Hi Brian
I have experimented with different ways of putting on the pattern and I find the best way is as follows
1. cover one side of the wood with masking tape, I use both 3 inch and 2 inch depending on the size of the piece
2. Using a glue stick ( I don't use Pritt ( too expensive, the Pound shops have 4 or 5 sticks for a couple of quid) and coat the underside of the pattern liberally .
3 stick the pattern to the wood. I always select and glue down my patterns at the end of the day so that the glue sets overnight , and getting started the next morning is more enjoyable because I can start cutting straight away.
4. In the morning I cover the wood with clear packing tape, only cover the side with the pattern stuck on. I use a good quality tape, sellotape is too thin and the thicker the tape, the more it lubricates the blade. if you use a one handed tape dispenser thingy ( a indispensable piece of kit in my opinion) be careful, don't pull the tape tight as you put it down. I find that if the tape is pulled tight, as you are cutting the tape will contract and pull up the pattern. Its better to lay the tape on the pattern and smooth it down with your hand
5. Drill the pilot holes
6. Sand the back of the wood to remove the tear-out left by the drill, this makes the cutting much easier
7. When you have finished cutting, remove the pattern. The masking tape makes this job easy because the pattern is not stuck to the wood
Hope this is a help, Like I said after many trials and errors this method works the best for me
Regards
Brendan