If you’ve been sewing for a while, you already know: those tissue paper patterns just don’t hold up. They tear, wrinkle, and after a few projects, you’re left trying to tape together something that barely resembles the original shape. That’s why more sewists—whether weekend hobbyists or full-time creators—are moving to sturdier paper when they trace and transfer their sewing patterns.
Durable pattern paper isn’t just about convenience—it’s about long-term preservation. When you take the time to trace your favorite patterns onto stronger materials like kraft paper or Swedish tracing paper, you’re protecting the investment you made in that pattern. And if it’s one you reuse often—say for client work or a personal go-to dress design—you’ll immediately feel the difference in accuracy and ease of use. Less shifting, fewer rips, and far more control during layout and cutting.
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Choosing the Best Paper for Sewing Pattern Transfer
When it comes to transferring sewing patterns, the type of paper you use can make your process smooth—or unnecessarily frustrating. After two decades of drafting, modifying, and transferring patterns, I can say this: not all paper is created equal. Some tear too easily, others are a pain to store, and a few—if you know what to look for—can last you for years and dozens of projects.
What Type of Paper Should You Use?
There are five main types I’ve used over the years, each with their own perks and pitfalls. The best one for you depends on your sewing style, how often you reuse patterns, and how detailed your markings tend to be.
1. Tracing Paper
Great for beginners. It’s cheap, easy to find at most craft stores, and lets you see the lines clearly when tracing. But it’s delicate—if you make a mistake and need to reposition, there’s a good chance it’ll tear or crumple.
2. Swedish Tracing Paper
This is a game changer if you’re serious about sewing. It’s soft like interfacing, slightly translucent, and you can even sew a mock-up directly on it. I use it for anything I plan to tweak and reuse. The only downside? It’s pricier. But worth every cent if you’re working on fitted garments or slopers.
3. Kraft Paper
Heavy-duty and budget-friendly, kraft paper for sewing is ideal for block patterns or base drafts you’ll keep for years. It’s not see-through, so it’s not great for tracing from books or magazines—but for storage and durability, it’s solid.
4. Vellum
Think of vellum as your precision tool. Its smooth surface is great for fine liners or mechanical pencils, and it’s just translucent enough for detailed tracing. It can be a little slippery, but if you’re meticulous, it’s worth adding to your toolkit.
5. Traditional Pattern Paper
This is that classic tissue-style stuff commercial patterns come printed on. It’s a middle-ground option—lightweight, semi-translucent, and folds well. Some advanced sewists avoid it due to its fragility, but it’s still widely used.
Key Factors to Consider
To help you choose the best paper for pattern tracing, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Translucency: Needed when tracing from existing patterns or books
- Strength: Essential for reusable or heavily handled patterns
- Texture and Surface Finish: Affects how well pens and pencils mark the paper
- Roll Size: Impacts how large of a piece you can transfer without taping sheets together
And don’t underestimate storage. Kraft paper can be bulky, while tracing paper and vellum fold neatly. Swedish tracing paper comes in generous rolls—some up to 10 yards long—making it perfect for frequent drafters.
Tools and Materials Needed for Pattern Transfer
Getting a clean, accurate pattern transfer starts with gathering the right tools — and trust me, having the right setup from the beginning saves you a ton of headaches down the line. At the very least, you’ll want a ruler, a tracing wheel, some marking tools, and a good pair of paper scissors. If you’re tracing onto fabric or transfer paper, a cutting mat paired with a rotary cutter will give you sharper lines and less shifting. These are the go-to tools to transfer sewing patterns that I’ve kept on my table for over 20 years.
One thing I’ve learned the hard way: never underestimate a straight edge. Even seasoned sewists can end up with wonky seams when they’re eyeballing lines. A measuring tape with clear markings and a metal edge can double as a guide and a quick check. According to Sewing Insight’s June 2025 report, 84% of hobby sewists say their biggest frustration is misaligned pattern pieces — most of which come from inaccurate transfers. That’s a problem you can eliminate just by using the right pattern transfer supplies.
Optional Tools That Make a Big Difference
You don’t need a studio full of gadgets, but some tools really do make your life easier — especially when you’re working on more complex designs or modifying existing patterns. A few I personally wouldn’t go without:
- French curve or hip curve – great for refining armholes, collars, and side seams.
- Gridded rulers – give you alignment at a glance.
- Adhesive tape or artist’s tape – holds pieces in place without damaging your surface.
If you’re drafting patterns or making adjustments, it also helps to keep a stack of printer paper or tracing paper handy. You can overlap, extend, and shift pieces without cutting up your originals — a trick I picked up back in the early 2000s when paper patterns were printed once and guarded like gold.
Here’s a pro move: use a rotary cutter instead of scissors when you’re working with slippery or stretch fabrics. You’ll get cleaner edges and your lines won’t shift. In fact, tests done by Pattern Lab London showed a 43% improvement in edge accuracy using rotary tools over standard scissors on delicate fabrics.
Best Papers To Use For Pattern Tracing?
1) Artist Tracing Paper
The name of this type of paper says it all and is often used by architects. If you are looking for an easy-to-use smooth tracing paper to transfer your sewing patterns, then you can consider using this paper. In fact, this paper is so thin that you can see through it easily and sew patterns on your fabric.
These sheets are typically 36 inches wide so it doesn’t matter how large your pattern is, it will still fit. You won’t need to use tape or anything else to complete your design. However, this type of paper is thin so it can be easily damaged. If you want something more durable then you may need to choose another paper from this list.
2) Medical Exam Paper
In the world of needlework, the medical examination sheet is considered a refined version of the artist’s sheet. This piece of paper is thin, light and transparent, making it easy to see through to create designs on fabric and use for different types of seams. The only difference between medical test paper and artist paper is that medical test paper is only 21 inches wide while artist paper is 36 inches wide.
If you are just starting out with embroidery and sewing designs, then you should choose this paper because it is very cheap. A 75-yard roll of medical examination paper costs about 14 cents when you buy it online, which is incredibly cheap compared to the other types of paper on this list. This paper has 2 variations and you should choose to buy one with a smooth surface instead of shredded paper
3) Normal Printer Paper
Although not everyone thinks of this, it is possible to use the paper used in the printer to transfer your sewing pattern. These sheets are thick and you can use them with thin fabrics and also with your sewing machine to get your work done. There are many people who use printer paper for their sewing patterns.
The best thing about this paper is that you can buy it in a variety of sizes to suit your needs. The average size of printer paper is 8.5 x 11 inches and costs about 20 cents for 10 sheets. If you want, you can also create multiple sewing patterns on one sheet and cut the paper according to the size of the pattern.
4) Alphabet Paper/Dotted Paper
This paper is a great choice for both beginners and experts, with blue lettering printed on the paper in a grid pattern. Not just simply white paper, it is also suitable for all types of fabrics. Used by the majority of professional tailors and fashion designers worldwide.
Although this paper is not completely transparent, if you use it on dark colored fabric and have good lighting conditions, you can easily see through the paper. Cutting this paper is very easy, so you don’t need to use scissors to trim off the excess. Another good thing is that the paper is about 45 inches wide, so you can transfer large designs onto it.
5) Brown Craft Paper or Butcher Paper
Last but not least is Kitchen Paper, which is usually light brown in color. Honestly, this paper is not a good choice for transferring patterns onto fabric but you can use it to transfer patterns from garments. If you are thinking about transferring an embroidery pattern from a garment, then you can use this paper.
You can copy patterns from different fabrics onto this paper and then use it on other papers to transfer the pattern. This paper is very cheap, only about 50 cents per yard and comes in many different sizes. The average size of a sheet of Kitchen Paper is 30 inches. Also, it doesn’t fold much automatically so you can use the pattern transfer wheel on this paper without any worries
Why do you need to transfer your sewing patterns?
Many people ask why you need to transfer sewing patterns to sturdier paper when you can buy ready-made tracing paper with the patterns pre-printed on it. That’s true, you always have the option to buy papers but this paper will not last long and if you are a professional tailor then we think it is not a good idea to buy such papers regularly you should do.
Instead, you can simply print your favorite sewing patterns/designs on a sturdier paper, extending their lifespan. There are different types of durable drawing papers available such as Swedish drawing paper, icing paper, dotting paper and you can also use regular printer paper which can be found easily and cheaply.
Instructions for Transferring Sewing Patterns to Sturdy Paper
So this is all about how to transfer sewing patterns to sturdy paper for repeated use. We hope you now know everything about sewing designs and how you can transfer the designs to a better paper that can be used with a variety of fabrics. There are many tutorials on this available and you might consider reading them.
We will continue to update this article with more information about sewing patterns and types of paper used for drawing, so keep visiting Sewingers for more information. If you face any problem in transferring sewing designs to tracing paper or you have any questions about it, feel free to ask us through the comments below.
