Pattern FAQ
These answers apply across the pattern library. Individual design pages keep only questions specific to that design.
For the making process, read how to make stained glass. For equipment and your first project, start with stained glass for beginners.
Browse beginner patterns, landscape patterns or flower patterns.
Frequently asked questions
Which patterns are free, and which are sold on Etsy?
Pages with download links provide the listed files free. Premium designs are a separate collection sold through their linked Etsy listings. Check the files and terms on the individual page or listing before buying.
How do I print a pattern at its intended size?
Choose the Letter or A4 edition to match your paper. Print at Actual size or 100 percent and disable Fit to page. Measure the one-inch test square on the cover before making templates. Trim on the crop marks, align the repeated lines in the quarter-inch overlap and tape the tiles together. Use the full-size PDF only with a printer that supports its sheet dimensions.
Do the lines include a copper foil or lead came allowance?
The free templates show seam centres, not finished glass edges. Remove the allowance appropriate to your foil, glass thickness or came heart when making templates, then test fit two scraps. A premium package may provide already-offset glass-edge versions: use its stated allowance and do not subtract it twice.
Why should I print two copies?
Keep one copy intact as the assembly cartoon. Cut the second into numbered templates. Keep the piece number and colour code on each glass piece until the dry fit is complete.
Can I use the SVG with a template-cutting machine?
The SVG has closed piece paths at inch-based dimensions and a separate label group. It can be used to prepare paper or other suitable templates after checking import scale, the material and the machine settings. Remove labels from the cutting layer and account for seam allowance and cutter kerf. These files are not instructions for a machine to cut glass.
Can I resize a design?
Resizing changes piece dimensions and may make small pieces or narrow angles impractical. Keep the stated size for a first project. Recheck all dimensions and print calibration if you scale a template elsewhere. The site resizer is still in development.
Can I change the suggested glass colours?
Yes. The colour key is a placement guide. You can substitute compatible art glass, keeping its thickness consistent and allowing for texture, opacity and grain direction. Compare your sheets in daylight before cutting.
Can I sell finished glass pieces made from these patterns?
For the free Glass and Mosaic starter collection, you may sell finished handmade pieces. Do not sell or redistribute the digital patterns or template files. Premium packages follow the licence supplied with their listing. Ask before using the files in a way the stated licence does not cover.
Have the patterns been physically test-built?
The starter collection has been checked digitally for piece counts, colour counts, coverage, overlaps and print layout. It has not been physically test-built. Test your seam allowance and dry fit the complete panel before soldering.
Can I upload a photo and turn it into a pattern here?
The photo-to-pattern tool is still in development. There is no working photo conversion service on this site yet.