Making PDF Sewing Template Adobe Illustrator

By the end of this video, you will know how to create a pdf sewing template in Adobe Illustrator CC 2020. So, you can use this template for your digital sewing pattern. These include: creating the artboard, labeling the pages, importing the pattern into Adobe Illustrator, and finally saving it as a PDF sewing template. You can also purchase 3 Digital Sewing Templates (US-Letter, A4, and A3 Paper Size) for $1.99 via the Gumroad link.

How to Make a PDF Sewing Template in 7 Easy Steps

1. Creating the pages
   
2. Creating the scaling-square
   
3. Creating the circles
   
4. Creating the borders
   
5. Numbering the pages
   
6. Importing the pattern into Adobe Illustrator
   
7. Saving as a PDF Format
   

Software Required to Create a PDF Sewing Template

• Adobe Illustrator CC
  

How to Create the Pages for a PDF Sewing Template

• Creating 10 artboards
  
• Page size: 7.5 inches by 10 inches
  
• Bleed: 0 (zero), Spacing: 0 (zero)

I’m here in Adobe illustrator. I’m going to go to File. Then, select New. This will bring the New Document window. Next, go to Print and click on it to select. By default, the Letter format is selected. 

After that go to the right under Preset Details: I’m going to change Points to Inches. Then, change the width to 7.5 inches, then press the Tap key to continue, and change the height to 10 inches. 

Right below Orientation: I’m going to select Portrait. Then, I’m going to change the number of artboards to 10, then press the Tab key on the keyboard to continue. Bleed: all the values are zero.

Under Advanced Options 

Leave everything by default: the Color Mode is CMYK, the Raster Effects is High (300 ppi), and the Preview Mode is Default. 

Next, click on More Settings: this will bring the More Settings window. I’m going to name the file “ A Skirt Sewing Template” – PDF. Under profile is Custom, the Number of Art-boards is 10, next to the right, I’m going to select Grid by Row, and spacing is 0 (zero) to right is columns. I’m going to type in 5. 

Note: be sure to double-check if you have the correct information such as the title name (A Skirt Sewing Pattern-PDF), the number of artboards (10), etc. Finally, click on Create Document. 

Creating the Scaling Square for a PDF Pattern

• The scaling-square: 1 inch by 1 inch with 1 point stroke
  
• Name the scaling-square 1” x 1” in
  
• The Scaling-square 2.5 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters with 1 point stroke 
  
• Name the scaling-square 2.5 x 2.5 cm
  

How to create the scaling square for a pdf pattern? First, I’m going to create a layer and name it Scaling-square. After that, I’m going to go to the toolbar and click on the Rectangular tool to select. After that, click one on the art-board, this will bring the Rectangular window. Next, type in the width 1 in, then press the Tab key on your keyboard to continue, then type 1 in for the Height, then click OK to confirm. 

After creating the scaling square, I’m going to label it 1 inch by 1 inch. To do so, I’m going to create a new layer and call it (Label for scaling-square). Be sure the layer is selected, then go to the Typing tool in a Toolbar and click on it to select. Next, I’m going to click on the artboard and type 1” x 1” in. After that, I’m going to press the escape key on the keyboard or go to the black arrow tool and click on it to select. Then, click on the text and drag it to move it into the test square. 

Aligning the Objects in Adobe Illustrator

How to align the objects in adobe illustrator? I’m going to select the text; then press down Shift on the keyboard and click on the object I’m going to align to. In this example, I’m going to click on the scaling square. After, both text and the scaling-square are selected, go to the Toolbar and click on Horizontal align center and vertical-align center. This allows the objects to align with one another perfectly. 

After that, I’m going to create another scaling square. This is going to be 2.5 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters. Again to create the test square, I’m going to go to the Toolbar and click on the Rectangular tool to select. After that, come to the artboard and click one on the artboard to bring the Rectangular window. Next, type 2.5 cm for the width, and press the Tab key on the keyboard to continue. Then type 2.5 cm for the height and click OK to confirm. 

Again, I’m going to label the scaling square. This time, I’m going to copy this text by pressing down the option or alt, then click and drag to make a copy. After that, I’m going to go to the Typing tool and click on it to select. Now, just click on the text to select and type in 2.5 x 2.5 cm. 

After that, I’m going to align both objects together by clicking on the text, then press down shift and click on the scaling-square to select both objects. Next, go to the toolbar and click on Horizontal Align Center and Vertical Align Center. 

After creating the scaling squares as well as the labels, I’m going to write a short guideline: So, I’m going to copy the text, by clicking on it, then press down option or alt and drag the text. Then, go to the Typing Tool and click on it to select. This time select all the text and type in “Note: be  sure to measure the 1 inch or the 2.5 centimeters scaling-square before cutting your fabric.”

Creating the Circles for a PDF Sewing Template in Adobe Illustrator

• The 0.5 inches (1/2 inch) circle
  
• The color is gray
  
• 70 percent opacity
  

How to create the circles for the pdf sewing template? I’m going to the Toolbar and I’m going to select the Ellipse tool which by default hides behind the Rectangular tool. If you click on this arrow here, you will see the Ellipse tool. Now, click on it to select. While the Ellipse tool is active, click one on the page. This will bring the Ellipse tool window. I’m going to type .5 in for the width and press down the Tab key on your keyboard to continue. Then, type .5 in for the height. After that, click OK to confirm. 

While the circle is still selected, I’m going to go to the toolbar, change the stroke to none, and change the fill to about 50 percent gray, then lower the opacity to 70 percent.

Next, I’m going to move the circle onto the corner. If you zoom in close, you will see this center guide appear, then release the mouse to place the circle. 

After creating the perfect circle, I’m going to copy it and place them on all the corners of each artboard. To do so, I’m going to select the circle. Then press the option or alt, click and drag to make a copy. While the circle is selected, I’m going to press down the command or control plus the letter D to make more copies. I’m going to make 7 copies. After that, I’m going to group these circles, select them all and press down command or control plus letter G on the keyboard. 

Next, I’m going to make more copies, by clicking on the circles then pressing the down option or alt plus drag. While the circles are selected, I’m going to press down command or control plus press the letter D on the keyboard to make more copies.

I’m going to organize them in the correct layer. This allows you to make changes easily if I want to make any changes in the future. 

Tips: these circles will make it easy for you to assemble the pdf pattern. 

Creating the Borders for the PDF Sewing Templates

• The size 7.5 in by 10 in
  
• No fill with 2 points stroke
  
• Align Horizontal Center and Align Vertical Center with artboards
  

How to create the borders for a pdf sewing template? To do so, I’m going to the Rectangular tool in the Toolbar and clicking on it to select. After that, click one on the page. Then, type in 7.5 in for the width, and press the Tab key on your keyboard to continue. Next, type 10 in for the height and press the return or enter key on your keyboard to confirm. 

While the border is selected, change the stroke to 2 points and change the fill to none. Again, while the border is selected, press down option or alt, click on it, and drag to make a copy. After that, press down the command or control plus the letter D on your keyboard to create more copies. I’m going to create 5 copies.

Now, I’m going to group them together by selecting them all and pressing command or control plus the letter G on the keyboard. After grouping them, I’m going to click on it to select then press down option or alt plus click and drag to create copies. As a result, we should have borders around all the artboards.

Numbering the pages for the PDF Sewing Pattern

• Font size is 120
  
• Opacity is 60 percent
  
• Place about 1/3 of the page from the top
  

How do number the pages for the pdf sewing pattern? I’m going to the layer panel. Then press down option/alt and click on this plus sign this allows me to name the file. I’m going to name this file Page Numbers. While the Numbers layer is selected, I’m going to the Typing tool, and clicking on it to select. 

Then, come to the artboard, click on it, and type number 1. I’m going to make 5 copies. To do so, I’m going to press the option or alt plus click and drag to make the first copy. Next, press down the command or control plus the letter D on your keyboard to make more copies. 

After that, I want to change the number to 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 by going to the Typing tool in the toolbar and clicking on it to select. Then, click on the number which I want to change. Now, I’m going to copy these numbers and place them down below. And repeat the step.

Importing the pattern into Adobe Illustrator

• Importing the pattern into Adobe Illustrator
  
• Creating the pattern layer (Skirt Pattern)
  

First, I’m going to create a layer and name it Skirt Pattern. Again to do so, press down option or alt and click on the add new layer symbol. Then type the name Skirt Pattern. 

While the layer pattern is selected, I’m going to go to File, then Place. Next, I’m going to navigate to my document. Then click the folder to open. Next, double click on the file to place. Next, I’m going to click on an A-line skirt pattern and come down here and click Place. After that, click once on the artboard to place the pattern file. 

This is important to remember, we want to only click one to place the pattern, but not click and drag. Because we want the pattern’s size to stay the same. If somehow, you make mistakes by clicking and dragging, no worry just click on the pattern and press the delete key on your keyboard to delete. Then, just repeat the steps.

Since this is a digital pattern, we want to make it as fewer pages as possible. This not only saves us papers, but it also saves us time. There is an awesome cropping tool in adobe illustrator that works perfectly for this project. So, as you can see the pattern comes with 6 pieces, (2 pieces for the back skirt, 1 piece for the front skirt, and 3 pieces for the waistband). 

First, I’m going to create a layer and name it (Skirt Pattern). Next, I’m going to keep just the 2 pieces of the back skirt, and the 2 pieces of the back skirt’s waistband. To do so, I’m going to make 4 copies. After that, I’m going to crop away everything except the back skirt. Repeat this step to get another back skirt. Next, I’m going to crop away everything except the back skirt’s waistband. Then repeat the step. 

As a result, we should have 2 back pieces of the skirt and 2 pieces of the back skirt’s waistband. 

Now, I’m going to label the skirt’s pattern. 

• Front skirt cut one on a fold (1 piece)
  
• Back skirt cut twice (2 pieces) 
• Front skirt waistband cut 1 (1 pice)
• Back skirt waistband cut twice (2 pieces)
  
• Add 3 centimeters on the center back for the seam allowances
  

Note: you add any labels however you would like as a designer which makes it easier for your customers.

How to Save Your Digital Pattern to a PDF Format

• Naming your file
  
• Saving as a PDF file
  
• US letter format
  

How to save an adobe illustrator file as a pdf sewing template? To do so, I’m going to go to File then Save As

• Name the file
  
• Save as Type (Adobe PDF)
  

This will bring the Save Adobe PDF window 

• Adobe PDF Preset [Illustrator Default] (Modified)
  
• Standard: None, Compatibility: Acrobat 6 (PDF 1.5)
  

General

• Uncheck (Preserve Illustrator Editing Capabilities)
  
• Check (Embed Page Thumbnails)
  
• Check (Optimize for Fast Web View)
  
• Check (View PDF after Saving)
  
• Check (Create Acrobat Layers from Top-Level Layers)
  

Next, I’m going to click on Save PDF, then this warning window popup. It is warning me that I can’t edit this file after. And that is perfect. 

Important Note: you must print this pattern in a PDF format to get an accurate size!

Now you have it, thanks, so much for watching, I hope you find this video useful. Please subscribe and share what we love with one another. I’m Rose, the Design Girl.