How to make tracing sewing patterns as painless as possible
Inevitably the first time you open up a sewing pattern magazine, you pull out the pattern sheet. The first thing that strikes you is all.the.lines. If you go cross-eyed, know that it’s happened to the best of us.
So let’s talk about how to trace sewing patterns without going blind, plus some basic tools that’ll get you through the process.
Tools for tracing from sewing pattern magazines
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Paper for tracing sewing patterns
Tools for adding seam allowances
How to trace a sewing pattern
First, get your sewing pattern magazine. Flip to the page with all the models on it so that you know where to go.
Next, find the pattern number and the page where the instructions are.
Once you’re there, locate the pattern sheet and the color of the line you’re tracing.
This jacket for my son is “sheet C, blue line” for example.
Remove the staple from to remove the pattern sheet from the middle of the magazine, then find the sheet that you need.
Look at the diagram in the instructions. How many pieces are you tracing, and what are their numbers?
Find the pattern # 
Find the pattern sheet, and line color 
Find the pattern piece on the sheet 
Use weights to help you find the lines, then trace
Next, look at the bottom edges of each sheet. The pattern sheets work just like a map grid. Find a number and move up or across along that same line to find the pattern piece number you need.
From there, place your chosen tracing paper over the pattern piece. I like to use pattern weights along the edges of a piece so I can clearly see where it is. You can also use a highlighter to outline what you need to trace.
For the love of all that is good and holy, trace in good light! If you need to do a big pattern like a coat with a million little pieces, give your eyes a break after 25 minutes or so.
Be sure to leave enough space between pattern pieces to add seam allowances.
When you’ve traced all your pieces, add the seam and hem allowances. Be sure to mark the pattern #, magazine issue, size, and pattern piece number or description on each piece. That way you won’t get confused later.
When you’re all done, fold the pattern sheet up the same way you unfolded it. It’s just like folding a map! Store traced patterns in large envelopes like manila folders or plastic portfolios.
Sewing magazines worth trying out and where to get them
You can buy all of these magazines straight from the source. They can be bought as single issues in many cases or as a subscription. I tend to preview magazines on their websites and buy them as single issues.
You can get creative here and buy them on Ebay, Amazon marketplace. I’ve even bought many from the classified ads on Patternreview.
It should be noted that many are in different languages not just English. The diagrams will tell you everything you need to know in most cases. In the rest, you can have some serious entertainment with Google translate.
List of Sewing pattern magazines
Here’s a good list of pattern magazines that offer patterns for women. I also noted the magazines with patterns for men, and sewing magazines for children’s clothing where applicable.
| Burdastyle | German magazine, but available in several different languages. Burdastyle’s US site you can download patterns individually as PDFs. Finding a link for the newest issue/where to subscribe can be a little dicey. Link is to a UK site. I often preview an issue on the Russian Burda. Patterns mostly for women, with a few children’s patterns in each issue and occasionally men’s patterns. |
| Ottobre Design | Finnish magazine. They offer great basics with excellent details. Instructions are clear, though brief. You can use these for years to come. Ottobre Woman has issues for women, there’s a kids’ version with patterns from baby-tweens, and a Family issue with patterns for men and older teens as well as women. The kids’ version does hands down the best job of balancing girls’ styles with boys’ styles. If you’ve ever thought that boys patterns are seriously lackluster, Ottobre will prove you wrong! |
| My Image | Dutch magazine published by Made by Oranges. I personally love their photography–it’s very real life! You can buy individual patterns or the whole issue online. Definitely beginner friendly. |
| B Trendy | A kids’ pattern magazine also published by Made by Oranges. Fun trendy styles for girls, although it looks like they’ve expanded to include some stuff for the guys too. Boy Mom win! |
| La Maison Victor | Dutch magazine. Like Burdastyle, they have individual patterns for sale on their website, though you can pick up a copy of the magazine at these shops in the UK, US, Australia and Canada. Patterns for women + kids |
| La Mia Boutique | Italian magazine: super chic styles! |
| Modellina | More Italian sewing goodness! |
| Patrones | A Spanish sewing magazine. So.much.fashion. The only downside is that every pattern only comes in 3 sizes, so you might have to do some extra work if you fall outside a given range for a pattern. Definitely stalk the Ebay for spare copies. |
So that should get you started with sewing pattern magazines. If you’ve not tried them, I hope you’re feeling encouraged to embrace the trace!
I need more sewing tips in my life! Check these out:
- Simple tips for making sewing with leather less stressful
- 7 ways to start sewing without a pattern
- How to start sewing with a plan
Elizabeth Farr is the writer behind the Elizabeth Made This blog where she shares helpful sewing tips, step by step sewing tutorials and videos to help you explore your creativity through sewing. She has written sewing Eguides and patterns, been a featured teacher at Rebecca Page’s Sewing Summit and Jennifer Maker’s Holiday Maker Fest and her work has appeared in Seamwork and Altered Couture magazines. She also created a line of refashioned garments for SEWN Denver. When her sewing machine isn’t humming, she’s playing and teaching violin, and hanging around a good strategic board game with her husband and 4 kids.
I much prefer pattern magazines for all the reasons you mention. I have 20+ years of Burda style in my stash, and know exactly what I need to do to fit. It’s a great resource when I want to make something, and can almost always hack or Frankenstein what I want. I suspended my subscription in April because it was getting repetitive, and not enough patterns in each issue I wanted to make, when their individual pattern downloads are so cheap. I also just discovered Indies last year and am trying out staples in one’s with cup sizes. Only a couple even come close to covering my size (regular 10/40 with G/H bust), so still lots of adjustments. Mostly Burda is easier, and having to double handle seam allowances really bugs me.
I find myself always looking through my magazines before I go and buy another pattern. Very often I can find something similar or within hacking distance of what it is that I want to make. I’m with you too on the consistency in Burda. It’s so nice to know exactly what you need to do to alter a pattern. In some ways it’s wonderful that there’s so many indies to serve every body type out there, but there will always be that little learning curve with every company since everyone’s draft is slightly different.
I do love my sewing magazines but hardly turn to them. The tracing is often much faster than printing and taping, especially since I usually end up tracing my printouts anyway!
I love that olfa tool. My mom has one – I don’t understand why they discontinued it!
I know–what was Olfa thinking?!!! It’s the best little gadget. It’s so true–I end up tracing a lot of PDFs as well because the paper is so bulky and difficult to alter.
VERY dangerous post Elizabeth! ($ links $) I’m definitely on team trace, and my hand is raised 🙂
LOL–for me too! There’s quite a few I haven’t tried on that list, and I’m definitely curious about some of them!
This was one of the best articles I have read about different kinds of patterns. It really got me inspired to go through my old Burda magazines, because when I think about it, the things I’ve made from those have really impressed me with the designs and simplicity of instruction. Really interesting blog. Thank you, I look forward to reading more.
Glad it helped you Kim! Those old Burdas are GOLD. Every time I go through them I’m always struck like you said with at least one design that’s truly unique and interesting, and I probably find 5 more jackets I’d like to make, LOL!
Hi, I just wanted you to know that you absolutely made my day. I love making my own designs, tracing from magazines etc and I had been using dr examining paper, for want of a better term. I read your suggestion regarding the soil seperation fabric, I ordered it and received it today. Only 14 a roll and twice as wide as the paper I had been using. BUT best of all I can see through it easily and its strong enough to pin. Thank you so much.
Glad it was helpful Kim! I love love the soil separator. The width alone is a gamechanger. There’s very few pattern pieces big enough to require taping with that width! I hope you love using it!
My magazine is telling me to fuse interfacing to the inner front bib and the outer front. What is that? Does that mean both sides of the bib?