Burda Style For people who sew

How to print and assemble a pattern at home. For more information regarding patterns and pattern purchases, please see our FAQ section.

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42 Comments

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  May 12, 2012, 03.35 PMby brofix

  I sure would have liked some more info on the pattern before purchasing – like the fact that it requires 30 pages of printouts!! Seriously? Let the customer know these things first. Not going to be printing these patterns at home again. Disappointing, but lesson learned I guess.

  1 Reply

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    Yesterday, 08.04 PMby jilleighlum

    Brofix,

    I apologize for the frustration.

    All of the patterns on BurdaStyle are only available as downloadable pdf files and are scaled to print on 8.5″×11″ sheets of paper. The reason for this is to offer our customers the convenience of printing their pattern on their home computer. Because of the size restriction of must home computers the pattern requires many pages to be tiled together in order to create a usable pattern.

    In the above printing instructions we offer a visual of how many pieces of print paper each pattern may require. If you have any suggestions on where else to include this information we would be happy to receive the constructive feedback.

    Many of the patterns created by BurdaStyle include the option of printing at a copy shop. Please note that this option is only on select patterns by BurdaStyle, http://www.burdastyle.com/patterns?creator=1&most_recent=1 (not to be confused with patterns “by burda style magazine”.) If this option is preferred please e-mail me at answers@burdstyle.com and I will let you know if the copy shop file is available before purchase.

    Best,
    Jillian @BurdaStyle

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  May 12, 2012, 01.18 PMby annabaria

  I spent all afternoon printing out 28 sheets of A4 paper, cutting them and sticking them together with tape only to find that hardly any of them matched up, the little notches matched on one side but not the other etc, all 28 pages were printed the same so what’s THAT all about??? What a waste of my time and money.

  2 Replies

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    May 12, 2012, 01.21 PMby annabaria

    Also, I have no settings on my printer for ‘print to scale’ etc so I just had to hit print and let it print, I have no way of changing the options.

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    Yesterday, 08.19 PMby jilleighlum

    Hello Annabaria,

    I apologize for this frustrating experience.

    All of our patterns are formatted as .pdfs. In order to open them, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader installed into your computer. You can download Adobe Reader by and copying and pasting the following URL in your browser: http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

    Each pattern comes in sets of standard 8 1/2 × 11 sheets of paper. Please print each sheet AS IS or “Actual Size” – do not crop or enlarge the pages.

    I find it useful to find the page displaying the test square and choose to only print that page before selecting to print all. This way I can measure the test square (should measure 10 cm on each side) before printing the entire file. If my test square measures 10 cm I know I am good to go.

    Are you printing your pdf from Adobe and was your test square the correct length? If so, and you are still experiencing printing errorsplease e-mail me at answers@burdastyle.com.

    Be sure to include the following information:

    • Username
    • Contact e-mail
    • Pattern in question
    • The browser and interface (Mac/PC) you use to visit BurdaStyle.com
    • The name and URL of the pattern you were attempting to view
    • The version of Adobe Reader you have.
    • What you see when attempting to download the pattern. Please provide a screen shot, if possible.
    • The steps you take to print the pattern
    • What you see when attempting to print the pattern

    We hope to have you sewing soon.

    Best,

    Jillian @ BurdaStyle

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  May 2, 2012, 12.12 AMby Susan Trubey

  I had a lot of trouble setting this up to print correctly. But, finally got it working on my computer system and thought it might help someone. I am using a MacBook with Chrome Browser and an HP printer. I didn’t have very good luck when I tried to print the file with one command, so I printed each page separately and because I didn’t want to change any of my printer defaults, I had to adjust the settings for each page.

  (1) Open download in Chrome (2) Chose “Print” from the File Menu (3) Chose Open PDF in preview (4) Chose "Print Selected Page (5) Select the page you want to Print (6) Chose Draft, US Letter, and Fill Entire Paper.

  It was a slow and cumbersome project this way, but it worked.
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  Apr 5, 2012, 06.10 PMby Rachel27

  When I download the patterns, they download first as Textedit, which of course few people can read; I tried Preview — not a help. It comes up Blank. Then I looked at the support system for the download, and, frankly, few American computers are supported by this OS. I do not know how to access the two patterns I paid for. I admit, they’re inexpensive, but I have downloaded other patterns with absolutely no problem, none of the issues described in the blogs, none of the frustration, and it took very little time to put the pattern together — it was practically intuitive. You have got to find a better way to do this. Meanwhile, could you make downloading less of a headache for americans, who I presume form a substantial part of your customer base? I feel flummoxed, and I feel as though I wasted my money since I can’t access the download. I have a MacBook Pro, OS X, version 10.6.8. I have never had a problem downloading with this laptop before. r
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  Mar 17, 2012, 06.51 AMby Elisabé Perruque

  These patterns are adapted to US paper size. So if you’re in Europe, select the “US paper size” on your printer (215.9 × 279.4). And your test square will come out a perfect 10×10cm ! (trust me, I’ve just done it after quite a number of unsuccessful attemps !)
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  Feb 27, 2012, 03.01 PMby jefame

  Forget the challenges of printing it out and the accuracy of the test square. I have accessed the pattern and instructions but nowhere can I find how much material I need as well as the key for the sizes on the pattern—that is, what size is the dash line, what size is the dotted line, etc. Can someone help me with this? Am I blind, or is this information somewhere else?

  1 Reply

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    Mar 14, 2012, 03.13 AMby sew4my3

    Hello jefame,

    Go to the project photo and just below you will see download PDF instructions. If you still can’t locate it, please let me know which pattern you are needing and I will help you along.

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  Feb 14, 2012, 07.11 PMby ftroy

  Well, I see by all these comments that I wasted my $3.50. I inadvertently closed the website after only downloading the instructions and not the pattern and can’t get to anywhere that will let me download the pattern without purchasing it again, which I certainly will not be doing. What a business! Freddie

  1 Reply

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    Feb 22, 2012, 12.00 AMby mynameisdavid

    Hi Freddie,

    Once you confirm and process your purchase, or select your free pattern, the pattern is automatically sent to your Purchase History page within your profile. Go to your profile by clicking on your username, and click on My Account – Purchase History.

    If you have further questions, please visit our Support page at Support[dot]BurdaStyle[dot]com.

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  Jan 29, 2012, 12.26 PMby lyndybin

  Hi there,

  I just purchased a pattern but it has not downloaded. It is from the new upcoming Burda Magazine. Where is it?

  Thanks.
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  Nov 23, 2011, 10.06 PMby dellakilleen

  I bought a downloadable copy of a pattern and all I got when I open the PDF was a shrunk version of my pants that fits on one page. Where is my pattern? What did I do wrong? della
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  Sep 8, 2011, 02.54 PMby MarieMauceri

  HELP please. It is the first time I bought patterns here, and am trying to print them. I may be doing something wrong, because I keep printing instructions and all the comments, but can’t find my patterns. Where they are supposed to be?
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  Aug 30, 2011, 06.10 PMby Bluet Almeida

  Hi! today was my first time buying a download pattern from this site so let;s see how it works. The size seems weird to me honestly and how come that the program doesn’t ask you for your printer paper size? that’s weird, because THAT can cause several problems. What I know for sure is that from www.sewingpatterns.com all the patterns you buy for download come in the right size, but the program ask you first what’s your paper size ;)
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  May 15, 2011, 07.49 PMby trintsik

  how do i mark the pattern on the fabric? this all seems so difficult..
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  Apr 26, 2011, 07.20 PMby alia91

  Hey, It’s the first time to download a pattern and i’m completely clueless.. i downloaded the newest version of Adobe , but when I press Get it now to download the pattern all i get is.. save it as a Chrome HTML document.. Can anyone help?!
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  Apr 20, 2011, 06.18 PMby beeflisa

  I have struggled and struggled to the point of near insanity to get my “Print at Home” patterns to print properly. I have scoured the Adobe help pages, downloaded and installed new drivers for my printer, checked and unchecked various options in the print menu, hit the printer really hard (hey, it worked on old TVs!), but nothing worked; I always ended up with one edge of the pattern missing on each page. The line on the side was always missing and one of the “match-up triangles” was always only half there. Today, desperate to make it work, I finally selected the “Shrink to Printable Area” option in the “Page Scaling” dropdown menu. I know, this is a no-no… but guess what? Now all of the lines are on the pages, and the test square is EXACTLY 10cm!

  Also, one obvious but sometimes forgotten piece of advice: Make sure to select the “Fast Draft” option for print quality, to save time and money.
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  Feb 8, 2011, 02.10 AMby jenstrope

  I’m trying to print the JJ blouse pattern at home and am having several problems.

  First, when I open the PDF, I’m getting the message: “An error exists on this page. Acrobat may not display the page correctly.”

  The first page is blank and the last page has what appears to be very tiny pattern pieces that would be too small for a Barbie doll.

  I don’t see a square that would allow me to determine if things are going to print in the correct size.

  I went ahead and printed out the pages just to see how it would go together, and a lot of the pages do not match up with their assigned numbers. I taped together pages with their matching numbers and “arrows” (1C to 1C, 2B to 2B, etc) and many of the pattern pieces just stop on one page and do not continue onto the next one, or an obviously different piece is on the next page and they clearly do not match up.

  I see that a lot of people have made this blouse. Did everyone else pay to have it printed at the copy shop? Is there an error in the print at home PDF?
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  Nov 21, 2010, 09.57 AMby lilacpurplemarks

  hi i want to find out how to download patterns
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  Nov 8, 2010, 09.55 PMby carottesauvage

  Gee, I wouldn’t imagine that there will be some snares about the pattern download procedures. I find it fun to assemble the tiles together. The process helps me envisage potential variations , and what the heck: seam allowances are included to all Burdastyle ‘in house’ patterns… so it actually speeds up the whole cutting thing.
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  Nov 7, 2010, 11.05 AMby varenoea

  Haha, the test square. The most useless thing in the world.

  Once I print out the pattern, it’s never the size it’s supposed to be. There’s this little square for size comparison – it’s mostly at least an inch too big.

  Is there a trick to make sure the pattern is printed out in the correct size (before I print)? I mean, I can hardly import all these files individually into Photoshop and make them smaller!

  As it is, with the patterns coming out too big (therefore useless), I never pay for a download pattern. Once you’ve got a certain experience, it’s actually easier to work without a pattern than with one the wrong size.

  1 Reply

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    Nov 10, 2010, 10.06 AMby hand-quilter

    If the test square is too big, see if your printer settings have an option to print to a smaller scale? I know mine scale in % so if that was me I would try the test square page at 90% and see what happened. Good luck :-)

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  Nov 5, 2010, 03.12 PMby hcbouma

  Once you bought a Burdastyle pattern, you spend hours cutting and pasting. This is definately NOT the fun part of sewing.

  3 Replies

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    Nov 5, 2010, 07.03 PMby rachelnyc

    Hey hcbouma,

    I’m wondering why it is taking you hours to assemble a pattern. We’ve heard from most users that is only takes about 30 minutes at max, once printed.

    Maybe this tutorial can help cut down on your time spent?

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    Nov 7, 2010, 11.10 AMby varenoea

    RachelNYC, Hcbouma is completely right. The Danielle dress took me an hour to put together. The trousers with the knee padding from the last “easy style” magazine took another hour – and I’m nto exactly slow at these things.

    If I pay money for a pattern, I want the pattern, not the download code. Download patterns are good when they’re free. To pay money and to have to assemble a pattern afterwards? Nope.

  • 

    Nov 10, 2010, 10.07 AMby hand-quilter

    I hear you! But think of the time saved by not having to drive to the pattern store :-) I don’t paste I use sticky tape which makes it all a lot quicker.

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  Sep 14, 2010, 09.11 AMby mausflee

  Do you have a special program to print it or is it just ordinary program from printer?

  1 Reply

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    Nov 5, 2010, 01.50 PMby rachelnyc

    The instructions will download as a PDF, so you’ll need a program that reads PDF files. After that, just press “print.”

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  Mar 26, 2010, 05.30 AMby spinebill

  I downloaded my first pattern, the coffee date dress, but the instruction PDF has no detailed instructions. Is this normal?

  2 Replies

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    Nov 5, 2010, 02.04 PMby rachelnyc

    Hi spinebill,

    The Coffee Date Dress was created by one of our very talented members, elainemay. Patterns uploaded by our members may or may not have instructions.

  • 

    Nov 5, 2010, 07.50 PMby estelleperdita

    there are instructions – but its a separate download – its a great dress to make!

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  Dec 28, 2009, 09.38 PMby ritat56

  This is my first time downloading pattern to print – where do I find the test square on the Coffee Date Dress pattern? HELP want to make this quickly for my daughter!

  1 Reply

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    Nov 5, 2010, 02.06 PMby rachelnyc

    Hi Rita T56,

    Hi spinebill,

    The Coffee Date Dress was created by elainemay. Patterns uploaded by our members may or may not have test squares.

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  Jul 11, 2009, 04.11 PMby sweca

  Do you cut out the pieces when you’re done putting them together??

  1 Reply

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    Nov 5, 2010, 02.41 PMby rachelnyc

    Your choice. Once you find your size, you can cut out the pattern and begin creating your garment or, you may decide to trace off the pattern, to save for multiple projects.

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  Oct 17, 2008, 02.18 AMby ginkothai

  I’m not too sure either if the test square prints at a different size?
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  Sep 17, 2008, 11.30 AMby fossana

  Note: 10.0 cm = 3.94 in (or 3 15/16 in) so don’t expect the test square to print out at exactly 4"

  1 Reply

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    Oct 14, 2009, 05.56 PMby tangled-thread

    Thanks fossana,
    I’ve been tearing my hair out for the last few days but my square is exactly 10 cm.
    Tracey

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  Sep 16, 2008, 10.48 AMby lizpf

  I printed out my test square, and adjusted the Scale % … the square is now spot on in one direction, and about 1/32 inch (approximately a millimeter) short in the other.

  Is this close enough, or should I try again?
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  Sep 6, 2008, 01.12 PMby kellyann

  I got it. I kept trying to adjust the percentage of the scale in my printer’s properties, but that only made it worse. Then I saw an option, “shrink large pages”. I tried that and it’s perfect.
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  Sep 6, 2008, 12.31 PMby kellyann

  Can someone explain how to adjust the scale of the print? My test square is a little larger than 4 inches. Thanks.
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  Aug 14, 2008, 03.13 PMby kortison

  Awesome! This will help me understand how to sew according to patterns ;P (not my strong side) Thanks!
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  Aug 3, 2008, 10.47 PMby samyiamy1

  I am trying to open the pattern and for some reason, my software on the computer wont let me encode the pattern. It just comes out it Chinese or something. Can you please help? Do I need a certain software to open the patterns?