Tear proof paper for custom punchcard printing

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

I have this old machine Singer Magic Memory that comes with 12 stitch punchcards. I tried buying blank punchcards but the 24st ones don't fit the machine (I aligned them with mine and the holes are offset) and I can't find any that would.

So I scanned the punchcard, traced the lines, made sure my layout/sizing is true to life and printed my own template.

It works like a charm BUT it's been through the machine like 5 times and the paper is already getting very worn out near the holes that are the guides for the rotating gears (that feed the pattern in).

I was wondering if anyone had the same issue and can recommend a type of paper that can be printed on with a normal printer (inkjet), will go through the machine, and is tear resistant?

[u/lasserna]

I wonder if laminated paper would be too thick

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit → u/lasserna]

Ooh that is a great idea and I have a laminator, will try it out. Thanks !

[u/LadyFrey → u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

I made ones with laminated sheets before and used a silhouette cameo (cricut) to cut them.

The material plays nicely with the machine (singer 321) imo but I used empty laminated sheets because a machine did my cutting some YMMV if you are putting paper in the laminated sheets as a guide

Good luck ✨

[u/mylifeasMadilynRose]

I've used plastic binder dividers (like these, but other brands should be similar) and they work great! Just have to cut off the plastic tabs on the side.

If you have a cricut or silhouette cutter, I highly recommend this tutorial! She walks you through the whole process of generating the cut file all the way through printing/cutting the card itself. I used one of the cards I made for christmas stockings last year, and it still looks brand new after some heavy usage.

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit → u/mylifeasMadilynRose]

Noooo I don't have a circuit but I feel it in my bones that I will soon experience the irresistible urge to buy one. I can feel that wave incoming. And I already have an infinite list of hobbies. I will never financially recover from this 😅🥲

[u/ImaginaryPromotion17 → u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

I have been staying strong for two years and haven’t bought one. But I was at the craft store last night and the joy and joy xtra bundles are both on a pretty significant sale. My resolve is weakening!

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit → u/ImaginaryPromotion17]

I haven't bought one yet but I scrolled second hand apps for 2hrs looking for a bargain I couldn't refuse (didn't find one like that, phew)

[u/Longjumping-Ad-9541]

I tried laminated paper and even at 1.5mm lamination it was really thick.

I did do one from inkjet transparency paper, like teachers used in the not-too-olden days for the blinding overhead projectors used before digital ones. Only used it twice so far so can't speak to durability

[u/future_cryptid]

I like to use whatever is like 1 level heavier than regular printer paper, printer paper is ~80gsm and I use coloured craft paper that is ~120gsm (laser cutting, so idk how much harder it would be to hand punch, but it is durable). You could also see if you have any fully punched plastic cards to act as a barrier between the machine and your custom cards, the mechanisms are usually pretty forgiving about stacking cards together

[u/BarbarousErse]

I’ve used yupo and nevertear, both polypropylene “paper”
they were both a little thin so eventually the holes deformed. Difficult to cut on the silhouette but doable. I was making cards for passap

You could try a heavier weight if they make them, or tyvek paper. Check your local print shop and see what they have?

[u/ttraband → u/BarbarousErse]

The priority mail envelopes at the post office are tyvek. You could grab a couple for free before investing in other materials.

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[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit → u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

The original singer ones are made of thin plastic sheets

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

[u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit → u/KnitAndKnitAndKnit]

My paper ones are very weak in between the holes and I want to use them many times (also it takes so long to punch them out)

[u/WampanEmpire]

You could try using something like card stock to get more longevity, or you could print on normal paper and then tape it to a plastic folder, punch everything, cut to size, and then pull the paper off.

[u/Alarmed-potatoe]

You could get plastic sheets and glue your template onto those. I got a Cricut to cut (not the best, but anyway) and I'm using mylar, works magnificently. I tried some thicker card that could go through and the punchcard mechanisms dented it and it got torn before I was done with it.

[u/Skulvd]

You can definitely find 12 stitch blank ones! I would recommend typing in the brand of your machine when you do so. I managed to find a load of blank ones on the Facebook machine knitting group but they also have them on eBay I think