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You are here: Home / Tutorials / Taking the Leap: Understanding Sewing Patterns – Part 2, Cutting out the fabric pieces

Taking the Leap: Understanding Sewing Patterns – Part 2, Cutting out the fabric pieces

June 29, 2012 by Jodi 15 Comments

Yesterday, I shared with you about the information on a pattern envelope. Today, let’s take a look inside.

Your first reaction when opening the envelope might be “OH MY GOODNESS! WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TISSUES!?!?! I thought you said this would be easy? There are so many. I don’t even know how to fold them up again to put them back in the envelope!”

No worries. Let’s not even look at the patten tissues yet. Let’s pull out the directions first.  

Which pattern pieces?

On the directions, there will be an area showing all the pattern pieces included in the entire pattern set, and which pieces are needed for which project.

Remember there are 8 different projects included in this envelope and there are 16 pieces included to make all 8 of them. We are only making one of them today, and, I kid you not, we only need ONE piece – piece number 16 (red highlighting). Feeling better about all that tissue now?

Out of whole big wad of tissues, find the tissue with peace number 16 on it, and lay it out flat. (If your pattern tissue is super crinkly, flatten it with a DRY iron first before you begin.) Set everything else aside. We won’t be needing them. Just don’t ask me how to fold them up. I still haven’t figured that one out yet.

What’s with all these symbols?

All those symbols on the pattern might look a little crazy at first, but our pattern directions are the gift that keeps on giving. Check out the glossary on the first page.

The only symbols we are worrying about today are the notches, the cutting lines, and maybe the lengthen/shorten lines.

Cut out the pattern.

Find the thick black cutting line marked with your size (again, mine is size L). Cut just outside the line all the way around the pattern.

There is a bit of a trick for this, because piece 16 is for both the pants and the shorts. If you are making the shorts, you will need to cut along the line marked “Cutting line for View H”.

If you are making the pants, you can trim off the extra little triangle that is for the hem of the shorts.

Make pattern adjustments.

To make my pants longer, I cut through the pattern between the lengthen lines, spread them apart 2 inches, and taped tissue between them.

Cut out the fabric pieces.

Again, our directions come to the rescue with a recommended cutting layout.

Unfortunately, these layouts can be tricky to interpret. But with the help of the directions’ “Special Cutting Notes”, we will muddle our way through. Do you see that star-asterix thingy on the layout (red highlighting)? Look over on the cutting notes to see what they want you to do.

Following these directions will insure that a vertically directional print (known as “nap”) won’t be going two different ways on your pants. That would be frustrating and awkward.

Ultimately, what we end up with is two layers of fabric, right sides (the pretty “outside” sides) facing each other. 

Next, lay the pattern piece printed side up on top of the fabric. Line up the grain line, the long double ended arrow, with the grain of the fabric. (What is fabric grain?)  The grain is pretty obvious on this striped fabric.

With the pattern positioned properly, pin it to the fabric.

Then, cut the fabric out around the pattern.

One last thing, we need to transfer some pattern markings. In the case of these pants, just snip out each of the notches. They will be very handy to have later. There are some on the center back seam, front back seam, and on each long edge of the pant leg.

That’s it for cutting out the fabric. Next time we will get sewing!

SEE PART 3 HERE!

Any questions about how to interpret the cutting directions? 

Filed Under: Tutorials Tagged With: cutting, fabric, help, pajamas, pants, pattern, sewing

Previous Post: « Taking the Leap: Understanding Sewing Patterns – Part 1, Reading A Pattern Envelope
Next Post: Hand Sewing Ideas for Hot Weather – A Link Roundup »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kim Cady says

    June 29, 2012 at 8:00 am

    I’ve been muddling along, making things, but there is SO MUCH I didn’t know! And you’re only on part 2 of the series, LOL!

    Reply
    • Vanessa Downing says

      February 13, 2016 at 8:39 am

      Well done Jodi!

      Keep em comin’ This tutorial is professional and priceless! I will be prepared the next time I enter a fabric store.

      LIKE!!

      Reply
  2. Karen says

    June 29, 2012 at 11:45 am

    I just want it to keep going! Looking forward to the next installment. I have used patterns before, successfully even, but I find this fascinating!! I love that you’re covering everything, in a real order. It’s magical 🙂

    Reply
  3. Wendy crim says

    June 29, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    This. Is. Awesome. I’m trying to teach myself to sew my own garments and this is just what I needed. Thanks so much.

    Reply
  4. Jodi says

    June 29, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    Thank you for commenting and letting me know how much you appreciate it. It is giving me the energy to keep going! 🙂

    Reply
    • angie says

      August 25, 2014 at 8:12 pm

      Thank you so much! I am also teaching myself to sew and this is incredibly helpful. I have two kids and really only have the time to sew after they go to bed, so this is great because I can just go online and get some help whenever I get around to it! Thank you for blessing others with your talent and knowledge!

      Reply
  5. Kristina @nerdysewist says

    July 2, 2012 at 8:51 pm

    Okay, I just read through and I’m ready to CUT! I bought way too much fabric, btw. I guess I assumed I was making pants and will just have a remnant. Or maybe I can make a second pair?? It’s going to be very hard to stop at cutting… let’s make shorts! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Susan M jensen says

    August 31, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    Great tutorial thanks for sharing. I wish I could get a printer so to print off items, patterns.

    Reply
  7. asha says

    August 27, 2014 at 1:06 am

    This is the best information I have found so far online. I was dissappear it’s on hold to continue. I love your step by step instructions with visual aids. Perfect! Please continue with this process. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    Reply
  8. asha says

    August 27, 2014 at 1:08 am

    Just realized this article is 2 years old and has yet to be completed so i guess that won’t be happening. I’m dissapointed.

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      August 30, 2014 at 11:17 am

      It’s there. 🙂

      Reply
    • Jodi says

      February 18, 2015 at 10:11 pm

      https://sewfearless.com/2012/08/06/taking-the-leap-understanding-sewing-patterns-part-3-sewing-it-up/

      Reply
  9. gracie says

    February 17, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    I couldn’t find the next step but I loved the half I did get to see!!! Thank you.

    Reply
    • Jodi says

      February 18, 2015 at 10:11 pm

      here you go! https://sewfearless.com/2012/08/06/taking-the-leap-understanding-sewing-patterns-part-3-sewing-it-up/

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Taking the Leap: Understanding Sewing Patterns – Part 1, Reading A Pattern Envelope | Sew Fearless says:
    June 29, 2012 at 6:22 am

    […] The Fearless Sewist’s Toolbelt ← A Mug Rug for Carson Taking the Leap: Understanding Sewing Patterns – Part 2, Cutting out the fabric pieces → […]

    Reply

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