symbols

Most symbols used in most sewing patterns are fairly universal, so there isn’t a huge new language to learn there. Most pattern designers will include a key to what symbols they have used and if not you can always google it.

Here are the most common ones:

Not all patterns include all symbols and some designers use say little triangles for notches whereas others may use a line. Ultimately this doesn’t matter, as long as you know what they mean. Some designers don’t just mark the cutting line but also the stitch lines. Some mark the bust/ waist and hip lines, and helpfully tell you whether a fold is on the centre back or what the shoulder seam is, others have a more minimalist approach. Some patterns do not include seam allowances and you will therefor mark the stitch line – way more complicated! Do check all this before you cut your fabric!

charts

All multi size patterns will have a size chart included. This will guide you in determining where your measurements sit on the size chart.

A finished measurement chart is also ideally included so you know how big that waist really is and how long the skirt is etc. Some charts include measurements for different bust sizes or even an entirely different chart for say sizes 0-16 and one for 18-34.

There should also be charts for fabric usage, and this can be quite a complex chart if there are different versions and different width fabrics that will give a different amount needed.

different versions

If there are different versions you can make then all the versions should have at least their own line drawings, and a list of what pattern pieces you need to cut out, and how many of each. It is worth marking all the pattern pieces you need to cut so you don’t waste time cutting all of them out!

instruction booklet

Read through this before you start! Gather all your materials and haberdashery and make sure you understand what is going on, it will be so helpful to later on not have to unpick things 3 times because you misread something. I like marking off each step once I have finished them so I don’t accidentally skip a step.

printing and cutting layouts

Pattern instructions sometimes have a printing layout, in case you are printing your pattern at home on A4 paper.

There will usually charts telling you how to lay pattern pieces on to your fabric. This can take many pages as they may show different versions and on different widths of fabric and sometimes also for different sizes.

I no longer cut my pieces out like that as it can be very wasteful of fabric plus it can be super confusing trying to follow along with this. It also presumes you can lay all your pieces out in one go.

I will show you a different and more economical way to lay your pieces out in one of the following chapters. Of course you can do it whatever way you like!