Today, I wanted to talk to you about patterns and more precisely about the different types of patterns available to us in the market: namely printed patterns and PDF patterns. 

Deliberately, I will not cover magazine patterns or book patterns in this article, on which I could write a full article knowing that there are many, from the simplest to the most complex... So today I suggest we focus on two types of pattern options, and go through their advantages and disadvantages together so you can get an idea of what will suit you best.

In this article, I will try to remain as objective as possible in the explanations and then I will share my personal experience as a seamstress. 

Let's see together who will join the PDF team or the printed pattern team! Let's go!

To put it simply, when you buy a pattern from an independent designer, you will most often have the choice to buy their patterns in PDF format or in printed pattern format. Note that some designers choose only one format. Often because the printed pattern format helps limit "fraud" and the PDF format, on the other hand, helps reduce production and storage costs...

For those who offer both options, actually whether you order one or the other format, you will receive exactly the same pattern; only the format will change. Likewise, you will receive the same explanatory materials. 

So why these two formats? What are the differences?

Printed pattern

In a printed pattern, you will receive one or more printed pattern sheets on relatively sturdy paper and an explanatory booklet in A5. Sometimes, the explanatory booklet mentions a link to a video on the creator's website or directly on a video platform to watch the most complex assembly steps or sometimes even all the assembly steps (this is generally called a sew along). 

Often the printed pattern is "a beautiful object" decorated/designed and the explanatory booklet is printed on "nice" paper.

On the sheet or sheets, the pattern is printed to scale in all the sizes planned for the model. This clearly helps minimize the risk of errors related to incorrect printing of the pattern. Most of the time the pieces do not overlap or overlap very little; which allows easy tracing of the pieces. 

As part of the printed pattern, I really advise you not to cut into the sheet but to trace it with the seam allowances that suit you. You never know, you might gain or lose weight, want to make the model for someone who isn't the same size... in short, once cut, the other sizes are lost and that's a shame... so prioritize transferring the pattern onto tracing paper if you think you'll make the model again in the future. 

Once you have traced your pieces, you just have to fold your pattern sheet into the printed folder and store the folder. For my part, I use an old shoebox; it’s the ideal size for storing them. It’s also a way to enjoy the object (you can see it) and remember the patterns you have in stock at a glance.

To summarize, here are the advantages and disadvantages of printed patterns: 

Advantages of the printed pattern

• Nice / attractive object
• Usable upon receipt (no preparation time)
• Allows easy tracing of the pattern
• Printed at the correct scale on thick, quality paper 
• Easily stored after use in its printed folder
• Remains visible and tangible in the workshop

Disadvantages of the printed pattern

• No immediate delivery (unless bought at a local haberdashery)
• Unique (cannot be reprinted)
• Need to trace it 
• More expensive to buy initially than the PDF pattern

PDF patterns

PDF patterns are 100% digital products. When you buy a PDF pattern, you will need to download the pattern sheets and the explanatory booklet. Often, you will have several printing options: A4, A0... 

Some sites allow unlimited downloads, others offer a limited number of downloads, and others impose a time limit; so I advise you to save your PDF patterns on your computer as soon as you buy them and rename them to find them more easily. 

Next, it is necessary to print the pattern sheets following the designer's instructions carefully, especially regarding the format and print scale. I recommend always printing the page with the test square and taking the time to measure it to be sure of the scale and avoid printing 40 pages only to have to throw them away later. 

Once you have printed all the sheets, you will need to assemble them to reconstruct the pattern sheet. Often, you will have an assembly guide with markers to help properly align the pages. You will then need to tape all the pages together. For patterns with just a few pages, this is quite quick; for complex patterns, it can take some time. 

Finally, if you are confident, you can cut the pieces to your size. This will save you time but the other sizes will be lost. Some prefer to trace the pieces from the sheet (especially if they are not sure of their size). 

Advantages of the PDF pattern

• downloadable instantly day or night (no waiting time for the order)
• can be cut 
• can be reprinted as needed
• PDF saved on the computer (does not take up space in the workshop)
• cheaper to buy initially than the printed pattern

Disadvantages of the PDF pattern

• need to be careful when printing
• need to pay attention to assembly instructions which may vary depending on the designers
• Hidden costs: paper, printer ink, tape... and more if you go to a print shop for A0 printing
• Time needed to assemble the pattern sheet
• If you decide to trace the pattern and keep the full pattern sheet, it’s hard to store (it’s difficult to fold; the best is to roll it carefully, but that can clutter your workshop).
• The purchased patterns are hardly visible because they’re stored on your computer (forgotten). 

My experience

Since I started sewing, I’ve been able to test many printed and PDF patterns. I first started using printed patterns recommended by my sewing teacher, and I found this format pleasant for beginners.

As I progressed, I became interested in the PDF format, which I found less expensive to buy. I had the chance to test small pieces (about ten sheets to assemble) and "big" pieces (up to 40 sheets to assemble). 
Today, I find that for "small" pieces requiring fewer than 10 pages of printing, the PDF format can suit me. For "big" pieces, I’ve abandoned the PDF option to go back to the printed format.

The reasons are simple: time (mostly) and the financial side (a bit).

1. Time: I realized that the time spent printing and especially assembling PDF patterns really weighed on me, to the point of losing the joy of starting a new design... Whereas the time spent tracing the pieces from my printed pattern sheet doesn’t bother me at all. Also, this assembly time feels like "wasted" or lost time from my precious sewing time, as if I were using my time poorly. In short, I get bored taping my pieces together!

2. The financial side: In the end, I realized that for most designs, buying a printed pattern or a PDF pattern costs almost the same. The printed pattern is more expensive to buy, but the PDF pattern requires consumables for printing (paper and ink, and sometimes the roll of tape gets used up...). I had looked into printing in A0, but the print shops near me charge around 5 euros per sheet... 

Over time, I’ve come back to my first loves with printed patterns that I enjoy looking at in my workshop. 

In conclusionIf I have the choice, I’m more team printed pattern except for small pieces like a little skirt or a t-shirt where a PDF format can be quickly assembled! I’m also team PDF to support independent designers who don’t have printed versions, especially Vanessa Pouzet whose designs I love. But I admit I won’t assemble any more "big pieces" in PDF like a coat, it’s too tedious and time-consuming. 

And you, are you more team printed pattern or PDF? Let me know in the comments!