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Q&A
By Gena Bloemendaal
Purchased patterns are lightweight and don't last long. I want to laminate them, but fear they'll melt or won't laminate properly. Is there another way to preserve my patterns?
Kathy B.,
e-mail
It's true that many commercial patterns are printed on thin tissue and are prone to tearing and wrinkling. However, laminating isn't the best choice for preserving pattern pieces. First of all, if the pattern wrinkles in the laminating process, the wrinkles are permanent. Second, when you laminate something you normally leave a small width of the clear laminating plastic around the outside edges. If you have that clear plastic edge, you can't cut the pattern to its intended size. Third, laminating makes the pattern too stiff to use, especially with thin or slippery fabrics.
To best preserve a pattern, first use a dry iron to press the pieces flat. Lay the pattern pieces on a flat surface.
Place pattern-tracing cloth (such as Pattern-Ease), which can be located near the interfacing in most fabric stores, over the pattern tissue. The cloth is much sturdier and lasts longer than tissue. If you can't locate pattern tracing cloth, substitute light- to mediumweight nonfusible interfacing.
Trace the pattern onto the cloth using a fine-tip permanent marker. Be sure to copy all pattern markings and include the pattern company, pattern number and pattern-piece number on the traced pieces. You can even write sewing tips on the traced pieces for future reference.
After tracing, use the traced pieces to cut the fabric. Fold the tissue pieces and place them back in the pattern envelope.
Store the original pattern and the traced pieces together in a large plastic bag for future use.
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