FAQ

Getting started

As a total newbie, what design would you recommend I start with?

We recommend starting with something very simple like the Flag Garlands from March 24 2013. They are simple to cut out, and in that way you will get to know the weaving and joining techniques. You may make the small holes with a puncher – or not at all if just for learning.

You could also try the small Joined Hearts from November 13 2010.

For weaving 3d we recommend making a hot air balloon. It is not easy but there is a tutorial for that on YouTube. When you have mastered this design, understanding the weaving techniques for the other 3d designs will become much more apparent.

For weaving a traditional Danish paper heart, we recommend first to see this tutorial: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ooz7_how-to-make-woven-fabric-heart-bask_school

Please keep in mind, that it can take many projects to master the paper weaving technique.

Materials

What type of paper do you use?

For model development we generally use 80 g/m² coloured copy paper in size A4. A weight of 80 g/m² works fine as long as the woven items are of a size of about 10 cm or when the arms/strips are narrow. When the item gets bigger you will get a more robust and form stable result when you use heavier papers. In general you may use papers of weights up to 130 g/m² and for some items even higher weights.

What type of glue do you use?

We use glue stick, no particular brand. Glue sticks vary a lot in quality, so make sure you trust the one you use.

Cutting the paper

Which kind of electric paper cutting machine do you have?

We both have a Silhouette Cameo and I also have an old (3 years) and much used but still working fine, Silhouette SD.

Where did you buy your paper cutting machines?

Prices tend to alter, and we have bought our 3 machines in different countries (Sweden, Germany and the UK), depending on the price at the given moment. Furthermore there has not, until recent, been a Danish retailer.

What type of paper can the cutting machine cut?

In general, we have the best experience with high quality paper. Papers, that have the same weight, do not always have the same quality. We can cut cardboard as well as giftwrap, but low quality paper with large fibers tends to crack or shred.

I don’t own a cutting machine, so would I need to cut the pieces by hand. Can you explain how I figure out what lines to cut on?

Cut the lines which are continuous. Dotted lines indicate a crease. These should not be cut.

Software

What software do you use for your designs?

Lene uses PowerPoint and Anna uses Rhino and Grasshopper. In Grasshopper Anna has designed an algorithm for creating the 3d woven objects.

How do I convert your .pdf files to a Silhouette file?

You can download a free software named INKSCAPE or if you have the possibility, ILLUSTRATOR, and convert the .pdf we offer to a .dxf file. SILHOUETTE STUDIO is able to read this file type. If you use the older version, ROBO MASTER for Silhouette, you can convert to .svg files as well.

Rights

Can I make objects and sell them? 

All projects are protected under the the intercultural property law – Copyright. Therefore it is not allowed to use any of the patterns, images or text presented on this blog for any financial gain, without explicit permission from one of the pattern designers Anna or Lene. We do allow the projects to be sold for charity only if there is no financial gain involved.

Using the designs of PaperMatrix commercially falls into two categories:

• Homemade objects by private persons wishing to sell their creations.
  For this category, please apply to the following terms; the profit cannot exceed 750 US dollars pr. year; objects cannot feature on any online platform such as fx. Etsy.com or your own webpage or any other web shop. In other words, your goods have to be sold locally; you cannot sell to any commercial institution, company or shop, private or public; objects may only be sold to private persons, with no intent on reselling the objects. Please write to papermatrix.mail@gmail.com to recieve a written permission if your scope of commerce falls into this category.
• If your intentions do not apply with the previous terms, you belong to the category of commercial use. Please write to papermatrix.mail@gmail.com and inform us of your plans. The terms of use depend on several factors, such as the designs you are interested in, the scope of use, and where or to whom you intent to sell the objects. Commercial use of designs from PaperMatrix which fall under the category of commercial use is in no circumstance allowed without a written approval from PaperMatrix.

 

Can I post your material on my own blog?

We follow the directions of fair use, thus giving permission to use the patterns for personal use and for other bloggers to reprint part of the material such as images and text. Bloggers are also given the permission to produce tutorials concerning our work. We do NOT allow Bloggers, writers or any one other than Lene and Anna to post or in any way reproduce the patterns of our blog PaperMatrix. This will be seen as a violation of the copyright and should be removed promptly.

Blog

Do you have a Danish webpage? Har I en dansk hjemmeside?

We have chosen to write our blog in English, thereby having the possibility to communicate with as many paper enthusiasts and designers as possible. Communication and new inputs from designers and bloggers not having known the Danish tradition of paper weaving has been, and still is, very important and inspiring for our work. It is a constant joy, seeing how people from different countries such as Korea, Saudi Arabia, Russia, USA, Turkey, Brazil, India, Egypt, Japan and many more all unite and enjoy our projects. Through the Internet the whole world is within grasp, and that has to be put to use!

If you want to ask us something or need urgent help on one of our projects, and you prefer using Danish, Swedish or Norwegian language, we shall answer in Danish too.

Vi har valgt at skrive vores blog på engelsk. Bloggen er den måde, hvorpå vi får kontakt til andre papirentusiaster og designere. Den kontakt har været og er til stadighed en væsentlig kilde til inspiration og udvikling. Det er også dagligt en stor glæde for os, at se hvordan folk fra så forskellige lande og kulturer som Korea, Saudi Arabien, Rusland, USA, Tyrkiet, Brasilien, Indien, Ægypten, Japan osv, osv, alle kan forenes og fornøjes over de samme papirarbejder. Via internettet er hele Verden blevet let tilgængelig, og det skal da bruges!

Har du et spørgsmål eller har du brug for hjælp til at komme videre med et af vore projekter, og foretrækker du at skrive på dansk, svensk eller norsk, så svarer vi dig også på dansk.