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Sewing Pattern Symbols Are Used To Help You Achieve Accurate Results When Cutting

Sewing pattern symbols help sewists accurately cut and assemble patterns. Common symbols include grain lines, fold lines, notches, buttons/buttonholes, dots and shapes to match pieces. Symbols also indicate darts, adjustment lines, stitching lines, and other details. Understanding pattern symbols is essential for correctly interpreting sewing patterns.

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300 views4 pages

Sewing Pattern Symbols Are Used To Help You Achieve Accurate Results When Cutting

Sewing pattern symbols help sewists accurately cut and assemble patterns. Common symbols include grain lines, fold lines, notches, buttons/buttonholes, dots and shapes to match pieces. Symbols also indicate darts, adjustment lines, stitching lines, and other details. Understanding pattern symbols is essential for correctly interpreting sewing patterns.

Uploaded by

sporti1412
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Sewing pattern symbols are used to help you achieve accurate results when cutting,

matching pieces and sewing. They do vary slightly between designers but these are some
universally used sewing symbols to help you get started.

The most common sewing pattern symbols are

1. Grain lines
2. Fold lines
3. Notches
4. Button and buttonholes
5. Dots, squares and symbol markings
6. Adjustment lines to lengthen or shorten
7. Stitching lines
8. Darts

Pattern Symbols

1. Grain lines

These double-ended arrows tell you to place the pattern piece parallel to the selvage. Measure
from the top and bottom of the arrow and ensure they are equal distances from the selvage.
For example, if the top of the arrow is 4 inches (10cm) from the selvage, the bottom of the
arrow should also be 4 inches from the selvage.

2. Fold lines
This symbol rectangular sewing pattern symbol has one open side and means place on the
fold. Place your pattern piece on the folded edge of the fabric, making sure the selvages are
even on the other side. If you are adding seam allowances, you do not add any to fold lines.
Cutting on the fold ensures your pieces are completely symmetrical and is often a good way
to minimize the fabric consumption.

3. Notches

Triangles and diamonds are called notches and indicate you need to mark these points to
enable you to match up the pattern when sewing. Notches can be single, double and colored
or open.

4.Button and Buttonholes

Indicate button and buttonhole positions. The sewing pattern symbols of a long bar with
vertical ends represent the size and position of the buttonhole and a cross is common for the
button sewing position.

5. Dots, Squares and Shapes

All shapes need to be transferred onto your fabric and are used for matching up pattern pieces
and adding details. You can transfer with tailor’s tacks, chalk or removable pen.

6. Adjustment Lines (Lengthen or shorten lines)

These are double lines which are normally accompanied by the words lengthen or shorten
here. These are quite common in sewing leotards and pants where length matters.

7. Stitching lines

Stitching lines are not generally found on multi-sized patterns but on single sized patterns
they are represented by dotted lines. Generally, there is no need to transfer these lines onto
your fabric.
8. Darts

Shown as a dotted triangle or diamond, these show you where to stitch to add shape in areas
such as the bust and waist.

Pattern Symbols

Size lines – almost all dressmaking patterns will have a cutting or size line. Use the
accompanying chart from the designer to determine your size and cut along this line. Read
our previous blog article about help with size charts and finished garment measurements.

Centre Front / Centre Back lines – often illustrated with a dashed or dotted line, the centre
front or centre back is usually marked to help you line up pattern pieces, for example
overlapping the front bodice pieces of a shirt at the button stand.
Notches – these are usually triangles or dashes on the edge of a pattern piece. They allow you
to match up different pattern pieces at the correct points. Some people cut outwards but other
choose to snip inwards where these points are marked. Be careful not to cut too far into the
fabric (just 3mm should do it), especially in case you need to make adjustments later on.

Grainlines – These are single or double ended arrows that run the length of the pattern piece.
The grainline should be used to position the pattern piece parallel to the fabric selvedge.
Measure from the top of the grainline across to the selvedge and the bottom of the grainline
to the selvedge, these two numbers should match. If it is a single arrowed grainline, the arrow
should point upwards in the same direction of the fabric print. If it is a double arrowed
grainline, the pattern piece can be orientated in either direction, parallel to the selvedge.

Fold lines – a fold line may be marked with just the words or a boxed arrow and indicates
that this edge of the pattern piece should be placed along the folded edge of the fabric (where
right sides of the fabric are folded against each other with selvedge’s matching). There is no
seam allowance along a fold line. This is typical for a bodice, skirt or facing piece.

Cutting line – this will usually be illustrated with a dotted or solid line with a scissors icon. It
indicates where you should cut along fabric.

Adjustment lines – these are single or double lines running across pattern pieces that signify
the best point to shortening of lengthen the pattern pieces depending on your body shape. Cut
along these lines and these move apart or overlap the two pieces to get the desired length.
These are often marked as ‘shorten or lengthen here’.

Darts – these are usually shown as dotted or solid lines in a triangle/diamond shape. They
indicate where you should stitch to create shape at the bust, waist and shoulders.

Buttonholes and Buttons – these can be illustrated in lots of way, from dashes to circles,
dots or barred lines. One side of the bodice will be for buttonholes, the other side buttons.

Zipper mark – often illustrated with a notch or line and arrow, it marks where a zipper
should be inserted.

Stitching lines – these are usually dashed lines that indicate where you should topstitch, for
example to attach pockets or a trouser ’s fly front.

Shapes – a wide variety of shapes are used on patterns from circles to dots and crosses to
indicate important points on the pattern. These will help you to match pattern pieces together
at the correct point and stitch accurately. These are often included for design features such as
in seam pockets, bust points or to show you where to start and stop stitching.

Dart lines – either marked with lines or notches and arrows, darts are marked to show where
and in what direction to fold the fabric.

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