Make sure to add test squares so people can check that they printed to the correct scale. Duplicate the rectangle and create a grid big enough to fit all of your pattern pieces on.įit copies of your pattern pieces into the grid, and draw and label alignment marks. Turn on object snaps and make sure snap nodes or handles is selected.

In Inkscape, draw a rectangle the size you chose for your border. I make my pattern lines 0.5 px, too, so that they can be cut accurately. Note: I don’t suggest using strokes thicker than 0.5 px for any borders that are used as match lines, test squares, etc. I recommend a maximum width of 7.25″ and a maximum height of 10″. Pick a size that will print well on both 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper and A4 paper. You may need to match a standard size if you are uploading your pattern somewhere – for example Burda style border size is 6.625” by 10”. It is set up for 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper, with a 7″ x 10″ pattern area.ĭecide what size border you want on each sheet. Feel free to copy and paste from this file if you want to save yourself some work making borders, test squares, and alignment marks. svg file that you can use to follow along with the steps below. Click the download button in Google Drive to save it to your computer (that upper bar auto-hides, so move your mouse cursor to the top of the screen to see it). If you want to see what my finished PDF patterns looks like using this method, download one of my free patterns. I wrote another post on getting started with Inkscape, so check that out to see tips for getting started with Inkscape and work-arounds for some of the bugs I’ve run into. Here’s how I do it in Inkscape, which is a free vector graphics program. There are many ways to create a tiled PDF pattern. Do you want to make professional looking print-at-home PDF patterns? How about doing it with free software?

Make pdf into vector inkscape