How to Use PDF Sewing Patterns: A Beginner’s Guide
THE PATTERNS
When we sew, we follow patterns. And at Common Sewing, we believe the best way to learn is by doing.
So, here is my gift to you: a free PDF pattern for a simple tea towel. This is the pattern that accompanies the first workshop in your Basic Skills Learn to Sew Series, where you’ll make your very own tea towels.
In this first skill workshop, you’ll learn how to cut fabric correctly and how to create neat, beautiful hems. And, best of all, you’ll walk away with a set of handmade tea towels to keep and use!
But before we can start cutting and sewing, there’s one important skill to learn: how to download, print, assemble, and understand a PDF sewing pattern.
Don’t worry—it’s easier than it sounds. Let’s get started!When we sew, we follow patterns. And in Common Sewing, we learn by doing. So here is my gift to you, the pdf pattern for the tea towel. This is the pattern that accompanies the first workshop in your Basic Skills Learn to Sew Series - the tea towel. In this skill workshop, you will learn how to cut fabric correctly and how to make perfect hems. And you will walk away with a set of hand made tea towels to keep! But first, you have to learn how to assemble and understand the pattern.
A sewing pattern is a guide that shows you how to create a garment or other sewn project by cutting and assembling fabric in the correct shapes and sizes.
You may remember the traditional tissue paper patterns sold by companies like Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue, and McCall’s. The envelope usually showed a photograph or illustration of someone wearing the finished garment, and inside were delicate tissue paper pattern pieces along with printed instructions.
Patterns have evolved with technology. You can still purchase traditional tissue paper patterns, but many talented designers now offer high-quality, printable PDF patterns online. With a PDF pattern you simply: purchase & download the file, print it at home, tape the pages together, and you’re ready to sew ... all without leaving your house.
Throughout The Basic Skills Learn to Sew Series, we’ll be working with PDF patterns. My goal is for you to become completely comfortable downloading, printing, and assembling them so that each new project feels easier than the last.
What You’ll Need
To assemble a PDF pattern, you’ll need:
Your printed PDF pattern
A couple of rolls of clear tape
A flat work surface large enough to spread out your pages
Print each of the patterns that accompany your basic skill workshops and save them where you can easily find them. I keep a “Common Sewing” folder on my desktop so everything stays organized.
BEFORE YOU PRINT
There are two important things to check before printing your entire pattern.
First, in your printer settings, select Actual Size or 100%. Do not choose Fit to Page or any other scaling option, as this will change the size of your pattern.
Second, print only the first page. Every pattern begins with a test square, which is also called a scale box. In this series, the scale box measures 2 inches by 2 inches. Measure it carefully with a ruler. If it measures exactly 2” on each side, your printer is set correctly and you can print the remaining pages.
YOUR FIRST PATTERN
For this lesson, print Basic Skill #1 – The Tea Towel. This is the pattern I’ll be using in the video, The Basics: How to Assemble a PDF Pattern, included in your Basics Video Series.
Once you’ve confirmed that the scale box measures correctly, print the rest of the pattern pages.
UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERN PAGES
Before you begin taping the pages together, notice a few important details.
Each page is labeled with a letter and a number. The letter identifies the row, and the number identifies the column, making it easy to arrange the pages in the correct order.
You’ll also notice alignment lines printed along the right side and the bottom of each page, approximately 1⁄2 inch from the edge. These are your guides. When assembling the pattern, overlap the adjacent page so the paper edge lines up with these alignment lines. Matching these guides carefully assures that your pattern is accurate.
ASSEMBLING YOUR PATTERN
The Tea Towel pattern is made up of 3 pages across and 3 pages down, creating a total of nine pages. Every pattern is different. Some may be much wider or much longer.
When assembling larger patterns, I recommend putting together whichever dimension has fewer pages first.
For example, if your pattern is 6 pages across and 3 pages down, tape each of the three-page columns together first. Then join the completed columns. I find it’s much easier to keep everything straight when working with smaller sections before assembling the entire pattern.
Before you begin taping, lay out all of your pages so you can see the complete arrangement.
As you assemble the pattern, use just a small piece of tape at each join to hold the pages together. Once you’ve checked that everything lines up correctly, go back and secure the seams with additional tape. It’s much easier to make small adjustments before everything is permanently taped.
STORING YOUR PATTERNS
Once you’ve finished your project, store your patterns neatly so they’re ready to use again.
I like to fold my assembled patterns and place them in 10” × 13” white catalog envelopes. I print an extra copy of the pattern cover page and tape it to the front of the envelope so I can quickly identify what’s inside.
I also keep the printed instructions in the same envelope. Everything stays together, organized and easy to find the next time I want to make that project.
Now, follow along with me in the video as we assemble The Tea Towel pattern together. You are just about ready to start creating some beautiful things.
Let’s sew!