How to Use a Digital Pattern from Sew What Alicia
I absolutely love designing digital patterns! I seriously have so many fun ideas floating around in my head! The patterns can be sort of confusing to use if you have never used one before so here is the best way to use the patterns that I design! Here is how to use a digital pattern from my site/Etsy store!
How to Use a Digital Pattern from Sew What Alicia
Purchase/Download File:
The first step is to purchase the file from my Etsy shop, you will be prompted to download once you have completed the purchase. Or download one of the free files I have here on the site. I often list free SVG and PDF patterns so keep your eye out for those! You can search SVG or PDF in the search bar on my site to see all the projects that include a file in the supply list! (See image below.)
File Types:
PDF: The PDF’s I create are usually designed to be printed. I have offered cards and printable. There are also PDF’s that are meant to be used either for paper piecing or as a template that should be traced and then cut out. The PDF can also be imported into Cricut Design Space (but I prefer to import the SVG into CDS because it retains a lot more information in CDS as an SVG.)
This card was offered as a PDF.
SVG: An SVG is designed to be imported directly into the cutting machine design software (both Cricut and Silhouette but you have to have a premium version of Silhouette’s design software to use the SVG.) If you download an SVG from the site you will have to unzip the file because they are compressed.
Many times I will offer both the SVG and PDF file so you can use your discretion as to which file type you will need/want.
The pattern for this pouch was offered as an SVG and PDF
File Use: All files are meant for individual use. Please contact me if you are interested in using them for anything other than personal projects.
PDF: The PDF paper piecing patterns are meant to be printed as is. If you resize the image or print at any scale besides 100% your seam allowances will be off. You can print them at say 150% scale but you will need to remeasure the seam allowance to ensure that you have 1/4″ seam around all edges.
The PDF templates can be resized depending on the project. If you resize a PDF just know that any dimensions given will no longer be applicable. If you plan to create a project exactly as I have created it and use the dimensions I provide you will not want to change the size of the PDF.
SVG: An SVG can be easily resized within the design space. Some files assume a basic knowledge of whatever design space you work in. For example if you have a written quote you may need to attach it to the mat so that the letters don’t move around and cut independently.
Do you have more questions about how to use a digital pattern? Share them with me in the comments below!
If you’re using Cricut Design Space here is a quick tutorial for using some of my files.
Beverly Wilson says
I just purchased my first Cricut machine and got the Maker machine because I sew and I thought it would be great. I have a applique farm animals theme quilt I want to make which came with a CD for the patterns. My questions are: is there away the maker to read the CD from my computer., since its applique I am going to iron on the pattern and satin stich around, do you iron on the heat bond first before you cut., how does the machine know about the different colors of material for the patterns.. any help is greatly appreciated thank you Beverly
sewwhatalicia says
Hi Beverly. I am not sure if the Maker can read a CD. I think you would have to save the images as a JPEG or a PNG and then upload them into the design space. Yes iron the heat n bond on first and then remove the paper. I like to put the shiny side up but I think the recommendation from Cricut is to put that side down, but hey I am a rule breaker! Depending on the type of file you are using Cricut Design Space will break the pieces up by color and separate them onto separate mats so you can cut each color independently. I hope that helps! Feel free to ask any more questions you have!