Newbie question about patterns

[amandaleigh37]

There is probably a really obvious answer to this but my brain just can't find it

So I bought a pattern (set of patterns?) today because I wanted to try making some baby pants & tops. Ok so first of all, besides the stupid tissue paper that is frustrating as heck to unfold and figure out what to do with.... HOW do you use it for more than one size?? The pants pattern pieces had all different lines indicating the different sizes. Well I want to make XS right now, but maybe in a few months I'll want to make S or M?? So if I cut out around XS... then that's it? How do I save it all so I can do the other sizes too?

I thought I would trace the size I need on another piece of paper - but I couldn't see the pattern through the paper to trace it... Surely there is an easy way to do this?

Thanks

[Gremco]

If you can't see through paper to trace it, cut around the largest size to make sure all the lines are still in place, then fold the pattern under to the line you need. It can be a bit tricky around the edges. You may need to draw or cut one small section at a time and then refold for the next part. You can either draw the outline onto another sheet of paper or just cut the folded pattern directly onto the fabric. I hope this makes sense.

[punkrockmomma]

At any sewing store they will sell transfer/tracing (it's the same thing, at least at a sewing store) paper and a tracing wheel, that you will more then likely have to purchase separatly. What you do is you lay out your fabric and pattern the way the pattern says to in the instructions with the transfer paper between the pattern and the fabric, then you use the wheel along the lines of the size that you want to use. It will make a line on the fabric that you then follow to cut out the fabric, and you don't have to cut up your pattern, and the line from the transfer paper will wash out. Just make sure after you transfer the lines that you also transfer any other important info from the pattern onto the fabric either with a farbric marker or dress makers chalk.

[texmati]

I've used a thick peice of plastic to trace out a pajama pants pattern I used over and over.

It worked well because I could see through the plastic.

[dani76]

If you look by the interfacing rack at Joann's they have really thin pattern paper. It's white and pretty see through. I use it to trace the patterns in whatever size I need. Then I label the tracing and keep it all in a large ziploc bag with the original pattern. I think it's called pattern-ease.

[amandaleigh37]

Ah, ok. Thanks for all the tips! I was too impatient last night so I just cut out the size I wanted :/ I had no idea there was special paper you could get to trace it onto. Makes sense!

[lee1203]

I've used white tissue paper. You know, the type for putting in gift bags. The only problem with it is that for long pattern pieces I have to tape two pieces of tissue paper together, but that's no big deal. And, it's cheap!

[MittensKittens]

I use the little wheel with sharp ends to trace the pattern onto the pattern paper below. Obviously this does leave holes in your pattern, but you can still use it afterwards. Does no one else use this method any more?

[courtenay_e]

For the future, I just use a really bright light and put butcher paper over the top to trace it, or use my mom's wheel and transfer paper on the butcher paper, so that I only have to do the work once. My daughter is tall and skinny, so I have to make her dresses a size three for the width and a seven for the length in most patterns. Then I have a pattern just her size, and the paper isn't that annoying tissue stuff, either, it's thick and durable for multiple uses.

[Roxy2007]

Originally Posted by lee1203

I've used white tissue paper. You know, the type for putting in gift bags. The only problem with it is that for long pattern pieces I have to tape two pieces of tissue paper together, but that's no big deal. And, it's cheap!

thats me too.

[~Stephanie~]

I get the end rolls from the local newspaper. It is really wide paper so I never have to piece it and it is thin enough to see the pattern lines through. I trace the size that I want on the paper and then cut out and keep in a zip lock bag in case I want to make more in the same size.

[cristeen]

If it's something I think I'll want to use more than twice, I use a medium sew-in interfacing, and trace the pattern size I want to use onto that. It doesn't tear or mutilate like the paper does.

[HappiLeigh]

I'm another who just uses white tissue paper, the kind that you get dirt cheap in bulk at Christmas time.

[sabrinat]

If it's a pattern from a big 3 company I just wait for them to go on sale and then buy a few. . If I'm being lazy I will just cut out the largest size and fold the pattern back to the size I want. But since I use a lot of patterns from Ottobre, Kwiksew and Jalie where you need to trace them because they are printed overlapping I use STP (swedish tracing paper) which is a sewable interfacing. I also use patternease from JA's when they have it 50% off. I do like plastic sheeting that you get from the paint dept, I like the 2 or 3 mil kind, and it's nice because you can use a sharpie and it's totally see thru. Basically anything that you can lay over you pattern and get a tracing of.

[Quickbeam]

I've used white tissue paper. You know, the type for putting in gift bags.

Me, too. I only bother if the pattern is expensive. As pp mentioned, I take advantage of sales. For instance, Joann's recently has 5 Simplicity patterns for $5.