Totally worth the time: Tracing my fave patterns onto cloth
Anyway, I've been meaning to do this for a while, but--you may have noticed that I have favorite patterns. I almost never make them exactly as the package shows, but I use them as jumping off points to make whatever it is I want to make--that I know will fit. My current faves are Simplicity 2444 and McCalls M5489 (out of print--try Simplicity 1876, Simplicity 3878, or Simplicity 4070 if you want your own!).
I love those two patterns, and I love that I know my exact size and how to get the perfect fit. But when I use them allll the time, they get a little floppy and torn and fragile. So, the ideal solution, I think, is to copy them onto pattern tracing cloth so I can reuse them indefinitely!
It's a bit of a pain, really, to trace every line and dart and snip mark, then cut out very carefully, but is totally worth it! I'm really happy to have these ready for me to use.
Here's Simplicity 2444:
And here's my McCall's M5849, my strapless or basic summer dress pattern. This style is great because you can make the bodice in practically 1/4 of a yard if your fabric is wide! I've used it with small pieces of fabric many a time.
I'm excited to use these, and I'm sure they'll be easier to cut out with, also! Paper slips around easily, you know, and I never pin my patterns down (I just use scissors, pincushion, my water glass!, etc. as weights!), so the friction of the fabric will be helpful.
Have you ever done this? Do you have other solutions for reusing your fave patterns??
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