I’m using a cheap projector off BangGood on top of a camera tripod. There’s a bit of set-up time every time I want to cut some fabric since I can’t mount it to the ceiling but it’s still way quicker than printing, taping, and cutting pdf patterns!
This cute raccoon brushed French terry was turned into a Tilly and the Buttons Billie Sweater.

    • Nilesse@beehaw.orgOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      To get the right size, it’s a matter of selecting the right layer on the pdf. I usually have to make adjustments due to my waist-hip ratio and I use Inkscape to edit the files. A lot of indie pattern makers have started supporting projector friendly files. In terms of distortion, you always start with a calibration phase where you project a grid (usually in inches) and adjust pdf zoom & project settings (in case of skew) until the grid matches your physical measuring tool (mat, ruler,…). Then it’s a matter of noting down the zoom percentage and opening any pattern pdf at that same percentage. These files often come with a small little grid on the side as well for a quick double check.

  • Someology@lemmy.world
    2·
    1 year ago

    After printing and taping together several patterns before cutting out, I basically stopped buying digital sewing patterns. Life is too short. I went back to printed commercial patterns. I have found the use of projectors for this really intriguing, but my sewing closet doesn’t really have an easy/good place I can mount a projector to use. I can understand the appeal, though! I think that if I have to haul it out of storage every time, I’ll just never use it.

    • Nilesse@beehaw.orgOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      Yes, I did. It was €150 from Banggood. I personally feel the cost is justified because the alternative is printing hundreds of pages and taping those together, which is high in ink cost and opportunity cost (it takes a while).
      However, I do primarily (almost exclusively) use digital patterns so I use the thing very often. If you also use regular paper patterns I would imagine the value might be less.

  • Wigglet@beehaw.org
    1·
    1 year ago

    I hope to one day have a wee studio in the garden where I will actually have the room to have a projector and cutting space ☺️ right now i cut on the floor and sew on my itty-bitty table or teeny-weeny countertops in my tiny house 😂

  • Cipher@beehaw.org
    1·
    1 year ago

    I send my PDFs off to be printed, but I really like this idea. The main difference I might do if I go this route is projecting onto swedish tracing paper instead of directly onto the fabric. I just know my fabric would shift on me with my luck, but I could trace a projection.

    • Nilesse@beehaw.orgOP
      2·
      1 year ago

      I tried looking into the printer/plotter services but sadly it’s very expensive in my country, which is why I started on the whole projector adventure in the first place.
      Fabric shifting can indeed be an issue. For this stretchy knit I used just two weights but for things that are more slippery, I put weights all over to keep it as flat as possible. Using a rotary cutter also helps a lot.

      • Cipher@beehaw.org
        2·
        1 year ago

        If you don’t mind me asking, what’s the resolution on your projector?

        I’m looking for something similar and trying to get an idea of what resolution this use might require

        • Nilesse@beehaw.orgOP
          2·
          1 year ago

          It’s a native 1080p. If you’re on Facebook, there’s a group called “Projectors for sewing” that has a lot of information, they recommend a min. res of 720p. In the US there’s a big market of second hand projectors but it’s trickier in Europe, which is why I ordered a cheaper new one (Wanbo T2 Max).