Top Tips for Cutting Out Striped Fabric
Working with striped fabric can feel daunting, but in this blog post I'm sharing my top tips to help you align your pattern perfectly and ensure the stripes look seamless.
If you follow me on Instagram you might have seen I have a reel showing you how to do this too - Click Here to Watch Instagram Reel
1. Cut Out on a Single Layer
For accuracy, lay your fabric out flat in a single layer to ensure you can see and align the stripes clearly.
2. Add Horizontal Guidelines to Your Pattern
Before you begin, draw a few horizontal lines on your pattern pieces at 90 degrees to the grainline. These guidelines will help you match up the stripes on one side of the pattern piece to the other, ensuring everything aligns beautifully across your garment. You want the same stripe on the fabric to be running along these guidelines from one side of the pattern piece to the other.
(I've added two lines 6 inches apart on the below image)
3. Use a Reference Point for Alignment
Choose a specific point on your pattern pieces to align with a stripe so they are consistent between the front and back bodice. For my Coco top, I used the "lengthen and shorten" line on the bodice pieces to match the top of a dark rose stripe across both the front and back pieces. You could use the bottom corner of the pattern piece or a notch to do this as well (just make sure that the markings are in the same place on both pattern pieces so the stripe will match when you are constructing the garment).
Once you have lined a stripe up to your reference point, use the horizontal guidelines you added to check stripe alignment over the rest of the pattern piece. Once you are happy pin carefully in place.
4. Mark the Centre Front or Back
At the edge where your pattern piece says “place on fold,” mark the top and bottom with pins or chalk.
5. Cut the First Side
Cut around one side of the pattern piece, carefully following its edges. Remember not to cut along the centre front.
6. Flip and Align the Fabric
After cutting, flip the cut piece over onto the fabric so it’s folded between the centre front markings. Take your time to match up the stripes accurately.
7. Double-Check Before Cutting the Other Half
Once the stripes are perfectly aligned, place your pattern piece back on the fabric and make sure the fabric pieces haven't moved out of shape. If it looks good, go ahead and cut out the second half of your pattern piece.
