does anyone have secrets to preserving original pattern for clothes?

Ive always wondered, we spend a lot of money on patterns to make fabulous clothes, right? Unless we get them on sale at joanns/hancocks for 99 cents! I bought a portabello pixie pattern for $16 to sew the knot dress from a pattern. well I would LOVE to keep the original pattern in tack or at least each indiividual piece and perhaps make copies or something like that to cut the pattern from. What does everyone do? do you just cut the pattern out and not worry about the other sizes? I would be using a variety of sizes with this one so i want to be able to have all of the pieces together. do you make big copies of each piece, say at kinkos? do you just use your tracing wheel?

I would love any feedback and/or tips tricks everyone uses?

YAY sewing!! 

I'm not very sure of what you want (i'm french) Do you want to find how store your patterns organised manner or do you want to find  anything else?

hi there..im asking how to actually preserve the original pattern itself...to keep it in tact and not have to cut it ...

You can buy large sheets of tracing paper at most fabric stores. I often do this or buy a small pack and then tape them together. Sometimes I trace them onto transparency paper, if that's all I have handy. The other option I use is to scan the pattern and reprint it to cut. 

Nicole Mallieu has also posted tips on making your patterns more durable:
http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/2008/10/transferring-multi-size-patterns-to.html
http://nicolemdesign.blogspot.com/2008/09/everlasting-patterns-fashion-industry.html

Goodluck!
Amy

haha...I've always just cut my patterns out. I end up being so frustrated with their fragility and awkwardness by the end of my project that I never look at the patterns again. So much more economical to trace them first.
Thanks for the links Amy.

I have many patterns with multiple sizes printed on them.  Right now I need the size 2 but I don't want to cut up the pattern because I know I will likely want to make it again in size 3 or 4.  So this is what I find works for me.

I tape the pattern pieces to my sliding glass doors.  Then I use a strip of GOLDEN THREADS QUILTING PAPER (from my local quilt shop) and I tape it over top.  I trace out the size I need and then put the original pattern away.  The Golden Threads paper is ment to make quilting stencils and it is heavier than tissue paper.  The roll I have is 24" wide x 20 yards, so I lasts a long time.  It is probably also available from their website www.Goldenthreads.com

It depends if its a pattern that I don't plan on worrying about different sizes. I will just cut out the size I want but I usually trace it out on lightweight sew in interfacing if I'm going to use it over & over.

I never cut up a multi-size pattern.

My favorite way to save them is to trace the size I want to make onto sewer/landscape cloth. My hubby buys a roll for ma at the hardware store and it lasts forever. The cloth is about 4 feet wide and on a big roll. Its sturdy enough to hold up practically forever but its still easy to see through for tracing and easy to cut.

Check it out!

~Marie Grace

I trace patterns onto freezer paper.

victoria...can you PLEASE explain your process of using freezer paper. I know i have seen this used a lot in quilting but have never tried it. YOu are supposed to be able to use the freezer paper over again, correct?

I would certainly appreciate it...



these are all great ideas and i am so glad im not the only one who doesnt want to waste some of the talented work of the pattern makers and the money that we spend on being able to use the patterns!

I have 2 little girls (soon to be 3!), so I *never* cut up a multi-sized pattern -- I'll probably use it in the next size next year!  After agonizing over how to do it, I arrived on tracing the size I want onto waxed paper (the same stuff from the kitchen).

I pin the waxed paper to my pattern and use a Sharpie to trace my lines and the little triangles and whatnot.  I'm very careful to note what size I've traced, right there on my waxed paper piece, and copy all the pertinent information.  The waxed paper lets me see through just well enough to get everything I need.  So then I use my new pattern pieces for the actual sewing, and fold the original back up (ha! as if it's that easy).  Most of the time I can stuff the waxed paper pattern back in the envelope too - I just paper clip the pieces together to make finding that size easier.

I buy Pattern Ease...it's inexpensive (especially with a coupon ) andyou can find it at almost any fabric store with the interfacing.  It's easy to trace and holds up well.  I make sure to put all the pattern info on the traced pattern, including pattern company and #, as well as all markings.  I just keep the whole shebang (store-bought pattern and my traced pattern) in a large zip-lock bag.  Works like a charm!

I also use freezer paper- since you asked victoria for more details, I'll tell you how I use it.  If you trace the pattern on the non- shiny side, then you can iron the shiny side onto your fabric and it will stick long enough for you to cut out around it.  Also great for applique.  The non-shiny side is easy to write on and the paper is very durable.  For bigger patterns I just tape pieces together.  A sharpie will bleed thru your pattern onto the freezer pattern when you are tracing (pattern on top, paper below), or I also use the wheel.  I usually use the wheel to trace the big out lines and then a sharpie for all the little markings.

And yep, you can use freezer paper patterns over and over.  The stickiness fades a bit over time, but it's so sturdy that I also pin it sometimes instead, still works fine.  Love to hear how you are using it, too, victoria.

Trina

OH these are GREAT ideas. Thank you so much for your responses.

ThirdMargaret-I haven't heard of pattern ease. Ill have to look for it next time i am out getting supplies.

trinaQ-thank you for explaining your process. I too would like to see if Victoria does anything differently with her freezer paper.

Ill have to try all of these and see what works for me. Ive been photocopying the smaller pieces w/curved cuts, etc. then taping together the bigger parts and photocopying that. The particular pattern I have been using lately, Gracie by portabellapixie (WHICH I LOVE) , has a lot of cuts that are straight pieces so i can just fold those pattern pieces back. And I think i should certainly buy stock in ziploc bags because i use them for everything. I keep my original pattern pieces, including envelopes w/any copies I have made in a gallon ziploc. Much less frustrating than trying to fit it all back into the envelope!!! 

Amen to the ziplocs, sister!  My husband came down the other day, looked around the basement, and muttered, "It's a good thing we have stock in DuPont."  I *think* he was kidding.