Help with Simplicity Pattern 2133 Cutting Layout?

Question

Its a pattern for a robe. I've used patterns before, and I understand most everything on the directions sheet. They have two layouts for 44" to 45" fabric. The first is for sizes XS, S, M and the second is for sizes L and XL. I understand the whole wrong sides of the fabric together match up the salvage edges and then place your pieces where they are according to the pictures. 

However, I'm making an size XS. And it has two layouts; one has four pieces on it, one has the remaining four. The first one is the traditional one, selvage edges on the top and the fold on the bottom and it looks like a long rectangle. The second picture is what confuses me. It says double thickness and it says selvage on the top and bottom and it looks like two separate pieces. Under the definition for double thickness and under special cutting notes it says
3. Mark small arrows along both selvages indicating direction of nap or design. Fold fabric crosswise with RIGHT sides together and cut along the fold.
4. Turn one fabric layer around so arrows on both layers go in the same direction. Place RIGHT sides together. 

I'm not positive on finding the nap and being able to fold it crosswise. 

Also, I know when I bought the fabric I knew its "size" 44" 44" or 60" and I remember that while it's folded in half and you measure it you can figure out its size. I bought the fabric so long ago I don't remember its size. Any way you can figure that out again? Does the measuring thing work?

Thank you for any help!

thejanith · Accepted Answer

The folded one is the normal one.  If you have regular fabric, use that one.  The one that has 2 cut pieces of fabric laid on top of each other is for napped fabrics.  If your fabric is velvety or has a one-way design or is an odd weave or anything like that, you have to cut all the pieces right-side-up.   This is called a "napped fabric" or "fabric with nap" or "with nap" on a pattern instruction sheet.  So you fold your large piece of fabric and cut it in half on the fold.  Carefully turn it, keeping the right sides together, so both halves are not right-side-up.  Some floral prints or even some plaids and stripes work this way.  If its going to look funny if some pieces are cut upside-down, use the "with nap" layout diagram.  if not, use the normal one.

To figure out the fabric's width, hold it up to yourself.  Hold it sideways so one selvedge edge is on top and the other one is near or at the floor.  If you are a female of average height, this works.  If the fabric comes up to near your waist, it's probably about 36" wide.  If it comes up to your bra or chest, it's probably about 44" wide.  If it comes up to your chin or higher, it's most likely about 60" wide.

Of course, if you'd rather be accurate than take a good guess, fold the fabric in half so the selvedge edges touch.  Measure that width and double it.

Donna S · Answer

To address your question about the 30" folded fabric being 60" wide, yes, that is correct.

It looks like your pattern has 8 pieces.  If that is the case, then cut the four with the "normal" layout first.  Mark arrows in the selvage so you know which direction is "up".  Fold fthe remaining fabric in half, crosswise, so one edge is at the top, the other at the bottom.  Cut along the fold.  Flip the top piece end for end, so the arrows on it are going the same direction as the arrows on the bottom piece.  Make sure the two pieces have either right sides together or wrong sides together, if doesn't matter.  Lay out the remaining patter pieces and finish cutting out your project.

This type of layout is typical when a pattern has at least one piece that is too wide to cut on one-half the width of the fabric, eg, a 30" wide pattern piece cut on 45" wide fabric.

Help with Simplicity Pattern 2133 Cutting Layout?

2 Answers