ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Pattern (sewing)

When someone wants to make a piece of clothing or a toy or something else out of fabric, it can be hard to know how to cut the fabric in the right shape and size. This is where a pattern comes in.

A pattern is like a special puzzle that shows the person how to cut out the fabric in the right shape and size so that it will fit together and become the thing they want to make.

The pattern is like a big piece of paper with lines and shapes drawn on it. The lines and shapes tell the person where to cut the fabric, where to sew it together, and where to put things like buttons or zippers.

It's important to follow the pattern carefully so that everything fits together and looks just right when it's all done. Think of it like following a map to get to a cool playground or a yummy ice cream shop. You want to follow the map exactly so you don't get lost or miss anything fun!

And just like a map, once you've followed the pattern once, you can use it again and again to make different things in different colors and fabrics.