Avoid this SEWING PATTERN mistake!

[@bohemiansusan2897]

I used to have mine printed at Staples for $12. Now I have a used architectural printer that is 36" wide. Saves on my sanity with PDF.

[@SewSewLounge]

That sounds great! I will have to find one of those printers once I have more space. It sounds great!!

[@pmclaughlin4111]

I don't know how many times I have forgotten to reset "fit to page" and not checked the test square. Great tip on using legal paper. (I discovered that after a paper jam and ran out of letter paper) I don't trim the bottom of the legal paper. I put the legal paper down and layer the trimmed top of the adjacent paper on top. I then turn it over (carefully) and afix the flap. It strengthens the cut piece and makes it more rigid and easier to cut out.

[@SewSewLounge]

I will have to leave the legal paper long next time. It was getting floppy as the pattern came together!

[@daxxydog5777]

Love the idea of the legal paper!

[@SewSewLounge]

Me too. I’m so glad that it worked!

[@kimt2au]

Most PDF patterns have layers. If you turn off the layers for the sizes you do not need to cut, you will be left with only one set of lines, or two set of lines if you are blending between sizes.

[@SewSewLounge]

That’s makes things easier. But this was a free pattern so not that high tech 😉

[@pambrunerbamalam]

If you’re printing from an iPad, layers aren’t available.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Always check your print settings. Print to page size is not a standard setting. I suggest checking the default options (both on printer and pdf software) and changing them appropriately.

[@SewSewLounge]

Good to know 😉

[@baraitalo]

Aaaah! So are the PDF paterna designed for a4? It took me a while but neither of the paper sizes she showed looked right! I've seen "legal" on printer settings but don't remember "letter". Anyway a4 is what anyone would buy in uk. I think you'd have to go to a specialist supplier for anything else

[@SewSewLounge]

This pattern was made in the UK, but there was an A4 and a separate US letter sized downloads available. I chose US. I think the printing issue was more related to my printer’s “printable area” because it’s an older model. But using legal sized paper fixed that issue.

[@ZeldaSews]

Hi Toni. I always print my test page. I like the legal page.

[@SewSewLounge]

Hi Zelda! Glad you like my legal page suggestion 😉

[@RunningWithScissors-th8jo]

Good tips, Toni! I have not used legal paper to print out pdf patterns. I'll have to give that a try! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@SewSewLounge]

Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you too 🦃

[@justdevorah7473]

THANK YOU!!!! Yes, I am yelling because I am so happy! That first step just solved a couple of problems. I had a vest pattern that is fine when projected but when I printed out the pdf (friend’s house with no projector) it ended up being a mess, not to mention my self esteem. 😅

[@SewSewLounge]

You are very welcome! I was glad when I figured it out-I thought I was just me 🤣

[@tobielurie4582]

I find it helpful to print only the sizes I need. You can print layers with Adobe Acrobat.

[@SewSewLounge]

@@tobielurie4582 this particular pattern didn’t have the sizes separated out. I have used patterns that had each file by size and it made cutting SO much easier.

[@angiekyle2942]

Can you print with photo settings/ with out borders?

[@SewSewLounge]

I can’t on that printer. I’ve since upgraded to a different printer but it’s not edge to edge printing; those printers are really expensive.

[@KnitzyKitzy]

I love PDF patterns for a few reasons. The indie pattern makers often give you much more body and finished measurements, bicep, full and high bust etc. They often give multiple cup sizes. Also I can adjust a pattern without fear of ruining it because if I mess up I just reprint the bit I need. The indie pattern makers are much more helpful and responsive to questions. I recently wanted to make a big four pdf but I think they need to have a rethink and learn how to do professional PDFs as they are not the same as printed patterns. They gave only the full bust finished measurement so you couldn’t just print the layers needed and grade between them, all the pieces for 3 views were mixed up in 3 different files which made no logical sense, the instructions were terrible amongst so many other issues. I think I am an indie pattern, pdf convert now because my fitting is so much more straightforward now. Is legal paper the same as a4 in the Uk?

[@SewSewLounge]

Wow, I should sew more indie patterns! I have a bunch I just haven’t used them. Legal paper is longer than A4 but about the same width.

[@patriciabennett961]

I hate taping all those pieces of paper together so now I send all my PDF patterns of to a copy shop😊

[@SewSewLounge]

I thought about doing that, but the the upload system at the nearby shop was so complicated that I wasn’t sure if the pattern would be printed correctly 🤣

[@patriciabennett961]

@SewSewLounge I send mine to PDF Plotting it's usually about $23 but it's so worth it!

[@SewSewLounge]

@@patriciabennett961 I will have to like into that company. It’s much cheaper than my local Kinko’s.

[@user-oo8ei4lj6s]

I personally don't like to pay for a pdf pattern because of alk the eork that needs to be don't. Its also expensive. I only buy a unique pdf with good instructions.

[@SewSewLounge]

This one was free and I liked the pattern so it was worth the effort. Plus shirt patterns don’t use as much paper as dresses or jackets.

[@dustygrrl]

I got really frustrated and then I realized that I could select A4 page size on my printer. And use letter size paper.

[@SewSewLounge]

Yeah I feel you! I ended up getting a new printer 🤣

[@majsmarken118]

Oh, I just hate pdf-patterns. All those sheets 😫

[@SewSewLounge]

I try to limit the number of pages I have to print! I was looking at some downloads for dresses that had 48 pages and opted to buy the printed pattern instead!!

[@cheekyfox161]

My solution, as an engineer, is to buy a secondhand A1 hp plotter. No more taping.

[@SewSewLounge]

@@cheekyfox161 now THAT is a good solution!

[@majsmarken118]

@@cheekyfox161 - but wouldn’t it take up a lot of space?

[@cheekyfox161]

@@majsmarken118 Yes it does, but I also use it for other things. And also it was cheap and came with rolls of paper and lots of spare cartridges.