Named Patterns

Printed patterns

Our beautifully packaged printed patterns are sent by mail directly to your home address. Read more about delivery options and prices here.

What does the printed pattern include

Printed patterns include an instruction booklet and one or more pattern sheets, depending on the size of the product.

Sewing instructions and pattern information

In addition to sewing instructions with diagrams, the instruction booklet also contains a size chart with measurement instructions, basic information on how to prepare your materials, mark your pieces and sew, as well as cutting plans for different sizes and fabric widths. The required amounts of fabric and other materials as well as the finished garment measurements are printed on the back cover of the package.

Pattern sheets

Each printed pattern includes one or more pattern sheets, printed on white 80 g paper. The pattern layout is always non-overlapping.

All Named patterns include seam allowances, which are 1 cm (3/8”) unless otherwise stated on the pattern or in the instructions. Customers therefore never have to add seam allowances themselves.

The pattern pieces have been set clearly apart so that they can be cut directly from the sheets without tracing. However, we always recommend copying the patterns onto tracing paper to preserve the original sheet. Patterns that have been traced onto thin tracing paper are also easier to handle and pin to fabric. If you want, you can see our video tutorial Tracing a pattern.

All our patterns have been designed and produced with love in our hometown of Helsinki, Finland, and printed in Poland.

PDF patterns

All Named patterns are handily available in digital PDF form and can be printed out with a regular home printer. Digital patterns are automatically sent to the email address you have provided, where you can download them by clicking on the download link. The download link can also be found on the order confirmation page once the order has been paid for. This means you get the PDF pattern almost immediately! If you have a Named account, all digital products you purchase are automatically saved on your account and can be downloaded at any time.

If the pattern does not arrive in your inbox right away after your order has been confirmed, you may find it in your spam folder. Please also take care to always ensure that you enter the correct email address when making an order.

What does the PDF pattern include

PDF patterns consist of three files: an instruction file, a home-printable pattern file (print-at-home pattern), and a wide format pattern file (copy-shop pattern). Post-2020 patterns also include a sheet preview file.

Digital sewing instructions

In addition to sewing instructions with diagrams, the instruction file also contains a size chart with measurement instructions, required amounts of fabric and other materials, the measurements of the finished garment, basic information on how to prepare your materials, mark your pieces and sew, as well as cutting plans for different sizes and fabric widths. If desired, the instructions can be printed on any home printer in all standard paper sizes. However, to save paper, we recommend not printing the instructions.

Digital pattern files

All of our pattern files are layered, meaning that you can print the pattern in your desired size by hiding the other sizes. Instructions on how to use layered pattern files can be found from the section Using layered PDF patterns.

The pattern pieces have been organised separately on the sheet so that they can be cut directly from it if so desired. However, we always recommend copying the patterns onto tracing paper to preserve the original sheet. Patterns that have been traced onto thin tracing paper are also easier to handle and pin to fabric.

The home-printable pattern file can be printed on virtually any home printer and is suitable for all standard paper sizes, such as A4 and Letter. After they have been printed, the sheets are put together with tape to form a complete pattern. Further printing instructions can be found from the section Assembling PDF pattern sheets.

The wide format pattern file is intended to be printed at a print shop in A0 size or as a roll file. Two types of PDF patterns are available: Pre-2020, which have been published before 2020, and Post-2020, which have been published or updated during or after 2020. Please see the details section of the product page to find out the pattern type of a specific pattern.

The 'copy-shop' file in Post-2020 patterns is designed to be printed on A0 sheets and can be sent to virtually any print shop for printing. The printed pattern is then taped together in the same way as a home-printed pattern.

The wide format file in Pre-2020 patterns is always 841 mm wide, but the length of the sheet varies depending on the size of the pattern. These files are ideal for roll printers, allowing for a single sheet that does not need to be taped together. However, please keep in mind that not all print shops have a roll printer. It may be possible to split a roll-printer file into separate sheets using the 'poster' print settings, so please ask for this option from your print shop in advance.

All Post-2020 patterns also include a projector pattern. A projector pattern is a PDF file that is made to be projected on a projector. The projector pattern is a PDF file that does not need to be printed on paper, but is projected directly onto the fabric for cutting.

The projector file can be opened on a computer with a standard PDF program such as Adobe Reader or Acrobat. Like all our PDF patterns, projector files are layered patterns. This means that all the pattern’s sizes are laid out in their own layers so that you can choose to project only the size or sizes you want. In addition, all the texts in the pattern are laid out in their own layer. The pattern also includes two grid layers, one for centimeters and one for inches. The grid layer allows you to ensure that the pattern is reflected on the fabric in the correct scale and perspective.

The projector pattern differs from a standard printable PDF pattern in several ways, the most important of which are:

All pattern pieces are oriented in the same direction
Heavier lines, clearer markings and larger font size
All symmetrical patterns are mirrored or “folded open"
The pattern has wide margins for scrolling

The projector pattern is not intended to be printed. For that purpose, we recommend either the print-at-home pattern, or the A0 pattern.

If you are a beginner and want to learn how to use projector patterns, we recommend joining the Projectors for sewing group on Facebook!

The pattern sheet preview is a one-page PDF included in Post-2020 patterns. The preview shows how the complete tiled PDF pattern should look, and you can use it to check that the pattern has been put together correctly, or to print out only the necessary pages for your size and garment variation. The preview is also layered.

All our patterns have been designed and produced with love in our hometown of Helsinki, Finland.

Print on demand patterns (POD)

All of our PDF patterns include a wide format copy-shop PDF file, which you can send to a copy shop to be printed in large scale. By printing your patterns in large scale, you can minimize or even avoid taping together separate home printer sheets.

When you order a POD (print on demand) pattern from our online shop, you will automatically receive the PDF pattern in your email inbox, including all the instructions, preview, and pattern files. In addition, we will send you a pre-printed and pre-folded widescreen printout of the pattern by post. Shipping cost will be added to the order at checkout.

You can also upload any A0, copy-shop, or large-format patterns to our site to be printed using our PDF sewing pattern printing service. We print the patterns on 50 gsm paper, on 900 mm x 1189 mm sheets. Please notice that the printable area is 890 mm x 1179 mm.

If you want to print only certain layers or sizes of your pattern, please specify which layers/sizes you want to print in the information field of the shopping cart.

A0 copy-shop sewing pattern printing service

Other POD pattern services

There are several copy shops and print on demand services out there, but below you can find some of our recommendations for tried and trued companies.

ABC Service is located in UK, and they print on paper sizes from A4 to A0. They are also eco-conscious and have tree planting certificate.

Baby Crocodile is a UK-based fabric and pattern printing company. They print on high quality 80gsm paper, and in A0 and A4 size.

Brooklyn Motif Printing is a US-based, woman-owned company servicing the sewing community with their pdf pattern printing. Get 20% off your first Named pattern printing using the code NAMED at checkout!

Patternsy ships world wide from UK, with a tracked option available. Their service is easy, fast and very cost-efficient. Patternsy prints on ultralight 22 g pattern paper.

Spool & Spindle Printshop ships to Canada and the US, with local pickup at the printshop in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. They use 75gsm, A0 wide roll paper.

Do you know or own a fab copy-shop, specialized in pattern printing? Please let us know! We are happy to test pattern printing services and grow this list: info@namedclothing.com.

PDF pattern types (Pre-2020 & Post-2020)

Our range includes two types of PDF patterns: Pre-2020, which have been published before 2020, and Post-2020, which have been published or updated during or after 2020. Please see the details section of the product page to find out the pattern type of each pattern. The most significant new features of the Post-2020 patterns are:

Improved pattern and instructions layout
Added sizes up to EUR 56 (US 24 / UK 28)
A0-sized copy-shop pattern
Projector pattern file included in the PDF pattern
Length alteration lines
Bust apex marking
Minor fit alterations
Separate cutting layouts for wide and narrow fabrics
More frequent diagrams
Clearer diagrams with serger stitching
Diagrams for interfacing placement

Pattern-specific update notes can be found here.

If you want to stay up to date on new publications and updates, please join our mailing list or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and tiktok.

Copy-shop patterns

Password protection

All PDF patterns and instructions are password protected for copyright reasons and cannot be opened in editing programs such as Illustrator. Some print shops do not accept password-protected files. Please confirm that your print shop accepts password-protected files in advance. We do not disclose passwords or provide unprotected files to third parties under any circumstance.

Copyright

Named’s patterns are intended for private home sewing use only, and all forms of commercial use are prohibited. Commercial use includes but is not limited to the sale of clothing made with the patterns, copying and reselling of patterns and use of patterns in sewing workshops that are subject to a charge. If you are interested in selling our patterns in your business or using them as part of your sewing course, please contact us info@namedclothing.com. We will gladly discuss retail!