You are definitely not a sewer! A sewist, maybe? And yes, it's one of the most courteous areas of the Internet, as well as being so informative, creative and inspiring!
@@jenniferprice1036 Debating it, but since it doesn't come in my size, I'd have to figure out pattern altering, Might try on a more beginner friendly piece as i've never resized patterns before.
@@buttonsnrubbish If you're needing a plus size pattern, they have it available now on the CIC's Esty store! I just got it, so I don't know how well the pattern works, but I'm looking forward to make the Spencer Jacket!
What a cool hack! I've seen the old OHP method but had never thought of updating it like this. It's next level, but so simple! (And takes up less space!)
I use my previous tv as my computer monitor now. It’s large enough that I can trace pretty much anything, even patterns, onto paper from the screen. I use photoshop to make the image the actual size I need it to be, turn lights off, tape tracing paper up, and carefully trace. Yeah yeah yeah I’m sure it’s not great for the screen but I’ve done it a million times and it’s an old tv so I don’t care. It’s more useful to me in this way than any other way lol
I do this with my computer monitor. I scale up the pattern to size after taking a pic and uploading it, then use a bulldog clip to clip the paper to the plastic surround, then trace the lines with a highlighter (not a Sharpie - a sharpie will bleed, but highlighters won't, and you don't need to press a highlighter for it to make a line like a pen/cil will).
@@melissashiels7838 oh I love the highlighter trick! I will definitely borrow that next time. I usually use pencil but I trace it very softly so I’m not putting hardly any pressure on the monitor
Ummm now that’s a great idea my TV has not been turned on now for over 5 years plus it sits there doing nothing Dad and I had been discussing the use of it with RU-vid but we just not gotten around to linking it all up yet😹😹😹 now your idea is fantastic and as it’s a flat screen TV I can get a piece of tempered glass to sit onto top of it and place the TV under the table on its back with the glass pre-set into the table thus no actual pressure used on the TV screen at all. Thanks for a great idea now I’m glad I bought such a large screen after all 😹😹😹👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
@Alexandra McLean 😹😹thanks now that made me feel very young again, but I got the idea as I was writing it up I could picture it in me head all at once now I just can not wait to pull my cutting table apart so Dad and I can cut out a section to fit the TV into it and also trim out the area for the glass 😹😹I was given 3 old tempered glass couch window which thankfully are flat so I thought I could use one even though it’s tinted it should work nicely 😸😸
@@AnastasiaR If you can find softer pencil lead (in the B-8B range) you can make a mark with less pressure on the screen (though you'll have to sharpen the pencil more often). You can even find softer lead for mechanical pencils, usually at art supply stores. For those using pen, try felt-tip pens or fine tip markers, those need less pressure to start the ink flowing - so you're less likely to damage the tv/monitor. Cheers! 😁
@@invadersin5203 I hope they’re working on A4 support as well as larger sizes. After all, it’s the default size for printing paper in most of the world (all but two countries, I think).
@@ragnkja It says on the etsy page that they are currently making bigger sizes. As for the paper size, I also hope they will make an A4 pattern but maybe your local printer shop might be able to print American paper sizes?
@@mickb.8925 If I have to go to a printer shop (the nearest one is about 100 km away, so hardly “local”, especially since I don’t drive), I’d rather have them print out the one-sheet version.
Just finished Bernadette's video and can't wait to watch yours. But had to stop to drop this idea I had. Movie night of Ever After 1998 with the other historical dress folk of youtube.
As a fairly inexperienced sewer, and beginner in historical clothing, how does one ensure the correct pattern proportions/sizing when using a projector? Is it simply a matter of sizing at 100% in the pattern? Also, how does working with larger patterns than a corset affect the distance the projector needs to be from a table? Is ceiling height too short a distance? I love this idea, as I have just purchased a digital pattern that turned out to be 155 A4 pages to print and I can’t seem to find a wide format printer in my area. As I already have a projector, this really appeals! And it means my watchlist of all the other digital patterns could become an immediate purchase 😂😂😂 💝🙏
@@lilaeia In order to fit a larger pattern on the table, you need a larger projected image. The alternative would be to have to move it around on the screen, which isn’t good if you have to do it in the middle of a piece.
@@lilaeia It depends on the projector, of course. Some will do huge expanses with a very short throw. Assuming that your projector wasn't made for short throw, you'll have a very small, probably hard to focus, picture area, (unless you have vaulted ceilings, then you'll have a good chance of being alright.) It is possible to find short-throw projectors on Amazon with decent reviews by people who have used them for this purpose, for less than $200US. Of course if you don't feel good about duck-taping it to your ceiling; mounting hardware will get you most of the way to $300US. ;-D
@@lilaeia - I have not purchased the Spencer jacket pattern yet. But other patterns I have include a first-print page with a precisely measured-out square. If that square doesn't come out correctly, the enlargement percentage needs to be adjusted. Does your pattern have this print feature? It has worked well for me.
Great crossover with Bernadette's video. 😏 Now that we're all downloading the Spencer jacket pattern it's great to see another option vs printing it out.
First the foam dress dummy, and now the A-V gal! Morgan, you are definitely turning into our resident hardware expert Costuber! Actually, I think the hairpins and hair spirals from that grave site counts as hardware research too! Yup. You de GAL!
🤯 I’ve seen some pattern designers are now offering projector files. This makes it seem less fanciful. Thank you so much for sharing all of this information and especially the time savings and savings on paper/glue/tape waste.
Yes, lots of designers offering projector files. And many A0/copy shop files work great, too! There’s even a program you can find out about in the group that can put letter or A4 size patterns together into one big file digitally. The group is absolutely amazing!
Ouch! While I have an inkjet printer it's for much this reason that my goto printer is an HP laserjet. Bought it years ago and it's still on the cartridge that came with it. Never clogs up from disuse. Just works.
As someone who cannot ever cut the same line twice, this method is extremely tempting. Less room for error if you just cut the fabric, rather than cutting first the pattern and then the fabric and somehow ending up with two differently sized shapes. (Unrelated side note: I was looking up Medieval hood patterns earlier, and the very first result was a video that I looked at and went, "that looks an awful lot like mr. Morgan Donner." Which, indeed, it was. Also the video was pretty much exactly what I'd been looking for, so yay for Mr. Morgan having a recognizable silhouette!)
I use the living room and kitchen table. Oh and sometimes the floor in the hallway if the table is not long enough. I've also used my bed when folding and cutting circle skirts/dresses.
Wow, Morgan, What a wonderful and heartfelt thank you. I am going out on a limb and will say most of US also appreciate you and all your help big and small as you help us maneuver through the twists and turns of costuming. From me to you THANK YOU!
Went from watching Bernadette's video to watching yours, as I re-stitchmy skirts pocket that I inconveniently put on backwards the first time. Thanks for the content, education, and entertainment!
I'm thrilled to see projectors becoming more widespread! I got one after having a baby which obviously limits my sewing time. The projector cuts out so much of the tedious work and speeds up the process. I can now sew a pair of leggings start to finish in less than an hour.
Projectors are a great way to easily scale up anything you need. When I took an advanced art class in school we took pictures of something we wanted to paint, put it on the projector and traced onto the canvas
I can't wait to see your finished jacket! It's been really cool to see the different techniques and choices all the different CosTubers are making even though you're all starting from the same pattern.
At the moment I am working on sewing wardrobe basics in stretch fabrics (attempting to break free from fast fashion suppliers) which generally only have a handful of pattern pieces each so printing isn't too time consuming. If/when I decide to take on more complex patterns I will definitely consider this method, thank you for opening my eyes to previously unknown opportunities!
I was really impressed how fast everything was going before I realized it was in minutes, still an impressive projector set up time ours took a few hours to get to correctly fit the edges of the screen and that wasn't even with and inch calibration
Watching (well more listening) to you, Abby, Bernadette and Rachel while fighting my way through 12 m of "Holbi" (the decorative lower edge of a traditional Sámi Dress aka Gákti) was pretty much all I did today (well that and using your method of 15th century hemming for a Sámi belt edge, because... I can). So thank you for making my Sunday a lot nicer, than it would have been with only the rattling of my sewing machine =)
I finished making the dress form you showed us how to make and realized that there's not a lot of plus size patterns readily available in my local stores. I found a bunch of amazing ones online and was just wondering how the heck I was going to justify the ink and paper costs to print 96 pages per dress, and then you post this! Thank you, as always, for your timely help!
I really love how you do your experiments, the way you gove conclusions to them always seems like you're trying to consider every angle and I appreciate that ❤
If I can get through some of my UFOs maybe I'll treat myself to this. I've been thinking about one of these for a while for transferring sketches, but if it get me out of pattern upscaling I am so there.
I have used this method for both sewing and large embroidery pattern tracing. I loved this method so much because it really does allow you to do some awesome things.
My worlds are colliding! lol I work in the audio visual industry and work with projectors a lot. Other things to consider are the cost of replacing the projector lamps, the weight (especially if you plan to put it on a tripod), and if the space you plan to put it in can be darkened (windows with no shades might cause a problem!). I also remember using an opaque projector in school and yes projectors have definitely come a long way! We have laser projectors now!
Fan girling over sewing meets tech! This will make my life so much easier for all the reasons mentioned. No more paper patterns, easier to scale up said patterns and no more print, tape and cut. I can never get the pages to match up properly and that drives me crazy when they do that. Thank you so much for making this video.
And if you don’t want to spend the money on one remember your local library! I used one there to enlarge a pattern once, just told them I needed to project an image to trace out of a sewing pattern book, and they had it all set up and aimed at a plain wall. Best of all: IT WAS FREE!!!!
Using a projector, *WHY* have I never thought of this? My husband has a projector... I feel he might suffer some thievery very soon... Morgan, this idea is brilliant. You, madam, are a marvel.
Damn! THIS IS GENIOUS!!! I haven't thought about a projector in years, and when you said it, I went right to the old overhead projectors from school (I'm old -- don't judge). But this is BRILLIANT!!! Far down on my pile of projects -- because the scaling up is going to be a solid pain -- are several scaled patterns, things I want to make but don't want to draw out. FABULOUS!! Thank you! Stay well!
Getting a copy on a plastic sheet for an overhead projector was how we scaled up maps for posters when I was in school. The last time I needed to do so was in 2006/2007, but I bet they kept using it longer than that.
I currently don't have enough space (because my sewing room is my very small bedroom, with not enough flat surface), but as soon as I (eventually) get a proper sewing room, this will definitely be something that I want!
What a fun video. When I was younger (around 2010), my dad had bought a projector to use as a tv. It was hidden in a box we also used as a side table. Whenever people came over and we wanted to watch a movie, they were so confused about it because they saw no television. So if you want to get 'more' out of your projector, you could definiltey use it to watch Netflix/Morgan's video's on your wall! (Although you'd have to calibrate it every time you switch its use)
Hi Morgan! I love how you always (always!) take things to the next level and really go the extra-mile to show us amazing techniques & include all the detailed information. It's so fun and interesting to watch, thanks for being so extra :) Most people: custom dressform with pattern Morgan: makes her own cast & foam pour! Most people: overlock hems Morgan: hand weaves a hem! Most people: make some bustle Morgan: Bustle chair, including black smithing and the whole deal!
We use to use projectors like this all the time at school! Ours were on carts so we "calibrated it" by moving the carts towards/away from the wall. We then connected our phones with the image, projected it on the wall then traced away. It was so useful and funny to see like 5 projectors all in the art room come homecoming.
I love the use of a projector, as a person who also dislikes the process of using A4 paper.... thinking of trying this in future! Thanks for the idea Morgan!!
This is like the projection we had in grade school but tiny love it. It might take us old timers a hot min to get used to not having an actual paper. Tho a lot better than printing out a million sheets of paper and trying to figure out how to match up the peices just to get one pattern. Glad you did the challenge for me to see what is faster lol
I am so fascinated by this,and sure that the thing is beyond my ability to enact, but fascinated none the less. Your little grey half of a spencer is lovely. It deserves to be a whole spencer!
So over the past year and half I've gotten super obsessed with historical costuming! I found Karolina Zebrowska, then Angela Clayton , Bernadette Banner and then finally you. I've always love costume dramas mostly because of the costumes! I loved the construction of the dresses, so different than modern fashion is today, and the fabric and how it moved and flowed while the actresses walked. My mom noticed how much I kept talking about historical fashion and recommending she watch your guys's stuff and sent me my Christmas present early: a sewing machine! The only problem is I have no idea how to use one lol, oops. (I know how to sew buttons! that's a start right?) Hopefully I can ease my way into the world of sewing so I can join you all in history bounding goodness!
I know you have patterns, but the way you actually stitch and put your own personal touches to your work is just beautiful!! Do you make clothes for theatre productions? Or sell them by made to order? Or is this a hobby that you just share with us!? I do have to say It’s the same with your hair videos. The way you’re able to make the look so authentic, as it would look in that time era. I loved the little copper hair stoppers and the pins, and then seeing you actually make them yourself. Your literally amazing at what whatever you turn your hand to!!
I'm in that group, I had no idea they had sewing royalty members! Hey, I just wanted to tell you, I've been watching you for years and I finally have a sewing machine, my projector arrives today and I'll finally get to "sew along" Thank you!
I love my projector! Ultra Short Throws are very, very expensive but most of us using them buy them second hand. Mine isn’t an UST but it is a second hand Short Throw Epson. I spent $100 total on mine. It has been so worth it in time savings. Especially since I have two daughters I sew for in two different sizes and also a son that I usually use different patterns to sew for, plus myself and my husband.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS. I can't believe I hadn't thought of doing this myself!!!! This is awesome!!! So, the projector on Amazon (currently) has a $25 coupon, FYI. I ordered it and the mount and shall be experimenting shortly. Several added costs to printer patterns that I feel you have missed is #1 - THE INK. OMG. I've printed out several Seamworks patterns now, and cost #2 - the space. Cost #3 to printing - the agony and angst of not being 100% sure the darn things are perfectly lined up, especially with much larger pieces. When storing large printed pieces, they tend to do best rolled up - but then you have curled patterns that have to be ironed flat again before using.If you don't have pattern weights, paper buckles a lot more than onion skin patterns when pinning, so I would honestly add the cost of weights to the printed pattern breakdown.
Wah! This is such a complete and extensive video about the subject! I love the fact that you took the time to try the 2 methods to a fair comparison , thanks a lot!
I have been wanting to do this for multiple styles of projects. So good see someone actually using this. I got to use this for our stain glass silk dye project at the university. Loved it and can’t wait to really do it in my own crafting.
It wasn't until you mentioned it that it occurred to me that you wouldn't even need to copy the pattern onto paper and could go straight into cutting fabric! Mind. Blown. Would be interested in seeing a comparison of the pieces cut using both methods, to compare the accuracy.
This is such a cool idea. I was just discussing how much we hate dealing with patterns in another FB group. This could be a real life saver. Back when I first started using PDF patterns I was tracing each individual piece onto freezer paper. So I could just iron down my patterns. But it was always a pain in the rear when it came to matching up pieces. I could have used a projector big time for this process. Another thing this would come in handy for is for tracing out where certain stitch lines go. Like for placing your boning channels in corsets and stays. I always struggle with tracing paper and wheels when it comes to these things. Thanks for this very informative idea. I will be checking out the group.
Whoa for some reason the video title made me think this was some high tech expensive gadget but this was way simpler and more ingenious than I thought!!
Oh my YASS! I’ve recently gotten into pdf patterns because we are likely to move in spring and I can’t justify another cabinet of paper and tissue patterns! Thank you for making my arguments to the spouse so much easier! He watched and agreed and has found several uses for his craft needs as well! WIN! Super grateful!!
Of course I JUST bought a large-format printer right before I found out about this projector technique. 😒 Can't wait to see your version of the spencer!
I bought a projector to make larger wall posters/teaching props for my kindergarten classroom and it was been such a help! I will definitely have to play around with mounting it vertically somehow to try cutting out patterns. Thanks for all the detailed info!!
That is an amazing idea and I just love it. I don't have a space where I can do that now, but perhaps soon. I do even have a projector, but that is basically my movie screen. I imagine that at some point I will want a projector dedicated to projecting my patterns. For right now, I sure do like my paper patterns, but I really do love this idea. Thank you so much for all that you do. Your channel is a bright spot in an often gloomy year. Take care and be safe.
The spencer is really cute, and I prefer the somewhat looser fit of your version. When I have the money, I want to try it out! I used the projection technique way back in 2003 to enlarge an image onto paper in order to use it as a stencil and it worked wonderfully. I used one of the old, overhead projectors. I haven't used a projector since, but remembered it the other day when I was trying to scale up a line drawing of a pattern that really wasn't meant to be scaled up and was losing my mind. Thank you for the info about min/max projection distance and different types of projectors!
I really want a projector for my sewing, and this video only made that wish stronger! I do a lot of modern clothing making and a lot of the indie companies are starting to include projector files.
Oh man, this is just amazing. I remember reading in the early days of costume blogging about people blowing up PoF gridded patterns by projecting them onto walls and such. Hooray for technological advances - it's BRILLIANT to mount it to the ceiling and point it straight down! I have a bunch of PDF patterns I've bought just because of the instant gratification factor, but it's not so "instant" if you have to tape all of the pieces together before cutting it out! It's so funny that it seems scary to cut right into the fabric without physically pinning the pattern pieces to it. We're conditioned to want to do that step first I guess, LOL!!
This is pretty amazing. I can see the benefits of this. It's a lot like the Benefit of the Lutterloh system> Where It's a tiny pattern and you make itt to your exact size, measurements, dart placements, etc. Without having a giant bunch of paper to paw through and figure out. Awesome!
This is great! I find drafting and transferring patterns on paper to be a big chunk of making anything and using a projector has crossed my mind before, thanks for doing the experimenting and answering that question!
Wow! I need to try this! Transferring/Printing patterns is one of my biggest hurdles in my projects, I've used projectors in art before but I never thought about mounting them to project onto a cutting table!
Perfect! I have acquired several online patterns that have a projector option recently. Like you I remember using a clunky projector in school and transferring to a wall, using paper. It didn't seem appealing to do that. I would rather have it printed at my local printers office. But now that I have seen your setup over the cutting table I am intrigued by the option. Very nice! You have opened my mind to this as an option in my own sewing. Up till now I have just been cutting the baby patterns on my Cricut Maker. But as my baby grows those patterns won't fit in the size constraints the Maker is limited to.
I never knew this was a thing. Mind blown. I don’t have a working printer or ink so the cost is seems to be about the same. I just ordered a paper corset pattern from Red Threaded and have been waiting for it in the mail. This would be a game changer.
Oh my Goodness. I have a moto z phone with an attachable projector. Bought the projector attachment just for fun, but now I have a use for it! I can't wait to try this out!
