How Do I Trace My Patterns?

To go along with my previous post of my favorite tracing tools, I thought I would provide a simple tutorial on how to trace a pattern. This might be similar to what you already do or this might be completely new to some of you who don’t know where to begin.

First of all, I expand my cutting table to accommodate my cutting board…not fully extended because my sewing space is very small. I open my pattern sheet and lay it out on my cutting board. Sometimes, I leave my pattern sheet like this overnight (e.g. KwikSew) to give the paper time to flatten/relax.

I take my sketch paper roll and lay it over the pattern piece I want to trace. I place my weights over the flat area of the tracing paper and unroll until I incorporate the entire single pattern piece. In my example, it’s the front pattern piece of my shorts. I then cut the paper from the roll. I rearrange my pattern weights to make sure both papers (tracing & pattern) are flat.

I am ready to start tracing. I use my pencil to trace the outline of my pattern. I use my yardstick for most of the lines. Here, I show my small straight lines going around a curve. Then I go back and fill in the missing line by hand…producing a curve. A lot of times, I trace the whole curve by hand.


Next, I use my Sharpie Ultra Fine marker and mark my notches, grain line, shorten/lengthen lines, dots, circles, darts, pleats, etc. My own personal preference is to write the pattern name and number, pattern piece number, name of pattern piece (e.g. front, back, collar), size I traced, and any finished measurements (e.g. bust, waist, hip). I have a really good reason for writing all this pertinent information. Once I refold the original pattern sheet(s) and put it back in the envelope, I don't plan on taking it back out again. Here, you see that I've traced 3 pattern pieces on one sheet. Sometimes, I'll have enough room to trace other small pattern pieces on the same sheet.


I cut out my traced pattern pieces with my Fiskar paper scissors. I cut right on the outside edge of my traced lines. Here are examples of my pocket and front pattern pieces along with two other small pieces.

When all of my pattern pieces are traced and cut out, I will go ahead and make the necessary pattern adjustments (e.g. shorten the length). I found that Scotch Magic Tape works well with this paper.

I am now ready to place my traced pattern pieces on my fabric.

I will mention that this can be a time consuming process. Sometimes, I will spend one weekend day just tracing several patterns. That way, I am ready to go once I have the fabric selected. My sewing room receives natural light in the morning and so that is the perfect time for me to trace.

I have demonstrated this pattern tracing technique in my sewing class and my students thought this was one of the best learning experiences they had.

Happy Sewing!