Yesterday’s post about the QR codes, the barcode on the back of the pattern envelope, got me thinking about sewing and technology. Isn’t it amazing that we have technology not only to improve regular life, but to make our hobbies more fun?
We can connect with other people who sew, share tips and suggestions, and leave feedback and encouragement on their blogs and projects. We can post reviews of patterns on Pattern Review, and read reviews before committing to a project! We can even share and download free patterns. We have Sew-Alongs, sewing the same pattern together with a group of people all around the world! You’re no longer limited to your mother and your one friend who sews for sewing advice.
Then again, not everyone has a smartphone. Some of us prefer sewing with vintage sewing machines as opposed to the latest, shiny computerized model. (Treadle-machines, even!) We hand-tailor coats instead of using the latest fusible interfacings and stiffeners. Knitting requires very little technology – just sticks and string! (And yet, we’ve still found ways to make it better with interchangeable needles, washable wool yarns, and websites like Ravelry!)
So I’m curious, what are your thoughts on sewing and technology? Do you have a smartphone and do you use sewing apps? Does the idea of scanning barcodes for sewing help get you excited, or leave you feeling left behind? Do you catalogue and queue your sewing projects in a computer system? Or would you rather just spend more time sewing?
How does technology make sewing better for you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I don’t have a smart phone, so I’m not able to use a lot of the latest sewing technology but that doesn’t really bother me. I do love that computers and the internet enable me to connect with other women who sew. I don’t know many people in really life who like to sew and no one else who enjoys quilting, so it’s so nice for me to be able to read about other women’s projects. The other thing I love about today’s technology is the fact that anyone can create and sell a pattern. There are so many pdf patterns available today. No only are they all so easy to get ahold of, but they’re also such much more creative than anything I can find in my local fabric store.
There are many ways that I use technology for sewing, but the most valuable tool for me is when I’m stuck and need some advice to perfect a technique and it’s midnight. All I have to do is Google it and voila, there’s the answer. I’ve determined that every problem I’ve ever had, someone else has had it too.The difference is that she/he was kind enough to share it for the rest of us.The time that this saves cannot be measured.
Google is definitely my friend when it comes to sewing or knitting or just about anything else I tackle. I’m a visual, show-me kind of person, so I’d really struggle through putting in a zipper or trying a new skill without a You Tube video to help me along. I’ve also been exposed to so (heh, almost spelled that “sew”) many new techniques, fabrics & inspirations thanks to the internet, so I appreciate the technology even more.
I have an old 1st generation computerized Elna & a new computerized Viking machine & it blows my mind as to how much more, in terms of fancy stitches, etc., the Viking can do. That’s pretty neat, I think.
I have very positive feelings about the internet and crafts, as the discovery of knittinghelp.com and ravelry marked a massive change in the way I knit. Gone are the days when every female friend and family member also knew how to knit and shared wisdom! And, personally, I learn best from video or being shown, then photos, then text. Now that I’m focusing on sewing, I’m finding the same to be true. It feels like the Internet opens up a whole world I’d been previously unexposed to.
That being said, I do find that I have to watch that I don’t degenerate into obsessive use… That I don’t spend more time reading about other people’s crafting than actually doing it myself. And also I sometimes realize that the Internet is a strange motivator. Sometimes the prospect of being able to blog a new project is motivating, but sometimes i worry that I’m crafting for the sake of getting attention online. (I wouldn’t say I’ve done that yet but sometimes worry about it in the planning stages!)
All that said, I mostly just use blogs, related websites (rav, PR, BurdaStyle, etc) and instructional materials (YouTube, KnittingHelp, Craftsy). I so far haven’t used apps or anything else. My smartphone has definitely saved my butt once or twice in the fabric store, though!
I don’t have a smart phone. My only technology is my laptop and digital camera. I do blog about my historical sewing. For modern sewing, I use a machine, but I am so discouraged with problems with getting a smooth seam and with fitting patterns, that I give up. I am doing more and more historical sewing by hand. Love hand sewing!
Laurie
Well, blogging and sharing on the internet of course! I don’t use sewing apps (I don’t use my “smart phone” that much, so I’m actually downgrading this month I think). I used to sew on a fancy computerized machine but discovered I never actually used any of those bells & whistles. Now I sew on a 1978 Bernina Record 830 and could NOT be happier. Man I love that machine. It’s a TANK, but is a faithful friend. Maybe because we’re nearly the same age, lol. :D
I credit my learning to sew to the internet. My mom didn’t sew much, she was more of a mender. Though I often claim to be “self taught” I truly feel that I have many, many seamstresses lending me a helping hand when I’m in my sewing room.
I’ve learned how to do everything from finishing seams to inserting zippers (and I have you to thank, Tasia, for introducing me to the handpicked zipper). I know that if I have troubles, all I need to do is post (be it at PR, on my blog, etc.) and in a matter of hours, a multitude “You can do it!” & “Try this…” comments come rolling in.
So, yes. The internet has made sewing better for me. It has made sewing exist for me. :D
I have an Iphone and the “Sewing Kit” app has become a life saver for tracking my patterns and making sure I don’t buy duplicates! Also, when I’m in a fabric store and see a fabric I love I can quickly find a pattern I own that will work for it and find the yardage and notions needed. This is probably the most “technological” part of my sewing (aside from blogging) but it’s become invaluable to me!
Blogs, tutorials and online patterns are the technological aspects of sewing most helpful to me. I learn so much from other people – and have access to so many more resources. I am regularly making patterns I found online and getting great ideas from the projects of other sew-ers.
My mother, also a sewer but who does not use technology in this way, has been having issues finding a pattern she was looking for. After spending hours at Joanns, she called me disappointed. I was able to pop online and find a free burdastyle pattern that met her requirements. She had never heard of burdastyle!
I also love using patternreview.com to see what tips other people have who have already created the pattern I am making.
Like many others have already said, Google is probably my favorite bit of sewing technology! ;) I also love that I can network with other sewers over the internet; whether it’s a site like PatternReview.com or following a sew-along. I have learned so much!
Eventually if I ever get a smartphone (I still don’t have one and probably won’t for a bit yet) I can see myself using it as a tool to help catalog patterns and fabric requirements. Aside from that, I can’t see using it for much else sewing related.
Have to admit though, I love my older sewing machines! I have one computerized machine that I do like, but my real loves are my late 80s and 50s mechanical Singer machines. ;) But then again I tend to enjoy a lot of “old fashioned” aspects of sewing like hand stitching and such. hehe!
I can’t really think of anything new to add!
The interweb is my biggest sewing tech tool!
Web content has taught me so much as no one else I know sews so it is my go to place if I need a quick answer. Although my library of sewing reference books is slowly growing… Plus there’s a much bigger range of retailers on line than there is locally to me.
My blackberry has all sorts of lists so I know what I need for which project, and keeps me up to date with my emails as I’m out and about which leaves me more sewing time in the evening!
My biggest sewing tech love though are all the blogs – so much inspiration and knowledge out there!
I am searching for an app that will work with my Droid phone for keeping track of my patterns. If anyone knows a good one, email me at k2bernhard at gmail dot com.
I don’t have a smartphone; personally, I’d prefer if my phone would simply make calls anywhere I am–apparently mine’s not that smart yet. ;-) However, I’m pretty excited about the different technologies. I like being able to “meet” other people who sew from all over the world, exchange ideas and knowledge through the internet, etc. My mother attempted to teach me to sew as a kid (she hath no patience), and so while I could thread the machine and knew how to do some of the basics, the internet is teaching me how to do the things that I want to do. Sure, it’s maybe not as easy as having someone (not my mom!) standing over me telling me how to do it properly when I make mistakes, but maybe I learn them better by having to work through them myself, even if I don’t have to come up with the process entirely on my own. The computerized machines though? Jury’s still out on that one. I guess I don’t trust them, probably partly because I know that it won’t last until my grandkids are sewing like some of the vintage machines are doing today, and that makes me sad. I like the thought of being able to pass something tangible along with the knowledge.
Don’t forget that the treadle sewing machine was a wonderful new technology at one time. My grandmother was a seamstress for an orphanage & had to sew all the clothes with a needle & thread.
I have a smart phone and found it really useful just the other day. I had pre-ordered the Lonsdale Dress but it hadn’t shown up yet. I was at the fabric store and they were having a MASSIVE blowout and there was good linen for $5/meter that I KNEW I wanted for the dress – but, I didn’t know the info for yardage, so I whipped out my phone, pulled up your website and proceeded to pick up enough fabric for the dress for about $13!!
SUCCESS! And, without the internet, blogs, etc, I would have never found your AMAZING patterns. I’m all for the net!
@K2: Agreed! There isn’t an app out there yet, but I’m hoping to convince someone I know to make one. Just need to know features it should have. If you have any input on what it should do, you can comment about it here: What features would you put in a sewing app for Android phones?
I was just thinking the other day, ‘how did people learn to sew before sewing blogs’? Between you and Casey, and a number of other blogs, I’m probably about a year’s worth of trial-and-erroring ahead of where I would be without the internet. My mum is of the generation who can sew, because they taught her at school, but can’t be bothered. Her sewing machine has ceased to function through lack of use. I’d ask her about basic stuff, but not anything complicated. She does knit though (mainly sweaters for the puppies at our local animal shelter!).
I only have a ‘dumb phone’ – I’m not really interested in owning a smart phone, so I won’t until that’s all that’s available. My sewing machine (Elna SU) was made in 1975, and was VERY expensive back then, and it’s still running beautifully. I only paid $100 for it. Bet you won’t find today’s computerised machines still going in 35 years. I love that it was built to last, not to fall apart and be replaced, so I want to keep it running as long as I can.
I take photos of my pattern fronts and backs with my iPhone camera and then turn them into PDFs with a PDF app. This then goes on my shelves in iBooks. I love it! So easy and no need to enter info into a sewing app, you just zoom in and read the pattern. I even created different shelves for different pattern companies, including one for Sewaholic! Now if I find fabric I love I’ll get the right yardage.
Other than that I definitely love google reader and the blogs I follow. Sewing communities are also great. Like Ms. Modiste I try not to get too absorbed in others’ projects though, otherwise I never get any sewing of my own done!
My phone is invaluable to my sewing. I have your envelope backs saved as pdfs in ibooks for shopping, and am constantly looking up things while i’m sewing when I can’t be bothered to go and get my computer.
I’ve got a great app that I use for quilting though, it calculates yardage you need for various things, and sizes of blocks and stuff. It’s great for making calculations quicker.
I have to say though, i’m not a fan of the barcode app that you need to read the barcode on the back of your envelopes. Not that I don’t trust you, but i’ve read yucky stories about those apps taking you to dodgy sites, as they don’t check with you the address they’re taking you to before opening the page.
I use Evernote to keep track of my patterns and now my fabric stash, it;s great and while I don’t have an iPhone, I know you do and they make an iPhone app too, I wrote a blog post about it if you are interested: http://thecuriouskiwi.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/they-say-an-elephant-never-forgets-uber-pattern-organisation-or-what-to-do-if-you%E2%80%99re-a-sewing-nerd-with-too-many-patterns/ It;’s very nerdy but it really does keep my stash in check and I can look up patterns so easily.
like many have said already, the internet and sewing blogs/forums have been a great motivator and help for me. I have been learning loads and get inspired every day by all the lovely women like you.
I am a pc addict…both for professional and private reasons, so keeping track of projects and ideas on my pc is natural for me. Recently I have been using pinterest because I tend to lose project ideas. Having my smart phone helped me the other day when buying fabric for the Londsdale dress!
I believe the only drawback of being able to see so many beautiful ideas at a click of a mouse is that I get overwhelmed and certainly will never have the time to re-create it all for myself. So, you need to be very selective
I love living in the future! The sewing blogger community, looking for inspiration, getting feedback, being able to find tutorials on blogs & youtube, being able to come into direct contact with people who make patterns and giving feedback on them (I received my Lonsdale & Pendrell patterns in the mail today, btw! Yay! :) Now if only my exams were over already…) It’s all very awesome to me!
Then again, I also see some drawbacks. Especially about smartphones. There are awesome and a great help, so much is true. But as a medstudent, I see young doctors and medstudents looking up stuff daily that in earlier times, even a couple of years ago, they knew – had to know! – by heart. I can only imagine the impact on their work, if, for some reason, they couldn’t rely on that resource one day. Same thing for google maps apps. They are helpful, but they can make us dumb and lazy…