How to Tile Letter Sized Sewing Patterns to Make a Copyshop File - Tutorial
Have you ever bought a PDF pattern that looks super amazing only to find out that it only comes in letter sized sheets that you’ll have to cut and tape together? Oh, and also, it’s 95 pages.
While cutting and taping is very normal in the PDF sewing pattern world, you can take those letter/A4 sized pages and combine them to make a single copyshop format file that you can have printed at your local shop, or of course, here at Winnipeg Sews.
This process is completely free, and the learning curve isn’t too bad once you know the steps to take. I spent days researching all over the internet for ways to do this only to keep coming across the opposite! I hope this tutorial helps someone make their sewing journey a bit easier!
These instructions are provided for a windows operating system. I assume similar principles will apply with different operating systems as both Adobe and Inkscape have multiple system download options. Specific wording may be different.
If you haven’t already, download the free Adobe Reader DC. This program is essential to PDF sewists as it accurately and consistently prints PDF patterns with proper scaling. Since there’s no way to test the scaling until you do all the work, please start with this program to minimize the chance that you’ll do all this for an incorrectly scaled pattern.
Download Inkscape. This design program is also free! I found it easiest to select the option that installed the shortcut button on my desktop so I wasn’t looking around my computer files for the program. Inkscape takes a while to load, so please be patient when you double click the application to start it, it may take a minute or two to appear on your screen.
Open your letter sized PDF sewing pattern in Adobe Reader. If possible/wanted select only the layers you’d like to print in the left hand menu. Not all sewing patterns provide the option to only print certain sizes, so your pattern may not have that feature.
Press Ctrl+P to bring up the Print dialog box. We’re going to choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” option. Make sure your scaling is set to 100% custom scaling. Since most PDF letter sized patterns include the instructions first, followed by the pattern, select only the pages that include pattern pieces. Save this PDF to your computer or laptop in a place you can easily access again. I saved mine in my “PDF Patterns” file folder on my desktop.
Print out the page that includes the image that shows how all the pages are put together to make the pattern pieces. This page is incredibly useful for the next part of the process. Often patterns will not print in a set number of pages across and down like a table, so knowing which little piece you are looking at in Inkscape really helps.
Open Inkscape. Click “File” then “Document Properties”. What we’re going to do is change the size of the page we’re working on. You’ll notice that when you first option Inkscape it’s automatically selected an 8.5x11 page which is exactly what we DON’T want. About halfway down the dialog box you’ll see a portion called “Custom Size”. Change the unit of measurements from millimetres (mm) to inches (in). Change the first box to 34” and the second one to 100”. This is just a start so we have enough room to start importing our smaller pdfs. Please do not use a 36” wide pdf as the margins from the printer will cause it to be cut off at the edges. Our page is ready, so click the “X” to close the box.
Now click “File” then “Import” (Ctrl+I), this will bring up the dialog box showing your computer files. Navigate to where you’ve saved your PDF file from step 4 and select it.
From this next dialog box, pick the first page of the pattern (1 out of X). It’ll show up on the screen as a moveable object as indicated by a cross arrows. Place the page in the top left hand corner of your page. You can get right to the edge since we chose a 34” wide page instead of 36”. Now, repeat the import process, picking page 2 now. You’re looking to match the cut lines perfectly. There may be a time when it snaps into place if you get close enough! I found that sometimes it was easier than others. I was using a trackpad instead of a mouse though and I think my accuracy was off.
Keep tiling your lettersized pages onto your new document until you’ve added all the pages.
This may require some creative thinking, but I bet you’re good at that already! Think of this like fabric tetris when you’re trying to make the most of a precious piece of fabric. There’s no saying that you can’t have half a piece here and half a piece there as long as you remember how you put them on the page!
I found that rotating my sleeve worked best to make the most of my paper. You can do that with any piece.
You can fit four portrait oriented pages across your 34” page. If your pattern has a piece that is more than 4 pages long or wide, then adjust the orientation until you get it to fit. This part is the most time consuming as you’re balancing your precious time vs your money.
Once all your pattern pieces are on the new document, double check that the document is long enough. The 100” we initially put in the “Custom Size” box may not be enough to fit the whole thing.
Now, save your file as a PDF and call it something like “Pattern Name Copyshop”
Upload it to your favourite local shop, or bring it in on a USB stick and get them to print that sucker! Keep in mind that a copy shop may ask for proof that you can print it, usually the page in the instructions that say can be printed for personal use will work.
I hope you found this useful! If you’re more of a visual learner, please see the video below!
Thanks for checking out this Winnipeg Sews PDF printing blog post! I hope it helps you!