Burda Style For people who sew

Does anyone have any tips on how to reuse a pattern, maybe for different sizes?

Example: I made my kid’s halloween costume from a pattern, but I really didn’t want to cut it to a smaller size because I may be able to use the basic pattern (a jumpsuit) next year (when she will be bigger). I lucked out that this particular pattern had two shapes for each piece (one for even sizes and one for odd sizes). But, if I didn’t have that, what would I do?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts! – psh

Nov 3, 2009, 08.07 PM by psh853

• ShareThis

20 Posts

• 

  Nov 3, 2009, 10.26 PMby katexxxxxx

  I trace the pattern pieces, leaving the original uncut and unaltered so that I have it to refer to if things go wrong, or if I later need a different size.
• 

  Nov 3, 2009, 11.49 PMby psh853

  Great idea. What kind of paper do you use?

  3 Replies

  • 

    Nov 4, 2009, 02.18 AMby oscarthegrouch108

    there are a lot of different things, but what i like is something akin to sew in interfacing (at JoAnn’s it’s called Pattern Ease).

  • 

    Nov 4, 2009, 08.30 AMby katexxxxxx

    I usually use Dot & Cross pattern making paper for larger things, and freezer paper for smaller stuff. I also have a roll of kid’s drawing paper from IKEA that is good for tracing with the tracing wheel and carbon paper for smaller things.

  • 

    Feb 7, 2010, 11.14 PMby tracyb

    I do the same thing – I use freezer paper, slick plastic on one side and paper on the other. I draw on the paper side, and the plastic side helps it last through multiple pinnings. I’ve also used white wrapping paper, but the freezer paper is cheaper and doesn’t crumple as easily.

• 

  Nov 4, 2009, 02.22 AMby oscarthegrouch108

  i cut around the largest size, but pin for the size i’m using. then just gently lift the tissue and cut underneath it. it takes a little practice to get it right, but it’s cheaper than tracing off a pattern you may only use once more. then if you find you’re making this pattern a lot, trace off each size on something more durable.
• 

  Nov 4, 2009, 03.12 AMby auntchelle

  I trace off the original as well. Depending what the item is I either use tracing paper (from my fabric store) or Swedish tracing paper. This is more expensive but it is sewable so you can use it to fit more complicated patterns. I’ve also heard of people tracing onto non-iron on interfacing for patterns that they will use frequently.
• 

  Nov 4, 2009, 12.34 PMby josephina

  I have used baking paper, butchers paper and sewable interfacing. The interfacing is the easiest to use as it doesn’t tend to move around as much as paper does. I generally use a tracing wheel then pencil to transfer the pattern.

  Auntchelle – where do you find the Swedish tracing paper? It sounds very handy.

  1 Reply

  • 

    Nov 5, 2009, 04.11 AMby auntchelle

    I’m in Australia and have to buy it online. At $14AUD (for 29″ × 9m… yeah I know, they’ve mixed their measurements) I don’t use it for all projects tho’! I get it from craftymamas.net but if you Google it I’m sure you’d find a supplier that is closer to you.

• 

  Nov 4, 2009, 02.17 PMby psh853

  Thanks everyone!
• 

  Nov 4, 2009, 04.44 PMby misssylver

  Greasproof paper duckie, best thing for it!

  1 Reply

  • 

    Nov 5, 2009, 08.57 AMby katexxxxxx

    I really hate using greaseproof paper. OK, it’s easy to trace through, but it’s harsh, scratchy, and brittle, and doesn’t pin well. And it’s usually too small for bigger pattern pieces and impossible to tape together! Just my experience. YMMV… :)

• 

  Nov 5, 2009, 03.30 PMby tangerine-dreams

  I scored a huge roll of paper during my check up at the doctor’s. I saw a couple of extra rolls for the examining table and asked her if I could buy one off her. Works great. Best $5 score I found with my feet up in stirrups!

  3 Replies

  • 

    Nov 5, 2009, 07.09 PMby katexxxxxx

    I keep hearing of folk using this stuff, but it does not compute… Doc’s examining couch paper is like giant loo roll or Kimwipe: you can’t write on it, it’s like Kleenex!

  • 

    Nov 6, 2009, 04.09 PMby tangerine-dreams

    Works great Katexxxxxxx over here. Maybe it’s just the North American stuff that works. I use a 4HB pencil and works great :)

  • 

    Mar 3, 2010, 01.57 PMby wackyblonde

    I love this stuff, I scored a huge roll from my doctors office. I think maybe in North America it is different, more like thicker stiffer tissue paper.

• 

  Nov 5, 2009, 11.28 PMby samcam

  I usually cut out at the largest size and fold to the size needed before I pin to fabric. This also helps for instance when making a dress when your top half and bottom half are not the same size. You can fold and to appropriat size and get a blending of the two between. Sometime you need to make small cuts (eg in corners) so you can fold neatly.
• 

  Feb 6, 2010, 06.58 PMby punkiedory

  so, i know this is an older post, but here is what i do (it’s a little ghetto, but it works and i don’t have to buy any weird paper/pens/etc.):

  i get regular paper (my husband brings home 11×17 from work—but i just taped reg. pieces together before that or used cut up brown paperbags), i put the pattern ON TOP of the regular paper. then i get a HOT PINK sharpie permanent marker and trace whatever size i need. the marker bleeds onto the paper underneath, yet (because it’s pink) i can still see the line i traced on (plus all the other sizes i didn’t).

  this is nice because if i lose the one i already traced, i can see the marks just fine to trace it again.

  hope this helps! :D

  1 Reply

  • 

    Feb 6, 2010, 10.42 PMby oscarthegrouch108

    you know the phase: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
    what works, works!

• 

  Feb 7, 2010, 08.01 AMby bubbley74

  I use lining wallpaper ,use the wheel over the size you want and the pattern can be cut or ripped along the perforated edge.If its a pattern you are going to use quite often paste the cut out onto cardboard cut out and chalk around that instead of pinning you can use it time and time again with out it getting damaged.good luck.
• 

  Feb 16, 2010, 02.47 PMby numedezyne

  I copy to, though I find it a long process in the long run I have a pattern in all sizes i need incase friends ask me for something in their size
• 

  Mar 2, 2010, 09.03 PMby heathertweed

  When I cut the pattern first I keep as much useable offcuts as poss for any later alterations, more forgiving than greasproof or lining paper. : )
• 

  Mar 2, 2010, 11.02 PMby narrawallee

  Hi psh853, I use Swedish tracing paper now as well I use to stick the paper together until I came across crafty mamas it is great really wide so you can trace out adult sizes as well then you can put it back in the envelope. All my kids are grown now but what I use to do when they where little spend a day tracing out and cutting and if I still had time I would trace around all sizes so when that age came I would already have it traced out, came in very handy when that age came around and it did it seamed to quick.

  Now I trace the size I need then the main pattern is still intact
• 

  Mar 3, 2010, 03.34 AMby stray-cat-from-mars

  When I use a pattern, I’ll cut it out at the closest size to me, then sew it in muslin ($1.00 a yard? Can’t go wrong) and mess with that until I have the perfect fitting pattern. Then I cut the pattern paper to match, and save both the muslin and paper. I don’t know, I’ve used the same piece of pattern paper for like twenty pants and have no problem with its condition. Just be gentle with it and try and pin it at the same place every time. Heck, I think most patterns come printed with where you should pin!

  1 Reply

  • 

    Jun 13, 2010, 07.13 AMby katexxxxxx

    I’ve never seen a pattern marked with where you should pin…

    That said, yes, even the tissue patterns last well if you are careful. I tend to iron them before returning them to the pattern envelope, and reinforce the corners and other pin areas with something like Mefix tape or micropre tape if they get a bit worn.

• 

  Mar 3, 2010, 10.45 AMby ichigogirl

  I ALWAYS trace the pattern instrad of using the original. That way I can make changes to it without ruining the original. I have a HUGE roll (two different actually) of thin but durable paper, not sure what it’s for but I think any paper that’s thin enough to be reasonably see-through but thick enough to not rip too easily will do. I also use it when I construct my own patterns. Paper and sticky-tape. The good thing is it’s cheap, so if you like to try constucting your own patterns you can re-do it until you’re happy with it without spending a fortune on wasted paper…
• 

  Mar 3, 2010, 02.35 PMby victors

  I always trace a pattern, I didn’t used to and have ruined a good few patterns by just cutting. I got a ream of tissue paper from Samuel Grants in Leeds for £5 + the vat. bargain!

  2 Replies

  • 

    Jun 10, 2010, 01.29 AMby mollyapple

    Hiya, like the sound of this bargain! Looking at their website now, which did you get? The acid free tissue?

  • 

    Jun 13, 2010, 05.52 AMby victors

    acid free stuff, think it’s the glazed on one side kind. It was bought last year before VAT went back up so might be a bit more now. Or Makro have ream packs of greasproof and tissue paper .

• 

  Apr 15, 2010, 07.14 AMby speedy

  I use the doctor’s office paper too. I can get a 50 yd roll for @ $5.00 US. Lasts me years. I use a fine point permenant marker to trace.
• 

  Jul 20, 2010, 06.57 PMby jreneedesign

  I get my tracing paper from Nancy’s Notions – you can get a 77 yd x 21" roll for $9 from her website. (though, I bought mine a while ago and think I got it for maybe $7.)
• 

  Aug 3, 2010, 09.44 PMby fashionmamanista

  I usually take the the pieces to Kinkos and make a copy for the size I need pattern stays in tace and I don’t have to do any uncessary cutting.