How to use a paper sewing pattern?

The time to start your sewing project has arrived: you have the fabric, the buttons, the sewing machine... and the pattern! But how do you use a paper pattern? Where should you start? Find all our tips to get your project off to a great start!

Why choose a sewing pattern in pocket format?

PDF, paper pocket, projectable, A0, A4… There are many different formats, each with its own specificities.

Pattern envelopes are physical products, available on our website or at a haberdashery store. They are envelopes containing the printed pattern in A0 format and the tutorial in French and English. These patterns are ready to use upon receipt.

The advantages of the paper pattern:

• Ready to use : Paper patterns arrive ready to be copied, cut out and used, without the need for printing or assembly.
• Higher quality : They are often printed on high-quality paper, which makes them more durable and easier to handle.
• Simplicity : No need for additional materials like a printer or tape, and most importantly, no need to print and assemble the pattern.

The disadvantages of the paper pattern:

• Higher cost : Paper patterns can be more expensive due to production and shipping costs.
• Reproduction : To be able to reuse your pattern over and over again, we recommend tracing the pattern to the correct size onto slightly transparent paper and then cutting it out. This allows you to preserve all the sizes of the original pattern.
• Waiting time : You have to wait for your pattern to be delivered, which may delay the start of your project.

Generally, we recommend PDF patterns for baby and toddler clothing, as the pieces are small and there's little to print. However, we recommend envelope patterns for accessories and women's clothing, as they're often more suitable for these types of projects.

This advice can obviously be adapted according to your tastes and needs!

How to use a paper pattern?

You must start by tracing the size you will be sewing onto the pattern sheet provided in your pattern. This allows you to avoid cutting into your sheet, and to be able to use all sizes in the future!

Tracing a pattern involves reproducing the pattern pieces onto another medium. Here's how to do it:

• Place your pattern on a flat, stable surface.
• Attach your tracing paper to the template using tape or weights.
• Trace the outlines of the pieces with a pencil or a fine-point marker. You can use a ruler for straight lines and a parrot for curves, but this is not mandatory.
• Don't forget to note the clips, straight threads, notches and other useful information.
• If seam allowances aren't included, add them all the way around the pattern. At Ikatee, seam allowances are included (0.7 cm for baby and children's clothing, 1 cm for women's clothing and accessories), so there's no need to add them!
• Cut out your pattern pieces and transfer them onto your fabric, taking care to mark the notches and reference points necessary for assembly. Pay attention to the straight grain, which must be parallel to the edge of the fabric!

What does a pattern contain?  :

Our pattern boards and their dedicated tutorial booklets contain:

• General information: description of the finished garment, inspiration photos, and measurements of the finished garment.
• Guides and explanations: a size guide, instructions for adjusting the pattern to your height, detailed explanations with step-by-step diagrams, as well as fabric and supply requirements.
• Video tutorial: For most of our patterns, a video tutorial is freely available on our website. With this tutorial, we guide you step by step, showing you the different finishes and all the assembly instructions. The little extra we love? If you get stuck on a step, you can watch the video again and again to fully understand the assembly and build confidence.
• Technical details: cutting plans, grain guidelines, cutting and fold lines, seam allowances, and all important markings.