When making up my own designs I use graph paper like I am sure you all do, but to get the right colour combination I place a piece of plastic or again my trusty poly pockets over the design to colour it in.
That way your not rubbing out the original paper drawing and the plastic can just be wiped clean and you can start again.
If these are like page protectors that's even better for us. You can pick them up anywhere you buy office or school supplies and they won't be overpriced for the sttching industry. It really is a clever idea for saving pattern pages.
Elaine
Thank you so much Wendy for sharing this idea. Storing your pattern pages in these proctective sleeves and have the abilty to mark the pattern as you go without damage to the pattern is a brilliant tip.
It got me to thinking how you could, if you design your own patterns, also draw on your backstitching placement. If it didn't look right, you could erase the outline and try again until you were happy with it.
This will be a fabulous help.
Elaine