Sewists have their ways of cutting out the sewing pattern. What works for one may not work for the other. Pattern companies also differ in how they write pattern pieces. So, one method of cutting the pattern may not be applicable for all patterns made by various manufacturers. For beginners in the craft of sewing, here are a few tips and guides to help you cut your sewing pattern confidently. You can use your pattern as it is and cut it directly when your pattern indicates that the seam allowances are included. Just make sure you read the instructions thoroughly and carefully before doing so. Once you cut your pattern, there is no turning back. There are cases when it is not possible to cut your pattern directly from the original sewing pattern. The instances when you need to trace your pattern on another paper first are as follows: When the seam allowances are not included You will have to trace your pattern on a separate paper and add the seam allowances yourself. You can also trace the pattern directly on the fabric and draw your seam allowances around the pattern. You want to preserve your pattern If you want to keep your original pattern for future use, you need to trace your pattern on a separate paper and cut your pattern from there. When the pattern pieces overlap or when they are printed on both sides of the paper Sometimes, the marking on the patterns overlap. It would be difficult to cut the original pattern in this case as it is prone to errors. Patterns you can find in books or magazines are usually printed on either side of a page, so you cannot cut one pattern without ruining the other. You need to trace the pattern on a different paper first before cutting. When your pattern includes different sizes of the garment When you need the different garment sizes on a single pattern, you cannot cut the original sewing pattern for only a single size. Therefore, it would be best to trace the patterns of the garment sizes that you need before cutting. This way, you also get to keep your pattern if you need it for future sewing projects.