You may prefer to mark with carbon, tracing paper or a marking pencil, or to use one of the gadgets for tailor's tacking on the market, rather than using thread. It doesn't matter which method you use , as long as you do mark your fabric. This means that you can join up the pieces accurately and this is the only way to achieve a professional look to your home sewing.
Tailor's Tacking
Use long double thread and take a small stitch through the pattern symbol and both layers of fabric, making sure that you leave a long end. Take a second stitch in exactly the same spot and pull the thread through, forming a loop. Cut the thread so that you leave another long end. Tease the fabric layers apart and cut the thread between them so that you leave a tuft of thread on each side. Center-front lines, pleats and tucks can be marked with thread, using tailor's tacking.
Smooth-textured fabric can be marked on the wrong side with dressmakers colored carbon paper and a tracing wheel, following the directions on the packet. You can also use colored chalk pencils.
Always mark:
1. Dots 2. Center-front and Center-back 3. Stitching and fold lines for things like pleats and pant zippers. 4. Darts 5. The position for pockets and buttonholes/buttons
After you have marked the pattern pieces and removed the tissue, you may want to label the fabric pieces especially if you are a beginner. Just pin a small piece of paper to each piece identifying it as a front, back, sleeve, pocket, etc. It is also helpful to identify the wrong side of the fabric when this is not immediately obvious.
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