Pattern Cutting Guide

By Shannon and Jason

Like most crafters out there, we love our gadgets! It’s always fun to discover a new gizmo that speeds up a process or opens up new creative avenues. And, once again, Clover has created such a tool. Earlier this month they sent us a brand-spanking new product, a device we’re happy to add to our crafting collection, the Pattern Cutting Guide. If you’ve ever purchased a high-end pattern with no seam allowance, you know it can be a painstaking process to add one on. Or, if you’ve tried to adjust an existing pattern (“Slash and spread”) or draft a new one from an existing garment it is important to add the proper seam allowance. This nifty device has seam allowances from ¼’’ to 1 ¼’’ right on it allowing you to sew standard seams or encased seams with greater ease. The Pattern Cutting Guide clips onto an existing craft knife or cutter making adding seam allowances to pattern pieces and cutting them out a quick and easy process. Just clip the Pattern Cutting Guide to your knife and use the lines to add the allowance and cut the pattern simultaneously. For our test, we show how WE would use this nifty tool: to convert schematics from our crochet, knitting, and sashiko books into cut-and-sew patterns with a 5/8” seam allowance. Imagine all of the patterns you could convert from yarn art into cut-and-sew with the Pattern Cutting Guide…I know we have plans. So, whether making alterations to an existing pattern, converting patterns for a custom seam treatment, or converting or drafting original patterns, the Pattern Cutting Guide is a must-have for your tool kit.