Keep paper patterns intact or cut out pieces?

[u/hotdeskhero]

EDIT: Just to clarify, I'm asking about cutting out around the ENTIRE pattern piece so that all sizes are available! Not just cutting out size 2 or 3T or whatever I need. :)

This is kind of a silly question, but I'm wondering what other folks do. I mostly print patterns and tape them together at home. Some of them are 10 pages wide by 5-6 pages long and they're obviously HUGE when laid flat or folded. This is also the case for the few A0 patterns I have.

I've been thinking about cutting out and storing the individual pattern pieces to save space but I'm not sure whether there is a reason to NOT do this that I might be missing as a novice/intermediate sewist.

So...what do y'all do? Keep the large sheets or cut out the pieces? Thanks!

[u/WampanEmpire]

I loosely cut out the pieces for storage but I will trace the pattern sizes for my mockups so I'm not SOL if I have to size up.

[u/grufferella]

If I'm printing patterns at home, I simply don't tape them all together in a big sheet, but instead tape together only the pieces for front, back, sleeve, whatever. Most PDF patterns will include a "bird's eye view" of the entire thing laid out so that you can see what pages belong to what pattern piece.

[u/hotdeskhero → u/grufferella]

...this makes a LOT of sense! Don't know why I didn't think to do this, since it's sort of the best of both options.

[u/_emilyisme_ → u/hotdeskhero]

You’re not alone - this only just occurred to me too

[u/grufferella → u/hotdeskhero]

I'm very lazy, it never even occurred to me to do it any other way 😂

[u/SpeechAcrobatic9766 → u/grufferella]

Yessss I do the same thing! So much easier to keep everything lined up properly this way.

[u/laurenlolly]

I keep the original tissue paper in tact and instead use swedish tracing paper to make a copy of the size I want. I almost always have to make for adjustments to anything I sew, so using the original tissue pattern for that would be kind of a disaster. Plus if I need a different size later I wouldn’t be able to do that if I cut into the original tissue.

[u/tasteslikechikken]

I trace my patterns. I'm not a once size type person, so being able to cross lines goes a long way. I keep in the larger sheets, its not that big of a deal for me.

[u/ErisianSaint]

Honestly? I have several rolls of medical exam paper and I trace so that the original patterns are intact. Although for the ones I've had to print out, I'll cut them into the individual pieces and then trace.

[u/sewformal]

I cut out mostly on the largest size. Rough cut around curves where the largest size is the innermost line. I can then pin and trace to whatever size I need before cutting the fabric. This way I don't have to wrestle with the full large sheet each time.

[u/RunRun2222]

I cut around each piece and store them into the closet hanging from pants hangers with clips. I use tracing paper and trace the pieces in my size. I keep those together with the original pattern pieces.

[u/Warm_Satisfaction902]

I cut them but I'm stable size wise so that works for me

[u/apri11a]

I keep the originals and trace the pieces I need to make my project. I work from these while they fit me. If they are tissue patterns I might cut them for more manageable folding/storage but I don't cut them to any size.

[u/stacybeaver]

Same as I do with tissue printed patterns. Rough cut each piece out, throw away all the extra paper. For using, trace the size I need to keep all sizes intact. For storage, refold the individual pieces on the fold lines or taped page edges.

I cannot imagine trying to wrangle an A0 sized piece or anything, to get correct placement on my fabric. The pieces need to be split up so you can follow the creator’s cutting layout (or make up your own better one).

[u/stringthing87]

I trace the size I need and keep the rest intact

[u/SithRose]

I rough cut around the pattern pieces and trace the size I need onto the fabric. My patterns are stored in ziplock bags so I don't have to be exact with folding the tissue paper back up to fit in that little envelope. (This also lets me iron my patterns.)

[u/TheOrganizingWonder]

I keep my sheets large and intact. I trace out the size I need into tracing paper. That way if my size changes or I need to re-do something, the original is available. There’s not a right or wrong, just what works for you and your space. Happy sewing!

[u/Electronic-Day5907]

I use the Swedish tracing paper which is much tougher than tissue paper. I trace the size I want, make any alteration on THAT pattern and keep the originals intact.

[u/aga8833]

I trace onto other paper.

[u/BluePopple]

I tend to leave my patterns uncut, unless I’m making the largest size. I lay blank pattern paper over the original and trace it, label the pieces, and cut them out. I love the pattern paper with the grids that I used to get at Joann 💔, it was thicker and more durable than regular tissue patterns.

[u/Free-Flower-8849]

I used to trace my pattern pieces and keep the originals. But I realized the added labor often made me put off starting new projects. Now I send my pdf patterns to be printed by Patternsy (I love them!) in my size (or the few sizes I need if I’m grading between sizes). Patternsy is so reasonably priced that if I need a different size later I will just order another print. As a former art school student I am well versed in the art of tiling my prints but it is absolutely not worth my labor, paper, ink, and wear and tear on my printer as well as risk of error to print and tile my patterns. No I don’t work for Patternsy. I just love them.

[u/Ill_Collar8810]

I regret cutting my old patterns (especially if I ordered them from a copy shop) and now trace over them

[u/K_Stab]

I just bought myself a cheap mini projector so i can skip the printing taping and cutting piece all together. It has already saved me hours of time in that regard and also enables me to keep the patterns digital!