether you want to make the perfect lightning bolt for a Ms. Marvel costume or a custom t-shirt or top to match something you’ve seen in pop culture, freezer paper can help. You can use the method mentioned above if you need to cut out fabric of a given shape. Print any given symbol, transfer it to freezer paper, iron it down, cut around it, and peel the freezer paper off. If you need to create a stencil, you can print the symbol on something like a Silhouette Cameo cutter or print it on paper and transfer it to freezer paper. You’ll iron the freezer paper on and then fill in the stencil with fabric or acrylic paints. Carefully peel away the freezer paper once the paint is dry. The above photo shows a project of mine in progress. You can read a thorough tutorial at Baamf Cosplay’s Tumblr.