How to use PDF Sewing Patterns, and why you should use them
How to use a PDF Sewing Pattern and why you should use them:
How to use a PDF Sewing Pattern, and why you should use them.
PDF sewing patterns are incredibly common today. Ten years ago, few had heard of them. Why the explosion in PDF sewing patterns and WHY you might learn to love them!
Sew it right now!
A PDF sewing pattern offers the sewist instant gratification. Even faster than ordering something online, you can download a pattern, and sew it that same day! Need a dress for that event tomorrow? You can download and sew it right now.
If you alter patterns regularly, PDF patterns are easy!
Besides the convenience factor, PDF sewing patterns have other benefits. If you regularly make alterations to sewing patterns for common adjustments like front or back rise on pants or shorts or need a full bust adjustment on tops and dresses, you can quite easily print, tape, test a muslin, and print a fresh copy again to draw / cut /alter your pattern exactly as you need it. If you’ve ever cut directly into a pattern and realized later, oops, needed a larger (or smaller) size, you know you can’t go back. Yes, you can trace, but tracing leaves with it some inconsistencies in how you traced, whether you remembered all the notches and markings (and got them in the right spots.) Grading between sizes is EASY, just go ahead and CUT between sizes – need a smaller waist size in proportion to your hips? Just cut and blend between the size lines as you cut.
Sew for others? No problem!
Many of us sew for others – mom, sister, daughter, friend – and PDF sewing patterns mean you can print two sizes, one for you, one for her and make unique adjustments without tracing each time.
But the taping!
Yes, you have to tape the pages together (or print the A0 or 36 at a plotter printing service.) But taping can be a great way to understand the mechanics of the pattern you’re using. You can tape against a glass window or door wall. You can use a glue stick, in lieu of tape. You can use any tape you want – including painting tape!
Taping, as a process, can be a meditative way to get into sewing a pattern. If you’ve ever lost your “sewjo” and haven’t sewn in a while, taping up a PDF pattern will jumpstart your enthusiasm. You might even consider a taping ‘session’ where you only work on taping up a few patterns to sew later.
Storage of patterns
Before you sew them for the first time, you can store them digitally and invisibly on your computer, Cloud drive and access them anywhere to see yardage and construction info (useful for wardrobe planning and fabric shopping). When you do finally print, what do you do with them? Some people roll them and secure with a rubber band and then stand them up in a taller basket or box. Others hang them from pant clip hangers and hang them. Still others fold and store them in large 10x13 catalog envelopes.
PDF patterns offer the modern sewist so many opportunities to customize fit, to sew for others, to sew faster. Sewing for a special or last-minute occasion (or sudden weather change) is easy with PDF sewing patterns. You can order, print, cut, tape any time of day or night.
Happy sewing!
Kim
Sewing Patterns for Women by Ann Normandy Design. http://ann-normandy.com
Instant download sewing patterns for women. Create an exceptional fitting garment, using classic construction techniques.
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