Opening the file:
Once downloaded to your computer, the file you have will be a .zip file. This isn't actually your pattern file, this is just the container for it to be delivered in. You'll need to un-zip the files first.
Many computers have zip software already installed, if you can double click on the file and it automatically starts telling you to extract the files then you've got some sort of un-zipping software on your computer, follow the directions on the screen to un-zip your files.
If your computer doesn't have any zip software, then you'll need to install some. www.7-zip.org, offer a free zipping and zip extraction software, although you may prefer to use something else, www.winzip.com offers a more user friendly zip software although this isn't free, but they do offer a free trial.
Once installed double click the file and follow the instructions to extract the files (make sure you know where the computer will save the files to).
The pattern files:
Once extracted the main pattern files are .pdf files. You'll need a pdf reader to view these.
If you don't already have one installed on your computer then you can download one free from Adobe: http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/ although there are many other open source pdf readers available.
You may also see other files e.g. the printing instructions file is a .txt file, this should be readable on most computers (Windows offers you Notepad), but if you haven't got the software, you can download one here http://sourceforge.net/projects/notepad-plus/ this particular software is aimed at people that need to write web code in a clean way, but for our purposes, it will do just fine.
Once you've read the printing instructions file (to make sure your settings are correct), print your pattern.
You'll only ever need an A4 printer (standard home printer). As each full size pattern is divided up into A4 pieces ready for you to print.
Once printed you'll notice each page has numbers at the edges, cut or fold the edges, and match up the numbers with it's neighbouring page. Your printer should print these in the correct order.
Tape or glue the pages together and your done. Now you just need to treat your pattern as normal tissue paper pattern and cut out the size you need, making any pattern adjustments needed etc
We also advise to always make a mock up first in a cheap fabric to ensure the fit is correct, just in case the pattern was incorrectly printed.
Print instructions for Adobe Acrobat users can be found here: