Tutorial - How to download, print and prepare digital sewing patterns

In this video tutorial, we show you how to download, assemble, and cut your PDF sewing pattern. Plus, lots of little tips to make sewing easier for you.

If you need a PDF reader, you can download Adobe Acrobat Reader here for free.

If your pattern includes layers, you can learn how to display and use them thanks to our technical tutorial.

1) Buy and download your PDF pattern

To properly print your PDF sewing pattern, you first need to buy and download it, of course. It may seem obvious, but it’s very important to download the files one by one. A PDF pattern can contain many files. For example, at ikatee, you will find a tutorial file, one file per size, and often an A0 file.

We strongly recommend downloading all the files and saving them in a specific folder on your computer. This will save you from getting frustrated searching for the download link in your emails the next time you need it.

2) Print the PDF sewing pattern at home

a) Properly set up your printer

Once you have selected the size you want to print and opened the file, comes the more technical phase: checking the print settings. Indeed, if you don’t print at the correct scale, your pattern will be distorted. Your garment will likely not fit properly.

The settings to select:

• portrait printing
• A4 size
• 100% scale (this is THE key setting for successful printing)

b) Print the TEST page

ikatee PDF sewing patterns include a verification square on the first page. Once the settings are selected, we invite you to print only the first page of your pattern and check that the test square measures exactly 3 cm by 3 cm. If it does, you can print the rest of your pattern, making sure all the settings mentioned in the previous paragraph are still active. They can sometimes “reset” between prints.

If the square is not 3x3 cm, it’s likely that a setting was missed. Review the list and make sure everything is correct.

If you have trouble downloading the files, try switching browsers (Safari, Google Chrome, or Firefox, for example).

3) Assemble your PDF pattern

You will notice a frame surrounding the pattern lines. What you want to do is place them edge to edge and connect them. To get rid of the paper margins, I recommend cutting along the frame, as this creates the fewest layers of paper. But if you want to save time, here are some tips: you can simply fold the edges along the lines (see video) or cut 2 lines out of every 4, always the same ones.

You can then position the sheets edge to edge, making sure to align the markers. We recommend taping them together. Also, carefully follow the sheet assembly plan to move to the next row at the right time. Otherwise, you might end up with oddly shaped pieces!

4) Cut out the PDF pattern

The final step is cutting! Simply follow the cutting lines, knowing that at ikatee, seam allowances are always included.

Now that printing, assembling, and cutting a PDF pattern hold no secrets for you, find all our PDF patterns in the shop.

5) OPTION: Print an A0 pattern at a print shop

Our patterns are now available in A0 format in multi-size version only.

Printing in A0, our recommendations

To make printing easier and avoid taping A4 sheets together, ikatee offers A0 PDF patterns. These are very large sheets with all pieces printed for all sizes at once. We avoid overlapping pieces in this case so you can cut directly if you want... though it’s always a shame to cut a pattern sheet because you often want to make another size later. Anyway, we tested two printing sites for A0 formats for you.

https://impressionplan.fr

https://patternsforyou.fr

Both sites are super easy to use; you upload your files and choose delivery by mail or express. The sheets arrive folded in an envelope (we used express Chronopost and had it the next day... but usually it takes up to 3 days). The paper quality is excellent and the print quality is flawless.

The price... expect €1.20 to €2.40 in black and white and €2.40 to €4 excluding VAT in color per page(size 841 x 1189 mm, about 1 m²) excluding shipping costs.

We highly recommend either of these sites!