This post is part of the Sewing Back-to-School series, 30 days of helpful sewing articles by guest bloggers. Feel free to check out the original Sewing Back-to-School post for schedule and previous posts!
Susan from Living with Punks has an amazing blog…I’ve heard this from other bloggers, but hers was one of the first that I began following last year when I started blogging! She has many, many amazing tutorials, such as this Ruffle Scarf. Stop on over to to her blog and say hello!
Hi Sew Sweetness readers! I ‘m Susan from Living with Punks and I can’t wait to show you how to make your sewing life easier today. I know when I first started sewing, the thing I disliked most was the time and effort it took to cut out a pattern, fold the edges to the correct size, pin the pattern to the fabric and cut the fabric with scissors. It really hindered me from sewing.
After scouring the internet for helpful hints (Melanie from A Sewing Journal was a big help!) and discovering wonderful ways to use some old tools, I have gotten so much quicker at the process. It has now become one of the easiest parts of the sewing process for me. I will usually cut pieces for several garments all at once in assembly line style, all with little effort and a lot less headaches. You want less headaches too?
Follow along…
First off, is an investment. Tracing paper is fairly cheap and comes in convenient rolls for easy storage. The paper I buy is fairly light which helps with tracing, but it does tend to curl up on the edges. One way to combat the curling is pressing with a medium set iron.
A rotary cutter and self healing mat is essential in this method. I can’t tell you how much easier it is than scissors. Once you go rotary, you won’t go back. These items are a bit more expensive, but you can always catch them on sale at your local craft store.
Begin by placing your pattern flat on a table. Here, I am tracing a pattern from a printed and taped PDF, but you can use this same method for a store-bought tissue pattern.
Trace all the pieces, including all the pattern markings, including dots, triangles, darts and gathering points.
Also include the name of the pattern, size and grain line arrows. I always include the seam allowance on the pattern too so I don’t have to search the pattern once I start sewing.
Once all your pieces are traced and cut, you are ready to start cutting fabric. Place the pattern piece on the fabric, following the grain line as indicated on the traced pattern. Instead of pinning the pattern to the fabric, I always use weights. I found these huge washers at the hardware store and are perfect for larger pieces. For smaller or narrower pieces, you can use knives from your kitchen drawer. I have also used small ramekins and toy cars in desperation. Really, anything with weight will work.
Once the pattern is sufficiently weighted down, take your rotary cutter and beginning at any edge, start cutting, keeping your cut in line with the pattern piece. This may take a few tries getting the handle of, but I promise you, once you get it, you will love cutting fabric!
Cut all your pieces and sew your garment together with ease!
These pieces turned into a pair of undies for my 9 year old boy…hence the skulls 
I asked him to model it but he said “No way!”
Thanks for having me today, Sara. It was a blast! Come and visit me any time over at Living with Punks, or you can always be a friend on my Facebook page!
I’ve sewn for years and never thought to use washers for weight on a pattern instead of pinning. Love that idea! What a time saver. I’ve also never ruffled fabric on purpose by setting my tension and stitch length. Wow! Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks anyway?? Thanks for your tips. Keep ’em coming!
Wow! These are some great tips! My favorite patterns are falling apart from all the pinning so I’m definitely going out to get washers. I’ve also been dragging my feet to get a rotary cutter and self healing mat. I’m going to ask for that for Christmas! I’m also going to put this post on my Great Sewing Tips section on my blog – jamesandleighann.blogspot.com
Thanks for these tips! I can never seem to get the pinning right, weights are definitely on the shopping list!
Thanks for the tip! The prospect of cutting out pattern pieces often prevents me from starting certain projects, but now it’ll be less of a hurdle. 🙂
Thanks for the tips. The “weights” were a new idea to me!
Always good to find out that your ‘newly established’ techniques, are ones others have been using for years lol I just thought this was too simple compared to the wrestling with tissue paper and pine!
I love your blog! I found you from Living with Punks and am so happy I stopped by!
If you get a chance, you might check out my blog at http://www.siefker-stuff.blogspot.com. I’d be honored if you did. 🙂
Great tips, Susan!
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hanks with the word of advice! The chance associated with reducing pattern parts usually helps prevent us coming from starting off a number of assignments, but
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