a general - purpose device of different sizes so as to accommodate use by a person , primarily , in the altering of , and the making of , all or part of a tissue paper pattern . the device is comprised of a sheet made of tissue paper material on which one side of the sheet comprises a series of straight lines ruled equal distance apart vertically and horizontally . some of the vertical and horizontal lines may , at certain intervals , be more heavily marked than the rest of the lines and so stand out from the rest of the lines thereby facilitating measuring . these heavier marked lines may be numbered consecutively vertically and horizontally when there is a need or demand , or both , by the public for such numbering .