When I was learning how to sew, I would buy the easiest patterns from McCalls or Simplicity. You know, the 12 outfits in one patterns. I was young, on a budget, and couldn’t see myself spending a bunch of money on a bunch of different patterns when I could get one or two to make three or four. I would unfold the neatly packaged beige colored tissue paper and carefully pin to my fabric with the hopes of not accidentally ripping important instructions or seam indicators. Once done with, I would struggle to reinsert my fragile blueprints back into their respective envelopes, now seemingly three sizes too small, for use another day. Twenty years and many tattered patterns later, I discovered a much easier and more preserving way to store them that has them looking as good as new, use after use. My trick, transferring the flimsy tissue weight patterns along with necessary blueprints onto heavyweight craft paper, grabbing a few plastic pant hangers, and hanging them up in my storage closet for reuse. Now wrinkle and rip free, I pin without caution to my beautiful dress fabrics as if the patterns were as new as the material they were laying on.
J&O Fabric Store “Top 7 Tips for Pattern Reuse.”
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