If you are at the point where you are developing your own shapes and are drafting variations of patterns, it doesn’t hurt to keep a set of colored pencils or highlighters around in at least four colors.

That way, you can easily see the edits you’ve made as you work.  One of the biggest mistakes first-time drafters make is losing track of where they are.  They end up cutting out along their old lines instead of the new ones.  You don’t think it will happen, but believe us, our friend: It will.

You will see on these that there are a number of measurement notes &c.  You will never go wrong if you can see EXACTLY what you are doing.