does anyone know what this mean?
 

I have a purse pattern, and in the cutting directions it tell me to: cut 4" OTL, what does OTL mean, I have no clue and have never seen this before.

off the length? I'd have to see more of the directions to be certain. perhaps because it is a purse it is referring to the lining?

over the line? just a guess

never seen that either.

OTL usually means "outside the lines" but it's a sports reference, so I am not sure how that applies to sewing on fabric.

I'm also thinking Off The Length ... perhaps these are your handles?

Look thru the pattern thoroughly ... there's probably somewhere that they have shown the acronyms they are using.

more abbreviations? I'm beginning to hate them. i'd contact the pattern maker!!!

If they meant along the length of fabric, they should have said LOF (as opposed to WOF=width of fabric). OTL is a strange one.

OTL means on the line over here (seams included) but as suggested above I think it's best to check with the pattern maker.

I'm with you nativetexan.
Sure gets challenging to learn what all these letters mean.
Guess spelling it out is = NLAO = no longer an option. :D

Write the designer and ask what it means

I've seen that in a quilt pattern. It meant Cut__ inches Off the Length of one of the strips that were cut.

It probably means some words that are so difficult to spell and take such a long time to type that they have to be abbreviated. As far as I'm concerned, it's nothing but pure laziness.

LOL! Clever.

Let us know if you find out. Good Luck

Contact the seller/designer. They need to know that their technical directions are not easy to understand. Technical writers often assume we are familiar with all "slang"

I'm with you, Nativetexan! Whatever happened to the 3 Cs (clear, concise, correct) of communication---especially in any kind of directions.

I'm sorry I can't help you out, I have no idea what that means. I hate abbrevations on patterns like that, I think too many people including designers are just getting LAZY, they are so engrossed in the texting, twittering and all, that they think everyone else does this. I do neither, and hate for people to use abbreviations when they could just as easily print the meaning out or orally say it. This high tech world we now live in is truly ruining our children in school. I am a retired First Grade teacher and retired in 2004. A few years before retirement, our brilliant state legislators and educators decided that Handwriting and Spelling were no long necessary as part of the curriculum, how sad. When tutoring after retirement, many of my 4th and 5th grade students did not even know how to write their name or write anything else. They could print whatever they wanted, but could not write it in cursive handwriting. So many could not spell anything either. I suppose Math and Reading will be next. Sorry will not step down from my "Soap Box."

Gerbie, I feel the same way. Also, listening to the slang words our local tv personalities use causes me to talk to the television! :o

I use to volunteer in the local public school and saw first hand the kids were taught pass the benchmark tests not that they understood what they were taught. These same kids are graduating and guess what, become the educators that make the education rules.

Read carefully. Are you making a purse with a flat bottom.? Yes.then the bas will b telling you to set up the base into a triangle corner. Draw a line across triangle to make te base line of said triangle. It could be 4 inches from point. Now cut OTL. THAT IS ON TH LINE JUST DRAW BUT I WOULD SEW ON LINE AND CUT .
No then don't know.

opportunity to learn :D

I'm right up there with you, Gerbie! I'm a retired first grade teacher and it hurts my heart to see the penmanship of former students (grandson included)! I don't know what they call what they do. It's not manuscript and it's not cursive...barely legible (if at all)! I think the math will be next because, as it is, the computers and calculators have taken over. Just before I retired, math textbooks came with a calculator per book. Well I put them in the closet and taught my students addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division fact. We did take the little gizmos out to learn to use them and practice, but not before the "old fashioned fact" were memorized. I know there are a lot to be said about automation and the world of electronics, but there is a lot to be said about whatever you don't use, you lose. Brains are getting mushy-er and mushy-er. I will stay up on my soapbox as long as I have my sanity.:p
By the way (BTW) I don't like abbreviations either.

Out to Lunch? Organize the Library? Off to London? Oval Tipped Lace? Orange Tiled Laundry? Oxyclean The Linen? Our True Love? Only the Lonely? Open the Lever? Occupational Therapy Lady? Odd Trapping Lure? Observe Top Level?
Oinks too Loud? Often the Last? Original Thread Line? Overlap the Length? Outsmart the Lizard? Override the Legend?

Another retired teacher here. I sub often and find the students cannot tell time on clocks that are not digital.

This is so sad. I get so tired of grocery people laying my change on the receipt and handing all of it to me. They can't count change either. You have to watch your change, and count it right there. I had a Sonic guy make wrong change to me not long ago. Everyone needs to stay on the soapbox!

Well, I am still teaching HS and I try very hard to teach my students to read a clock(not digital), set an oven timer, balance a checkbook, make a budget, apply for a job on "an old fashion" paper application, make a (healthy) grocery list, did I say "boil" water?
Yes, I teach Family and Consumer Science and it is a "trying" job but I strive everyday to make my students understand that they need every day skills to live in life ahead. I hope they will someday appreciate my lessons.
Keep all teachers in your prayers because we need daily prayers....
Ging

any pattern that shows abbreviations should also include what they mean somewhere in the directions. most irritating!

Totally agree. But you know what? "Dumbed Down" kids become " Dumbed Down" adults and much easier to
influence.

I hate them, too. It took me some time to realize DSM was Domestic Sewing Machine. This is what phone texting has done to us, I think (can you tell I don't text?)

Maybe it means OTL of the lining ???

Oldtimers like me have this discussion constantly. Employees can no longer count change back. If the register didn't give them a read-out, they'd be clueless. And how do you feel about clerks (fast food, bank, retail stores, everywhere) saying "No problem" in response to your thanking them. Whatever happened to "you're welcome?"

On the Line ?? Just guessing

There's a place for the calculator, but it shouldn't mean your brain is in sleep mode while using it! You still need to be awake and use common sense. About a year ago, I had a checkout person actually count out in my hand change which totaled more then the single bill I gave to pay for my item! Then looked at me dumbfounded when I said "This can't be right." So I had to say, "Do you realize you gave me back in change more than I gave you to pay for that?" Obviously an incorrect number was entered into the cash register, but the employee mindlessly gave me what the register said to give me in change. Brain, off. Common sense, off. Did you ever hand them the change beyond the dollar value you owe, just after they punched the dollar amount into the register? (Example: You owe $18.02, hand them a $20 bill, then get the 2 cents out of your change compartment, and they've already punched $20.00 into the register.) Lol! Many are completely lost! and have no idea what to give you in change! Do it sometime on purpose, just for the laugh! The same danger exists when using a Garmin, or anything else similar. We have to stay alert!

I would take it to mean "on the line"; but that is a new one.

Evidence of poor grammar is certainly obvious when viewing posts on other sites. It angers me to see the poor usage of there, their, etc. We learned usage at home. Mother was a stickler for good grammar, as she knew it. Also, manners, we were never allowed to say shut the door, it was close the door. God forbid we would say , "Shut up" to anyone. We could use "Be Quiet" instead. I must sound terribly antiquated to young people.

What is a "Garmin" ??? My OTL guess - off the length-- If the outside is folded down over the lining. the lining would be cut shorter? ..if it is a piece to be used to make handles..that would be about right.. I sometimes wonder what other letters mean. makes for lots of puzzles..(puzzles are supposed to wardoffalsheimers:p)LOL

I am with all of you, those abbreviations are puzzling to us who have learned spelling long ago. We are loosing so much without spelling and writing. Today, how can they tell if something is spelled wrong unless it is on the computer that tells them.
I also hate signs that appear different places such as along the road. I catch myself talking to them and telling them to write what you want me to know, I can read.
I worry about the younger generation.

This is what I think it means. And if it doesn't, I want it to!

On the topic of grammar, spelling, change-making, and general other declining abilities: Today I was volunteering at my child's school and I had someone ask me to proofread something they had just written. I pointed out that she had used "compliment" when she meant "complement" and her response was "I'm sure nobody else will care either." (meaning the people to whom she was sending it). I was a bit taken aback...and I won't be proofreading for her again!!

Alison

Actually, I thought it was Oinks Too Loud!
What you didn't tell us was whether this was a student? or adult? for whom you will never proofread for again!!! :D