I am all with you about not wasting the patterns. I do go the extra step of cutting out every piece, i storethem in a manilla envelope and use a size of 8x11 then file them in metal filing cabinets. But i love your videos just found you so totally subscribed, thank you for sharing, you have given me the courage to make my own videos, you are awesome!!! Keep up with such a great job!!!
I just found your channel and have been binge watching your videos. You explain everything so clearly and thoroughly I really appreciate it, especially since I'm new to sewing garments. I love the vintage aspect of your channel, I have always been drawn to anything from decades of old. I also love the hair and makeup, basically there isn't anything I don't love about your channel! You have given me the confidence to dive into to sewing garments, somehow you made it less scary and doable! P.S. those patterns that have all of the pieces layered on top of one another look straight up terrifying!!! Much love and thanks again!
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Jenny! My goal with this TH-cam channel was to do just as you described- and I'm so glad you're inspired to really get in there with sewing! I may do a video this coming year with a pattern that is printed with different patterns on top; I'll make sure to at the very least cover the tracing part of it since I know it can be quite stressful! Thanks again for taking the time to watch my videos :)
Thank you for this informative lesson in pattern tracing. I feel that I learned so much and some of the "fear" of working this way has been eliminated. I'm going back to garment sewing after 25 yrs. of making quilts & non-garment fabric items. I always had problem with getting the fit just right so I've been studying the last few weeks and think I'm ready to give it a go.
I'm so glad the video was so helpful! Definitely get back into sewing- I'm sure it'll bring a lot of old happy memories back :) Getting the right fit is always a challenge, but after a while you'll find that the changes you have to make to a pattern are usually about the same (for example, lengthening the sleeves or doing a FBA)-- so they're easy to learn after a while. Thanks for commenting!
I'm sure you know this already but I find making mock-ups in muslin fabric always helps me get to fit just right and you get practice with the patterns before you actually start sewing with your Fashion Fabric! And I find sometimes you can use your mock-up as a lining as well!
You make it look worthwhile, I will be doing the same with my patterns. I'm one of the older generation you were making reference too. I love your channel, by the way. I have learned a lot from you. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your comment, Dana! I totally understand why some people decide not to trace their pattern. For me personally, I have soooooooo many adjustments to make (FBA, swayback, shorten the torso) that make an original pattern a hot mess, so I'd much rather adjust the tracing and if I mess up, I can always back track haha
I'm the same as you, I always trace my patterns, as I sometimes make multiple sizes (I do children's costumes) of the same pattern, and once you've cut the pattern, you can't always use it for a different size. I love your tip of ironing the pattern pieces to get a flat pattern piece.
Good tips! I always trace too! I am glad to know another person feel wasteful about printing a PDF and then just throwing it out! I do usually just freehand though, I appreciate the French curve tip. Great video!
Oh yes- definitely use the French Curve! Doing it freehand might give you slight variations and every 1/4" off can add up in the long term. Hope the tips help with your projects :)
Vintage on Tap is a French curve ruler the same thing as a hip curve ruler? I'm relatively new to sewing garments, so I apologize if this is a silly question.
Hi Jenny! Thanks for your question. I actually am not too familiar with hip curve rulers, but after doing a Google search, they look extremely similar. I actually link to the ruler I use on my blog post about this video: vintageontap.com/how-to-trace-vintage-sewing-patterns Check it out and see if it's similar to the one you have!
I enjoy your teaching us everything you know and thanks for sharing. I just brought a sewing machine and made my bedroom curtains which looks fabulous. I now what to start a project for my masquerade ball wearing a vintage 1930 gown in crepe back satin. I also have patterns for 1943, 1945, 1960 seven day wardrobe set of jackets of different sleeve lengths and dress of pencil and a petite wideness. Now, I am looking for a vintage blouses and skirts which will complete my vintage wardrobe. I also ordered the French Curve Ruler to help me with the tracing of my patterns. great video
Thanks so much for sharing! It really sounds like you're getting a really good selection of projects together-- kind of reminds me that I have to do something similar for myself, too haha 💝 Thanks for watching!
Thank you, this was very helpful. I have vintage and discontinued patterns , but have not used then because I just couldn't bear the idea of cutting them. I tried butcher paper, in the past, it worked but was still was somewhat difficult to see through. Now, I am going on the hunt for the grafted paper you used.
Thanks so much for commenting! Definitely click through to my website (vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns/) I have a link in there for the dot paper that I use which you can purchase online. It's not too difficult to find, but the shipping can be tricky, so just be sure to order a lot at once. When I buy dot paper, I buy it in 10y cuts at a time, just so I don't have to keep running back to the store for it.
I feel the exact same way! A couple of years ago I started trasing out my patterns and I have never gone back it's honestly therapeutic for me now! Especially because patterns nowadays come in multiple sizes what if I want to make a dress for a friend that is a different size and me I have to size and I can just trace it out and make the dress all while being able to keep the pattern in its original form, I mean I'm spending $20 on printed paper, it's honestly worth it to trace it out!
So happy you agree! There are a lot of people who think it's not worth it (just check the comments!) but I've been able to go back to my traced patterns time and time again, and it's been always worth it!
great video, I trace everything too but have never used vintage patterns as i don't want to ruin them so that was really useful. it is time consuming but I always trace in the evenings so I don't waste weekend sewing time! thanks for sharing 😀
Definitely give your vintage patterns a shot! They all deserve to be sewn :) Also, I trace my patterns at night, too! I like to leave my weekends totally free to sew up a storm. Thanks for your comment!
Great tips for my many '30's & 40's patterns! I've been tracing for years because I'm one of those expanding/shrinking people. What fits this year might have to be graded differently next year. If I accept that next year I'd just buy a new pattern, then what do I do if/when the old favorite is discontinued?
I admire you for all the work you do put into tracing your patterns - heavens even PDF patterns are an anathema to me! I have a couple around (usually they came free with a course or through a site) but all the time pasting them together and then copying them? Yikes like you said about the older generation who can't understand doing that - I'm right there at 62 :) I do copy some patterns (not all the pieces) but mostly AFTER I've done all the fitting adjustments because they are such a mess I'll copy them to preserve them to use again in the future :)
Haha yes, taping them together and copying them can definitely be a time consuming task! I'm all about doing it the slow way and while I don't enjoy it, it definitely gives me some time to understand the pattern more intimately. For example, I pay attention to the size gradations more, I see how similar or different it is to other patterns I have, etc. Plus, its a good excuse to catch up on my tv shows haha!
Brilliant explanation.You made everything so clear,informative and interesting.Ive always traced my patterns and used greaseproof paper but it's quite crinkley
I have a light board and I use parchment paper, the light board helps to see all the markings. Something I do with my patterns, is I iron it face up onto freezer paper and then trace the smaller sizes on to the payment paper. This way I don’t have to cut my patterns and I have all the sizes I need. Something else I have done with larger pieces, is once I have ironed it onto freezer paper, I tape it to a window and then, tape the freezer paper over it. This makes it very easy to see everything.
I found my 1930s, 1940s vintage pattern heavy to read in our time, compairing to today. The old pattern had very light paper so it was not possible to copy the size. Often there was only one size for the pattern.
I've been tracing patterns for years, and making my own drafts from vintage instructions. I used to use a roll of medical exam paper I got free for asking my doctor. It works, but it's not very transparent. And it's only 21" wide, not enough for many pattern pieces. I recently bought a wide roll of artist's tracing "vellum", and it is more transparent and easy to work with. It wasn't too expensive, either. I'm not interested in dot paper ... the dots would distract me, especially if I traced at an odd angle.
Swedish tracing paper is my go-to product because it is more like material than paper. Light weight non-woven interfacing is great too. For a different paper-like material, try parchment (baking) paper
I use clasp mailing envelopes to store the traced copies! I label all of them on the top right hand corner (pattern name, pattern company, size) and then pop them into a box in the larger size box than I store my patterns (th-cam.com/video/21g3AlKRFYI/w-d-xo.html) PDFs are stored in the same way.
Hi Agnes! I used dot paper, that is correct :) This sort of paper has grids on it with numbers and letters an inch apart, which makes it easier to cut and use. I have a link to it on my post about the products I use for this tutorial: vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns
Great video!! I'm guilty of cutting my big 4 patterns , but I rather trace my indie company patterns and I will do the same for PDF when I do them because I'll send those to a print shop for printing. I love the idea of using a colored marker to trace the original line then put the tracing paper on top. I just traced one of my indie company patterns and didn't do a great job. Although my tracing paper is VERY see through I just kept getting off track with the lines, so that colored marker will come in handy. I tried clicking on the blog link, but it didn't work for me. Where did you get the pattern weights again? Oh and I saw a TH-cam video that used lightweight fusible interfacing to preserve their more delicate pattern pieces, that may help with your vintage once as well. It looked pretty neat and I'm going to try it on some of my tried and true big 4 pattern pieces. thanks for sharing this was so helpful.
Haha a lot of people have no problems with cutting into their Big 4- if it works for you, it works for you! One of my last videos goes into me doing some pattern fitting and by the end of it, my pattern is a hot-taped-together-mess, which is why I use copies of the original. I can't imaging having to buy an entire new pattern if I mess up on one piece 😅 (its been known to happen to me!) Glad you were able to get some tips from the video, though! Also for the pattern weight, Rachel only takes orders via Instagram or email- she doesn't sell them outright. Definitely contact her, though, she sets them up on an individual basis depending on if she has time in her schedule. Believe me, I'm doing my best to nudge her into selling them more consistently (I get questions about them ALL THE TIME.)
I found some moving wrapping paper also called blank newsprint paper at Home Depot. They sell them by the rolls and you get quite a bit and big size sheets, like newspaper without the ink. Sell about $5. At IKEA they sell kids tracing tables and they have a light in them. Perfect for tracing.
Love your tutorials and thank you for sharing. However, the background (windows/daylight) makes it difficult to see when you adjusting a pattern or tracing off a pattern. Is there a way that you could minimize the amount of natural light behind you?
Hi Alethia- Thanks so much for commenting on the lighting situation! I'm trying to find a solution for it, since it can definitely be really distracting. Hoping to be able to get it taken care of in the coming months!
Hi Bianca, Wonderful and informative video. Thanks for sharing how to trace the vintage pattern. Do you have any tips for purchasing vintage patterns? I know they can be quite expensive. Have a fab day! 😘
When buying vintage patterns, there's only a few things to really take into account- the size (since older patterns are not multi-size until like the 70s), and whether or not all the pieces are in the envelope. If you're missing a piece, it might be a tricky thing to find or to draft, so just keep that in mind. As for the high cost, check thrift stores, swap meets, and estate sales! I have a local thrift store I visit once every couple months and I go straight for the patterns when I go in!
Sorry pressed wrong place.......... I was going to say greaseproof paper sounds crinkley.Ive been wondering the best to use so your explanation was really helpful.Im going to check where I can buy the dot paper. I love vintage 40 /50s and you can tell by the way you talk about and handle the patterns that you feel the same.I absolutely love your vlogs and would love more explanations or tutorials of you making garments.
For the dot paper, definitely follow through to my post about this video (here: vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns/) which has a direct Amazon link to the type of dot paper I use. It's generally inexpensive, but the shipping can be a bit much, so make sure to order a ton (so you don't have to keep ordering!)
Nevermind, just tried a different link you left in the comments, that worked. She must not sell the pattern weights anymore, i didn't see them on her site.
great video. i have always wanted to know how to trace patterns. your explanation was really clear. Are you a teacher? that bay window is magnificent but its a little difficult to see you with the light behind you
Thanks so much for commenting! I'm not a teacher (I think that's why I ended up rambling in some parts in the video haha), but I'll keep practicing sharing what I know in future videos! And thanks so much for letting me know about the windows making it hard to see. Normally in our other videos we don't shoot in that sort of POV, so we're still trying to tweak it and make it work! Hopefully the next video comes out better :)
The pattern weights were actually custom :( Unfortunately the person who makes them is no longer making them available, since it was just an experiment. Sorry about that!!
In San Francisco there's only 3 fabric stores that carry a big selection of garment fabrics: -Britex Fabrics (Geary St. -Fabric Outlet (Mission St.) -Discount Fabrics (Cesar Chavez St.) The Discount Fabrics is the furthest out from the city center but it's the cheapest (and most disorganized, heads up!)
This might be a hard question, but I've been on the look out for 40's patterns and I can't really find a size that works for me, most that I can find is around size 12-14 with a 32/34" bust whilst I have a 38" bust and 31" waist. I haven't had the pleasure to play around with vintage patterns at all, so I wonder how tricky it'd be to resize them? Of course it depends on the cut, but I don't really feel that I want to spend $20 on a pattern but not being able to use it at all..
Hi Linnéa! Unfortunately I don't have too much working experience with grading up vintage patterns (at least not enough to feel 100% confident yet-- but working on it!)--- I probably wouldn't deviate more than a couple inches in the bust measurement, though. So if you're in the 38" bust range, probably would look for patterns between 36-40 bust, just to play it safe. It sucks to have to spend $20 on a pattern that may or may not work, but it makes the hunt much more fun! Good luck!
patterns at my spolight can be $40-50 dollars each for a good one. i always get them on special, but once i incorrectly picked the right one and it was soooo expensive.
So what is the purpose of not placing your Vintage pattern piece underneath the tracing paper? I'm sure you have a good reason, but you didn't mention it in your video. I scrolled down and didn't find anyone else asking this question. Thank you.
Most vintage patterns do not have lines printed onto them and are cut to be an exact size. It's easier to see the edges of the pattern piece if it's on top, rather than trying to guess where it is under the sheet (since there aren't any markings on it!)
well done! Also, patterns aren't cheap any longer.. .nearly 20 dollars for a paper pattern? And what about alterations? I'm very short and plump as I can be and NO pattern fits me properly without working on it some. Just want to say always always write down the brand/number size of all patterns you copy. I've had to recopy a pattern when I forgot real basic notations! 😀🙃
Check out my blog post about the French curve and I've got a link to a couple in there: vintageontap.com/how-to-use-a-french-curve-tutorial/ They're all to Amazon, but I go into some more depth about pros and cons of the different ones out there.
FYI your ageist remark about the older generation having an aversion to PDFs is offensive and off-base. A preference for one pattern type over another is about time/energy investment vs result/reward, and is not dictated by age but by personality, available tools, workspace etc. Please stop perpetuating this particular form of socially-sanctioned bias!!
the fun part is sewing, you are added unnecessary steps that are long and tedious. Jo-Ann's always have a sale on patterns so pick up two or more cut on save one. The way you are going about this i would never get to the sewing. oh ya buy a tracing wheel
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Venique! I definitely appreciate all your input on the topic. As explained in my video, my priority in tracing patterns is to keep the pattern in tact, avoid waste, and save money in the process by not having to buy multiple patterns if I all ready own one I like and use. My video also goes into tracing vintage patterns, which unfortunately are unavailable after a certain time. And thank you for bringing up tracing wheels! Super helpful for beginner seamstresses- I'm sure it comes in handy 100%! Using rulers and French curves are more industry standard, which was what I pull from in my background. Thanks for commenting :)
I am all with you about not wasting the patterns. I do go the extra step of cutting out every piece, i storethem in a manilla envelope and use a size of 8x11 then file them in metal filing cabinets. But i love your videos just found you so totally subscribed, thank you for sharing, you have given me the courage to make my own videos, you are awesome!!! Keep up with such a great job!!!
OMG! I thought I was the only one who traced my patterns to keep the originals in tact . Great minds think a like.
I just found your channel and have been binge watching your videos. You explain everything so clearly and thoroughly I really appreciate it, especially since I'm new to sewing garments. I love the vintage aspect of your channel, I have always been drawn to anything from decades of old. I also love the hair and makeup, basically there isn't anything I don't love about your channel! You have given me the confidence to dive into to sewing garments, somehow you made it less scary and doable! P.S. those patterns that have all of the pieces layered on top of one another look straight up terrifying!!! Much love and thanks again!
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Jenny! My goal with this TH-cam channel was to do just as you described- and I'm so glad you're inspired to really get in there with sewing!
I may do a video this coming year with a pattern that is printed with different patterns on top; I'll make sure to at the very least cover the tracing part of it since I know it can be quite stressful!
Thanks again for taking the time to watch my videos :)
Thank you for this informative lesson in pattern tracing. I feel that I learned so much and some of the "fear" of working this way has been eliminated. I'm going back to garment sewing after 25 yrs. of making quilts & non-garment fabric items. I always had problem with getting the fit just right so I've been studying the last few weeks and think I'm ready to give it a go.
I'm so glad the video was so helpful! Definitely get back into sewing- I'm sure it'll bring a lot of old happy memories back :) Getting the right fit is always a challenge, but after a while you'll find that the changes you have to make to a pattern are usually about the same (for example, lengthening the sleeves or doing a FBA)-- so they're easy to learn after a while.
Thanks for commenting!
I'm sure you know this already but I find making mock-ups in muslin fabric always helps me get to fit just right and you get practice with the patterns before you actually start sewing with your Fashion Fabric! And I find sometimes you can use your mock-up as a lining as well!
Thank you so much! I can't wait to apply these lessons to my future projects!
You make it look worthwhile, I will be doing the same with my patterns. I'm one of the older generation you were making reference too. I love your channel, by the way. I have learned a lot from you. Thank you!
Thanks so much for your comment, Dana! I totally understand why some people decide not to trace their pattern. For me personally, I have soooooooo many adjustments to make (FBA, swayback, shorten the torso) that make an original pattern a hot mess, so I'd much rather adjust the tracing and if I mess up, I can always back track haha
I'm the same as you, I always trace my patterns, as I sometimes make multiple sizes (I do children's costumes) of the same pattern, and once you've cut the pattern, you can't always use it for a different size. I love your tip of ironing the pattern pieces to get a flat pattern piece.
I imagine that sewing for children and their (quickly) growing sizes makes the tracing super important!!
Love the idea of tracing the pattern of the large sheet of printed pattern, I'm all about saving money! That makes total sense.
Good tips! I always trace too! I am glad to know another person feel wasteful about printing a PDF and then just throwing it out!
I do usually just freehand though, I appreciate the French curve tip. Great video!
Oh yes- definitely use the French Curve! Doing it freehand might give you slight variations and every 1/4" off can add up in the long term. Hope the tips help with your projects :)
Vintage on Tap is a French curve ruler the same thing as a hip curve ruler? I'm relatively new to sewing garments, so I apologize if this is a silly question.
Hi Jenny! Thanks for your question. I actually am not too familiar with hip curve rulers, but after doing a Google search, they look extremely similar. I actually link to the ruler I use on my blog post about this video: vintageontap.com/how-to-trace-vintage-sewing-patterns
Check it out and see if it's similar to the one you have!
Thank you for all your knowledge, this video will be very helpful for me.
This is so in depth! Thank you so much
Love this tutorial!! Great way of showing tools and info needed.
Thanks, Michelle!
I enjoy your teaching us everything you know and thanks for sharing. I just brought a sewing machine and made my bedroom curtains which looks fabulous. I now what to start a project for my masquerade ball wearing a vintage 1930 gown in crepe back satin. I also have patterns for 1943, 1945, 1960 seven day wardrobe set of jackets of different sleeve lengths and dress of pencil and a petite wideness. Now, I am looking for a vintage blouses and skirts which will complete my vintage wardrobe. I also ordered the French Curve Ruler to help me with the tracing of my patterns. great video
Thanks so much for sharing! It really sounds like you're getting a really good selection of projects together-- kind of reminds me that I have to do something similar for myself, too haha 💝 Thanks for watching!
Awesome tutorial! Thanks for taking the time to show us this :)
No problem :) Thanks for commenting!
Thank you, this was very helpful. I have vintage and discontinued patterns , but have not used then because I just couldn't bear the idea of cutting them. I tried butcher paper, in the past, it worked but was still was somewhat difficult to see through.
Now, I am going on the hunt for the grafted paper you used.
Thanks so much for commenting! Definitely click through to my website (vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns/) I have a link in there for the dot paper that I use which you can purchase online. It's not too difficult to find, but the shipping can be tricky, so just be sure to order a lot at once. When I buy dot paper, I buy it in 10y cuts at a time, just so I don't have to keep running back to the store for it.
Vintage on Tap Cool!! Thank you so much for replying so quickly.
I enjoyed this I have to learn how to transfer the markings to fabric
I don´t know where you live. But, let me tell you: what a view! and the space! And the light coming from all windows... Lucky you
Thanks for the comment :) That was my old apartment in the heart of the Castro in San Francisco!
I feel the exact same way! A couple of years ago I started trasing out my patterns and I have never gone back it's honestly therapeutic for me now! Especially because patterns nowadays come in multiple sizes what if I want to make a dress for a friend that is a different size and me I have to size and I can just trace it out and make the dress all while being able to keep the pattern in its original form, I mean I'm spending $20 on printed paper, it's honestly worth it to trace it out!
So happy you agree! There are a lot of people who think it's not worth it (just check the comments!) but I've been able to go back to my traced patterns time and time again, and it's been always worth it!
I learned a great deal watching this video, thanks...I look foward to doing tracing with much more confidence now that I know how.
So glad it helped, Ruth!! I know a lot of people trace things differently, but this is just works for me-- so glad it helps others!!
great video, I trace everything too but have never used vintage patterns as i don't want to ruin them so that was really useful. it is time consuming but I always trace in the evenings so I don't waste weekend sewing time! thanks for sharing 😀
Definitely give your vintage patterns a shot! They all deserve to be sewn :)
Also, I trace my patterns at night, too! I like to leave my weekends totally free to sew up a storm.
Thanks for your comment!
Great tips for my many '30's & 40's patterns! I've been tracing for years because I'm one of those expanding/shrinking people. What fits this year might have to be graded differently next year. If I accept that next year I'd just buy a new pattern, then what do I do if/when the old favorite is discontinued?
I admire you for all the work you do put into tracing your patterns - heavens even PDF patterns are an anathema to me! I have a couple around (usually they came free with a course or through a site) but all the time pasting them together and then copying them? Yikes like you said about the older generation who can't understand doing that - I'm right there at 62 :) I do copy some patterns (not all the pieces) but mostly AFTER I've done all the fitting adjustments because they are such a mess I'll copy them to preserve them to use again in the future :)
Haha yes, taping them together and copying them can definitely be a time consuming task! I'm all about doing it the slow way and while I don't enjoy it, it definitely gives me some time to understand the pattern more intimately. For example, I pay attention to the size gradations more, I see how similar or different it is to other patterns I have, etc. Plus, its a good excuse to catch up on my tv shows haha!
Brilliant explanation.You made everything so clear,informative and interesting.Ive always traced my patterns and used greaseproof paper but it's quite crinkley
Great video - I agree with you about tracing everything. Thank you!
Thank you, Kim :)
Great video - you make it look easy . Btw I made that coat pattern this year and it's a good one ! Xo
Thanks for letting me know the coat worked out well! I can't wait to get started on it this weekend!
Awesome video. I like your technique.
Great teaching!
I have a light board and I use parchment paper, the light board helps to see all the markings. Something I do with my patterns, is I iron it face up onto freezer paper and then trace the smaller sizes on to the payment paper. This way I don’t have to cut my patterns and I have all the sizes I need. Something else I have done with larger pieces, is once I have ironed it onto freezer paper, I tape it to a window and then, tape the freezer paper over it. This makes it very easy to see everything.
I found my 1930s, 1940s vintage pattern heavy to read in our time, compairing to today. The old pattern had very light paper so it was not possible to copy the size. Often there was only one size for the pattern.
Wooo this was really enlightening!!! Thank you so much for sharing this technique!!
No problem- hopefully it'll make tracing easier for you!
I've been tracing patterns for years, and making my own drafts from vintage instructions. I used to use a roll of medical exam paper I got free for asking my doctor. It works, but it's not very transparent. And it's only 21" wide, not enough for many pattern pieces. I recently bought a wide roll of artist's tracing "vellum", and it is more transparent and easy to work with. It wasn't too expensive, either.
I'm not interested in dot paper ... the dots would distract me, especially if I traced at an odd angle.
Rach against the machine? Pattern weights? How can I find those they are SUPER cute!!
Great information 👍😊
Thank you!
Maureen
Swedish tracing paper is my go-to product because it is more like material than paper. Light weight non-woven interfacing is great too. For a different paper-like material, try parchment (baking) paper
Stupendous. Thank you! My only question, how to store all the copies? Now I shall have original patterns, copies, and PDFs to store.
I use clasp mailing envelopes to store the traced copies! I label all of them on the top right hand corner (pattern name, pattern company, size) and then pop them into a box in the larger size box than I store my patterns (th-cam.com/video/21g3AlKRFYI/w-d-xo.html)
PDFs are stored in the same way.
I never thought to iron my tracing paper. I had to use lots of weights to stop it rolling. I will be ironing from now on.
A light pass with the iron definitely helps make things easier! As long as there's no steam (or tape!) on the paper, you're good to go :D
Couldn't understand what you were saying about the tracing paper...Is it called "Dots" paper?
Hi Agnes! I used dot paper, that is correct :) This sort of paper has grids on it with numbers and letters an inch apart, which makes it easier to cut and use. I have a link to it on my post about the products I use for this tutorial: vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns
thanks! I just thought it was a brand name & couldn't find it online.
Great video!! I'm guilty of cutting my big 4 patterns , but I rather trace my indie company patterns and I will do the same for PDF when I do them because I'll send those to a print shop for printing. I love the idea of using a colored marker to trace the original line then put the tracing paper on top. I just traced one of my indie company patterns and didn't do a great job. Although my tracing paper is VERY see through I just kept getting off track with the lines, so that colored marker will come in handy. I tried clicking on the blog link, but it didn't work for me. Where did you get the pattern weights again? Oh and I saw a TH-cam video that used lightweight fusible interfacing to preserve their more delicate pattern pieces, that may help with your vintage once as well. It looked pretty neat and I'm going to try it on some of my tried and true big 4 pattern pieces. thanks for sharing this was so helpful.
Haha a lot of people have no problems with cutting into their Big 4- if it works for you, it works for you! One of my last videos goes into me doing some pattern fitting and by the end of it, my pattern is a hot-taped-together-mess, which is why I use copies of the original. I can't imaging having to buy an entire new pattern if I mess up on one piece 😅 (its been known to happen to me!) Glad you were able to get some tips from the video, though!
Also for the pattern weight, Rachel only takes orders via Instagram or email- she doesn't sell them outright. Definitely contact her, though, she sets them up on an individual basis depending on if she has time in her schedule. Believe me, I'm doing my best to nudge her into selling them more consistently (I get questions about them ALL THE TIME.)
I found some moving wrapping paper also called blank newsprint paper at Home Depot. They sell them by the rolls and you get quite a bit and big size sheets, like newspaper without the ink. Sell about $5. At IKEA they sell kids tracing tables and they have a light in them. Perfect for tracing.
great video and love your style btw.
Thank you :) Thanks for watching!
Love your tutorials and thank you for sharing. However, the background (windows/daylight) makes it difficult to see when you adjusting a pattern or tracing off a pattern. Is there a way that you could minimize the amount of natural light behind you?
Hi Alethia- Thanks so much for commenting on the lighting situation! I'm trying to find a solution for it, since it can definitely be really distracting. Hoping to be able to get it taken care of in the coming months!
Hi Bianca, Wonderful and informative video. Thanks for sharing how to trace the vintage pattern. Do you have any tips for purchasing vintage patterns? I know they can be quite expensive. Have a fab day! 😘
When buying vintage patterns, there's only a few things to really take into account- the size (since older patterns are not multi-size until like the 70s), and whether or not all the pieces are in the envelope. If you're missing a piece, it might be a tricky thing to find or to draft, so just keep that in mind.
As for the high cost, check thrift stores, swap meets, and estate sales! I have a local thrift store I visit once every couple months and I go straight for the patterns when I go in!
where do you get your dot paper from?
Sorry pressed wrong place.......... I was going to say greaseproof paper sounds crinkley.Ive been wondering the best to use so your explanation was really helpful.Im going to check where I can buy the dot paper. I love vintage 40 /50s and you can tell by the way you talk about and handle the patterns that you feel the same.I absolutely love your vlogs and would love more explanations or tutorials of you making garments.
For the dot paper, definitely follow through to my post about this video (here: vintageontap.com/trace-vintage-sewing-patterns/) which has a direct Amazon link to the type of dot paper I use. It's generally inexpensive, but the shipping can be a bit much, so make sure to order a ton (so you don't have to keep ordering!)
Nevermind, just tried a different link you left in the comments, that worked. She must not sell the pattern weights anymore, i didn't see them on her site.
Why use Dotted Paper ?
great video. i have always wanted to know how to trace patterns. your explanation was really clear. Are you a teacher? that bay window is magnificent but its a little difficult to see you with the light behind you
Thanks so much for commenting! I'm not a teacher (I think that's why I ended up rambling in some parts in the video haha), but I'll keep practicing sharing what I know in future videos!
And thanks so much for letting me know about the windows making it hard to see. Normally in our other videos we don't shoot in that sort of POV, so we're still trying to tweak it and make it work! Hopefully the next video comes out better :)
Can you list the pattern weight names again and where to buy them? Thanks!
The pattern weights were actually custom :( Unfortunately the person who makes them is no longer making them available, since it was just an experiment. Sorry about that!!
Bummer, but thank you for replying!!
yaay im from san jose! any recommendations where to shop for fabric in sf?
In San Francisco there's only 3 fabric stores that carry a big selection of garment fabrics:
-Britex Fabrics (Geary St.
-Fabric Outlet (Mission St.)
-Discount Fabrics (Cesar Chavez St.)
The Discount Fabrics is the furthest out from the city center but it's the cheapest (and most disorganized, heads up!)
thank you! I'll have to check them out when it gets sunny.
This might be a hard question, but I've been on the look out for 40's patterns and I can't really find a size that works for me, most that I can find is around size 12-14 with a 32/34" bust whilst I have a 38" bust and 31" waist. I haven't had the pleasure to play around with vintage patterns at all, so I wonder how tricky it'd be to resize them? Of course it depends on the cut, but I don't really feel that I want to spend $20 on a pattern but not being able to use it at all..
Hi Linnéa! Unfortunately I don't have too much working experience with grading up vintage patterns (at least not enough to feel 100% confident yet-- but working on it!)--- I probably wouldn't deviate more than a couple inches in the bust measurement, though. So if you're in the 38" bust range, probably would look for patterns between 36-40 bust, just to play it safe. It sucks to have to spend $20 on a pattern that may or may not work, but it makes the hunt much more fun! Good luck!
Great video 👌, keep making more
Thank you!
patterns at my spolight can be $40-50 dollars each for a good one. i always get them on special, but once i incorrectly picked the right one and it was soooo expensive.
40-50$ AUD is craziness! Another great reason to trace everything- I can't imagine trying to get a replacement!
Vintage on Tap it's insane. i buy them when on sale . once i picked up the wrong pattern and had to exchange it and no joke the bill was down $100.
Thank you for the video! I’m a pattern tracer too. My family thinks I’m nuts.
So what is the purpose of not placing your Vintage pattern piece underneath the tracing paper? I'm sure you have a good reason, but you didn't mention it in your video. I scrolled down and didn't find anyone else asking this question. Thank you.
Most vintage patterns do not have lines printed onto them and are cut to be an exact size. It's easier to see the edges of the pattern piece if it's on top, rather than trying to guess where it is under the sheet (since there aren't any markings on it!)
well done! Also, patterns aren't cheap any longer.. .nearly 20 dollars for a paper pattern? And what about alterations? I'm very short and plump as I can be and NO pattern fits me properly without working on it some. Just want to say always always write down the brand/number size of all patterns you copy. I've had to recopy a pattern when I forgot real basic notations! 😀🙃
Oh, and where may I find a metal curve? I only recently acquired my first plastic one via Amazon? Thanks in advance.
Check out my blog post about the French curve and I've got a link to a couple in there: vintageontap.com/how-to-use-a-french-curve-tutorial/
They're all to Amazon, but I go into some more depth about pros and cons of the different ones out there.
Tracing and ironing are my least favourite sewing tasks but it's gotta be done
Oh I agree! Tracing and ironing can be a total pain, but eventually they can be a meditative process haha (at least for me!)
Cool! Lol
FYI your ageist remark about the older generation having an aversion to PDFs is offensive and off-base. A preference for one pattern type over another is about time/energy investment vs result/reward, and is not dictated by age but by personality, available tools, workspace etc. Please stop perpetuating this particular form of socially-sanctioned bias!!
the fun part is sewing, you are added unnecessary steps that are long and tedious. Jo-Ann's always have a sale on patterns so pick up two or more cut on save one. The way you are going about this i would never get to the sewing. oh ya buy a tracing wheel
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Venique! I definitely appreciate all your input on the topic. As explained in my video, my priority in tracing patterns is to keep the pattern in tact, avoid waste, and save money in the process by not having to buy multiple patterns if I all ready own one I like and use. My video also goes into tracing vintage patterns, which unfortunately are unavailable after a certain time.
And thank you for bringing up tracing wheels! Super helpful for beginner seamstresses- I'm sure it comes in handy 100%! Using rulers and French curves are more industry standard, which was what I pull from in my background.
Thanks for commenting :)