Some sewists find the task of printing and taping countless pages together meditative; I am not one! After taping together one 50-page pattern, I realized I did not want to do it ever again. I tried large format printing, which saves some time printing and taping; however, it requires some advance planning, and you still end up tracing and cutting out the paper pattern pieces, which to me is tedious.

I joined the Projectors for Sewing Facebook group to see what it was all about. The group was formed by Missy Pore in December of 2019 and currently has over 69,000 members. I was convinced immediately; I purchased my first projector in March 2020 and haven’t looked back.

How do you use a projector for sewing?

The projector is connected to your phone, tablet, or computer, either wireless or using an HDMI cable. It acts as a second screen, projecting the pattern directly down onto your fabric (or for some sewists, onto paper).

Prior to projecting, you will use a calibration file from Projectors for Sewing to confirm that your projection is square and at the correct scale—this is the zoom % in your PDF reader that will get your pattern pieces projected at the right size. If you have a permanent spot for your projector, you’ll only need to do this process once; afterwards, you’ll turn on your projector, set the zoom % in your PDF reader, and go!

Requirements/costs:

So what kind of projector is best for projecting? This will depend on your desired projection size and available throw distance (distance between cutting surface and projector lense). Generally, you want a projection size of at least 24”x36” to accommodate adult patterns.

Projectors should have at least a 720p native resolution. If you have at least 50-55” throw distance, look for a “mini” projector available on Amazon for $100CAD or less. If you have less than 50” throw distance or can’t permanently mount a projector, your best option is to purchase an Ultra Short Throw projector second hand on EBay. I picked one up for $120CAD including shipping.

A computer or mobile phone/tablet, and a PDF reader program that allows you to select layers is a must (Adobe PDF for computer, Xodo for mobile).

You will also need a flat surface and cutting mat/rotary cutter. Your back will thank you for using a table instead of the floor, but this will also affect your throw distance.

Benefits:

The biggest benefit projector sewists will see is cost/time savings. You are skipping the printing, taping, and tracing/cutting. This is especially important if you sew multiple sizes or pattern test.

Other great projector sewing features include:

• Easier to line up grainlines, patterned fabric, panels

• Easier to mark notches, darts, pleats, and trace appliqué and quilting lines

• Ease of using pattern generator websites (My favourite being Apostrophe Patterns)

Common questions/concerns:

How do you grade/make pattern adjustments?

Grading between sizes and lengthen/shorten can be done on-the-fly while cutting. If I plan to make the pattern again or have a more complicated adjustment, I do the adjustment in Inkscape, a free, open source vector program. Some sewists will project to paper and make the adjustments the traditional way.

How do you cut out a pattern that is larger than your projection/cutting mat?

I find a marker—a notch or work, mark the fabric and shift it and the pattern piece.

How accurate is the projection?

Since paper patterns have only a 1” calibration square and projector patterns allow you to check the scale of your full mat dimensions, your projector pattern should be more accurate.versus a projector pattern.  Anecdotally, I have a hard time cutting paper pattern pieces accurately with scissors, so I think my projector cutting is far more precise.

Can I still do pattern tetris?

Absolutely. My toxic trait is buying cuts of fabric too small for where I plan to use them. I use Inkscape to layout pattern pieces in a digital canvas the size of my fabric.

Where can I go for more information?

The Projectors for Sewing Facebook group is incredibly helpful for resources and support: 

Top Tips for Projecting Patterns - Update(Compiled by Sasha Sewist for Projectors for Sewing)

SashaSewist - Projector Resources

ProjectorSewing

Nicole (she/her) lives with her husband and son   in Winnipeg, Canada. She picked up sewing in 2019 after being frustrated with replacing her postpartum wardrobe. She jumped right in, with a swimsuit and jeans among her first few projects. These days she participates in lots of pattern testing. She is active in the Projectors for Sewing community, and will sew anything at least once! She is particularly interested in bramaking. When she’s not sewing, she works in marketing and sings with a tribute band.

She also hosts the Community Bra Club which meets a couple of times a year. The next meeting is on November 18 from 6-8pm. If you’re curious about making your own bras, she has a ton of resources and knowledge to share. Sign up here: Bra Club