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I’ve had my eye on Joann’s Ditto projector for a while now. It is the first projector made specifically for sewing patterns! I’m guessing it will significantly disrupt the sewing pattern industry…
The basic idea behind a sewing projector is that you set it up over your cutting table and project the image of a pattern down onto your fabric. It eliminates the need for paper patterns altogether. How cool is that?
Of course, using projectors for sewing patterns is not a new idea — people have been rigging mini projectors and short-throw projectors in their sewing rooms for a while now. I’ve done it, too. Many indie pattern companies have also added projector files to their patterns to make using a projector for sewing even easier.
Curiosity got the best of me, and I purchased a Ditto projector from JoAnn’s this week. It’s still sitting in the box, but I hope to get it set up this weekend and give it a try. I’ll be writing a review, so stay tuned!
I’ve seen a lot of mixed reviews and opinions about the Ditto sewing projector online, so I thought it would be helpful to create a pros and cons list for all you sewists who may be on the fence. Let me know in the comments below whether you’ll be purchasing a Ditto projector or not!
Con: The Ditto Has a High Introductory Price
The Ditto projector was launched in March 2023 with an introductory price of $799. That’s cost prohibitive for hobby sewists and not appealing to people who have already been using other projectors in their sewing rooms for a while.
For comparison purposes, you can get a mini projector or a second-hand, ultra-short throw projector for under $200. You’ll also need to get a mount and cutting mat, though, which can vary in price depending on your sewing room setup. The Ditto comes with everything you need (except the cutting table). You get the projector, a mount that goes from floor to ceiling, a cutting mat, and access to the app.
Note: On top of Ditto’s high price tag, you can only use patterns in their app with the projector and you must buy them individually or pay a monthly subscription for access. I’ll discuss that a little more later, but it is important to know that your costs don’t end with the purchase of the projector.
Pro: Setting Up the Ditto Projector Is Easy
The Ditto projector aims to take the guesswork out of setting up a projector for sewing. All you have to do is attach the frame to your cutting table, download the app, and configure the projector. It can be done in less than 30 minutes. That’s a major win!
Before the Ditto, setting up a projector for sewing was complicated and took hours because you had to research the right type of projector for your sewing room, figure out which mount would work, spend time getting it set up, learn complicated software to modify patterns (if needed), calibrate your projector, and then hope that the lines would be bright enough for you to see… Nothing was straightforward. I wrote a whole post about it, if you’re interested: READ THIS Before Buying a Projector for Sewing Patterns.
A couple of years ago, Vankyo reached out to me and asked if I wanted to try their mini projector in my sewing room. I had always been curious about sewing patterns with projector files, so I agreed to give it a try. They sent me the projector and I spent several hours trying to get it set up. It was complicated and the mount they sent me wouldn’t work, so I had to create my own mounting system with brackets. In the end, I learned that a mini projector wouldn’t work for me because my ceilings were not tall enough. It was not fun! I eventually got a second-hand, short-throw projector that could sit directly on my cutting table, but it was large and not easy to use.
Con: You Can’t Use Indie Patterns with the Ditto (Yet…)
If you’re looking for something easy to set up, the Ditto projector is your best bet. However, you won’t be able to use any of the patterns you’ve already accumulated with it (yet). That includes any patterns you have from indie pattern companies that have projector files. I think this is a real shame! However, Ditto has announced that this feature is coming.
Currently, the Ditto projector has an app with patterns you can use with the projector. You can access over 100 patterns, and they claim to add more every month. At first glance, the patterns are very basic. They have been taken from Simplicity, Butterick, McCall’s, and other major pattern brands. I do like that they have some Style Arc patterns, too.
Pro: Ditto Patterns Can Be Customized to Your Body Measurements
The biggest differentiator for the Ditto projector is that you can put in your body measurements and the pattern will be automatically adjusted to fit. With other projectors used for sewing, you have to make the adjustments to the pattern yourself in a program like Inkscape or Adobe Illustrator. If you don’t have any pattern grading or alterations experience, this is difficult.
Conclusion
Overall, I’m excited about the Ditto projector because it is so easy to use and I love the pattern customization features. I wish I could use the patterns I already own with the projector, though. I’m excited to give the Ditto projector a try! What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
Some the patterns that are customizable are not included the the yearly subscription costs, thereby adding additional and continuous costs to the DITTO. Additional patterns are slow at coming.
I’m going to comment as nicely as possible but forwarning that right now I’m totally disgusted. According to the “You’ll need” on the outside of the box, I had everything I needed.
Made sure everything was in the box,
Went through the Setup instructions and watch a tutorial.
I did not see anything about the placement of the mat until I got to Assembling the Cutting Mat where it shows that the beam has to be on the longer side.
My cutting counter is 5ft long and 25 inches wide. I put the beam on the 25 inch side where I didn’t have to worry about anyone or thing (I have a cat) bump into it. Buyer Beware!!!!!!!!
I bought the Ditto two days ago for $600. I returned it today and found out the price had been dropped to $400. I returned it because I, too checked the box to make sure I had everything I needed to proceed only to discover that my IPhone screen would be too small for practical use. The tablet I have is not compatible with their software so I’d have to buy a new one and because of my size and the patterns I use, I would have to keep shifting each piece so I could cut the pattern. I needed a PC to set up an account and a tablet to use the app. My excitement about the new device quickly waned and I ended up taking it back. It was supposed to be my birthday present. I guess now I have to find something else.
According to the “You’ll need” on the outside of the box, I had everything I needed.
I’m about to return my ditto. Having all kinds of connection issues. It connects to the blue tooth on my phone ok, but I cannot connect to wifi. Been working on it for hours. Thinking I will need to buy a tablet? I’m frustrated. It all worked (mostly) a couple weeks ago. But now it simply won’t connect. GRRRR!