Technical

Because so much of this project will be done over the internet, this page is devoted to the technical aspects and technical support of this project.  Sewing and other types of support can be found elsewhere.  This is the official technical support page for the blog and the project.

Patterns will be available for download in 4 formats:

  • a letter-sized .pdf
  • an A4-sized .pdf
  • an 24″x36″ .pdf
  • a PatternMaker macro file.

ALL formats will be password protected and the passwords will be individually generated. Files will be posted for download for 7 days after which that link will expire.  Even if you can’t get to the file to open it immediately, please download the file as soon as possible.  If for some reason you can’t get it to download, don’t worry.  We will be able to re-send any file.  :)

If requested, a paper copy of the patterns can also be sent.  However, please be aware that Janyce will be sporting the cost for ink, paper and postage on this one so any help that you can provide by using downloadable files will be appreciated. 

All patterns that you receive will start as PatternMaker files.  PatternMaker is the software that  both Janyce and Kim use.

To Install PDF Patterns:

For each pattern you receive, you will receive an e-mail giving you the link to the downloadable patterns. In the e-mail, there will also be a password. You will want to keep this password someplace safe as that is the only way to open the patterns. It is always a good idea to highlight the password, and then COPY (Right Click or Cmnd + Click and click Copy or Ctrl+C) the password at this time. To install new Patterns, download the PDF*.zip into your 1912 Documents file (where * is the number of the pattern, i.e. #0176 would be PDF0176.exe).

You can install by opening the .zip file by either clicking UNZIP in the downloads pop-up, or by navigating to the folder where it was downloaded and double clicking on it.  If you get a warning that says something to the effect of “This file was downloaded from the internet, are you sure you want to open it?” Click “OK”, because you consciously downloaded the file and do want to run it. Then PASTE (Right Click, or Cmnd + Click and click Copy or Ctrl+V) the password into the box.  You will then be able to go into Adobe Reader and open the files, or copy them onto removable media to take them to a print store.  Each file will be identified by type of paper it will print on, so LTR*.pdf will print on Letter size paper, A4*.pdf will print on A4 paper and LRG*.pdf will print on 24″x36″ paper.

To Assemble the Pattern:

All patterns in this project come from PatternMaker Software. This software prints alignment marks on all pages, along with a small overlap so that pieces can be taped or glued together. This is true no matter what size the paper is. Before printing your pattern, you will want to print out the Measuring Box to ensure that whatever print method you use is accurate. If the square measures correctly, you can print out your pattern with the same print settings and if assembled correctly, the pattern will be accurate. This will be true if you are using A4, Ltr, Legal or 36″ roll feed paper.

To combine pieces, match up the Plus Sign in the circle, as well as lines running across pages and simply tape or glue down. You don’t have to tape across the entire paper, a piece of horizontal and vertical tape along across the plus, along with a piece of tape or glue where the lines meet will suffice.

alignment marks

5 responses on “Technical”

  1. I understand that we will each be assigned one of the patterns in each batch and provided a password for that pattern. Will we also be able to request passwords for any (or all) of the other patterns in each batch? Thank you! :)

    • It is my understanding that you will receive the one pattern you are test sewing for each batch, but no more out of that batch for free. All patterns will be available for sale at and test sewers will receive a discount on 1912 patterns. If you make it through the entire year, you will receive all 300 patterns.

  3. I’ve been trying to figure this out by reading assorted bits of documentation, but I am confused. Does the fact that we will be downloading macro files mean that all we have to do is enter body measurements into the SW and the pattern will automatically be adjusted to fit those measurements? Or is it only certain macro files (available in collections from the SW publisher) that can do this? And will we have to use the re-size and scale capabilities to adjust the patterns from this project to fit different sets of measurements? Thanks! :)

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