re-using sewing patterns?

tanith

We used to use one of these to duplicate patterns...http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_accessories/catalog.php?category=Dressmakers+Tracing+Wheel

Rikki

You can use purpose made burda tracing paper. It's large enough to trace the pattern in one piece with out the need to stick together.

There is also Swedish tracing popular with many dress makers as after cutting out you can sew it together to check the fit.

I like to use garden fleece. The type you use as frost protection for garden plants in the winter. You can buy it of the roll at most garden centres. It can be as cheap as 70p a meter. Again you can sew the pattern after it's been cut out to test the fit and make alterations.

I never cut the original commercial pattern so you can retrace and make the garment up in more than one size.



Edit: I some times tape my pattern to the patio window so it's easier to trace over.

avstar

Vintage patterns can fetch quite a lot of money on ebay esp if they are uncut - so def try to copy the pieces rather than cut them.

Savvy_sewing

I have used greaseproof or baking papers for more years then I can remembeer. I always buy it in the supermarket in rolls, usually around 9m long. So I just trace things out. Very very rarely have I used the actual pattern unless I was in a terrible hurry and no Greaseproof about.
Have used tracing wheels and carbon before, but just drawing on the greaseproof is quick enough and easy to do. Again I also stick together with sellotape or even pin sheets together if havent that.
Alas most of my patterns I gave away to the local college in 2004. So I have to start again!. Didnt think i would be sewing much. Little did I know what life would change!.

meritaten

tanith wrote: »

We used to use one of these to duplicate patterns...http://www.sewingmachine-sales.co.uk/sewing_accessories/catalog.php?category=Dressmakers+Tracing+Wheel

yes!!! thats the little thingy she used! and I asked my mum and she said that the carbon paper you get in stationers is ok to transfer the pattern to a paper copy (and nan actually used rolls of butchers paper to copy onto - but mum thinks lining paper would work just as well).
then nan would use 'dressmakers carbon paper' to transfer all the markings onto the fabric itself. I had forgotten that - she had light and dark carbons and it washes out easily - mum says that it will 'rub' out too! jeez the memories are flooding back now.
I can picture nan at her treadle sewing machine making me some lovely dresses for school!

QueenieB

Kwik Sew make a special pattern tracing paper called Kwik Trace, but it isn't cheap. I use the very cheapest sew-in interfacing that I can find. I don't need to use anything excwept an ordinary pen or pencil to transfer the markings and since I'm quite clumsy it helps that the interfacing doesn't rip as easily as paper.

hardpressed

The advantage of using tracing/greaseproof paper is that you can see the pattern of the fabric through it, useful if you're matching stripes or checks.