25 Responses to “How to Read a Sewing Pattern”

1. By naomifog on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   Thank you so much …
   Thank you so much for your video! I was so perplexed when I looked at a pattern and it had triangles all over it!

2. By costumebot on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   Hi, TU1. It means …
   Hi, TU1. It means cut out 2. The fabric is always doubled up (folded) unless otherwise indicated in the pattern directions. So, if you pin the pattern piece onto the folded fabric, you’ll end up cutting out two.

   Thanks for checking out our videos!

3. By theugly1 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   does “2x” mean make …
   does “2x” mean make two, or double up the fabric?

4. By lychee20 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   u can buy them from …
   u can buy them from wal mart to any craft store, i bought mine from fabricland, but i believe that store is only found across Canada…

5. By costumebot on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   You can browse …
   You can browse patterns at most fabric stores. Most manufacturers have catalogs with pictures of completed patterns along with the pattern numbers. They usually have the patterns in numerical order in big filing drawers. You can also find sources online. Thanks for watching!

6. By sunset27goddess on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   Where can you buy …
   Where can you buy patterns?

7. By iamlilymunster on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   Oh, also if the …
   Oh, also if the videos get too long you should just do them in parts. You could probably do it in a part 1 & part 2 video

8. By iamlilymunster on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   I agree. I would …
   I agree. I would love to see a full video of start to finish of an item. I’d like to see more in depth on how to mark and cut. I’m a true novice so I don’t know the first thing about putting something together. So seeing someone start out pinning the pattern, marking it, cutting, etc. would really help make things more clear for me. Thanks for the video! Hope to see more.

9. By SrgFuery on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

   thank your for …
   thank your for explaining the notch/dart thing, I would be lost without you..can you esplain the pattern sizing in depth in a video too please? that would be WONDERFUL! I’m such a slow learner XD Thanks you for your time!

10. By costumebot on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Don’t worry. Most …
    Don’t worry. Most people are told not to cut anything but fabric with their good scissors but the tissue-thin paper that patterns are made from really won’t hurt them.

11. By madonnafan1118 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    I thought you …
    I thought you weren’t supposed to cut paper with fabric shears. HOw to you get around that?

12. By werknummer1 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Thank you Jen! My …
    Thank you Jen! My wife sews her own costumes and now I want to start my own, and I never got as in-depth as patterns before, just simple repairs. I plan on making my own TIE jumpsuit, and Imperial Officers uniform before DragonCon…Looking forward to more video tutorials! Thanks!

13. By dreadessence on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Hi thank you so …
    Hi thank you so much this has helped me so much with my sewing at home its really great that you have posted this for us beginners

14. By SBgitana on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    great video.. …
    great video.. please post more!

15. By sexyhexy420 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Great video!! Can …
    Great video!! Can you please do a tutorial on how to make a cami?

16. By costumebot on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Thank you so much! …
    Thank you so much! The folded part of the dart is on the inside of whatever you are making. Usually after you sew it, you would iron the fabric flap to lie flat against the back side of the item, it doesn’t really matter whether you iron it to the left or right but if you had two darts next to each other you would want to make one the mirror image of the other.

17. By prettyfit on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    For the dart thing, …
    For the dart thing, what do you do after you fold it up? Do you pin it and sew it? Won’t there be some fabric jutting out then?

    Thanks for the video, you’re awesome.

18. By mamaNmanje on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Yup I wish U make A …
    Yup I wish U make A Video with all the details…yah its true abt the 10min limit but hey u can cut it to part right..well i hope u will consider the idea…btw u great!!

19. By Altofah on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    That was …
    That was Informativeand fun!I was really confused with notch. Too late and bad for me,I just cut a pattern with a cut(notch) in the fabric and not out, as u explained in your video.Thank you very much.

20. By UglyNapalm on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Can the two of you …
    Can the two of you PLEASE make more videos! I’m just learning to sew and I think your vid is very informative and helpful- but I need more! Thanks!

21. By atlast23 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Great video! I am …
    Great video! I am a beginning and don’t know the basics to cut a pattern. That was helpful.

22. By costumebot on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks for the kind …
    Thanks for the kind words, isabella. To answer your question, you can use tailors’s chalk to make the marks, but you have to be careful that you don’t rub it off. I like to make the marks on small pieces of tape so they stay in place and are easily removed. Some tailors use a single stitch of thread as a mark. It just depends on what works best for you. Good luck!

23. By Isabella321 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Costumebot,
    How do …
    Costumebot,
    How do you mark the circles and/or dots for matching up later?

24. By Isabella321 on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Cute and …
    Cute and informative. Your friend added a nice touch to the video making it more personable. Thank you.

25. By ErikDaae on Sep 13, 2008 | Reply

    Thanks a lot for …
    Thanks a lot for this video! I enjoy sewing, but I was never able to read the back of the pattern envlope, and unfortunately, my mother never told me how. Thank you very much!