how do you preserve a sewing pattern?

[Betty Maraschino {Madam}]

Has anyone noticed how damn thin the paper they print sewing patterns on is? and its getting thinner by the year!
After one use Ive found most of mine are near useless.

Ive taken to making a copy on parcel paper and covering the original in clear parcel tape (attractive i know lol)

so ladies and gents, How do you preserve your patterns? Any tips?

[Goldie @ 660Photos.com]

Could you Laminate them? My mom makes her own patterns for things most of the time, the ones she uses over and over she cuts them out of cardboard.

[Tessa LeTaunt {★}]

My only suggestion is lamination as well. Most post offices will easily do it for you.

[Krafty Kitten Clothing]

Yeah they make those patterns super thin!
I make all my patterns myself and when i draft a final pattern i always draw them on oak tag paper. You can buy that paper at fabric stores and copy/trace your patterns onto there. It's not as thick as cardboard but it is thicker then paper. this is what is used in the fashion industry as well. you can punch a h*** in each pattern piece with a h*** punch and hang them on a pattern hook (which you can also find at the fabric store). and then hang them in your closet for safe keeping. this is the best way to keep your patterns and be able to use them over and over again. Hope this is helpful information for you!
here is what a pattern hook looks like just in case you were wondering.

[Betty Maraschino {Madam}]

oooooh, i didnt know they exhisted. thanks for that

I asked at my local post office (they do photocopying an all that). they just thought i was a total loon lol

Krafty Kitten Clothing said:

Yeah they make those patterns super thin!
I make all my patterns myself and when i draft a final pattern i always draw them on oak tag paper. You can buy that paper at fabric stores and copy/trace your patterns onto there. It's not as thick as cardboard but it is thicker then paper. this is what is used in the fashion industry as well. you can punch a h*** in each pattern piece with a h*** punch and hang them on a pattern hook (which you can also find at the fabric store). and then hang them in your closet for safe keeping. this is the best way to keep your patterns and be able to use them over and over again. Hope this is helpful information for you!
here is what a pattern hook looks like just in case you were wondering.

[Honey B Hooligan {Madam}]

This is a GREAT suggestion, and the same one that I was going to throw down. You can find pattern hooks and what-not on ebay.com. The only reason that I suggest copying your pattern instead of laminating it, is because you may want to make the same pattern in the different sizes offered on the original, and if you cut and laminate, then you're stuck with one size. Good luck sweetie! ( I have a whole closet dedicated to my patterns!)

Oak Tag Paper

Pattern Hooks (on the Cheap)

Krafty Kitten Clothing said:

Yeah they make those patterns super thin!
I make all my patterns myself and when i draft a final pattern i always draw them on oak tag paper. You can buy that paper at fabric stores and copy/trace your patterns onto there. It's not as thick as cardboard but it is thicker then paper. this is what is used in the fashion industry as well. you can punch a h*** in each pattern piece with a h*** punch and hang them on a pattern hook (which you can also find at the fabric store). and then hang them in your closet for safe keeping. this is the best way to keep your patterns and be able to use them over and over again. Hope this is helpful information for you! here is what a pattern hook looks like just in case you were wondering.

[Jason Reaves]

Lamination then trace the pattern over and over.

[Coco H {★}]

Photocopy, photocopy, photocopy! Thats my motto! My mum and I have had many patterns handed down through three generations, they were getting completely ruined so to keep them, we just photocopy them when we need them.
Let us know how you get on with it!

[Bella Bang]

Muslin or some other inexpensive cheap broadcloth. If its a pattern that I REALLY like, or one that I'll wanna use again I copy it on muslin then serge the edges to they dont fray. They can be folded up easily and take up as much space as the original pattern does.

Hope it helps!

[Edson Carlos]

You're amazing!

Krafty Kitten Clothing said:

Yeah they make those patterns super thin!
I make all my patterns myself and when i draft a final pattern i always draw them on oak tag paper. You can buy that paper at fabric stores and copy/trace your patterns onto there. It's not as thick as cardboard but it is thicker then paper. this is what is used in the fashion industry as well. you can punch a h*** in each pattern piece with a h*** punch and hang them on a pattern hook (which you can also find at the fabric store). and then hang them in your closet for safe keeping. this is the best way to keep your patterns and be able to use them over and over again. Hope this is helpful information for you!
here is what a pattern hook looks like just in case you were wondering.

[Inga]

I get some cheap cloth and make a template that way. I know it will never get messed up and it will always be there.

[NikkiB.3]

wow such great ideas and im glad im not the only one with these type of questions. hehe helped me bunches as well. thanks everyone have a fabulous weekend

[Amy Fontaine]

I use spray mount and attach mine to newsprint paper. Then I store them in large office envelopes. That way they don't have to be folded so small. Also you keep the flexibility of paper. My mom uses fabric for hers. It is so refreshing to meet women out there that actually make their own clothes. I am an awkward size so custom is the way to go.