PDF Sewing patterns are digital versions of paper sewing patterns. They come in two basic formats, Print-at-Home, also called tiled patterns, and copyshop or A0 format. I’ll talk about copyshop files in a future post.
What is a tiled or Print-At-Home pattern? It is a PDF sewing pattern designed to be printed out on a home computer. Sounds great—right! No so fast. First impressions are deceiving. Printing requires setting up the printer correctly and cutting and taping pages together before you can even start to cut out the pattern pieces. I gave up on tiled patterns for years. Recently I found a solution to the lengthy print-at-home process. Sublime Grafx prints tiled patterns for a reasonable fee.
This is how print-at-home works when you use your personal printer.
- Open your file, select print, and choose a size and paper type. Tiled or Print-at-Home patterns are formatted to fit on Letter, Legal or A4 (8 x10 inches) paper. Most patterns allow you to choose which size, some patterns, like those from McCalls, require you to pick the page size to download. Make sure that you print at 100% or choose Do Not Scale option. Settings depend on your particular printer. See the photo below.
2. Select print – choose the test page only—if your pattern has one. This will tell you if the printer is correctly printing the pattern. It is very important to check this with a ruler. If everything is correct, select print again to print all pages, and your printer spits out pages upon pages of pattern pieces. For example, the pajama pattern in the above photo required 61 pages of paper, not including the instructions. If you need to make corrections to the test page, be sure the printer is set to do not scale, print actual size, or custom (enter in 100%).
3. Cut the pages where indicated and match registration lines. On some patterns, just trim to the edge of the pattern pieces and match up the lines.
4. Tape the cut pages together. Now you are ready to cut out the pattern pieces to use on your fabric.
Here is how Sublime Grafx handles print-at-home or tiled patterns for you
- Go to Sublime Grafx, enter your email and upload your PDF file in order to get a quote. You can upload more than one file if you have multiple files to print. They will get back to you within 24 hours with a quote.
2. Tell them which paper and shipping option you want. You get an invoice via email. Pay the invoice and your pattern is shipped super quick.
3. I received my printed patterns just 3 days after placing my order. Instead of dealing with 61 individual pages, I have a single, large sheet of paper that is ready for me to cut out the pattern pieces. Everything is put together, no extra taping or cutting required. The cost is reasonable, especially if cutting and taping is not your thing.
How do you feel about print-at-home sewing patterns? Let me know how you feel about PDF printing and sewing patterns.
