Welcome to our first ever Sewing Workshop Sew-Along – I'm so excited to sew with you! Through the next few weeks I'll be sharing our favorite tips and tricks for making both the woven and knit versions of our Zayn Shirt. Before we can start sewing, however, we need to make the actual pattern. For those of you who have never used a digital pattern before, read along for instructions on how to use a download pattern.
First, you will need to purchase the Zayn through our website. To be able to access our digital downloads you will need to register an account with us. If you have already made purchases with us, you probably already have an account. If not, this is how you go about it. At the top of the homepage there is a link that says Login/Logout. Click on that link. Are you there? Great! Now, if you have an account already, go ahead and sign in. If not, look at the bottom of the page for the link that says Don't Have An Account? Click it! This takes you to a User Registration page. Simply fill out the information and click Register. Done? Great, now we can head over to purchase the Zayn pattern.
Once you have finished purchasing the Zayn pattern, look for the link that says My Account. When you click on that link it will take you to a page that lists your purchases and downloads, where you will see the Zayn. There are three links under the Zayn: ZaynTop_Instructions, ZaynTop_CopyCenterVersion and ZaynTop_HomePrinterVersion. You will need to download the instructions and your preferred pattern version. The copy center version is a pdf of the full pattern which can be printed out on a large format printer at your local copy store. This will give you a full pattern that doesn't need to be tiled together. All you do is click on the link to download the file. Then, either email or take the file to your copy shop and they will do the rest of the work. If you need any more help with purchasing or finding your Zayn pattern in your account, look through this page of Pattern Download Help. If that still doesn't answer your questions, email us!
The home printer version is what we will be focusing on today. Click on the link to download and open the pdf. Before you print everything out, you need to do one thing. Print JUST the first page of the pattern piece file. If you look at the page in the PDF you will notice that the page features a 1 inch square. We need to print this page out so we can confirm that the square printed at 1 inch. This is important because we need the pattern to print out at the right size. If the 1 inch square is off, you may need to adjust your printer settings. Trust me, it is worth the extra work now to have a well-fit garment later. Use a ruler to confirm that the square is the right size, then go ahead and print out the rest of the pattern file, as well as the instruction file. This will take a while, so go get yourself a snack and come back later.
Ok, are you back? Is everything printed out? Scroll through the pdf files of the instructions and pattern pieces to confirm that everything printed out correctly and then let's get this pattern put together. You will need: paper scissors, tape or a glue stick, and something to watch or listen to while you cut. Netflix, podcasts, music – whatever will make this fun for you. Start by cutting the right border edge off all the paper sheets.
Now, find your pattern tile layout sheet, which is page 25 of your pdf. This shows how the pattern pages match together. Follow along as you start to tape your pages together. We are going to create the horizontal rows of the grid first, then we will put those together to make the whole pattern sheet.
Start at the top left of the grid with page one. Place the right cut edge of the page against the border line of page two. Tape or glue. Continue in this manner to make the horizontal rows of the grid.
Above you can see the first couple of sheets taped together for rows one and two of the pattern grid. Once all your rows are completed, you will go back with your scissors and cut the top border off the rows. See below.
Now, you will match the pattern lines on each row and tape. Put the lower pattern row on top of the upper. So, for instance, in the image below, you can see that I placed the second row of pattern sheets on top of the first, lining up the pattern lines. Then, I tape the rows together. Continue in this manner until the full grid is put together.
Once you have a full pattern sheet, you simple cut out the paper pattern as you would any other tissue pattern. In our next post we will cut out the fabric pieces and I'll share with you my favorite marking technique. See you then!