How to use a PDF Sewing Pattern, and why you should use them! Video Series – Part 1

PDF sewing patterns are widespread 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 sewing 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. Suppose you make alterations to sewing patterns for standard adjustments like front or back rise on pants or shorts or need a full bust adjustment on tops and dresses. In that case, you can quite easily print, tape, test a muslin, and print a fresh copy again to draw / cut /alter your pattern precisely as you need it. If you’ve ever cut directly into a sewing 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, or friend. PDF sewing patterns mean you can print two sizes, one for you and your loved one, 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 it on a glass window or door wall. You can use a glue stick, instead of tape. You can use any kind of 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 sewing patterns to sew later.

Storing your PDF sewing patterns before you sew them for the first time is easy. You can keep them digitally on your computer, Cloud drive and access them anywhere to see yardage and construction information. Helpful information for wardrobe planning and fabric shopping.

When you do finally print, what do you do with them? Some people roll them, secure them with a rubber band, and then stand them up in a taller basket or box. Others hang them from pant clip hangers. Still, others fold and store them in large 10x13 catalog envelopes. PDF patterns offer the modern sewist many opportunities to customize fit, sew for others, and 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. When the time is right for you.

Happy printing and sewing!

Kim