How to Use & Print a PDF Sewing Pattern
What is a Digital Pattern?
A digital PDF sewing pattern is a downloadable sewing pattern that includes all of the instructions and pattern pieces needed to make a sewing project that you can print off yourself at home.
What are the Advantages of Using a Digital Pattern?
There are several benefits to using a digital pattern instead of a more traditional paper pattern:
- You only need to print off the pages which have the pattern pieces on rather than printing all of the instruction pages which makes it more environmentally friendly.
- Generally, digital patterns are cheaper than paper patterns.
- A digital pattern arrives immediately so you don't have to wait for it to arrive in the post.
- Most digital patterns are produced by small independent businesses and buying from them means that you can support small business.
What do I get with a digital pattern?
When you purchase a digital pattern from A Sewing Life you get a digital A4 size booklet full of pages of instructions with a colour photograph for every step. The instructions are exceptionally thorough and have been written in a style that is easy to follow. There are also several pages that include the full size pattern pieces with seam allowances included so there is no messing about having to re-size anything.
How does a digital pattern work?
Once you have purchased a pattern you will be sent an email with a pdf attachment. This pattern can then be downloaded.
We would recommend that you get into the habit of saving your pdf pattern to your computer rather than relying on being able to print it off from the email. A Sewing Life patterns can be downloaded as many times as you want to but be aware that some businesses place restrictions on theirs such as a time limit so that the file can only be downloaded for a short period of time, or a limit to the number of times you can download the file. It would also be a good idea to keep a folder in your digital files named ‘Sewing Patterns’ (or even ‘A Sewing Life Patterns’) and keep all of your pdf patterns there so you know where to find them.
How to print a digital file
One of benefits of having a digital pattern is that you don’t need to waste paper and print all of the instructions off, you can keep them on the computer and read them from there. You will need to print your pattern pieces off though.
The pdf file is designed to be printed on A4 or US letter paper. To ensure everything goes smoothly, follow the steps below:
- Make sure that the printer is set to print at 100%
- Select 1 of the pattern pages to print as a tester. Measure the 3cm square that is at the top of each page. The square should measure 3cm within a tolerance of a couple of mm bigger or smaller.
- Print out each page that contains pattern pieces and cut each of the pieces out on the solid black line. Seam allowances have already been included so you don’t need to add anything.
- Some of the fabric pieces will need to be cut out twice using the same pattern piece (they will have 'cut 2' written on them). You can choose to use the same pattern piece twice or simply cut another pattern piece. The reason you may choose to cut an extra pattern piece out is so that you can move all of the pattern pieces around your fabric to get the most efficient use of your felt, before you cut it out. All patterns from A Sewing Life have the size of fabric required and a photograph of the suggested layout so that you can have the most efficient use of the fabric but if you are using a different size piece of fabric you may want to have all the pieces laid out to move them around until you get the best fit.
Get organised
In addition to organising your digital patterns, it is also a good idea to store your pattern pieces that you’ve printed out. One option is to put the pattern pieces into an envelope and write the name of the pattern and the company in the outside i.e. Theodore Bear from A Sewing Life. Another option is to put each pattern into an A4 plastic wallet and keep them in an A4 ring binder file. Make sure that the name of the pattern and company is visible and add any notes of information which you think you’ll remember next time but you may not actually remember.
What to do next?
Now that the process has been explained, have a go at using our FREE pattern of a mini bear which is the perfect beginners project to try. Enjoy hand sewing a lovely, simple project that can be made using a very small amount of felt and helps you get used to using a digital PDF pattern. It also gives you the opportunity to try one of our patterns and see for yourself just how good the instructions really are.
