My fabric cutting game changed after a workshop in Chicago

I used to cut everything freehand on a big table, which was messy and wasted material. At a workshop three months ago, the teacher showed us how to make simple paper templates from old grocery bags. Now I trace those first, which saves me about a yard of fabric per project because the pieces fit together better. It's a small step that makes the whole process smoother. Anyone have other cheap tricks for better pattern layout?

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paul_thompson675mo ago

My grandma taught me to use old newspaper instead of grocery bags, it's even thinner for tracing. I keep a stack of the free weekly paper just for this.

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tessa3945mo ago

Yeah, @paul_thompson67, that's smart. I use the ad flyers from the mail, the paper is super thin and slick. It's perfect for tracing a sewing pattern or copying a drawing. I tried regular printer paper once and it was way too thick to see the lines clearly. The junk mail finally has a good use.

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oliver_mitchell4mo ago

The real game changer for me was taping two sheets of newspaper together and tracing half of a symmetric pattern piece, then flipping it over. Cuts your marking time in half and guarantees perfect mirror images every time. Also saves paper since you aren't wasting space on duplicate tracings.

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