Frequently Asked Questions

A PDF sewing pattern is a sewing pattern you buy online and is sent to by email. Depending on where you purchase the pattern, it will either come to you as an email attachment or a link to a page where you would open the document and then save it to your computer. Once downloaded, you can print it out on your home printer using regular ink and letter paper for domestic or A4 for international customers. You then piece the pattern together with tape or glue and cut out as you would a normal pattern. Often PDF sewing patterns have a better fit than paper patterns from large companies due to the many hours put in testing the pattern out on various sized children or adults to get the fit just right. Most PDF sewing patterns are designed by independent pattern designers and support small business.

Besides a sewing machine and materials, you will need a home printer and letter or A4 paper to print your pattern pages. If you are using the A0 copy shop file, you will need to have that file printed locally or order it from an online source. If you are piecing your pattern pages together, you will need tape or a glue stick.

An Ellie and Mac Account is optional, but one is required to access your digital files online in the future. Create your Account here. All of your purchases will be associated with your account, so you can login and access your Order History to download any of your previously purchased files.

The Ellie and Mac Rewards Program allows you to earn points (Stitches) on every purchase! You can the redeem your Stitches for a coupon code that you enter in the checkout when placing an order.

View our Ellie and Mac Rewards page for full details.

Yes, seam allowance is already included in all of our sewing patterns. No need for you to do any extra work to add it in. Enjoy!

Yes, I would love for you to be able to make a profit and run a business using my designs. You may use them to make finished items for gifts, personal use, and items you sell. You cannot sell the patterns or instructions themselves or give/share patterns with anyone else. The patterns are protected under copyright law.

Sew Alongs are video tutorials of our patterns. You can find all of our sewing pattern video tutorials on our YouTube Channel.

Yes, please click the blue human icon at the bottom left of your screen to access our accessibility tool. It allows you to make adjustments to content, color and display, and navigation based on a your individual needs. If you use a screen reader, you can make adjustments by clicking the blue human icon as well.

The order will be emailed immediately to you after your purchase with links to download each pattern. When logged in, you can also access your order history by clicking 'My Account' at the top right of your screen. Then you will click the order number you want to download. Once you have the order opened, you will click on 'Download Here', then you can download your file(s).

First, open your PDF pattern with the latest version of Adobe Reader. Read the Printing Instruction pages thoroughly before printing to be sure you are printing the pattern correctly, as some patterns vary. Print on 8½ x 11" letter for domestic customers or A4 sized paper for international customers. It is very important not to scale or fit any of the pattern piece pages. You must print the pattern piece pages in actual size. Your pattern will print on multiple pages, which you will then tile together using tape or glue sticks. Depending on your pattern, the amount of pages will vary. Some smaller patters are only 8 pages and larger ones can be anywhere from 20-30! However, don't worry, these pages are easily pieced together to assemble your pattern. Each pattern includes a pattern assembly diagram for you to easily reference while you are putting it together.

When printing your pattern, it is smart to find the page that has the test squares and print this page first by itself to check if the measurement and printout are correct. Scroll down through the PDF pages until you see the test square and make a note what page number it is on. Then in printing options under "Pages", indicate the page number that it was on. Measure the sides of the test square with a ruler. This will help ensure that the pattern will be printed at the proper scale. If you find it is not correct when you measure, go back and read the instructions again to be sure your printer settings are in alignment with what is instructed. Try again.

Ellie and Mac originally had trim pages for our pattern pages. That means that the patterns printed inside a frame and the side and bottom of that frame needed to be trimmed away using scissors or a dull rotary cutter before taping or gluing together.

Here is a video on how the trimless pages are pieced together. All new patterns are drafted on trimless pattern pages.

Here is a video on how the trim pages are pieced together. Older patterns have this format. We are in the process of updating all the older patterns. You will be able to download the update easily from your account when they are released.

The layers printing feature is a excellent way to save ink and keep nested patterns from being too confusing to follow the lines well. This feature allows you to print only the sizes that you want or need to print. For example, you could print only the size large if that is the size you need or the sizes that you need to blend instead of printing all of the lines you don't need.

To do this, you will need to open your pattern in the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader and click on the stack of paper looking icon on the left side of the screen. This is the Layers Tab. This will open file and you can click the + sign next to it if it is not already opened in list form. The list will include all the layers that are available to view. Each size and a few layers that need to be always turned on are visible. There is an eye icon on the left side of each layer. To turn off the layer, simply click the eye and it will remove that layer from the pattern. Keep the sizes checked that you need and always keep all the layers that say KEEP CHECKED turned on.

Now you are ready to print. Print according to the printing instructions in the pattern as some vary.

Here is a short video to show you how to use the layers feature:

You can add items to your Wishlist by clicking the heart icon beside the price on a product page:

You must be signed into your account to save your Wishlist. You can view your Wishlist here.

Our website uses a pattern alert system to prevent customers from buying duplicate patterns. To use the alert system, you must be logged in to your account before adding patterns to your shopping cart. However, the alert system only traces patterns that were bought after November 2019. That was the moment the system was implemented. Therefore, we advise you to use the CTRL-F search function in your account to search for a pattern name before purchasing an older pattern.

When you happen to have bought a pattern twice despite this search, we are happy to send you an Ellie & Mac Credit for the value of the last purchased pattern. In order to do so, please contact us at hello@ellieandmac.com with this info:

1. the e-mail address of your account;
2. the two order numbers that contain the duplicate pattern.

If you have an error or can't get your pattern to download or open, we are more than happy to help you correct the issue and get it working for you. Try to fix this yourself by deleting the first file and then downloading the pattern again. See if this fixes the error. If not, we will help you to get it working. Please send us an email at hello@ellieandmac.com and we'll get back with you as soon as we're able.