This question seems to pop up a lot. The problem is that the answer to are sewing patterns reusable is yes and no. In this blog post we will explore what patterns are reusable and how to make the most of every pattern!
Pre-Printed Patterns
- Pre-printed patterns are often made out of flimsy paper that is similar to tracing paper or baking paper.
- To make these patterns reusable you will need to trace the size you want onto alternative paper and then cut that out.
- If you cut out directly from the pattern you will not be able to use any other size of that pattern again without repurchasing it
- If however, you are only going to use one size and will never need the other sizes then you could, in theory, just reuse that size.
- You should bear in mind that it is easy to rip a pre-printed pattern. As a result, they can be ruined easily and can be tricky to perfectly repair without changing the size.
PDF Patterns
- PDF patterns should be entirely reusable
- As long as you have the pattern downloaded, you can print it as many times as you like
- This way you don’t have to worry as much about messing up the cutting or needing a different size as you can just reprint the pattern
- Of course, I don’t recommend wasting a lot of paper on reprinting the pattern. If you know you will be using a few different sizes then, just print the pattern once. You can then trace the sizes you want onto something else – I find that baking paper, and plastic dust sheets both work well.
So are sewing patterns reusable?
It depends on how you use them! You have unlimited copies of PDF patterns but only one of a pre-printed pattern. As a result, tracing patterns is your safest way of ensuring complete reusability.
How many times can I use Right Side Patterns?
At Right Side Patterns, all of our patterns have unlimited downloads. Therefore you can reuse the patterns an unlimited amount of times! If you purchased the pattern on Etsy , simply log in to your account and download the patterns under ‘my purchases and reviews’. You can also check your invoice email for a download link. If you ever have problems getting hold of the pattern just send us a message and we will happily send you over a new pdf!