Digital sewing patterns....what?

[coffeebreak]

I am still back in the 20th century so this is new to me. Yeah, I have heard about it but never looked into it...well, a little but only enough to know I don't really like it. However...tell me more to change my mind! I have been looking at some quilt patterns and they say digital only or save shipping with digital. Fine and dandy, but I think there was a pattern I got while back and it required being taken to a office supply place to be enlarged. Where's the savings in that if you have to spend money for gas to go spend money to make the patterns usable?

Anyone have any suggestions of digital pattern usage?

[Hulamoon]

The patterns i bought were just instructions like all the tutes you see on the web, no printing. I bought a doll pattern and it was printable and really accurate. I have had good luck with downloads.

[Kgrammiecaz]

I love downloads because you can get them right away. There are times I buy a printed version, but not too many. Even with a printed version, it might have instructions to enlarge a particular portion, so the download is almost always as good as the printed version.

[bubba]

I get a lot of my patterns digitally, most are free. There are a few I have paid for, not many. I have not had to take any to the printer to be enlarged. I do have a purse pattern I had to have enlarged, I think it was by 200%!! Off we went to Kinko's and they enlarged it for me.....it is huge! I have since seen it done up and does not look bad, but I don't know if I'll make it. I think to have it enlarged, I paid right around $3.

[K. McEuen]

I actually have a copier at home that will enlarge to 200% but have never had to use it on any digital pattern I have ordered.

[quiltingaway]

I have never had to enlarge things on a digital quilt pattern. The ones I've had you just print them out and they usually have pictures, cutting directions etc. I've also used some for garments. I don't like those as well because I've had to tape the pattern pieces together.

[RockinLou]

I use PDF patterns almost exclusively ... For clothes. The directions are almost always better than those crummy paper patterns you get at JoAnn or Hancock, and I've always printed at home, and pieced some of the pieces together. Technically it is copyright violation to show the pattern pieces or I would snap some pictures.
Not all PDF pattern writers are the same though some are much better at writing than others!!

[Vonnie]

My printer, if it's too large, will print several pages and you cut and tape together to get the pattern.