Reading & Preparing Patterns

HNC3CI – Mrs. Crowell

Important Parts of a Pattern

• Every pattern consists of three parts:

1. An envelope

2. A guide sheet (instructions)

3. Tissue pattern pieces

Opening your Pattern Envelope1. Write your name on your envelope and

instruction sheets.2. Find the specific instructions for your pants and

highlight / circle them.3. Find all required pattern pieces and roughly cut

them out. Be mindful of the size!4. Place all other pattern pieces back into your

envelope.5. Write your name on ALL pattern pieces for your

project (even the little pattern pieces!)

Preparing your Pattern PiecesNOTCHES

• Your pattern pieces will have notches on them.

• These notches will help you line up your fabric once your pattern pieces are removed from the fabric.

• Find and highlight all of the notches on each of your pieces.

Preparing your Pattern PiecesGRAIN LINE

• The grain line refers to the direction of the weave in the fabric that is created during manufacturing.

• Finding the grain line is important in order to have your fabric hang and fit properly once it is sewn and worn as a garment.

• The grain line runs parallel with the selvage edge of the fabric.

• Find and highlight all of the grain line markings on each of your pattern pieces.

Preparing your Pattern PiecesSELVAGE EDGE

• The selvage is the raw edge of the fabric marked with numbers and letters.

• The grain line runs parallel to the selvage.

• DO NOT trust the cuts in the fabric made at the store.

• The selvage is a guaranteed STRAIGHT LINE to measure against.

• Find the selvage on your piece of fabric.

Preparing your Pattern PiecesFOLD LINE or CENTRE FOLD

• Your pattern may ask you to line up and cut some of your pieces along the fold line.

• Find and highlight all fold line symbols on your pattern pieces.

Preparing your Pattern PiecesPATTERN SYMBOLS

• Your pattern will be full of additional markings and symbols that will be transferred onto your fabric once it is pinned and cut.

• These symbols will help you line your fabric up as you sew your garment.

• Look for and highlight: – Circles / Dots– Squares– Triangles– X’s

Preparing your Pattern PiecesADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Using a highlighter, mark the following things on EACH of your pattern pieces:

– Number of pieces to cut (circle)

– The SIZE you will be cutting out! (trace)