Running with Toast

1. Fold the clothing piece that you want to make a copy at the seams to position it in a way that the Front piece is flat, has its edges visible, is on the center fold.  It may take some adjusting, and if you are copying a shirt the sleeves will be in the way, so lay them onto the body of the garment.

2. Begin tracing the longest edges: center front, side, bottom. Marking the edges of the pieces.

3.To trace curves, you will need to move fabric pieces out of the way, Turned the collar inward, hold the sleeve out of way

Holding these pieces out of the way, trace along the curves with a dashed line. This will help you go back latter and clean up the lines.

4. Repeat same steps and methods to copy the back ^^^

5. Now for the trickier part ~Sleeves~

Remember folding the garment to get it as flat as possible and have the panel you are tracing the only part visible. Same goes for sleeves, but in two parts.

Inside out one sleeve and insert it into the other.  Keep the seam at the side, and the top of sleeve on a fold.

6. Now the sleeve is flattened out, you can see half of the sleeve fairly clear

Make a long straight line, longer than the sleeve length. This line can be used as your grainline.

Place the fold of the sleeve on the line.  Making marks at the top of the sleeve cap and at the bottom edge.  Trace the long seam edge and the hem.  Folding the shirt back, exposing the arm hole, trace a dashed line along the arm hole seam

Make a note if this is front or back of the sleeve

7. Now flop the shirt over to prepare to copy the other side of the sleeve, line up the fold of the sleeve to the long straight line and the top cap and hem edge marks.

Now repeat tracing process

8. Your pattern is now ready for any additional notes for placement of pieces, top and bottom of piece, anything you might want to remember when cutting and sewing. Add seam allowance 1/2” to 3/8” is standard for seams.  1” for zippers.