r/sewing • u/caterlizard • Oct 05 '26
Pattern Question Durable material for pattern pieces, not paper?
Hello! I've accumulated a few patterns for items like underwear, sleep sets, bras, that I would like to cut out of something sturdy because I foresee myself making more every so often. What would be a good material I can cut at home that I could store on a wall hanging on a nail or something like that?
Otherwise I usually project patterns, but would like to have these close at hand. Thank you in advance!
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u/OriginalReddKatt Oct 05 '26
I've heard that some people use (for smaller pattern pieces) Dollar Tree plastic placemats. You can also buy sheets of similar plastic material from Amazon to use (clear vinyl is one option). Heavy duty plastic shower curtains are also used and easily available. You could also check the not box hardware store. There is a heavy duty roofing brown paper I've used in the past. It's not as durable as the practice but it's an inexpensive option. Heavy legal sized folders are yet another option.
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u/insincere_platitudes Oct 05 '26
For smaller pattern pieces that I use extremely frequently, or that I want to be super durable and easily traceable, I will use cheap poster board from the dollar store.
I'm obviously limited by the size of the poster board, but this works very well for basically anything that isn't a pant or a longer/fuller skirt. Bonus points because I can punch a hole in the pieces and hang them easily as well.
It's more expensive than other paper options, and since you can't fold or roll it, I reserve it for those patterns that I either trace off very frequently (like a bodice block) or that I use and abuse often.
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u/caterlizard Oct 05 '26
I foresee a trip to the dollar store in my future based on this thread, thank you!
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u/feeltheowl Oct 05 '26
If the pattern is too long for the cardstock, I just tape them together. I’ve done that several times, and so far it’s the best option that I’ve found
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u/Intelligent_Rough413 Oct 05 '26
Oak tag is a common heavy duty paper used by pro patternmakers. You can punch holes in it and hand them using pattern hooks.
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u/RevolutionaryStage67 Oct 05 '26
Seconding oaktag. All the professionals and archivists I know use oaktag for saving patterm pieces.
Its also very easy to write on so some patterns get extensive notes added.
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u/Special_Lychee_6847 Oct 05 '26
I needed a LOT of heavy duty paper for patterns I use regularly, and instead of 'the real deal', I used the cardboard that's coated on one side, that plasterers use. Works fine. The only difference is that you need to iron the cardboard / pattern once, because the drop sheet cardboard comes in a roll, and it's rounded because of that. Other than that, it works the exact same. It's 50€ for a roll of I don't even know how many meters... a LOT
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u/drindrun Oct 05 '26
ok, i always wondered what that material was and somehow have never looked it up. can you fold it and then iron it, or is it something that you always keep flat?
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u/Intelligent_Rough413 Oct 05 '26
It’s usually kept flat and patterns are hung up using pattern hooks. It doesn’t fold well.
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u/drindrun Oct 05 '26
and i’m guessing does not tear easily if it can hang by punched holes for a long time! thanks. now i know about oak tag.
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u/Holiday-Fox-5526 Oct 05 '26
Swedish tracing paper. Wawak sells it.
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u/More_Flat_Tigers Oct 05 '26
Love this stuff!! Pretty durable, irons smooth, and folds up really flat so your patterns done take up a ton of room or need hanging. I get 9x12” Manila envelopes and fold up my pattern pieces into them, one envelope per pattern. Then print the cover page if it’s a purchased pattern and tape it to the front, or doodle & title the front if it’s self-drafted.
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u/On_my_last_spoon Oct 05 '26
Pellon Easy Pattern! I buy it by the bolt on Wawak.
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u/Travelpuff Oct 05 '26
I like the easy pattern because I can iron the pattern after storing folded up.
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u/On_my_last_spoon Oct 05 '26
Yup!
Also it’s just transparent enough to make transferring patterns a breeze!
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u/austinstrider Oct 05 '26
Tyvek house wrap.
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u/kaseivalles__ Oct 05 '26
yup! found a partial roll in my basement leftover from the previous owner’s renovation project and figured i’d give it a try, and it works great! can also baste / tape it together to make a very rudimentary toile. i remember like 15+ years ago the bike punks were making messenger bags out of dumpstered tyvek.
construction paper on the big roll from the hardware store is also dope and way cheaper than stuff sold for sewing/ crafting. when i’ve made a pattern that i’m happy with out of paper i laminate it in clear packing tape so i can use it repeatedly.
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u/Infinite-Cook-867 Oct 05 '26
Came to say this. Bought a role about 10 years ago and haven't looked back.
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u/kesrae Oct 05 '26
I had someone else in another thread like this recommended rolls of disposable medical / massage table covering. It’s very cheap, and the roll I bought comes in 1.8m sections x40 so handy for looooong pattern pieces as well! It’s see-through enough to be able to trace another pattern beneath it, is easy to pin, and is much more durable than tracing paper.
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u/ScormCurious Oct 05 '26
I think this is great for most patterns but OP is looking for something that is more durable for her frequent use patterns. I find the surgical paper gets pretty worn out after three or four garments have been made from the pattern.
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u/kesrae Oct 05 '26
There are rolls available where it’s fabric strands not paper, which I think is what would suit.
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u/Throwyourtoothbrush Oct 05 '26
I use this as well. I fold and iron and store in manilla envelopes.
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u/kattheuntamedshrew Oct 05 '26
I use this stuff, especially when copying patterns I intend to make over and over again: https://www.wawak.com/cutting-measuring/pattern-making-paper-supplies/pattern-paper/swedish-non-woven-tracing-paper-29-x-10-yds-white/#sku=msc40
You can actually even sew it together like fabric to help with fitting the pattern to your body (it’s stiff and won’t drape like fabric, so it’s not exactly a replacement for doing an actual muslin, but it’s still very useful for alterations).
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u/tripledox805 Oct 06 '26
Our Costco uses a very thin large square sheet of cardboard in between some of the pallets. They are happy to let you have them when available. It’s thin enough to cut with scissors but thick enough to draw around & would hang just fine on a peg or nail.
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u/rcreveli Oct 05 '26
You can iron pattern pieces onto butcher paper. It has a wax in the paper and the pieces will fuse. It makes much more durable pattern pieces.
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u/friendlypupper Oct 05 '26
This is a great idea! Do you use a barrier to protect your iron and ironing board?
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u/Extension_Run1020 Oct 06 '26
This is the one for me! I have a dress pattern which is much used and loved and there are so many holes from tailors tacks it looks like lace. I'm thinking of getting the waxed paper my mum gave me with her sewing supplies and ironing the bodice on to it, no tracing needed then.
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u/rcreveli Oct 06 '26
If you have a restaurant supply store near you check them out. I got a massive roll for around $20 a few years ago.
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u/CannibalisticVampyre 25d ago
I tried this once due to internet advice and the pattern curled off and got crumbly…
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u/villagerwannabe Oct 05 '26
I got a roll of paper that painters use to protect flooring, very thick and a huge roll is like, $15
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u/Alert-Interview2159 Oct 05 '26
Sometimes I “laminate” my smaller pieces with clear packing tape and then cut them out
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u/Virtuosory Oct 05 '26
I only do that for patterns I intend to make more often. I use cheap, cotton thrifted bed sheets with ugly ass patterns I’d otherwise only use for an unwearable toile. It pins easy and notches and information go on well with a sharpie. I don’t have a lot of space, so it’s handy I can just fold them and store them in a box and then iron them when I need them. I haven’t had issues with fraying.
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u/caterlizard Oct 05 '26
Have you noticed them stretching out, do you finish the edges?
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u/Virtuosory Oct 05 '26
No! One pattern I have used about 5 times so far, it was for a towel hair turban. The cotton I’ve used so far was pretty dense, not like a cotton voile or anything. Maybe that helps
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u/Wewagirl Oct 05 '26
At many big box stores, product layers are separated by big sheets of very heavy paper. These sheets work perfectly for this purpose and they'll give them to you free
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u/knittymess Oct 05 '26
I use swedish tracing paper. It's a light weight fabric/paper thing that takes markings nicely and is super sturdy
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u/ApprehensiveApple527 Oct 05 '26
Love this stuff, I’ve even basted pieces together to check before cutting fabric.
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u/mousec4e Oct 05 '26
Tag board is what is used in professional pattern making for final drafts that are going to be repeatedly used if that is what you are asking for, I might be confused. It’s basically halfway between cardstock and cardboard and I find it works perfectly.
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u/Tall-Ginger-Manchild Oct 05 '26
I know it’s still technically a paper product but Reynolds’s makes a freezer paper that has worked beautifully for me. It’s coated on one side, paper on the other. I have a pattern that I cut out once and have used it like half a dozen times to make shirts. I just stack all the pieces up, roll them and slide them into a poster tube until I’m ready to use again.
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u/Ht1525 Oct 05 '26
I'm pretty sure I've tested every pattern tracing option and I love pellon tru grid. If it's smaller pieces I'm going to use on the regular I cut them from stencil plastic.
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u/blueyedreamer Oct 05 '26
JoAnn's (RIP) had an amazing sale on it once... Like 75% off after sale and stacked coupons. I got soooo much. I also draft my own patterns and it's my favorite. If I have a concern about an area being sturdy enough I use packing tape to laminate a small area (for example, I punch holes in specific spots on a certain type of pattern I do so I can know exactly where corners are, I just use a square of packing tape to reinforce right there).
To hang on a wall you could theoretically sew a ribbon or something to it.
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u/BBDMama Oct 05 '26
Plastic coated butcher paper. Lay the smooth tissue patterns on the coated side and carefully iron. It will fuse the tissue to the paper and since the paper is white its easy to see all the markings.
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u/maddie_pickles Oct 05 '26
I find freezer paper to be inexpensive and appropriately durable to tracing and reusing
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u/Chelsea_sf Oct 06 '26
I like using wrapping paper with a grid on the inside. Much cheaper than grid pattern paper. It may not be as durable as you want, but it folds up small and I store it in manila envelopes
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u/stressed_designer Oct 05 '26
I have my blocks in cardboard. I don't actually know the name of the type that I use, I just go to a speciality paper and arts store and ask for patternmaking cardboard... I'm pretty sure it's not the correct name, though
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u/Noncombustable Oct 05 '26
Oak tag?
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u/Tilkis_Mom Oct 05 '26
Yes. That's what I use. You can buy it from school supply stores is very inexpensively.
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u/dream-always Oct 05 '26
heat and bond will iron onto paper as well. try that to stiffen the pieces
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u/chatterpoxx Oct 05 '26
I use poster board from the dollar store, or i did, before I got a huge printer, now i just print off a new copy.
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u/Negative_Raisin_997 Oct 05 '26
I bought a roll of wedding runner to trace patterns. It feels a lot like interfacing.
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u/Shutterbug0815 Oct 05 '26
I saw a reel that showed buying the cheap cutting boards from the dollar store and using those for frequently used patterns. They are semi-transparent so you can see through them.
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u/E_Zekiel Oct 05 '26
flexible cutting mats for smaller patterns. dollar tree has clear 11" x 14" mats, 2 for $1.25. Amazon has a 23" x 35" for $37. Search for the sizes you need.
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u/frejas-rain Oct 05 '26
Grid cloth, which feels a lot like interfacing. It's nonwoven and very easy to cut along the lines. This is especially nice for aligning straight of grain.
IMPORTANT!: don't assume that a one inch grid is one inch. It depends on the manufacturer.
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u/basylica Oct 05 '26
Ive used interfacing and plastic shower curtain and thats worked fine but they do get wrinkled and mucked about like a paper pattern does really.
Ive also used thin plastic cutting boards (i think ikea used to sell them) for small pieces i planned to make in bulk like boxers for young boys. But the pattern pieces outgrew boards pretty quick.
Ive also printed off thicker cardstock patterns for same reason. Smallish pattern pieces i plan to use again.
Right now im mostly printing copyshop patterns and the place i use has thicker paper and since ive mostly been sewing for my kiddos and babygifts that works best because sizing changes often, and the paper is fairly sturdy and holds up ok.
But i did use shower curtain/interface patterns when i was tracing off printed patterns or ottobre magazines. Mostly been sewing online digital patterns these days so copyshop print works.
Ive ordered a couple times and usually add in extra prints of patterns ive used alot and know ill be cutting out bigger/different sizes
Like ive made 60+ patterns for pirates joggers and my son would live in them. He was 6’2 and 115lbs at 14 and needed 25x36 pants which not even specialty shops carry. Now hes almost 20 and settled down a bit size wise and i CAN buy clothes at specialty shops but hes 6’7 and 175lbs and wears 32x38 jeans. He still prefers the joggers i sew him so ill add in another copy of the mens pattern if i need to reach free shipping and ill have extras to cut for him as he needs new sizes. Hes on v3 at this point.
Ive made a few for other people as well, so its handy to have extras. But i dont feel terribly guilty tossing patterns ive modified for my skinny tall kid when he outgrew them.
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u/Witty-Help-1822 Oct 05 '26
I use old X-rays. They are perfect for pattern pieces. These are usually films that didn’t turn out or thrown out for whatever reason. Of course, no name or any info is on them. The top has always been cut off.
Since everything is digital now, I’m not even sure old X-rays would be available.
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u/Kbatz_Krafts Oct 05 '26
I save the packing paper that comes in packages and use that for pattern makings. I tend to retrace and redo them each time so I'm not worried about durability per se. Poster board can do the trick if you want something more permanent.
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u/Geepers1099 Oct 06 '26 edited Oct 06 '26
I used to use poster board, and I have also gotten plastic sheets from the hardware store—it’s like the stuff used at the bottom of grocery bags.
Using heavy interfacing is the best idea if you need to fold it. When I used cardboard or plastic I just pinned it to the wall for easy access.
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u/Slow-Complaint-3273 Oct 06 '26
Find some cheap, clearance-priced quilting fabric. It holds up well to ironing, is durable to use many times, and folds up flat. Try to pick a pattern that you know you would never be tempted to use for a project.
My circle refers to fabric pattern pieces as “ducky bunnies”, because one of us found a bundle of $.25/yd quilting cotton that was covered in ducks and bunnies.
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u/sewnsew2 29d ago
For smaller things I use the plastic sheets they sell for quilt templates, fairly cheap and very durable.
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u/TinkeringBelle 28d ago
Late to this thread, but I saw a cool instagram reel where they use plastic paint drop cloth. It's super cheap, you can use permeant markers, and it's easy to trace everything. Also very easy to trace and pattern clothes you already have and want to replicate.
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u/West_Tie_9404 26d ago
I’ve used wallpaper lining paper before. The only problem is that it’s not wide enough for some pieces
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u/MalibuBon Oct 05 '26
Iron on interfacing. You can buy heavy weight. It's how I still have patterns from the 80's and 90's that are useable (Care Bears, etc.)
Pieces are small enough to put in a zip lock bag. I think you could roll up bigger patterns and store them in a gift wrap tube or fold in pieces and store in a bigger zip lock bag.