diff --git a/pyembroidery/EmbPattern.py b/pyembroidery/EmbPattern.py
index 3e0d866f..aa3b028e 100644
--- a/pyembroidery/EmbPattern.py
+++ b/pyembroidery/EmbPattern.py
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ def add_stitchblock(self, stitchblock):
             except AttributeError:
                 self.add_stitch_absolute(stitch[2], stitch[0], stitch[1])
 
-    def add_pattern(self, pattern):
+    def add_pattern(self, pattern, dx=None, dy=None, sx=None, sy=None, rotate=None):
         """
         add_pattern merges the given pattern with the current pattern. It accounts for some edge conditions but
         not all of them.
@@ -592,9 +592,24 @@ def add_pattern(self, pattern):
         :param pattern: pattern to add to current pattern
         :return:
         """
+        if isinstance(pattern, str):
+            pattern = EmbPattern(pattern)
         if self.stitches[-1][2] == END:
             self.stitches = self.stitches[:-1]  # Remove END, if exists
-
+        if dx is not None or dy is not None:
+            if dx is None:
+                dx = 0
+            if dy is None:
+                dy = 0
+            self.add_command(MATRIX_TRANSLATE, dx, dy)
+        if sx is not None or sx is not None:
+            if sx is None:
+                sx = sy
+            if sy is None:
+                sy = sx
+            self.add_command(MATRIX_SCALE, sx, sy)
+        if rotate is not None:
+            self.add_command(MATRIX_ROTATE, rotate)
         # Add the new thread only if it's different from the last one
         self.fix_color_count()
 
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 9539d393..b09b8734 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 setuptools.setup(
     name="pyembroidery",
-    version="1.4.20",
+    version="1.4.21",
     author="Tatarize",
     author_email="tatarize@gmail.com",
     description="Embroidery IO library",