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Daily Wire Tip Dec. 22: Printing Jewelry Patterns

By on December 22, 2010
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Daily Wire Jewelry Making Tip for
December 22, 2010

Question:

I love the Free Patterns that you provide so we can grow our wire working techniques. How can I print out the instructions so that only the instructions print? I can’t sit watching my computer, because the lighting isn’t good.

-Dawn in Anchorage, Alaska

Answer:

No problem, Dawn! Here are two different ways to print our patterns.

The first step in both ways needs you to select the pattern. To select the pattern, click your right mouse button at the beginning of the pattern, hold the button down, drag the cursor to the end of the pattern, and release the button.

If you wish to save a copy on your computer first:

  • Select the pattern, copy it (Edit > Copy), then paste it (Edit > Paste) into a Word document (OpenOffice Writer will work too). Then, File > Save the pattern on your computer. You can print it out to have a hard copy, and you will always have it on your computer.

If you just wish to print without saving a copy:

  • Make sure your printer is connected to your computer and is on.
  • If you are using Firefox or Internet Explorer, select the pattern. Then go to the top left of the screen, and click on File, then click on Print. When the Print box comes up, choose Selection, then click OK (Firefox) or Print (Internet Explorer).

    • (If your Internet Explorer looks different, you may not have the current version; click here to download it.)

I hope this helps!

Thank you to Victoria O., who helped edit these steps.

Answer contributed by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong

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14 Comments

  1. avatar

    Patricia Vittetoe

    December 22, 2010 at 10:14 am

    I hope you guys are working on an easier way to print out the patterns without going through the cut and paste or printing out all the extra stuff on the page. It sure would make it easier on all of us. Thanks for a great website.

    • avatar

      Rose

      December 22, 2010 at 12:12 pm

      Yes, Patricia, in fact that is one of our New Year’s Resolutions! I can’t say when, but we are definitely going to work on a printer-friendly option in the next few months. Thanks!

  2. avatar

    Alex

    December 22, 2010 at 3:57 pm

    Another way, if you don’t want the pictures (which take up a lot of ink) is to copy the text by right clicking it and highlighting it, open Notepad (or another text editor) and paste the text into Notepad. You can print it out from Notepad.

    Honestly, I do not use Internet Explorer, as there are just too many security holes, even on an updated version. A good friend of mine who is a computer geek says, “I only use Internet Explorer one time; to download Firefox after I install Windows”. Firefox is a very stable, very fast, very secure, very user friendly replacement for Internet Explorer, and I use it almost exclusively.

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      December 22, 2010 at 5:53 pm

      Me too Alex – my browser of choice : )

  3. avatar

    mary

    December 22, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    Ladies:
    Dale and I have discussed this in the past as well with hopes of getting things changed. Sure would make it easier to print the pattern out and put it in a notebook to save. So hang in there with us.

  4. avatar

    Krister

    December 22, 2010 at 5:54 pm

    I have always highlighted the entire pattern with photos, click ‘copy’, then ‘pasted’ it into a new Word document. I retain the pattern by removing anything that is not necessary. Then I ‘Save” and ‘name’ the pattern using the name given. I do keep the author for future reference. It is the best way I know of to keep a pattern. I have many patterns for use in the future.

    Dale, it would be a lot easier if you provided an easier way to print patterns. A button/key for a printable version would be excellent. Thanks for the inspirations.

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      December 22, 2010 at 8:48 pm

      Hi Krister, as Rose has mentioned, we are working on a Printer version of our patterns : )

  5. avatar

    Lisa Metzler

    December 22, 2010 at 11:17 pm

    How about providing a PDF format of the patterns? They can be saved and downloaded easily. It would make the “library” much more accessible to everyone.

  6. avatar

    Melanie Capps

    December 23, 2010 at 10:35 am

    I agree with all of you. A printer friendly button would be WONDERFUL !!!!! I feel that printer ink is just as precious as our wire….both are expensive to replace. Thank you for all you do for us, your hints, tips, a place to purchase our supplies, patterns for more insiration, and your great customer service.

  7. avatar

    Patricia Gainer

    December 23, 2010 at 1:54 pm

    I also think a PDF version would be the most benefitial. I do not use Word or Microsoft Office as I don’t see the need to buy the program just to save internet pages. Adobe is freeware and everyone can use it so PDF is most accessible to everyone.

  8. avatar

    Ramona

    December 23, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    I’d have to agree with Alex. My husband programs and designs websites for large corporate clients. He will not use anything but Mozilla Firefox. Says it beats Internet Explorer hands down. I’m sure he’d love for me to learn pdf files too, but I am nearly computer illiterate and so “File, copy, paste and save into a new word document” also. Works every time for me.

    Thanks Dale for all your help and instructions. I’m still learning wire work, but am excited to make new and different pieces of jewelry that I just could not when I was stringing beads only. Thanks again.

    • avatar

      dalecgr

      December 24, 2010 at 12:40 am

      You are very welcome Ramona, inspiration and techniques go hand-in-hand : )

  9. avatar

    Mary Phillips

    December 24, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    I copy (cntl C) and paste (cntrl V) and then resize and drag the pics together. By adjusting margins etc and picture placement / size, most patterns fit on 2 pages.

  10. avatar

    Susan Dover

    January 27, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    I have found 2 projects # 111 Gold Cocktail Ring and #105 Adjustable Filigree Gold ring. They have been copied so much they are hard to read. How do I find older free patterns from your site.