We are so excited that our pattern pieces now have layers! Have you tried them out yet? Using layers is a great way to simplify the printed pieces and save on ink. Plus it is super easy for you to do!
**(Note: Not all of our upcoming patterns the next couple weeks will have layers, because we are still in the process of releasing previously drafted pieces. But as of early-to-mid May, all new CKC patterns will have layers when they release. To date, our patterns with layers are Urlotte's, Vixen's, and all sizes of Leslie's.)**
**(Note: Not all of our upcoming patterns the next couple weeks will have layers, because we are still in the process of releasing previously drafted pieces. But as of early-to-mid May, all new CKC patterns will have layers when they release. To date, our patterns with layers are Urlotte's, Vixen's, and all sizes of Leslie's.)**
So what are layered pieces? Basically, layers allow you to print only the sizes you want to print. Each size has its own "layer" in the document, so you only print what you want to see. For example, if you want to print only the size 3, you can do so! Or if you want to print sizes 3 and 4 both, you can do that too.
And for those of you who want to keep printing your pieces the way you always have, that's no problem at all. The pattern pieces will still function just like they did before. The "layers" are just an extra feature for those who want to use it.
Are you ready to learn how?
First of all, you need to download Adobe Reader DC if you don't already have it. You can download it for free by clicking here. Yes, it is important for it to be the DC version, in order to access the layers.
When you're ready, open the CKC pattern using Adobe Reader DC. Scroll down to the pattern pieces at the end of the pattern. On the screen you should now see something like the photo above.
Look at the left margin of that screen, where you will see a few icons. Find the one that looks like a little stack of papers. That is the icon for "layers". I circled it for you in yellow above. To access the layers, click that icon.
When you click the layers icon, a little list will become visible, showing you the layers that are available. There should be one layer for each size. Next to each layer there is a little box with an eye in it. See the yellow arrow above. When the eyeball is showing, that size layer is visible. So in the example above, all layers are visible. But if you click an eyeball to make the box blank, that size layer will no longer be visible. Let's experiment:
In the photo above, I decided to click the eye on sizes 3, 4, 6, and 7, making them invisible. Notice that there are not eyes in their boxes. Also notice that on the drawn pieces to the right, those sizes are no longer showing. Now look at the list again, where I kept the eye "on" for sizes 8, 5, and 2. Those are the sizes you can see on the pattern pieces. So basically, if the eyeball is showing, then the size layer is showing.
Let's play with it again:
This time I chose to have sizes 4 and 5 visible. All the other sizes are invisible, so they don't show up on the pattern pieces either. This is how you would print the pieces if you want to combine sizes, such as making pants at the 4T width but 5T length. You can select as many or as few sizes as you want!
As you click and un-click boxes, it is very important to make sure you keep the very top box visible at all times. It is the one labeled "Keep this checked!" Clever, right? The reason you want to keep it visible is because it shows the main labels and lines that are shared for all sizes. Notice in the photo above that I made that top box invisible, so all the main labels are gone and the size pieces aren't complete. Not good. That top box must be visible. You get the idea.
When you have all the layers visible that you want to print, go ahead and tell it to print! As always, be sure that you are printing at "Actual size" with "Auto portrait/landscape", as shown here. If you look in the preview box, you should see only the layers you want to print. In my example, I am printing only the size 8, so that's all I see in the print preview.
Click print and you're good to go! Your pieces should come out of the printer just how you want them.
See, that's not hard at all! Don't forget that you can go back and make layers visible and invisible at any time, inside the Adobe DC program.
We hope you love the new layers feature in our patterns! If you have any questions, feel free to post in our patterns group or email us at createkidscouture@gmail.com. We'd love to help.
Let's Create! ~ Kristen
