You're RIGHT! :-D :-D How young is she??? lol! Really makes ME feel old!

You took me back to home-ec class in the 60s!! The teacher made us use the tracing wheel and tracing paper to mark darts, but my grandma just stuck a straight pin in the spot and used a crayon to mark it! I liked her method better!

This is the tool that was used with pattern tracing paper, to copy the pattern onto fabric - primarily used when sewing clothing. The tracing or transfer paper came in a dark navy blue, bright red and sun shine bright yellow. The tracing paper was placed, waxed color side down onto fabric, with the pattern on top. This tool was then pushed on top of the patern markings. The points pushed thru and transferred the colored waxy finish from the transfer paper onto the fabric. (This did wash out.)

I didn't read all the posts, so excuse if this was already mentioned. I have seen Nancy Zieman use it without tracing paper just to make a temporary visible line to sew on or match an applique to. You just roll it on your fabric (not too hard) and there will be a line to follow.

I knew I had one of those things, and finally found it! Now to use it? nah, probably not.

Now, you are really making me feel old. I have one amongst my sewing supplies, just too frightened to throw it out!

Its a tracing tool for marking patterns.

According to my husband, this is called a pounce wheel. It is used to trace patterns onto material or other surfaces.
If WalMart has a fabric department, they still carry them today. They also have what they call tracing paper which is a heavy carbon paper. You place the tracing paper onto the object your want to transfer the pattern to. Then you place the pattern on top of the carbon paper and wheel along the line of the pattern. This transfers the pattern onto the desired fabric or surface. This one is a vintage form and the new ones have a plastic handle. The depression just below the wheel is for your thumb.

I have my grandmother's too. She was a dressmaker in the 1890's. I love it and have used it for marking all kinds of fabric and occasionally for perforating paper. The prongs are sharp enough to draw blood.

its a tracing wheel, used in sewing clothes

Thats an oldie for sure. Tracing wheel