For Windows users: Right-click to select "Extract All"

For Mac users: Double-click on the ZIP file

First, ensure that you have fully unzipped the contents of your order's ZIP folder into a new folder. Do not attempt to open or print files from an uncompressed folder. Opening files while they are still in a compressed ZIP folder can cause error messages. See the instructions above for how to unzip the download or read through our Starting Guide for visual assistance.

On iOS, files may only partially download but still appear complete in your downloads folder. This is more likely to occur when using a public internet connection or when experiencing spotty service.

Additionally, you may encounter download issues when using a work or school network that restricts downloads from outside sources. This is a security feature, so you will need administrative access to download and print files when using this type of secure network.

In both scenarios, please try redownloading the files again using a different network, such as your home Wi-Fi or 5G/LTE when service is reliable.

On occasion, the download process may damage files. If you receive an error message after fully unzipping, please message us on Etsy or email us here with your order information so we can send you the files via DocSend.

You will need a PDF reader to print the PDF files. We recommend the free PDF reader from Adobe called Acrobat Reader. It is available in various forms, including desktop and mobile apps, plugins, and a web version, all for free.

Desktop: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Mobile: https://acrobat.adobe.com/us/en/mobile/acrobat-reader.html
Browser Plug-ins: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-viewer-extension.html
Web Version: https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/pdf-editor.html

MacOS also has native PDF support via the "Preview" app.

If the pattern pieces are not lining up or seem to be the wrong scale, there are several things to try:

1. Watch our Pattern Printing & Assembly Guide Video. It covers all the following suggestions in detail. You can find the video here.
2. Verify that the software you are using for printing has native PDF support. Using software like Adobe Acrobat is recommended. Word processors like Microsoft Word and web browsers like Chrome don’t have native PDF support so they will distort the pattern.
3. If the pattern appears warped or curved lines are printed as straight lines, try using the 'Print to Image' setting in your printer's advanced settings menu. This tells your device to send the pattern to the printer as JPGs instead of vectors, which can help resolve printer communication issues.
4. Check the print scale key on the pattern. If it is not to scale, you’ll need to reprint. The ‘Starting Guide’ document available with your download contains printing tips that solve most print issues. You can download a copy of it here, too.
5. Check if the pattern has been assembled correctly. Illustrated instructions on how to cut and tape the pattern together are included in the ‘Read Me'  document accompanying the sewing pattern.
6. Ensure that you are aligning the sewing lines, not the outer edge of the seam allowance. This is a common source of alignment issues. Using tailor’s chalk or removable marker, draw the sewing lines onto the back side of the fabric pieces. We use a US standard seam allowance of 5/8” unless otherwise noted. Once you’ve marked the sewing lines, line up those lines with each other.
   

If you are still experiencing issues after trying these solutions, please email us a photo of your work in progress along with a summary of the problem so we can better assist you with troubleshooting.

Printer drivers cause the vast majority of the scale issues we see customers encounter, not incorrect print settings in Adobe Acrobat. Home printers are prone to many problems, so you might have your printer settings set perfectly and still encounter scaling issues.

On your PC, go to your Start menu ➜ Settings ➜ Search for 'Printers & Scanners' ➜ Locate your printer ➜ Select 'Printer Properties' ➜ look for Paper Handling or Scale Settings ➜ Change the settings to '100% Scale' or 'No Scale'.

This prevents a printer driver from forcing the use of a specific paper size when printing, so the printer will no longer ignore the software's scale settings. After more than 50,000 sales across our stores, in the pattern use cases we've helped with, scaling issues have nearly always been caused by this. It is well worth checking your driver settings first before moving on to other solutions.

Find troubleshooting for these issues (and more) in our Starting Guide.

Connection issues between a device and a printer can cause this this occur. Go into the printer settings in Acrobat ➜ Select Advanced ➜ Check the 'Print as Image' option. This sends the document to the printer as JPG images, increasing the file size, but it avoids the printer having to interpret vector lines.

Printing from software that does not have full PDF support (like Microsoft Word or Web Browsers) can also cause this issue. To remedy this, please use a PDF reader to print the document, so you have all the necessary printer settings to print it correctly.

Find troubleshooting for these issues (and more) in our Starting Guide.

While we do have a growing selection of beginner friendly patterns, we recommend you have some sewing experience. Costumes tend to be a bit more challenging to make than other types of garments or items. If you are brand new to crafting costumes but want to use one of our store's patterns, we highly recommend having a friend or family member who is experienced help you.

Each sewing pattern comes with illustrated instructions for assembly. Basic understanding of sewing & sewing pattern terminology will be needed to use them. This is because the purpose of pattern instructions is to go over the needed assembly steps for making the project. In other words, while we strive to make our instructions easy to use, our patterns are not a substitute for sewing books or classes designed to teach techniques.

A small number of our patterns marked 'Advanced' are designs that require knowledge of advanced techniques. These patterns will be a significant challenge to new crafters & should be tackled only if you are already confident in your ability to use and adapt patterns to craft costumes.

For this reason, please check each listing's description before purchase.

Our sewing patterns come with a yardage & a supply list located in the 'Read Me' document. Fabric estimates are generally provided for 58" wide fabrics, and occasionally for 45" wide fabrics. The yardage you will need will vary depending on the fabric width. Most of our patterns also include a conversion chart for estimating various fabric widths.

Our estimates are taken manually. We round yardage estimates to the nearest 1/4 yard. To obtain the most accurate estimate possible, we recommend printing out your specific size and taping it together first before purchasing fabric. Using a measuring tape or yardstick, calculate yardage based on the width of the fabric you plan to use, in a layout that makes sense for your specific fabric choices, which may deviate from the illustrated example.

Along with yardage and supplies, each pattern comes with recommended fabrics located in the 'Read Me' document. Many of our pattern listings include those materials in the item descriptions as well. You don't need to stick to these materials, though!

Unless otherwise noted (such as when stretch materials are required), the fabric type is entirely up to your personal preferences and local store availability.

As we only speak English fluently, we cannot assess the quality of machine-generated translations, so we don't offer them with our files. As noted in our listings, our patterns are currently only available in English and use US standard measurements and markings.

However, we totally understand the preference to work with an assembly document in your native language, even if it is not perfectly translated, so we recommend translating the instruction PDF using Google Translate, which is fast & free. It may struggle with sewing terminology, and charts do not reformat well, so please keep the original PDF on hand for reference.

If you are reading this term for the first time in one of our 'Read Me' files, it’s a helpful term to learn about! Ease is extra width added to a pattern to allow for movement and style.

There are two types of ‘ease’. Wearing and Design.

Wearing 'ease' does what it sounds like it does. It makes a pattern wearable. If a pattern were exactly the size of your measurements, you wouldn’t be able to move easily when wearing it. Ease allows for physical movement in the outfit once it is assembled and worn.

Design 'ease' is included in patterns to create particular looks- think puffed sleeves or a billowy blouse. This extra material creates a specific silhouette.

Our patterns include varying amounts of both types of ease. Many of our patterns include extra wearing ease in the waist, for example. Waistlines are the part of the body most prone to fluctuations, so we take that into account when drafting and recommend you do so when taking measurements. (Fun fact: waist measurements can fluctuate by several inches throughout the course of a day. This affects some people more than others. 😿 If that sounds relatable, retake your waist measurement a few times throughout the day and choose the largest number- you'll be more comfortable in your finished garment!)

Costumes designed with minimal ease or intended for stretch fabrics will have this noted in the pattern instructions.

We highly recommend creating a mock-up of any project, but it’s especially essential to do so for very fitted costumes so that you can make adjustments to best suit your shape.

We highly encourage you to utilize the included illustrated instructions that come with every pattern, as well as our free resources on YouTube. While we would love to be able to help more people learn sewing skills, it's outside the scope of what our patterns are designed for and what we sell.

Sewing garments is a complicated process. This is why we include a list of 'Skills to Know' in the listing images of every pattern, as well as a skill level estimate. This information is designed to give buyers an idea of what experience is needed in order to successfully complete the assembly of the pattern. We encourage buyers to read through that list before buying a pattern from us, with the knowledge that we can not offer additional assistance beyond what is included in the pattern.

If you are not familiar with some of those required skills but still want to give a pattern a try, ask a friend or relative who is experienced to assist you. Additionally, you can brush up on the skills needed by doing an online search for sewing technique tutorials. There are a lot of incredible learning resources on YouTube & Pinterest.

The short answer is no, assistance with making or modifying our patterns is not included with purchase.

The long answer is that we offer pre-made, as-is items, without additional services built into the price of each item. There are custom-made illustrated instructions and print files for each pattern. These files are what you are being charged for at checkout.

Buyers are responsible for any changes they make to the pattern’s design or fit, and for the assembly of the project itself. Please make sure to check the difficulty level and list of sewing skills required to complete pattern assembly before making a purchase.

Our patterns are tested for proper fit in the featured views, without any modifications, so while we strongly encourage users to modify our patterns to meet their needs, we are not able to help you in doing so.

We will not be able to accommodate requests for additional services such as teaching techniques or terminology, providing help with assembly, giving modification advice, or anything beyond providing you with the files included in a listing. As a (very) small business, additional labor is beyond the scope of what we can offer.

These files can be printed anywhere that offers blueprints and plotter printing. You'll want to select the A0 (international standard) or Arch E (US Standard) sized paper. In the US, these are the 36"x48" sized sheets. Request to print the documents at 100% scale.

Having large pattern documents printed locally can be pricey, but you can use an online service that specializes in printing sewing patterns. Using an online service will be significantly cheaper in most cases.

Note: In the past, a few of our patterns had the editing function disabled to discourage the un-fun kind of pirates. Occasionally, these files would give an error message when uploading them to online print file share services. (We no longer use these settings because they caused this issue.) If you bought from us in the past & happen to encounter this error message, email us for an unlocked version of the file, which we are happy to provide to customers with an order number or the billing info from the order.

Absolutely! Email us your order number, billing information, or the email address used for the order so we can look it up, and we will send you a link to download the files again.

You can also find a link to the files in your order history.

If you don't remember the order number or the email address you used, please provide the name on the order and your best estimate of the email address or billing information used.

Sometimes, the cart system our site runs on (Shopify) can take a little while to generate and send the email containing the download link for your order. Don't fret! Most emails will arrive promptly, but occasionally, delays may occur if Shopify's system is experiencing issues.

If you don't see an email with your download link once several hours have passed, try these steps:

• Check your spam filter. Sometimes, emails with download links can be automatically filtered into spam or junk folders by mail clients. An overzealous spam filter may have mis-categorized the automated email sent by our cart system.
• Ensure you are checking the correct email account. If you have used an email with other Shopify stores in the past, it likes to default to using that email again when auto-filling your order info with other Shopify stores, like ours. That could mean your order is placed under a different email address than you intended to use.

If these solutions fail, send us an email! We can help you out.

To access your digital file(s) on Etsy, go to Your account > Purchases and reviews and look for the order.

To the right of the order, click Download Files. This directs you to the Downloads page, where you can access all the files attached to your order.

Alternatively, you can access the files from the link in your order email if you log in on a browser first.

If you are still having trouble locating the download link, please provide us with your order information from Etsy so we can send you the files via DocSend.

Etsy does not support downloading on the Etsy App, so for both methods, you must sign in to Etsy via a web browser first.

If you've bought the pattern from here on our Shopify store, there's no need to buy it again! We will gladly send you the updated files for free if you've already bought the pattern. Our website will automatically notify you at the email address on your order whenever files are updated.

If a file was updated but you didn't receive an update email, please send us your order number or the email used to purchase it, and let us know you're requesting the most recent version of the downloads for your purchase. We can send you an updated link to the files once we locate the order.

⚠️ You will not receive any update emails for files purchased on Etsy. ⚠️ Etsy does not provide a means for us to update past customers with new files. Due to this and frequent sale pricing, we provide pattern updates only to our website customers.

Additionally, any patterns marked as 'Legacy Patterns' will not receive updated files. As noted in the listings, these are patterns slated for replacement in the future. They are offered on an as-is basis for our cosplaying customers to buy until we have newer, better options for the same type of project. Some of the character-specific elements of those patterns (like custom applique designs) may be offered for free at some point in the future via our Ko-fi page so that they can be used in combination with newer patterns of a similar style.

Any future versions of Legacy Patterns are released with a different SKU number and new content, so we do not consider them to be the same pattern. Due to the significant time, money, and effort required for pattern development, we cannot provide files beyond those that were included at the time of purchase when buying a Legacy Pattern.

Thankfully, this is no longer an issue! Woo! 🎉 Everyone hated that (including us!)

One of the reasons we transitioned to this cart system (Shopify) was to gain greater control over download settings. We no longer have expiration dates for downloads. The only times when your download link will cease to work are in special circumstances, such as when the file is updated, for which you will receive a notification and a new download link automatically.

If you purchased through our old cart system (Wix) and would like the files from your order re-sent to you, please reach out to us via email with your order number. We will email you a new download link.

On rare occasions, links may also be modified to prevent link sharing when we detect suspicious download activity. Each purchase entitles you to a single-user licence, meaning one person can use the files. You can download the files an unlimited number of times to any of your own personal devices, but no sharing is permitted. We reserve the right to disable download links that exhibit obvious signs of distribution.

For discontinued 'legacy' patterns, we make an effort to continue to host the downloads for a minimum of 6 months. Please reach out to us if you encounter any issues retrieving files from a pattern that is no longer listed for sale.

A number of our patterns, which use chest circumference, height, or overall girth as the primary sizing points, included size charts labeled 'Men's' or 'Women's', despite the designs being gender-neutral.

We are switching to using 'All Gender' to describe these unisex style patterns, to better encompass the wide range of body types for which these patterns can work.

We've divided the genderless patterns into two categories for adults: All Gender A & B. They are functionally the same as our Men's and Women's sizing charts. They now reflect that they are not drafted in such a way that makes them geared more towards one body type than another.

We have a lot of resources & patterns in the works (easily 50+ at this point!) Our current & future projects list is developed based on feedback, current trends, and various other factors (often our lead designer's AuDHD). This means our current project list is constantly changing! Due to this, we no longer list upcoming release plans, but if you see us at an event, we're always happy to chat about what you'd like to see next.

We will be offering new 'Made to Modify' basics regularly, as well as revamping & repurposing our 'Legacy Patterns' (character-inspired cosplay patterns) as time permits.

We do not produce pre-made costumes, sell our displays & prototypes, or offer cosplay commission services. However, you are welcome to have a costume made by a commissioner using the crafting materials available in our store.

Each pattern requires anywhere from weeks to months of work for us to create. We do not offer custom or personalized items due to the long and often expensive process.

Individuals can use these patterns to make a cosplay commission, sell a one-of-a-kind garment, or produce a minimal run of handmade items for sale (e.g., fewer than 10). Theater productions and performing artists are also welcome to use our patterns. Still, company commercial use or any form of redistribution without our express permission is prohibited.

If you are a commissioner or an individual making everything in-house, we are delighted for you to use our patterns for your commissions. Once a production partner is involved, such as a manufacturer or factory, we require a contractual agreement for their use. This is to protect both parties.

We are open to discussions on commercial use of end products (e.g., Small runs of garments made with our patterns) or wholesale retail of paper patterns by other micro & small businesses. Please get in touch with us through our contact page to discuss your intended use of our work.

However, we do not permit the distribution of our digital patterns on external platforms, websites, or publications, regardless of the organization's size or purpose.

To receive a timely response, please use our contact form on this page or reach out to us directly via our support email.

We do not regularly respond to support requests sent through direct messages on social media, included in reviews, or in comments left on our videos or posts. We understand that this may be an inconvenience, but as a 2-person team, we currently lack the resources to maintain customer support via indirect channels, as larger companies do.

For this reason, please get in touch with us directly via email (support@maridah.shop) so we can assist you.