Basic Unfolding a PDF Pattern using PDF Stitcher and Inkscape (DRAFT)

These notes are based on (inspired by) this youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvNuyUhO2s0

This doesn’t match the video exactly. I’ve added my own extras and rearranged the order a bit. These notes
were written to help one person, and the example reflects what I was helping her with, you will need to adjust
options to suit the pattern you are working with.

I’m using Windows10 on a laptop – I don’t know about the differences for a MAC

Start with PDF Stitcher

Open PDF Stitcher

1. Click Select input PDF and navigate to where the file you want to open is, and select it.
2. Click Ouput As and enter a new name to save this as. Note I have just added the size I want to the end
of the name.
3. Note that there are 2 pages in the file used in this example, and we will want to process all of them.
BUT if the file had instructions at the beginning you would want to change the range to only have the
pattern pages. This example does not cover stitching multiple A4 pages together.
4. Tick the two boxes as shown below.

NOTE – Click on the Tile Pages Tab to add Margins etc – In this example this is in done in Inkscape, but may be
easier done in PDF stitcher….
Now Click the Layers Tab

5. Untick every box in the list EXCEPT the size you want and the layers that relate to the text etc.
6. Increase the line thickness. And Click Apply to checked This is optional – but recommended
7. Make sure that Deselected Layers is set to Delete.

8. Click Generate PDF – Make note of the success message – and the location of where the file is saved to

Open the File in Acrobat and check your file looks like you want it to.
I have all the pieces, and it’s just a single size.
I didn’t have to Tile the pages, because there were no pattern pieces that went across multiple pages. So the
gap between the pages don’t make a difference.

This single size pattern is now ready to open in Inkscape.

If you are making the same pattern in multiple sizes…

Change the name of the file you are saving – See Step 2.

Pick the size you need this time – and untick the one you don’t.

Click the Generate the PDF Button again

Inkscape – Basic Unfolding and Pattern Tetris

 Open Inkscape and then Open the single size pattern you processed with PDF Stitcher

Setup your document

Save As the document with a new name at the start. You will want to save periodically as well.
Give the document a new name. You will also want the document saved as an Inkscape SVG. This makes
the document editable in the future.

FYI - The last step will be to Save As PDF – don’t worry about that now.

Now for the document settings. You will want to revisit this again later – but it helps to give yourself some
room and set some things up at the beginning.

1. Fix up the size of the page

Choose File \ Document Properties
This is where you set if you want CM or MM or Inches etc. Just
set whatever is easiest for you. Change it in both spots circled.
Then Click on Resize page to Content.
2. Now add some Margins. I set an extra 500mm all around for
projector scroll space. This is a generous amount. You can set
more or less… (can also be done in PDF stitcher so you may
not need to add extra margins now)
Then Click Resize page to drawing or selection
Get all the pattern pieces separated and grouped
The first steps are to ungroup until you can select an individual pattern piece and then group it
This is the hardest part of doing this. Take your time. Some patterns are easy, and others are awful. Zoom in
and out as necessary….

1. Use the Select tool and click on your pattern - Note where the dotted line box appears. This is
where the pattern is grouped (or not)
We need the dotted line boxed to be around each pattern piece and it’s probably not right now
So click to make a dotted line box appear around probably a bunch of pieces
2. Ungroup
To do this Either Choose Object \ Ungroup
Or Right Click and Choose Ungroup
OR Click Shift Ctrl\G PC it might be Shift Cmd G Mac
FYI If you look at the Menu labels – they tell you what the shortcut keys are.
So pay attention to any you use a lot.
3. Check
Click again on the pattern piece – if you get just that piece – or just a part of the pattern piece – then
you are probably done ungrouping this piece. Sometimes you have to ungroup LOTS and LOTS of times
In my example I think it was 8 times. Don’t worry about how many times you need to ungroup, just do it
till it’s done. Even when you think it’s done it may not be…. Just do it again if you need to.
If you move the piece a little when checking – Undo Edit \ Undo or Ctrl Z

If you need to Zoom in and out using the Zoom tool There are Lots of ways to use this
Drag over pattern to zoom in. Hold Ctrl and use the scroll wheel. Probably other ways – but that’s what I do.

4. Select a pattern piece to group

Now using the select tool draw a box around one of the pattern pieces. The aim is to be able to draw a
box around a pattern piece – and have it not overlap any other pattern piece.
This can be fiddly and difficult, so have a look and do the easy ones first. You may need to pick a small
one near a bigger one first.
Once you successfully draw a box around a pattern piece. You need to group it
To do this Either Choose Object \ Group
Or Right Click and Choose Group OR Click Ctrl\G PC
5. Check if the grouping was successful
Point to the new grouped piece – and move it out of the way a bit. Did stray pieces of another pattern
piece come with it – or did it leave behind bits that should have stayed with it. If the answer was yes to
either question you will need to Undo so that the piece goes back to where it was, and then ungroup it –
and try again. This is where you may find out that you should have ungrouped more in step 2. Some
patterns are fantastic, and some are horrible…

Repeat until every pattern piece is in its own group. Save Regularly and often - Inkscape can crash unexpectedly
Get all the pieces unfolded and duplicated
Now all your pieces are grouped – you’ve done the hardest part.

The next set of steps are for you to do are:

Unfold any pieces that are on fold
Make copies of any pieces that are cut 2 making note of any pieces that should be mirrored eg. Sleeves.

Unfolding

1. Select pattern piece – and move it if necessary to make sure there is room
to the side of it for the other half of the pattern piece
2. Duplicate the pattern piece – Choose Edit \ Duplicate
3. Flip it – either horizontal or vertical as needed using icons on toolbar.
4. Drag the duplicate – and move it so it lines up. It will quite often snap to
the right place – but you may need to zoom in and check that it’s correct.
5. Drag a box around the unfolded pattern piece and Group it.
6. Repeat for all the other “on fold” pieces.

 To move pieces by small amounts, you can select the pattern piece and use the arrows.

Cut2 Pieces – almost the exact same steps…

1. Select pattern piece – and move it if necessary to make sure there is room to the side of it for the 2nd
pattern piece
2. Duplicate the pattern piece
3. Drag the duplicate nearby – check if it needs to be mirrored. In the video the sleeve should have been
flipped (mirrored) as its not symmetrical
4. Be aware you may have pieces that are BOTH Unfold AND Cut2. In the Before photo at the end of this
document this pattern has 2 of these. The Sleeves and the Sleeve Bands
5. Repeat for all the other “cut2” pieces.
6. Also note pieces where there are cut 2 MAIN fabric and Cut2 Lining. You might like to make a duplicate
of the lining pieces as well so you don’t forget to cut them out too.

What pieces you want depends on the pattern and how you want to cut them out. This is your project, so
duplicate etc the pieces that you need so it works for you.
Setup your document for Pattern Tetris
The first part is to draw a rectangle to match the size of your fabric.

1. Start by rectangle that is your “fabric” Even if you are not sure about how much fabric you need,
you can overestimate and readjust later. But for now, just go with the example.
Use the rectangle tool to draw a box on the screen. Size isn’t important, as you will be setting the size
next.
2. Using the Select tool click on the rectangle
3. In the toolbar area, you can type in the sizes you want. I have my
Inkscape set to mm. If my actual fabric is 148cm wide (1480mm) I
usually set it a little smaller to allow for selvages. I also have put in
2.5M This is an example, so enter appropriate numbers here.
Eg. If you only have 1.8M of fabric, you would enter 1800mm, and then try to get the pieces to fit.

4. Now we want to lock your fabric rectangle so you can’t click on it, and move it unintentionally.
Click on the fabric rectangle to select it.
Choose Object \ Objects. This will display the Object Panel on the left, with the fabric rectangle
selected.
Choose Object \ Lower to Bottom. This makes the fabric rectangle sit underneath all the other objects.
While this is optional, it will help you find it later if you need to.
5. Click on the padlock icon on the left of the rectangle object. The padlock icon is now locked. You now
cannot move or select that fabric rectangle.
If you do need to adjust this later, you will need to Choose Object \ Objects and scroll to find the
rectangle object with the closed padlock icon, and click to unlock it again. The rectangle will be the last
one in the list if you chose to Lower it to the bottom in Step 4.

The second part is to adjust the size of your document. This is a repeat of what you did at the beginning,
and you may want to do this again when you are finished with the pattern tetris.

6. Now fix up the size of the page Choose File \ Document

Properties
Click on Resize page to Content.
7. The margins should still be set to 500mm…
Now Click Resize page to drawing or selection
Playing Pattern Tetris
Now click and drag those pattern pieces around. The aim is to keep them within your “fabric” rectangle. –
Pattern pieces that are not required for this version should be left outside your fabric rectangle

If your fabric isn’t directional, you can rotate pieces to make them fit better

If you have pieces that can be cut from a contrast fabric you might like to move those pieces away from the
others as you will be cutting them separately.

In my example below, I could rearrange further to make the pieces fit better. There is 1 Before and 2 versions
of After. The second one would be for if I wanted to cut the hood lining, and the pocket and the cuffs out of a
contrasting fabric, so I moved them away from the other pieces.

There are so many ways you could rearrange the pattern pieces. That’s why it’s called Pattern Tetris.

Save the file again – so you have a final Inkscape SVG file in case you want to go back and do more to this.

Then File \ Save As and choose the filetype PDF. I usually add Projector to the filename so I know what this
version is for.
If you want to Play Pattern Tetris with 2 patterns to cut from the 1 piece of fabric, I
suggest that you get both individually to the point of having the pattern pieces
grouped individually. Make sure they are both saved.

With ONLY Pattern1 open. Save As a New Name – eg. Add Combo to the end
Now Choose File \ Import – and import the second file. You should be able to
Continue on from the Setup for Pattern Tetris step.

You may like to use the text tool to add a large number or letter to identify each
pattern, so you can identify the pieces. 72 or 144 point would work.