in most shops, custom patterns are not marked with diamond shaped notches--they are marked with just little hash lines--singles for front, doubles for back, and various multiples for situations like matching several panels of a skirt. the notches are marked with either a pencil mark, right in the seam allowance, or sometimes they are snipped into the fabric. either way, unless you have an opening in the pattern, the marks tend to be off line a bit, which doesn't make much difference if you are only using them to reference which piece get sewn to the next, but if you need to match notches so you get the sleeve set in right, then the notch placement makes a huge difference.
so for years, i've wanted a pattern notcher like "real" patternmakers use. this meek little gadget makes a little rectangular slit in the edge of the pattern, allowing you to mark your fabric without roughing up the pattern paper. but good grief, even though this is professional-grade equipment, the cost has been too high for me to justify--i know, they're made to cut thru heavy board, they will last a lifetime, etc--but really, i don't make patterns for production lines, i didn't need anything that heavy duty. so i've been cutting my notches the way most people do, by snipping into the pattern with the tips of my scissors (actually, i do it with a rotary blade, but that's for another post).
however, one day i was inspired to shop the scrapbooking aisle at jo-ann's etc, when i saw...a rectangle hole puncher!!! which cuts exactly the shape and size hole that a pattern notcher cuts!!! and holy moly, this thing only cost $2.00!!! i tell you, i was giddy. i couldn't wait to get home and start cutting notches.
now for those of you who are wondering, "do I need a pattern notcher?"--the answer is YES, you NEED one of these, even if you don't make your own patterns, even if you don't sew clothing. if you use pieces of paper to guide you in cutting something, this little tool will make your life so much richer, your children will be smarter, your house neater, you will be the envy of all who know you.
ok, maybe i exaggerated that last bit, but you get the idea.
and for those of you who use wild ginger software to draft your patterns--you're in luck! i also found a square hole punch, just right for cutting the square matching points on your patterns. and of course, you can always use a regular round hole punch for the circle markings.
now--i just KNOW that the other gadget i need is out there somewhere--a hole punch that cuts in the center of the paper, not just at the edge--something like a screw punch--but within my cheap-o budget. the first person who locates such a thing for me for under, oh let's say $5.00, gets a fat quarter of my own hand-dyed fabric in the color of his/her choice.