Preparing the sewing pattern for cutting

23. March 2024

In this step-by-step guide, I explain how to prepare the pattern for cutting. The first part is about printing and assembling a pattern in PDF format. If you already have your pattern in large format you can skip the first part directly and continue reading on the topic of “Cutting out and sorting pattern pieces“.

Print out and assemble the pattern

Table of contents

1. Print test page

The picture shows how the length and width of the test square are controlled. — The side edges of the test square are checked.

If you have downloaded the pattern in A4 format, only print out the first page. There is always a test square on this. This is used to check whether the print was made to the correct scale. To do this, use a ruler to measure the length and width of the square. Both sides must be exactly 10 cm long. If this is the case, print the remaining pages as well.

2. Printer settings

The picture shows how the printer settings can be adjusted to print the pattern in the correct size. — Adjust the printer settings for correct scaling.

If both sides of the test square are not exactly 10 cm long, you must adjust the printer settings. Sets the scale to “original”, “actual size” or “scale: 100 %”. Different terms are used here depending on the printer model and manufacturer. If the quality of the printout is not sufficient, you can also adjust the print quality.

3. Arrange the pattern pages

The picture shows how the individual sides of the pattern must be arranged. — The pages are arranged from left to right and from top to bottom.

The pages of the pattern are arranged according to the following system: You will see a letter with a number next to it in the middle of the background on each page, e.g. A1. Lay out the pages so that the letters go down and the numbers go up to the right.

4. Cut away the edges

The picture shows which edges of the sides of the pattern are cut off. — The bottom and right-hand edges of the pages are cut away.

Now cut off the bottom and right-hand edges of the sheets that have a following page to the bottom and/or right. You can tell which page is the next page by the labels in the triangles, which point to the next page like arrowheads

5. Glue the pattern together

The picture shows how the individual pages of the pattern are glued together. — The sides of the pattern are joined together with adhesive tape, for example.

Then glue the edges together at the edges of the following pages. In the end, you will have put the complete pattern sheet together like a puzzle.

The picture shows a completely assembled pattern consisting of 21 A4 pages. — This is what the finished pattern made up of 21 A4 pages looks like.

Cutting out and sorting the pattern pieces

6. Cutting out the pattern pieces

The picture shows how the individual parts of the pattern are cut out. — The individual pattern pieces are cut out along the solid lines.

Now cut out the individual shapes = pattern pieces from the pattern sheet along the outer lines. All smartPATTERN patterns already include the seam allowances. The inner lines that can be seen on most pattern pieces (except those for interfacing and templates) are the seam lines.

The picture shows all the individual parts of a pattern sheet that have been cut out. — The cut-out individual parts of a pattern sheet.

7. Sort pattern pieces

The picture shows the paper cuttings sorted by material with assigned materials. — The pattern pieces are sorted by material and assigned to them.

To make cutting easier, the pattern pieces are sorted by material. You will always find the information on this in the labeling of a pattern piece in the 5rd line – on the right in capital letters (see colored marking in the magnifying glass). This means that you sort all parts with the same material name, e.g. SHELL, INTERLINING, TEMPLATE etc., into one stack. Depending on the product, there may be different materials. However, every model has at least one SHELL.

You can find out how to cut the fabric here.

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