Projector Sewing

Projector sewing is a method of pattern cutting in which sewists project their digital patterns directly onto their fabric. Over the past 5 plus years, projectors have taken sewing communities by storm. With online forums such as the Projectors for Sewing Facebook Group gaining over 75,000 members since its founding in 2019, you might ask what makes projector sewing so special?

It is no secret that digital patterns have exploded in popularity over the past decade (see our Indie Patterns Blog for some of our favourites). While we love the versatility, size inclusivity and re-usability of digital patterns, the print at home process can be tedious. By projecting digital patterns directly onto fabric, projector sewists save the time, energy, and paper needed to print-and-tape at home or get the pattern printed at a copy shop.

Shopping for a sewing projector may at first seem daunting with how many options are out there. Luckily, there are a few criteria that you can use to narrow your search. Three types of projectors have been found to best suit sewist's needs: 

1. Mini
2.  Short Throw
3.  Ultra Short Throw (UST) projectors

A minimum native resolution of 720p is required for pattern projection. Within these parameters, there is still lots of room for customization to your specific needs.

An important factor when considering how to choose a sewing projector is the size of your cutting space. Mini, Short Throw, and UST projectors all have different distances needed between the projector and the cutting surface to achieve the ideal image size. This measurement is often called the throw distance. UST projectors are designed to project a large image with minimal distance required. Mini and Short Throw projectors will require an overhead mount to project a workable image size. The throw distance will vary from projector to projector. Projector Central is a great resource for calculating the throw distance of a projector. Their calculator gives you the option to input custom measurements and specs, or you can select a specific model from their list of projectors to see how it will work in your space.

Flexibility is another thing to keep in mind when choosing a projector. Do you have a dedicated space that you can mount a projector, or will you need something that is portable? Short throw and Mini projectors will need to be mounted- usually to the ceiling- to project onto a cutting surface. While it takes a bit more initial effort to install a mounted projector, having a fixed position cuts down on the time needed for calibration. Ultra-short throw projectors have a smaller throw distance, and so do not need to be mounted. This does make set up and calibration a little more time consuming, as you will need to re-calibrate when you move the projector. Not needing a permanent fixture makes UST projectors a great choice for renters. Here at Discovery Fabrics, we bought a UST because of the flexibility it allows us. We have our projector set up on a wheeled projector cart, which can be brought to any of our cutting tables.

The lighting of your cutting space will also be a factor to consider. Will you be able to cover windows and other light sources? UST projectors tend to be more visible in partial light than Mini or Short Throw. In our shop many of our spaces have built-in skylights and large windows that are difficult to fully cover. We decided that it was important for our projector to have a bright display that would be visible in partial daylight.

For many people, cost will be a large deciding factor when choosing their projector. Mini projectors can often be found at relatively affordable prices brand new through amazon, or second hand through eBay or other resale sites. Ultra-Short Throw projectors can be pricey brand new, but there is a large selection available on eBay at prices around $100-$200 from sellers that curate projectors retired from classroom use. Short Throw projectors tend to be the most expensive and can be found brand new and second hand.

Projectors need to be connected to a casting device (Phone, laptop, ipad). Some projectors will be able to connect wirelessly, others will require a wired connection through an hdmi cable.

Once your device is connected, you must calibrate your projector. Calibration is the process of adjusting a projected image so that it measures a desired scale. A gridded cutting mat is ideal for the calibration process, as it gives you a clear scale to match. Without proper calibration, patterns will be warped and project at improper scale, resulting in your pattern being the wrong size.

How does calibration work?

 There are plenty of ways to calibrate your projector, but today we will focus on what we use here at Discovery, Pattern Projector. Pattern Projector is a free, web-based calibration application developed for sewists, by sewists. There is no Download or account required, just internet access on your casting device. The interface itself is fairly intuitive. The website projects a grid that you can set to custom measurements. You can then click and drag the corners and sides of the grid on your casting device so that the projected grid lines up with your cutting mat. All of the calibration work is done through your casting device, so you don’t have to fiddle around with settings on your projector. Once you are properly calibrated, you can begin projecting.

Projector Sewing

A few resources for using Sewing Projectors that we hope you'll find helpful

• ·Facebook groups: Sewing Patterns for Projectors and Projectors for Sewing

• Projector Sewing Offers course/lessons and great advice! (see below)

• PatternProjector Free Software for calibration

• PDF Stitcher (turns print-at-home sewing patterns into projectable files)