If you can't find a tracing wheel to transfer a pattern with, look in your kitchen - a pastry wheel works as well.
Protect the cutting surface beneath the pattern with felt, a sheet of cardboard, a magazine or thick newspapers. You can also pin the fabric to this layer to prevent it from slipping as you trace the pattern onto it.
To strengthen pattern pieces that you may want to preserve for future use, iron fusible interfacing onto the edges. Store them, rolled up, in cardboard tubes.
Create your own pattern. Take apart a favourite but worn-out garment by unpicking the seams and iron each piece carefully. Use the pieces as templates for cutting new fabric.
