Dear readers,
Today's tip is one that was inspired by a comment on one of my earlier posts. Someone mentioned they had always assumed notches were placed somewhat randomly, or at least that there was no consistent rule behind them. And I thought: if one person is thinking this, others must be too.
So let me spell it out. Patternmakers do not pick their notches at random. There is a convention, and knowing it will save you from a lot of unpicking.
The rule: single means front, double means back
Across most commercial and independent sewing patterns:
- A single notch indicates the front of a piece
- A double notch indicates the back
When you are attaching a sleeve, matching side seams, or aligning a yoke, the notches tell you at a glance which piece is which and where it goes. You are not second-guessing or holding pieces up to see which way they curve. You just match like to like.
The same logic applies to circles
Other markings follow the same convention. A single circle or drill hole typically marks the centre front. A double circle marks the centre back. Once you know the pattern, it becomes automatic.
Why it matters in practice
If you have ever sewn a sleeve into the wrong armhole, or attached a back yoke to a front bodice and only noticed when things did not lie right, this is the tip that prevents all of that. The notches are there to guide you. Using them consistently, on every seam, every time, takes almost no extra effort and removes a surprising amount of uncertainty.
There is still the question of identifying right side versus wrong side of fabric quickly, especially for those moments when your pieces have been sitting in a pile. That is a Tiny Tip for another Tuesday.
Happy sewing,
Delphine