Flosstyle

Practical PDF Sewing Patterns

in Beginners· Blogs by Olivia· Free Downloads· Learn to Sew· New to PDF Patterns· Sewing

Why you need to start using PDF patterns for sewing!

PDF patterns are a godsend for sewers. They allow you to print out a sewing pattern and use it to sew a project all within a short span of time. They may seem complicated and difficult to prepare at first, but this blog post will outline why they are a must have in your sewing process.

A little bit about PDF patterns

A PDF pattern isn’t as out there as you may think, they are, put simply, just a digital version of a printed pattern. You can find PDF patterns online on any sewing website (or similar). They are downloadable and you can save them on to your computer and print them off on regular printing paper using your household printer. If it is a large print, all you need to do is sticky tape them together! This means that through using PDF patterns you will be able to find a pattern you love and begin working on it the exact same day. This saves you from the days of waiting to get a printed pattern.

Why are PDF patterns so great?

Instant sewing

The main benefit to PDF patterns for most sewers is the fact that they can begin sewing as soon as they find a pattern they like. This also saves money as there are many free downloadable PDF patterns and shipping is no longer a cost that you need to factor in. This way, people like us can hold on to that excitement we feel when we find the perfect pattern. This will allow for the initial excitement to last all the way up to the commencement of sewing!

Accessibility

Using a PDF pattern will also mean that you will be able to find, and use, unique patterns from all around the world. There are so many small stores on the internet who sell great PDF patterns that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. This will mean that you will be able to sew unique designs without the fear of running into someone with the same piece whilst being proud of the individuality of your creation. Small stores are also great at producing patterns which cater for a range of different body shapes and sizes, meaning that you will be able to create a well fitting piece without having to make your own adjustments. Overall, the accessibility of PDF patterns brings so many great benefits that will allow you to create your perfect piece.

How to use a PDF sewing pattern

Downloading the pattern

The first thing you need to do when using a PDF pattern is to find one that you love. PDF patterns are all over the internet so spend time browsing to find one you really love. Once you’ve done this, purchase the pattern and download it as a PDF file on your computer. Once you have downloaded your pattern, you will have to locate the file to use it. You will be able to find it in the recent downloads section of your computer.

Printing the pattern

Once you have opened your file, you then have to print out your pattern. All this requires is printing out the sheets you have downloaded with your home printer (if you have one). When printing, you must ensure that the scale is set to 100% so the pattern is printed ‘to scale.’ If you don’t have a home printer, you can take these PDFs on a USB to a printing store such as Office-works and receive your pattern like this. The PDF pattern will be spread out over many different sheets, which, when printed can be put together and combined to create a large pattern.

Assembling the pattern

Most PDF patterns will have margins on each side of the PDF. In order to properly assemble the pattern, you must trim off the edges of each page. To save time, you can invest in a cutter which quickly cuts straight lines across pages, some will even allow you to cut through multiple pages at a time which is super handy!

Once you have trimmed the pattern pages down, you can start to assemble the pattern. The best thing to do is lay out the pattern flat first through discovering which pages fit next to one another. Patterns are generally number or letter coordinated, allowing you to easily locate the pages which fit next to one another. Once you have the pages properly laid out, tape or glue the pages together to ensure that they are being held in place properly.

The final step to assembly is to wait until the glue is dried (if you used glue) and cut out all of the pieces, just as you would for any other pattern.

The final step: sewing

Once all of the pieces have been cut out and assembled, the final step is to begin your sewing.. the most exciting part! There is nothing complex about this step if you’re a regular sewer, you treat these PDF patterns as any other pattern.

Trying out PDF patterns is essential for every sewer. Here at Flosstyle, we deem PDF patterns to be life-changing. Not only do they come with so many benefits, but they are also so easy to use. Trust us when we tell you, PDF sewing patterns will undoubtedly change your life. Make sure to give PDF patterns a go, and let us know how you feel about them!

Happy sewing!

Olivia B

in Beginners· Blogs by Olivia· Sewing

My top 5 sewing tools

Sewing can be daunting to many, with so many scary and funny looking tools to choose from we can understand how easy it is to get overwhelmed. Here at Flosstyle, we aim to help make sewing as simple as possible, hence why we have compiled a list of our top five sewing tools. These tools are what we consider essential for sewing and make a great list of basics to accumulate as a sewing beginner.

It is important to understand your tools and the impacts they have on your sewing. A good set of sewing tools is what sets apart a basic piece of sewing from an advanced one. It is important to remember that the quality of your sewing isn’t based on the amount of tools that you have. It is far more important to have a few really good tools that will aid you in preparing the perfect sewing piece.

Sewing scissors

One of the most important tools in sewing is the scissors you use. Scissors are used for practically everything in sewing. Having a sharp and good quality pair of scissors makes the sewing process much easier, giving you much more control over your work. The most important thing to consider when purchasing a pair of scissors for your sewing is that the scissors are fabric scissors. Any other scissors could potentially ruin your fabrics and work. If you are hoping for one pair of scissors to use universally, a medium or small sized sharp pair is your best bet. These will allow you efficiency whilst still retaining control over your scissor work.

How do I know which sewing scissors are the right ones?

However, if you wanted to cover all basis, different sized scissors are important for different reasons. Large cutting scissors are essential for cutting large pieces of fabric. They cut time and make the process much easier. However, if you’re hoping to create more detailed works, then it is essential that you invest in a good small and sharp pair of scissors. These sewing scissors will allow you to retain control over your work and create beautifully detailed sewing masterpieces.

A sharp seam ripper

No matter how experienced you may be, every sewer makes mistakes. This is why a good, sharp seam ripper is an essential tool in your sewing kit. Seam rippers essentially rid your works of the wrongs you may make, allowing you to quickly fix your work in the case of an accident. The most important feature of a seam ripper is that it remains sharp. Blunt seam rippers simply won’t do as they run the risk of damaging the rest of your sewing project by pulling and ripping the surrounding fabrics. If you already have a seam ripper, make sure it is sharp and as soon as it becomes blunt, replace it! The easiest way to use a seam ripper is to hold the fabric with one hand and, with the other, go up under the stitches and rip them out. This will allow for control over both fabric and seams, ripping seams out in the easiest way possible.

Handy measuring tools

Measuring tools are a staple in sewing, they are used for practically everything. It would be impossible to find a pattern that does not require you to measure out materials prior to use. Since different patterns call for different measurements it is useful to use measurement tools that include both metric and imperial units. Measuring tape is one of the most commonly used measuring tools. Not only does your measuring tape have to be versatile, but it also must be flexible. Sometimes, sewing preparation can be much more complex than measuring out the area of flat pieces of fabric. This is why we recommend you buy measuring tape that is flexible, so it can be wrapped around odd surfaces. Measuring tape isn’t the only measuring tool that you can use. A ruler is also incredibly helpful. If a ruler isn’t as flexible as you would like, a ruler and a piece of wool/string work great together. To measure out lengths, all you have to do is measure it out on your piece of wool/string and measure this segment of string on the ruler. Another measuring tool which sewers may use is a sewing gauge. This tool makes measuring much easier with a slider, meaning you can set the gauge at the length you require, instead of having to locate it on individual lines. These are also really helpful for measuring lengths across curved surfaces or corners. The combination of the three of these items or just one of them allows for simple and accurate measurement, a key aspect of a good piece of sewing.

The perfect pins

There are many different types of pins and it can be easy to get confused about which ones are important in sewing. Pins allow for your pattern to be held in place while you sew and also secure smaller bits into your piece. Straight pins are the most common type of pins, these are pins made of a straight piece of wire with a pointed end. There are different types which differ with thickness, length and the material the heads and tips are made of. The most common type of straight pin is a ballpoint pin. These are pins which have rounded points, this means that they are great at holding together fabrics which are delicate such as knits. There are many different ballpoint pins depending on their sizes, however, these are commonly used by sewers across the board. Another type of pin is the dressmaker’s pin. These pins are classic and can be used for any type of fabric. They avoid fabric damage due to their small pinhead. The third most common pin is a glass head pin. These pins are fine which means that they can be used on delicate fabrics such as silk. They are also really good to iron over as glass tips will not melt when in high heat. Choosing pins may seem daunting but the three main types are listed out for you in this article. The most important thing is that you understand what materials each is used for and why. Through obtaining the perfect pins, you will be able to hold together a wide variety of materials whilst keeping your sewing piece intact.

Wash Away Tape

Wash Away Tape is a tape which holds on to fabrics and, basically, forces them to stay in place. It can also be applied to the fabric to avoid them from stretching out as well as reinforcing seams. This is super helpful when sewing things like zippers, necklines, armholes and pockets. Using wash away tape is a great, easy alternative to having to ‘stay stitch’ fabric. Instead of this, all you have to do is lay down a piece of tape in its desired place, and hold the fabric together. The best part about washj away tape is that it is completely dissolvable. This will mean that you do not need to go back and take it out after it has been used.

We hope that this article has made the crazy world of sewing seem much more simple to you. Believe it or not, sewing isn’t as complicated and costly as it is made out to be, and you can get started with these 5 essential tools to sewing, some which you may already have in your home. As time goes on, you can start to build your collection of tools, but, for the main part, these tools, along with a sewing machine and a passion for patterns, is all you need to start your sewing journey.

Make sure to check out some of our other blogs if you want to learn more from Flosstyle about sewing.

Happy Sewing!

Olivia B