My Experience with the Ditto Paperless Pattern System

Surprise, I am finally back to posting on Chicken Little Sews.  This was an unplanned break away from my blog and sewing.  I had big plans for both in January when I wrote my article on making a sewing plan for 2023.  However, life can throw a curve at any of us and I was hit hard with one of those curves shortly after returning home from St. Simons Island in early March.  I kept getting ill and as soon as I recovered from one illness, I was hit by another one.  The one that really toppled me was actually a three-in-one.  I had covid, the flu, and pneumonia all at once.   It has taken me a long time to get my strength back so that I can participate in my normal activities. 

Needless to say, I have not accomplished anything that I put in my 2023 sewing plan.  I did not even start those spring jackets for my husband and me.  I guess I will wait until another year to do that.  My new sewing plan for the rest of this year will be to sew as much as possible and to blog about the projects I do.  There will be no formal plan.  I may try that again next year, but the plan is gone for this year. 

Just prior to getting really sick, I purchased the Ditto Paperless Pattern System after attending a demonstration at Country Stitches.  This is the system that allows you to choose a pattern from the Ditto library on your computer and project it onto your cutting table.  This allows you to place your fabric on the cutting table, project the pattern onto your fabric and cut directly from the projected lines without using a paper pattern.  The Ditto patterns allow you to enter your personal measurements into the pattern and should eliminate the need for altering the pattern.

This works for some people, but I will tell you I had problems.  I had to make changes to each of the patterns I made in order to get them to fit.  I found that the Ditto System did a good job of making the forward should adjustment for me.  However, I did not like the results of the full bust adjustment.  For example, I cut out the Andrea knit top.  The pattern gave me ample room through the bust, but at the same time it put way too much room in the armscye at the bust causing the fabric to fold over and point down.  I knew that in order to wear that particular pattern I would need to make a bust dart.  Since I had already cut the pattern out of the fabric, I had no choice but to make darts radiating from the armscye down toward the bust.  I was able to save the top by adding these darts.  Fortunately, before cutting my fabric I raised the neckline to a level I thought I would like.  The pattern also had a curved hemline which I did not like, so I cut off some of the excess from the bottom edge and straightened the hemline.  A picture of my finished top is shown below along with a picture of the original pattern.

                                                      Ditto Andrea Top

I intended to call the Ditto Customer Service to discuss the problem of too much fabric in the armscye, but I got sick and still have not talked to them about the issue.  I will and I know from previous experience with them that they will attempt to find a solution.  Prior to making the knit top, I attempted pants and had big problems with the fit.  I contacted the Customer Service Department and they researched my personal pattern.  I received an email with specific instructions about how to correct the problems, but I was sick at the time and I have not yet tried to make the changes they suggested.   I will let you know when I try to make more Ditto pants and will show a picture of the results.

I did not care for the patterns in the Ditto library when I first purchased the system.  However, Ditto has responded to their customers’ requests for additional patterns and new ones are being added monthly.  I am hoping that soon they will add some patterns that are more like the garments I wear.  I do not have the figure or the desire to wear tight-fitting, low cut, and extremely short garments.  If I can find patterns I like and that fit me on the Ditto System, I will be extremely happy!

I need to spend more time to try to get the Ditto System to work for me.  I know that it is working for lots of other sewers, so I will continue to try to get it to work for me.  I plan to try more patterns and contact Ditto Customer Service with any problems I may have.

I hope you are experimenting with new sewing technology and trying new methods to improve or enhance your sewing abilities.

Happy sewing!

Judy