Reading the pattern
Cutting and sewing lines, grainlines, folds, notches, darts and labels.
- Cutting line
- The solid outline: cut along it.
- Sewing line
- The dashed line inside it: sew along it. The space between is the seam allowance.
- Grainline
- The long arrow: lay it parallel to the selvedge (the fabric’s woven edge). On knits it marks the greatest stretch, across.
- Place on fold
- The bracket along an edge: put that edge on the fold of the fabric and cut both layers, for a piece that opens out whole.
- Notches
- Short marks across the cutting line: snip them and match them when sewing. One notch for the front, two for the back.
- Darts
- The pink V shapes: fold along the middle, match the lines and sew from the edge to the point.
- Dots
- Points to match or mark, as the top of a sleeve or a pocket position.
- Lengthen or shorten here
- The double line: cut across it and spread or overlap the pattern.
- Label
- Each piece’s name, how many to cut, the fabric (if not the main one), the design and size.