ironing your patterns when finished with a project
 

Being a professional seamstress through the years,(retired now) learned a lot of things that worked and some that didn't. When a bride would bring me a pattern and fabric and all notions,I would return everything to her.Bridal gown patterns are huge when opened up,I always pressed them with an iron to get the wrinkles out of the pattern.and ironed them again when finished- pressing each time I folded them.When finished folding, it will go back into the original envelope,nice and flat, and then I pressed the whole thing , envelope and all. It works for all patterns.Time consuming,yes, but worth it in the long run.

Sounds good to me!

I tried to always iron my commercial sewing patterns but they are the worst things to get back in those small envelopes.

used to do that with my clothing patterns

Many years ago when I made my own clothing and a little for the public I did the same thing. Always got the pattern back into the package and it was so much neater. I just thought it was the thing to do.

Nice tip. Thank you. I've not worked with many patterns before.

I used to iron mine before sewing but never thought to iron them before replacing them in the envelope. I'll try tat the next time I make something. Thanks for the tip.

I've always done this too. For my patterns I also wrote notes on the outside such as how much fabric I used. I'm short so could always get by with less fabric than pattern called for. For my grandchildren's clothing I have dates I made an outfit and their weight and height on the patterns as I use the same patterns with variations for different grandchildren.

I had a high school sewing nun who DEMANDED our patterns look as though we just bought them. Iron, iron, iron!

Great insight. Thanks

I made my niece a diaper stacker. I couldn't find a pattern but found a diaper stacker at a garage sale. went to fabric store and bought pattern paper. After washing the stacker, I took it apart, ironed the pieces flat and made a pattern. took a lot of photos also. After everything was completed and was happy with the way it turned out, I ironed the pattern paper flat. Sis just said to fold up and put away. I had a 6x9 envelope, placed it on the pattern and folded accordingly to the size of the envelope. I still have the pattern with a printed photo. Took my cue for the different markings/instructions from another pattern of a dress to attach one piece to the other. It has the date and type of fabric. I put a quilted bottom in the diaper stacker for stability. Made note of that also. Patterns get torn easily if not put back correctly. There's always one small piece to a pattern that get's damaged or lost. I made notes of # of pieces and amount of yardage needed. My friend does garment sewing, she does this and puts small pieces in an envelope inside of the pattern package and noted. that little extra time will help patterns last forever.

I've done that. Not always but yep, it does help them fold much better. I used to be so organized. I miss those days.

I like to do that as well. I also will press the triangle paper to remove the fold. It makes the paper lay flatter.

I do this also, and it is the only way you can get those buggers back into the bag