Using carbon tracing paper for sewing

One of the easiest ways to preserve your tissues patterns is to use carbon paper to trace piece directly onto your fabric. You can do this a few times with the same pattern, which is great if you need to make multiple sizes or don’t like cutting your patterns. Follow along for the quick, easy method of transfering your pattern pieces straight onto your fabric!

What is carbon tracing paper?

Carbon tracing paper is a type of thin paper that is commonly used in sewing. It is coated with a layer of coloured carbon that transfers markings onto fabric. When using carbon tracing paper in sewing, you place the paper (carbon-side down) on the fabric, and then place a pattern on top. You can then trace over the pattern, and the colour from the tracing paper will transfer the markings onto the fabric.

Carbon tracing paper is often used for marking darts, pleats, and other pattern markings onto fabric. It can also be used to transfer seam lines or cutting lines!

Supplies

When using carbon tracing paper, you will need a few supplies to get started:

A tracing wheel. These can be sourced from your local fabric store or can often be found in second-hand shops. Wheels may come with either a) pointy serrated teeth — which will pierce small holes on your pattern pieces, b) slightly dull teeth — these will dent your pattern but not pierce it and c) a solid wheel — which will also not pierce the paper but dent it.
You’ll need carbon paper in a colour that will stand out against your fabric. We stock Burda carbon paper in a yellow/white pack and a red/blue mixed pack which provides you with lots of options.
Your tissue pattern. This could be an entire sheet or pre-cut pieces. If your tissue is badly wrinkled from being in the packet, try gently pressing with a DRY iron on low heat to flatten it out.
Your fabric. If it is heavily wrinkled from pre-washing or storage, best to press this prior to tracing to create an even surface to work with.
Optional: a cutting mat or piece of cardboard to protect your table and ensure your tracing surface is even.
Optional: a ruler to assist with tracing straight lines.
Optional: a knitting needle or empty biro to mark dots and ends of stitching lines.

Did you know?

Carbon paper has a wrong and right side. The wrong side is white and will be on the outside when you remove your paper from the packet the first time. The right side will be a darker colour—in this case, blue. When tracing your pattern pieces, you will place the right (coloured) side of the carbon paper against the wrong side of your fabric. This way the marks will not show on the right side of your fabric. Because carbon doesn’t wash out easily, test that marks made on the wrong side of the fabric don’t show through to the right side.

The process

If using a cutting mat or cardboard to protect your table, place this down first. Lay out your fabric onto your mat/table either flat (with the right side facing down) or folded with the right sides touching. Add your pattern pieces to the top of your fabric where you would like to trace them. Next carefully slide the carbon paper—right side face down—in between the pattern paper and the fabric. Secure the layers of fabric, carbon paper and pattern pieces using your favourite method. We’ve used pins before but weights work equally as well. You can see below the printed side of the fabric is facing the cutting mat, the coloured side of the tracing paper is facing down and pattern piece is on top and this is all secured by pins.

Now it is time to trace! Take your tracing wheel and carefully roll over the lines of your pattern pieces including seamlines, darts and notches. The wheel will press the carbon onto the fabric below. You may wish to use a ruler to help with long straight lines as this can ensure it is even. To mark dots or ends of stitching lines, you may wish to use the end of a knitting needle.

Once you have finished tracing all of your pieces, carefully remove your pins or pattern weights, pattern pieces and carbon paper. The carbon paper will have transferred your markings on to the back of your fabric and it is now time to cut your pieces out. Happy sewing!