• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Among Brenda's Quilts & Bags

Patterns Designed by Brenda Miller

  • Browse Patterns
  • Shop Now
  • Visit ABQ Sewing Studio
    • Visit Our Strathroy Store
    • Sewing Classes at ABQ in Strathroy, Ontario
    • Class Calendar
    • Baby Lock Sewing Machines
    • Sewing Machine Service and Repairs
    • Quilting Machine Certification and Hourly Rental
  • Sewing and Quilting Activities
    • Free Resources for Newsletter Subscribers
    • All Activities
    • Sewing Classes, Workshops, Presentations
    • Show ‘n Tell: Your Finished Projects
    • Free Patterns
    • Sewing Tips
    • Guide to Sewing Machine Feet
    • How To Choose a Sewing Machine
  • About
  • Sew Wonderful Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Wholesale Buyers: Start Here

Sewing Pattern Symbols and Fabric Marking Tools

Like this? Share it!

Reading patterns for sewing

Symbols on sewing patterns are the pictures that tell you what to do when you’re making clothes. They are super important because they help you understand how to cut the fabric, where to sew, and how to put everything together.

Sewing pattern markings/symbols make it easier to follow the instructions and make the clothes correctly. So, even if you’re new to sewing, you can look at the symbols and know what to do without reading many words. They’re like a secret code that helps you make your outfit.

Using fabric marking tools made just for this purpose, place temporary markings on the fabric, as indicated by the pattern, before you sew. You’ll find a directory of symbols on most pattern sheets to help you decipher the markings on your pattern. 

Here’s an example from an actual pattern.

What else you might find:

  • Darts
  • Matching points
  • Fold placements
  • Zipper insertions
  • Stitching paths
  • Buttonholes
  • Button placements
  • Alteration points
  • Cutting lines
  • The heart of your design – the center front and back

Imagine navigating through a project without these sewing pattern markings/symbols – quite a daunting prospect, isn’t it?

These are markings and symbols on a pattern that are temporarily transferred to fabric during the sewing process.

Fabric marking tools

As you cut out your pattern pieces with good-quality scissors, bring those markings to life on your chosen fabric. This is where the magic happens, thanks to an assortment of fabric marking tools at your disposal.

Fabric marking tools for sewing projects.

These tools could be tracing wheels accompanied by tracing paper for precision, or perhaps removable chalk markers or markers that can be erased when their purpose is fulfilled.

The key here is durability – your markings should be resilient through handling and even a gentle ironing touch. The last thing you want is to lose track of those meticulously placed reference points on your fabric – a frustration we all aim to avoid.

Available at ABQ Sewing Studio

If you’ve made clothing, quilts, or home decor, you may already have what you need to mark your fabric. If not, it is available at our online store in the Rulers & Notions section, or you can pick up some marking tools when you come into the store to choose fabric. Browse garment sewing fabric online.


Like this? Share it!

Filed Under: Sewing Tips

Previous Post: « Wash and Press Fabric Before You Cut
Next Post: Sewing Together Your Garment: Seam Allowance, Stitching, and Securing »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Newsletter Signup

Sewing & Quilting Activities

  • Show ‘n Tell
  • Quilt Guilds
  • Round Robin Quilt Project For Guilds or Groups
  • Why do we care about quilting and sewing?

Trips to China and Canadian Quilts in Taiwan

  • Taiwan Art Quilt Society Show
  • Travel to China

Footer

ABQ Store

Shop Online

Make and Share

  • Show ‘n Tell
  • Quilt Guilds
  • Round Robin Quilt Project For Guilds or Groups
  • Why do we care about quilting and sewing?

Travels

  • Taiwan Art Quilt Society Show
  • Travel to China

Tutorials, Classes & More

  • Class Calendar
  • About Classes at ABQ Sewing Studio
  • Sewing Tips
  • Online Tutorials and Classes at Make Bags With Brenda
  • About Live Classes, Workshops, and Presentations

Pattern Designs

  • Bag Patterns
  • Party | Picnic | Home Patterns
  • Quilt Patterns
  • ABQ Bag Zippers

ABQ Sewing Studio

Visit in person

  • Classes at ABQ Sewing Studio
  • Sewing Machine Service and Repairs
  • Authorized Retailer for Baby Lock Sewing Machines
  • Quilting Machine Certification and Hourly Rental

Wholesale Buyers

  • Wholesale Buyers Information

Sew Wonderful Blog

  • Pattern Musings
  • Places
  • Sew Wonderful
  • Reflections

Follow us

Using This Site

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

About Us

  • About Brenda Miller
  • About Among Brenda’s Quilts & Bags
  • ABQ Sewing Studio

Copyright © 2025 Among Brenda's Quilts

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead our privacy policy