• Making Templates
• Using Templates
• Changing the Size of Patterns

1. Roughly cut out the pattern pieces.

2. Glue the pattern pieces onto used file folders using a (paper) glue stick or paper paste.

3. Cut out the cardboard-backed pattern pieces removing the black lines at the edge of the pattern pieces.

1. Draw around the pattern pieces directly onto the fabric with an air soluble marker (the purple pen). This is the sewing line.

2. Trace around again using the Dream Seamer. This is the cutting line.

   A Dream Seamer is a small brass button with a hole in the center. Dream Seamer is a brand name owned by Special Products, Inc. Dritz also makes a small brass button with a center hole. Dritz can often be found in the notions department of your fabric or craft shop. Dream Seamer can be found in most quilt shops When you put your marking pen in the button's hole and draw around your template you are drawing a perfect quarter-inch seam allowance.

Hints

• If the tip of your marking pen doesn't fit the hole well enough to mark the fabric, use your small sharp scissors and snip a point on the felt tip of the marking pen.

• Several pieces can be stitched before cutting. Since this is often easier than stitching after cutting, read the instructions carefully to see when you can do this.

• When following the stitching lines with your sewing machine, bring the stitching all the way to the end of the seam allowance. Do not stop at the next stitching line. This is very important.

• After cutting out a pair of pieces, turn them over and trace the darts and stitching lines on the other piece.

1. Cut the seam allowance off of the pattern pieces. (Or make a template.)

2. Enlarge or reduce the pattern pieces on a copying machine.

3. Make a template from the resized pattern pieces by pasting them onto file folders.

4. Trace around the templates on the fabric and then add the seam allowance with the Dream Seamer.

   This technique keeps the seam allowances constant size instead of getting bigger or smaller with the pattern piece.

Hint

When you change the size of some patterns, you may have to make proportional adjustments to make the doll look right. For example, the head is proportionately larger on my smaller Universal Toddler patterns than it is on the larger Universal Toddler patterns.