I remember those! made a little cut then the fabric was torn!! those were also the days when the clerk had to get the patterns for you too. you didn't dare help yourself!
I learned to sew very young. My mom would let me sit at the counter and look thru the pattern books. I was occasionally allowed to pick out a pattern for a school dress. i remember some clerks were not too happy to have to get a pattern for a little girl. If they ignored me long enough I would get down and go behind the counter to get my own. That did not make them happy either!!