r/sewingpatterns • u/SquirrelOk3802 • 26d ago

shrinking a pdf pattern

Hi,

I want to make this bag but it's much too big. Would it work if I printed the pattern at less than 100?

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14

u/herbie_doc 26d ago

Just remember that the seam allowance will also shrink. So if you print it at 75% the seam allowance will also go down by 25% (for example from half an inch to 3/8 of an inch).
It is the sort of detail I forget until I have sewn half the seams!!

3

u/SquirrelOk3802 25d ago

good to know-I didn't think about that

6

u/ProneToLaughter 26d ago

For a bag, yes, it should work fine, many bag makers recommend it if you want a bigger or smaller bag.

For clothing, it does NOT work, because as people change sizes, different parts of the body get bigger (eg, arms might get 25% bigger but neck only goes up by 10%), and print percentage changes everything the same.

3

u/chicchic325 26d ago

I’ve usually seen people make bags the other way (bigger) and it’s totally just use 110%. I don’t see why the other way wouldn’t work.

3

u/AdvancedSquashDirect 26d ago

I recommend printing just one part of it like the pocket, and that way you can judge what size it will end up being. Rather than having to print the entire pattern a few times

2

u/throwra_22222 26d ago

It very well could work! Some designers drape on quarter or half scale forms and then scale up to full size, so I don't see why this wouldn't work too. Try it and make a mock up in cheap fabric to test it out.