Sewing Pattern Printing -Easy Tutorial for Beginners

In this post, you learn how to  print and cut out sewing patterns

Do you want to learn how to sew your own clothes using my free PDF patterns? If you are new to sewing, you may not know how to print, assemble, and cut out the patterns. Don’t worry, I’m here to help you. In this post, I’ll show you the steps and tips to use my PDF patterns effectively. You’ll also learn about some useful tools and techniques for pattern cutting.

What are PDF Sewing Patterns?

PDF patterns are digital files that you can download from my blog and print at home or at a copy shop. They are divided into several pages that you need to join together to create a full-size pattern. PDF patterns are convenient and affordable because you don’t have to wait for shipping or pay for postage. You can also print them as many times as you want.

Sewing Pattern Printing Tutorial

Before you print your PDF pattern, make sure you have the following:

• A printer that can print on A4 paper
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (a free software that you can download here)
• A pair of scissors or a paper cutter
• Tape or glue

To print your PDF pattern, follow these steps:

1. Open the PDF file with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
2. Check the scale by measuring the test square on the first page of the file. It should measure exactly 2 cm x 2 cm or 0.79 inches x 0.79 inches. If not, adjust the print settings to 100% scale, without any scaling or fit to page options.
3. Print the file on A4 paper, using the best quality setting.
4. Cut off the margins of each page, following the dashed lines.
5. Assemble the pages together by matching the symbols and numbers on the edges. Tape or glue them together, making sure there are no gaps or overlaps.

You should now have a full-size pattern that you can use to cut out your fabric.

You may also want to read this post on how to print and assemble PDF sewing patterns using A4 paper size. It’s a step by step very detailed tutorial on how to do it , you will also learn how to choose the right settings on your printer and computer, how to tape the pages together.

How to Redraw and Cut Out Sewing PDF Patterns

There are different ways to redraw and cut out PDF patterns, depending on your preference and tools. I’ll show you three options:

Option 1: Use a Tracing Wheel and a Hera Marker

A tracing wheel is a tool that has a serrated edge that creates tiny perforations on the paper when you roll it over the markings. A hera marker is a tool that has a sharp edge that creases the paper without cutting it.

To use this option, you’ll need:

• A tracing wheel
• A hera marker
• Tracing paper
• Pins

To redraw and cut out your PDF pattern using this option, follow these steps:

1. Place a sheet of tracing paper over your PDF pattern and pin them together.
2. Use a tracing wheel to transfer the markings from the PDF pattern to the tracing paper. Roll it over the outer lines, inner lines, notches, darts, grain lines, etc.
3. Remove the pins and separate the tracing paper from the PDF pattern.
4. Use a hera marker to press over the perforations and make them more visible on the tracing paper.
5. Cut out your pattern pieces from the tracing paper.

Option 2: Redraw the Pattern on Tracing Paper

Tracing paper is a thin and transparent paper that allows you to see through the original pattern and copy it onto another layer.

To use this option, you’ll need:

• Tracing paper
• A pencil
• A ruler
• A curved ruler or a French curve (optional) click on link and get them for free
• Scissors

To redraw and cut out your PDF pattern using this option, follow these steps:

1. Place a sheet of tracing paper over your PDF pattern.
2. Use a pencil to trace the markings from the PDF pattern to the tracing paper. Draw along the outer lines, inner lines, notches, darts, grain lines, etc.
3. Use a ruler to measure and mark the seam allowance around each pattern piece. You can also use a curved ruler or a French curve for curved edges like armholes or necklines.
4. Cut out your pattern pieces from the tracing paper.

Option 3: Cut Out the Pattern from the Printout

If you don’t want to redraw your PDF pattern, you can cut it out directly from the printout after adding seam allowances.

To use this option, you’ll need:

• A ruler
• A pencil
• A curved ruler or a French curve (optional)
• Scissors or a rotary cutter
• A cutting mat (optional)
• Pins or weights (optional)

To cut out your PDF pattern using this option, follow these steps:

1. Use a ruler and a pencil to measure and mark the seam allowance around each pattern piece on the printout. You can also use a curved ruler or a French curve for curved edges like armholes or necklines.
2. Cut out your pattern pieces from the printout with your added seam allowances. You can use scissors or a rotary cutter to cut along the outer lines of each pattern piece. Be careful not to cut into any inner lines or markings that indicate stitching lines, notches, darts, grain lines, etc.
3. You can also use some tools to make your cutting more accurate and easier. For example, you can use a cutting mat and a ruler to guide your scissors or rotary cutter along straight edges. You can also use pins or weights to hold your pattern pieces in place while cutting.

You’re Done!

Sewing Pattern Printing Made Super Easy

You have successfully redrawn and cut out my free PDF patterns using one of the options above. Now you are ready to cut out your fabric and start sewing your garment. I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. Happy sewing!

In this post you learned  sewing pattern printing in minutes.

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