How to Reduce or Enlarge an Embroidery Pattern

Needlework would be so much easier if all designs came in the exact, ready-to-use size. Unfortunately they don't. The easiest way to reduce or enlarge a design is by reproducing it on a photocopy machine. If you don't have access to a copier, you can enlarge or reduce a pattern yourself.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Embroidery Design
• Pencils
• Pencils
• Tracing Paper
• Rulers
• Pencils

Enlarging

1. Reverse the math if you are enlarging a pattern.

2. Draw your second grid, making the squares as many times larger as the amount by which you wish to enlarge the pattern. For example, if the grid over the original pattern consists of 1/8-inch squares and you are doubling the pattern size, squares in the second grid will be 1/4 inch.

Reducing

3. Trace the pattern.

4. Draw a grid (like graph paper) to mark small squares across the pattern.

5. Draw a second grid, making the squares as many times smaller as the amount by which you wish to reduce the pattern. For example, if the grid over the original pattern consists of 1/4-inch squares and you are halving the pattern size, squares in the second grid will be 1/8 inch.

6. Square by square, copy the pattern by drawing it on the new grid.