Frequently asked questions — Modeltex digital sewing patterns

Where can I buy digital sewing patterns for clothing production?

At Modeltex (modeltex.fashion) we sell professional digital patternmaking for garment production: 2,000+ clothing patterns for women, men, kids and babies, each with a full size range and approved with a real sewn sample. Our team has more than 18 years of experience in the Argentine textile industry, and we deliver the files by digital download worldwide.

Which sewing pattern formats does Modeltex offer?

We work with the formats the industry uses: PDF A4 (print at home and tape the sheets together), PDF plotter (printed at true width of 90, 120 or 150 cm), DXF/AAMA (the universal format that any textile CAD system opens), PDS (Optitex), MRK (markers), ADS (Audaces), PLT, CDR and sublimation files.

Do the patterns include all sizes?

Yes. Every pattern is available with its full size range and the industrial grading already done: XS to 4XL for adults (8 sizes) and 2 to 18 for kids (9 sizes). On the product page you choose which sizes to take: the base price includes the standard selection (S to 2XL for adults, 4 to 16 for kids) and each extra size adds a small surcharge, so you can get the whole range in a single purchase. CAD formats (DXF/AAMA, PDS, MRK, ADS) always include the full range.

How much does a digital sewing pattern cost?

A PDF A4 pattern starts at US$23 and a PDF plotter pattern at US$47, always with the standard size selection; each extra size adds US$4 (PDF A4) or US$6 (plotter). CAD formats (DXF/AAMA, Optitex, Audaces) and markers are quoted on request. Exact prices are on each product page in the catalog.

How do I receive the pattern after buying?

By digital download. Patterns marked "Instant download" are enabled as soon as the payment is confirmed; the rest are delivered within 24 hours. You can buy with an account or without creating one (a download link arrives by email, and you can also look up the order with its number and your email under "My order").

What is the difference between PDF A4 and PDF plotter?

PDF A4 is split into letter/A4-size sheets that print on any printer and are taped together following the numbering: it is the most economical option and does not depend on a print shop. PDF plotter is the same pattern on a single sheet 90, 120 or 150 cm wide, printed at a plotting service or on your own plotter, with no taping: it is what workshops and factories that cut by hand in volume use.

How do I print an A4 PDF pattern without losing scale?

When printing, set the scale to 100% or "actual size" (never "fit to page"). Each pattern includes a control square: print the first sheet, check that square with a ruler, and only then print the rest. The sheets are numbered so you can tape them together in order.

What do I need to print a pattern on a plotter?

Any textile plotting service can print our plotter PDFs at true width (90, 120 or 150 cm depending on the pattern), always at 100% scale. If you prefer to cut directly from CAD, DXF/AAMA or the native format of your system (Optitex, Audaces) is the better choice.

What is the DXF/AAMA format and which programs open it?

DXF/AAMA is the standard exchange format for digital patternmaking: practically every textile CAD system opens it (Optitex, Gerber AccuMark, Lectra, Audaces, among others). If you have your own CAD system, it is the safest format to order. In our guide to opening DXF patterns in Optitex, Audaces, Gerber and Lectra we explain the import step by step.

Which program do I need to open a PDS, MRK or ADS file?

PDS is the native pattern format of Optitex and MRK is its marker format; ADS is the native format of Audaces. If you do not use those programs, order the pattern in DXF/AAMA, which imports into any CAD system, or in plotter PDF to print and cut by hand.

Are the patterns suitable for industrial production?

Yes, they are built for it: each pattern has industrial-grade size grading, is approved with a sewn sample and is delivered in the formats factories use (DXF/AAMA, Optitex, Audaces, plotter PDF). We also make computerized markers in MRK, optimized to your fabric width for lay-up cutting.

Can I use the patterns to make and sell clothing?

Yes. The license covers productive use: you can sew and sell the garments with no limit on units, for your own brand or for third parties. What is not allowed is reselling, publishing or redistributing the pattern files as your own product.

Can I buy from anywhere in the world?

Yes. Prices are shown in US dollars and delivery is 100% digital, so it reaches any country. We accept PayPal, including payment by credit or debit card through PayPal.

Which payment methods do you accept?

PayPal, either with your PayPal account or with a credit or debit card. Your download is enabled as soon as the payment is confirmed, and within 24 business hours at the latest.

How do I know the patterns are well made?

Every pattern is approved with a sewn sample before it is published: the photo on the product page is the real garment sewn from that pattern. We also have a Free Patterns section so you can download a real one and check the quality before buying.

Can I see the pattern before buying it?

On each product page you can see the photo of the sewn garment, the sizes, the formats and the recommended fabrics, and you can download a real pattern from the Free Patterns section to check the finish. The complete files are delivered after payment.

Do you offer refunds if I change my mind?

No. Digital patterns cannot be returned for a change of mind once the download is enabled, because they are files delivered immediately; they do carry a guarantee: if the file does not open, is not the one you bought or is missing something, we correct it at no cost and, if we cannot, we refund your money. The details, deadlines and how to cancel a purchase are in the Returns and refunds policy. That is why we recommend reviewing the product page carefully and, if in doubt, asking on WhatsApp before paying.

What should I do if my download does not arrive?

If you bought with an account, sign in with the same email and open "My downloads". If you bought without an account, look up your order with its number and your email under "My order". If the payment is already confirmed and you cannot see the files, message us on WhatsApp (+54 9 11 5051 0079) with the order number and we will send them by email or WhatsApp; that completes the delivery.

Do you make custom patterns?

Yes, we offer a custom patternmaking service: send us your garment, a photo or an idea and we develop the pattern with the size range you need and your measurement chart, in the format you use (PDF, DXF/AAMA, Optitex, Audaces). You can request it from the "Custom design" page or on WhatsApp.

Can I ask for changes to a catalog pattern?

Yes: adjusting lengths, changing a neckline, adding pockets or adapting the pattern to your measurement chart is handled as custom patternmaking on the base pattern. Message us on WhatsApp with the pattern name and what you want to change, and we will quote it.

What is a marker (MRK) and do you sell it?

A marker is the layout of the pattern pieces across the fabric width so you can cut with minimum waste. We offer computerized markers in MRK format for factories and workshops that cut by lay-up, optimized to the fabric width you specify and the number of garments per size.

What information do I need to send to order a marker?

The usable fabric width, the number of garments per size you will cut, whether the fabric has pile, sheen or a directional print (which forces one-way marking) and the format you want it in (Optitex MRK, or plotter PDF to cut by hand). With that we build the marker and tell you the total length and the consumption per garment.

What is a size range and why does it matter for production?

A size range is the set of sizes of a pattern with its grading (how much each measurement grows from one size to the next). Producing the full range lets you sell to a wider audience with the same pattern and plan runs by size according to what sells in your channel. At Modeltex the grading is already done on every pattern.

Do you have patterns for school and work uniforms?

Yes, it is one of our strongest lines: polo shirts, sweatshirts, joggers, pants, shirts, vests and blazers for school and company uniforms, in kids' and adult sizes. If you produce for a school or a company, we can prepare the marker to your fabric width and the pattern in the format of your cutting system.

Do you have patterns for sublimated and sports clothing?

Yes: jerseys, shorts, leggings and sports sets, with files prepared for sublimation (CDR, PLT, PDF) when the design has to be worked on the pieces. In our guide to sewing patterns for sublimated and sports clothing we explain what changes in the pattern and which fabrics to use.

Which fabric suits each pattern?

Each product page lists the recommended fabrics for that pattern (for example brushed fleece or French terry for sweatshirts, cotton jersey for t-shirts, gabardine or twill for work pants, lycra or stretch nylon for leggings). If you use a different fabric, make a sample first: the ease of the pattern changes with the stretch and weight of the fabric.

Are kids' and adult patterns the same?

No: the same design is sold as two different patterns, one with the kids' size range (2 to 18) and one with the adults' (XS to 4XL), because proportions and grading are different. In the catalog each one appears in its own category (girls, boys, women, men or unisex).

How do I find a pattern in the catalog?

The catalog can be filtered by category (women, men, girls, boys, babies, unisex), season and format, and it has a smart search that understands queries like "oversize fleece sweatshirt" or "girls summer shorts". You can also use the Textile AI tool, which suggests which garments to produce and which patterns to use.

Does Modeltex sell clothing or only patterns?

Only patterns: we sell digital patterns so that manufacturers, workshops, brands and entrepreneurs can produce and sell their own garments. We do not sell finished clothing.

How can I contact Modeltex?

By WhatsApp at +54 9 11 5051 0079, by Telegram, by email at contacto@modeltex.com.ar, through the contact form on the site, or via Facebook (facebook.com/modeltex.ar), Instagram (@modeltexx) or TikTok (@modeltex). We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we answer inquiries from any country.

How do I make clothing patterns step by step?

The professional process has six stages: take the measurements of the body or of the base garment, draft the base pattern from those measurements, transform that base into the style you want (adding neckline, sleeves, pockets), sew a sample in inexpensive fabric to test the fit, correct the pattern according to that test and only then grade it to the full size range. Doing this well takes time, which is why many manufacturers prefer to start from a digital pattern already approved with a sample and graded, and adjust it, rather than starting from scratch.

What are the basic measurements for a pattern?

For a base pattern of the upper body you need the bust or chest circumference, the waist circumference, the front and back waist length, the back width, the neck circumference and the sleeve length. For pants or a skirt, add the hip circumference, the rise (for pants) and the desired length. These measurements are the starting point: every pattern is then tested with a sewn sample and adjusted, because a real body always varies from any reference chart.

How do I make a pants pattern?

Draft it from the waist circumference, hip circumference, rise and total length, with two main pieces (front and back) and darts or pleats at the waist to absorb the difference between waist and hip. A jogger or sport pant simplifies this with an elastic waist and no darts. After drafting it, sew a sample, correct the fit and only then grade it to the other sizes.

How do I make a skirt pattern?

The base skirt pattern is built from the waist circumference, the hip circumference and the desired length, in front and back, with darts at the waist to absorb the difference from the hip. From that base you derive the straight skirt, the pencil skirt, the A-line or circle skirt (built on a circle or quarter circle, with no darts) and the pleated skirt, which adds panels. As with any pattern, test it with a sample before grading it to the full size range.

How do I grade sewing patterns?

Grading (or scaling) a pattern means applying increments defined in a table to each point of the base pattern to generate the other sizes, keeping the proportion and balance of the piece. It can be done by hand with a ruler and square along horizontal and vertical guide lines, or in a CAD program (Optitex, Audaces, Gerber) that generates the whole size range automatically from those increments. All Modeltex digital patterns already come with the size range graded and approved, so you do not need to grade them again.

What is the difference between patternmaking and pattern drafting?

In practice they are the same craft: developing the pieces of a garment from measurements. "Patternmaking" is the broader term, covering the whole process from drafting to grading and production files, while "pattern drafting" usually means drawing the pattern itself from measurements. There is no official technical distinction between the two terms in everyday industry use.

Which programs can I use for digital patternmaking for free?

Seamly2D (the open-source continuation of Valentina) lets you draft parametric patterns from measurements for free, and vector drawing programs such as Inkscape are useful to digitize and adjust pieces already drawn by hand. They are a good starting point, but they usually lack automatic industrial grading and mature DXF/AAMA file handling compared with the paid professional software (Optitex, Audaces, Gerber, Lectra) used in factory production. For anyone who does not want to go through the learning curve of any program, starting from a ready-made digital pattern is the fastest way to begin producing.

What is industrial patternmaking and how does it differ from artisan patternmaking?

It is pattern development designed to produce many identical garments in a repeatable way: it includes drafting the base pattern, grading it to the full size range, the garment's tech pack, a marker optimized to minimize fabric waste and approval with a sample before moving to serial production. It differs from artisan or hobby patternmaking in that there the pattern is one of a kind, for one person or one specific garment, with no need to grade or optimize fabric.

What is industrial textile patternmaking?

It is patternmaking built for serial production: a size range already graded, seam allowances and notches defined, and files ready to mark in CAD or print on a plotter. Unlike patternmaking for a single garment, the pattern repeats unchanged in every run.

Is there an official industrial size chart I can print?

No single official, mandatory size chart exists for adult clothing: in practice each factory builds its own table and grading, calibrated with its own patternmakers and fit tests. A size chart of your own should have, at minimum, columns for size, bust or chest circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist length and back width, with the numbers validated with a sewn sample before running markers for production. Modeltex patterns already come with their size range and grading done and approved with a sample, as an alternative to building the chart from scratch.

How do I digitize paper patterns?

The most common methods are a digitizing table (you trace the outline of the paper pattern with a cursor and the CAD software generates the exact vector, the most precise method), scanning in parts followed by vectorization in a CAD or vector program, and an overhead photo with a known scale reference when you have no digitizing table. With any of the three you should verify the real scale with a control measurement and check that the curves come out smooth. Modeltex offers custom patternmaking from an existing garment, photo or paper pattern, including converting it to digital and grading it to the full size range.

What does an industrial size chart in centimeters look like for women, men and kids, sizes S to XL?

It is a table that lists, size by size, the bust or chest, waist and hip circumference in centimeters: in an indicative example, 4 cm of growth per size for women (S 88/68/94, M 92/72/98, L 96/76/102, XL 100/80/106), 5 cm for men (S 92/78/96, M 97/83/101, L 102/88/106, XL 107/93/111) and 4 cm in chest and hip with 3 cm in waist for kids. It is an indicative industry example, not an official standard, and it must be validated with a sewn sample before serial production.

How do I write a design tech pack to send to a garment workshop?

With seven fixed sections on one or two pages: general data, a photo or technical drawing of front and back, a size chart by size, materials and trims, assembly sequence, measurement tolerances and contact details with the order quantity. It is completed once per style and sent as a PDF together with the pattern.

What are the grading rules for the armhole and the neckline?

There is no single rule: each school and each CAD system builds its own table, but a common reference criterion deepens the armhole by 5 to 10 mm per size and widens it by 3 to 7 mm, while the neckline grows 3 to 5 mm in width and 1 to 6 mm in drop, more on the front than on the back. Those numbers are adjusted to each manufacturer's real size chart and validated with a sewn sample.

How do I calculate fabric consumption for several garments from the fabric yield?

Divide the number of garments in the order by the fabric yield, in garments per meter: the meters of fabric needed equal the number of garments divided by the yield. With a yield of 8 garments per meter (an example number), an order of 120 garments needs 120 divided by 8: 15 meters, before adding the waste allowance.

How do I export or convert DXF files between Optitex and Audaces?

From Optitex, export with File > Export > DXF/AAMA, choosing the correct unit and checking the option to export all sizes. From Audaces Moldes, use the DXF or AAMA export function in the File menu, ticking the notch, grainline and text layers. On the receiving side, confirm the unit when importing, check the layer mapping and measure one piece against the tech pack before cutting.

How do I choose a name for a digital pattern or clothing brand?

Combine a style (a surname, a descriptive word from the trade, an invented word or a combination in another language) with a practical check: easy to pronounce and spell, no clash with an already registered trademark, with the .com domain and the Instagram handle available, and legible in a small logo. Before deciding, search for it on Google, check existing trademark records in the countries where you will sell, and check the handle on the social networks where you will sell.

What are the main differences between US and UK sewing and patternmaking terms?

Many everyday words change: pants are trousers, a zipper is a zip and a serger is an overlocker, and spelling differs too (center or centre, gray or grey). Body-measurement words such as bust, waist and hip are shared. Modeltex has a guide with more than 80 terms in US and UK English, grouped by topic: body measurements, garments, pattern pieces, sewing and CAD.

How do I write the copy to sell a digital pattern pack on Instagram?

In five blocks: a hook with the pain or the benefit in the first line, a presentation of the pack (quantity, category, sizes), proof that it works (sewn sample, real photo), a single call to action toward WhatsApp or the link in bio, and a P.S. with a real reason to act now. You do not need to write the price in the copy.

Why do wrinkles form at the pants crotch and how do I fix them in the pattern?

The most frequent causes are a miscalculated rise, a crotch curve that is too tight or too open, an imbalance between front and back, too much or too little ease at the hip, and an inseam that has shifted. The fix depends on which one it is: deepen or raise the rise, open or close the curve, redistribute centimeters between pieces, adjust the hip or move the seam, always validating with a sewn sample.

What is the difference between the metric system and fractional inches in patternmaking?

The metric system measures in centimeters and millimeters with decimal divisions and is used in most of the world. The fractional inch system, used mostly in the United States, divides the inch into successive halves (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) instead of decimals, and appears in patterns, magazines and CAD programs of North American origin. The two convert with the same exact constant, 2.54 cm per inch, but you should not mix them within a single pattern without converting everything to one unit.

Where to go next

Sewing patterns by category