I'm sewing a pattern from an "it's so easy" pattern. It says to cut on a line called the "center fold".

Question

Should I cut out the whole rectangle of the center fold, or should I just cut the two side lines of it?? PLEASE HELP!!! I seriously need it and I deeply appreciate it! THANKS! --Jessika

Answer 1

fold as directed and follow the line created by the fold.

Answer 2

The line that says "center fold" on the pattern is placed on a fold of fabric, so you can cut both right and left sides at the same time.  Do not cut that fold line on the fabric -- you'd have to stitch it together, and you wouldn't have any seam allowance, so the garment wouldn't fit.

Whether or not you trim off the excess paper on the pattern beyond the fold line doesn't matter... you just need to align the fold of the fabric with the "center fold" marking.

One thing you should know: fabric that has been bolted often has a permacrease from being folded.  It's best to refold the fabric precisely parallel to the selvage, and not get the bolt's fold marks used as part of a garment.  Unfortunately, the pattern company's diagram of how to lay out the pattern pieces generally uses the fold line from the bolt. :-(

Look at p. 58 here for a basic pattern layout of the sort you've probably got:

http://books.google.com/books?id=v1ZVvZT...

Answer 3

It's like those valentine hearts you cut in school. Fold the material in half ... the fold is the "center fold".

Pin the pattern piece onto the fold - when you cut around the edge, then unfold the material, you will have the whole piece.

DO NOT cut the folded edge, just the other edges.

Answer 4

cut the line that the fold makes for you