If you've just ordered a The Modern Sewing Co. Online Workshop or PDF Pattern for the first time, welcome! Like lots of our community, you might never have used a PDF sewing pattern before but it's simpler than it looks to go from a ZIP file on your desktop to a beautifully assembled pattern, ready to cut. 

We’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to print your PDF sewing pattern to help you get to grips with the process. If you need any other top tips on how to use your patterns or workshops, you can find our Frequently Asked Questions here.

Step 1: Open Your ZIP File and Access Your Pattern

Once you've completed your order, head to your Account and you’ll see My Patterns. Click the name of your pattern, e.g. Naomi Blazer PDF Pattern, to download a ZIP file containing your PDF. Most computers will open ZIP files automatically, but if yours doesn't, you can use a free programme called 7-Zip to extract them.

Inside your ZIP, you'll find your PDF pattern files. We recommend opening these ideally with Adobe Acrobat Reader, or PDF Stitcher (both are free to download). These programmes allow you to select and isolate your size layers before printing.

How to open your chosen size layer in Adobe Acrobat Reader

1. Open the pattern file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. On the right of the screen you will see the layers button. The Icon is two square on top of each other, circled in red here.2. If you can’t see the icon you will need to add it to the side panel. To do this click View->Show/Hide->Side Panels->Layers.3. Now you will be able to see the layers. You can deselect all the layers (sizes) you don’t need by clicking on the eye icon. Remember to always keep the ‘INFO ALL SIZES’ layer selected.4. Click on the 3 dots and select ‘Flatten Layers’ from the dropdown menu.
5. Finally, click File-Save As and remember to rename the file so you're not saving over the original file with all layers. We selected a size 10 so we saved this new file as 'Over Shirt Size 10'. You now have the pattern saved in your chosen size!

Step 2: Choose How You'd Like to Print

There are two options for printing your pattern. It all depends on whether you have access to a printer at home and/or prefer a straightforward pattern on one sheet of paper.

Option A: Print at Home on A4
This is a great option if you're just getting started or want to get familiar with your pattern pieces before committing to fabric. Your pattern will print across multiple A4 pages (called tiles) that you'll later assemble. It takes a little longer, but it can be a really satisfying part of the process!

Option B: Print A0 at a Print Shop
If you have a local print shop (most high street copy shops offer this service), you can send them your A0 file and have the whole pattern printed on a single large sheet. It's quick, accurate, and can be worth it if you know you’re likely to want to reuse the pattern again and again.

Top tip before you print
Make sure your print settings are at 100% scale (sometimes labelled "Actual Size" or "No Scaling").

Step 3: Trim Your Tiles

Once your pages are printed, you'll need to trim them so the tiles can line up precisely. Here's a useful tip that saves a lot of time: you only need to trim the top edge and one side of each page. The other two edges can tuck underneath the adjacent tile, keeping everything neat and reducing the chance of misalignment.

Step 4: Assemble Your Pattern

Now for the fun bit: laying your tiles out and taping them together to reveal the full pattern! Match up the printed alignment marks on each tile and use plenty of tape to secure them firmly. Being generous with the tape here will help your pattern hold up to repeated use. We’ve found this really handy when a new make becomes a wardrobe staple and we want to reimagine it in a different fabric again and again.

Step 5: Cut Out Your Pattern Pieces

Once your pattern is fully assembled, cut out each individual piece carefully along the lines for your chosen size.

Congratulations! Your pattern pieces are now ready to pin onto your fabric and start the sewing process.

More Tips

• In the mood for a new make? From spring dresses to weather-ready outwear, explore our latest PDF sewing patterns and workshops here.
• News for our American friends: we've updated our patterns to include Imperial measurements and US sizing! Learn more.
• Want to know how to add a little more character to your makes? Here's our step-by-step guide to designing your own patch pocket.