Fittingly Sew by Softbyte?
RsKn
Has anyone had experience using this software and, if so, what do you think of
it? Is it worth the quite high price tag put on it or did you find it limited?
I'm thinking of buying it but would like your input before I do please!
Thanks
Rosemary
arrowlili1
couldn't make heads nor tails of it. if you haven't tried the trial version
of it, i would suggest that first, just in case it bewilders you as much as
it did me. personally i ended up buying 'patternmaster boutique' from wild
ginger software. now that is easy to use, although i've yet to try using
their pattern editor cad part of the programme.
are you in england? i am and that's why i started to look into fittingly
sew, cause i thought that's all that was available here. it's not!
http://www.softbyte.co.uk/fittngl1.htm
that's the link for fittingly sew trial
hope this helps
anna
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030403041824...@mb-cc.aol.com...
RsKn
Thanks for the info. Yes, the have sent me a demo disc and it does make sense
but I didn't know there were any other programmes out there apart from an
Australian one which is extortionately expensive! I am in UK and would
appreciate it if you could give me some more info on the 'Wild Ginger' one
please - e.g web site, contact etc.
Thanks
Rosemary
arrowlili1
looking for software.
the wild ginger demos are available from here.
http://www.wildginger.com/downloads/default.htm
now i will just point out that i am not affiliated with them in any way,
just a happy customer, but have a look around their website. they have a
Great customer services, available by e-mail and they have their own photo
albums and chat clients for their customers. plus they've just launced
'curves' which is a programme for bras, knickers, swimsuit etc.
that said, there are other programmes out there too, most of which can be
found here
http://www.fullfab.com/software.asp
it seems to be an american site, but it has overviews and links to most of
the software sites. i can't tell you much about the other programmes,
having not had much experience with them, but i did try most of their demos
and just like patternmaster best. have a look though, its very informative.
if you do try patternmaster and decide you want it, let me know and i'll
give you the address and phone number of the shop that stocks it here in the
uk. i think they are the only people who do stock it (although someone may
tell me otherwise) but they are a nice shop and they'll send it to you by
the next day.
hope this helps.
anna
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030403065024...@mb-fv.aol.com...
ticketyboo
Before you decide, have a look at http://www.taunton.com/threads/index.asp
and scroll down to "Threads test-drives pattern-drafting software for
personal computers." After reading it you can then download and play with
all the demos of the various programs and look at what they have to offer
before you decide. Gail Denis of Fullfab.com offers a software matching
service - check out her at
http://www.fullfab.com/software_matching_service.asp And if you are tempted
to order from outside the UK bear in mind that you'll get charged VAT not
just on the goods but on the postage as well and then there will be a £13
cheque clearing fee from ParcelForce. Ask me how I know!!! There are
discounts from time to time so don't be in too much of a hurry to order.
Last year I bought Patternmaster Boutique (there's a new version coming out
later this year) but still use a free demo for trousers from Pattermaker.
Don't underestimate the advice given on all these programs that you have to
go through a learning curve before getting good results. I do now get good
results but it has taken a lot of time and a vast amount of paper and sticky
tape to get there. The support you get is very good. I too am in the UK
and got a demo disk of Fittinglysew and wasn't overly impressed - I don't
think they have updated the program in a long time. Have fun with the
demos!
Vivienne
RsKn
Fittingly Sew prog. I seem to remember it's 'sister' prog 'DesignerKnit' being
around in the late 80's - early 90's and it doesn't seem to have been updated
too recently! Anyway, with all the help I've found on the newsgroup, I'll have
a good look round before I make a decision.
Thanks again
Rosemary
RsKn
Thanks for all your help in this. I had a look at the Wild Ginger site and saw
a shop in this country that stocks the prog. but no phone no. or price! Can you
help?
Thanks
Rosemary
arrowlili1
campden cotton club
island cottage
high street
chipping campden
gloucestershire
gl55 6al
tel:01386 840 268
fax: 01386 840 181
e-mail: ron...@globalnet.co.uk
they're really nice, although i've never met them. i did it all over the
phone.
i think patternmaster boutique is like £115, and childsplay, curves and
tailormade are £95 each, (although they are doing a discount on curves at
the moment for people who have bought another of the patternmaster range,
it's like £83 at the moment).
anna
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030403110216...@mb-cv.aol.com...
claire.owen
small price for a sampler redemable against the full package download the
demo to give you a good idea of what you can do. Very hands on company
always ready to help out with questions and problems with local groūps, and
a discusion email group and aparantly a chat room that I havn't used .Not
affiliated just happy with the product, their site is www.livingsoft.com
Claire
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030403105958...@mb-cv.aol.com...
RsKn
Thanks for all the help and info! I downloaded the demos from wild ginger and
was very impressed! One question. It seemed to me that you just put in all the
measurements, choose your garment and bingo! Is it really that easy and do the
clothes fit well? There didn't seem to be any facility within the demo for
entering your own sizes and making up a shell to check on the fit but as you
have the prog already, how have you found it size-wise?
Rosemary
ps. If it really is that simple, I'll be straight on the phone!!!
ticketyboo
Hi Rosemary - I said it before and I'll say it again; don't underestimate
the advice given on all these programs that you have to go through a
learning curve before getting good results. It is NOT as straightforward as
we'd all like to think or wish for. There are just too many variable to be
taken account of; the fabric you're using, the ease settings you select,
the look you want to end up with etc. I really think you need a certain
kind of spatial thinking to get it right. And remember, it is one thing to
get clothes to fit but quite another to get them to flatter! Quite apart
from knowing how to sew you then need to understand how every small
adjustment you make to your measurements in all these programs has a knock
on effect on other measurements and therefore the overall fit. May I
suggest you have a look at the various discussion groups for each program
and you'll see the sort of issues that keep coming up time and time again.
All the programs are great in that they do what they say they do but they do
it in different ways. There are pros and cons with each of the programs but
the back-up and support from some of them is really impressive.
Having the skill of sewing plus the skill of using a computer and then
understanding how the program works doesn't mean you are going to have the
skill of being a designer and I think that's where a lot of people fall
down - they end up making simple clothes that lack designer appeal. OK,
it's given my brain something to work on, but its not the be-all and end-all
of patternmaking and in my very humble opinion there's no substitute for
good pin-fitting to get perfect results. I can see that I'm going to get a
reputation for being a dour Scot here, (hey! I call it healthy realism!) so
on a brighter note let me say that the way I get very good results is to use
the stylistic elements from commercial patterns in conjunction with the
software program. And always remember that many of the programs have good
money-back deals so you can "try before you buy."
Vivienne
Taffy Cheerful
> One question. It seemed to me that you just put in all the
> measurements, choose your garment and bingo! Is it really
> that easy and do the clothes fit well?
Not familiar with the Wild Ginger product, but with DressShop,
after you enter your measurements you should print out a sloper
and then check the fit of the sloper, adjusting the measurements
as necessary to get what you consider a good fit.
Once you have a well-fitting sloper, it is pretty much as you
said above. The patterns you draft will fit as well as the
sloper did. The old maxim of measure twice, cut once still
applies...
Taffy
--
Girl's classic fashions of the 50s & 60s -- jump.to/taffy
Fashion Site: http://www.geocities.com/FashionAvenue/1492
Doll Album: http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4292475957
"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional..."
arrowlili1
learning curve, which i am still on, but once you get the measurements
right, the skys the limit.
i like the fact that you can personalise their patterns simply by changing
hem length or neckline depth, or go more complex and use the pattern editor
feature.
i will say that ticketyboo has it right in that even getting the
measurements right does not automatically make a great pattern. i made a
rather large boo boo with the first pattern i made for my daughter, by
choosing a small neck opening with a fabric that just didn't have enough
stretch :-(
do i think the programme is worht it? yes
do i think that it is as easy as it seems? no, although i think it would be
easier, the more experienced a sewer you are. there is a learning curve,
and as long as you are willing to give it time, you should enjoy the
programme.
on a side note, the programme does have a chatter list, so you can talk to
other users, find out about their progects and benefit form their cockups!
anna
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030404151111...@mb-fq.aol.com...
RsKn
Yes, I do take your point and far from being a 'dour' Scot, you are obviously
just trying to inject some good old-fashioned common sense! Over the past 10
years, I have had to teach my self not only basic dressmaking skills but
tailoring skills and pattern alteration skills too. I have been to a couple of
so-called experts for one to one tuition, which has cost me a fair old sum as
you can imagine. Both times I've ended up with absolutely nothing because they
admit they've never come across my problems before and insisted on treating my
fitting abnormalities in the same way as everyone elses. Since then, I've
learned the hard way to fit myself but, if I'm making anything totally new or
different, I always make a shell first. I'm not really aiming to be a designer-
just clothed! :-) Having said that, I've got a good idea what styles etc. suit
me and have become adept at adding little touches which make my clothing a
lttle different. I do appreciate your input though so please don't get the
impression that I don't want your comments! I truly do. After all, it's still
hard-earned money at the end of the day. My main idea is to be able to stop
buying commercial patterns and make my own. Where I live, we are very short of
sewing shops and I don't drive so I'm very limited and not many of the patterns
available give finished measurements on the envelope and won't change them.
Given all I've said, do you think that this software would do me any favours?
Thanks for all your info (sincerely!)
Rosemary
RsKn
Yes, it's pretty much as I figured. I'm still interested though! One thing, the
response of people on this newsgroup never ceases to amaze me! I've never come
across such help in my life! You wonderful people! :-) Anyway, have a look at
the reply to Vivienne and tell me what you think then.
Rosemary
RsKn
Thanks for your comments. You sounded just like my husband with the maxim
'measure twice-cut once!' :-) I'm taking in all the comments, advice and
everything else before I make a decision. Money's money after all!! :-)
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Rosemary
ticketyboo
Rosemary - I for one would not want to be without the patternmaking software
that I have. That's it in a nutshell. I think it is great. If you have
any knowledge of flat pattern drafting at all then you're half way there. I
replied as I did because you sounded so enthusiastic and I needed to tell
you it wasn't necessarily the quick fix you are hoping for! But with all
those caveats, go ahead and try it. You'll soon know if it is not for you
and if it is not then they offer refunds. I don't know what your fitting
challenges are but my 80 yo DM is getting more and more round shouldered -
since last October her back shoulder width has increased by 1.5cm and her
front shoulder width has reduced by the same amount. One shoulder is
dropping more than the other but I can still make things to fit her. She has
lost a lot of weight after an operation but it didn't take long to remeasure
her and print out a new sloper.
Have you downloaded the demos yet? Let us know which one you go for!
Vivienne
arrowlili1
the rest of the wonderful people in this group, usually it's me asking for
advice!
i did read your reply to ticketyboo and frankly it sounds like you're leaps
and bounds (and then a little bit more ;-)) ahead of me in experience. i
figure it this way, if i can get something half wearable out of the
programme, and i've been sewing less than a year, you should be off to a
flying start.
sounds like pattern drafting software might be a good idea for you but as to
which programme, well all i can say is try all the demos, as i did, and just
see which one feels right. they all have their pros and cons, and they all
have their learning curve, so it really depends on what features you are
looking for. for me, i wanted something i could use now, as the newbie that
i am, and the programmes with a large pick and mix section gave me this but
also, as i got more experienced, i wanted the option to design truely
origional outfits, without having to buy a whole new programme.
patternmaster had cad capabilities (even if i'm a bit clueless as to how to
use them at the moment.) so it seemed like the obvious choice for me. you
may find that you don't want the cad option, and if this is the case, you
may want to look at dress shop pro, which is quite like patternmaster, but
without the cad. it is downloadable over the net, saving on P&P and if i
recall, it's a bit cheaper. like i said, it's a case of what you want and
for what price.
hope you find what you want. patternmaster has my seal of approval for what
it's worth. do feel free to let us know which one you choose, my interest
is piqued ;-)
anna
"RsKn" <rs...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030405040710...@mb-fa.aol.com...
RsKn
Well, the die is cast! I've ordered the PB and the Curves! My lovely husband
paid for them. Sort of a late Xmas/birthday/anniversary present! Of course, it
could also have something to do with the fact that he barbecued the car in
January and had to buy a new one! :-) Guilty conscience! Anyway, it's ordered
and I have to wait til Tuesday for it. Funny thing is, my husband and I have
been saying for years that we wished there was something like it on the market!
Doh! Any hints and tips on using it will be gratefully received and I will
definitely be a regular poster on the newsgroup begging for assistance, I'm
sure! I'll keep you posted on progress!
Rosemary
SewStorm
>been saying for years that we wished there was something like it on the
>market!
Then you'll also have to try Tailor Made, which is clothing for men, as a thank
you to your generous hubby!
>Any hints and tips on using it will be gratefully received
My best hint is to join the PatternMaster Chatter list--it's excellent, and
there are several experts who read and answer questions, every single day.
Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati
arrowlili1
and
> there are several experts who read and answer questions, every single day.
>
>
> Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati
>
Aw no fair, i was gonna say that..... you beat me to it ;-)
another hint i've heard is, to make piecing the pattern together easier and
more accurate, apart from using thin paper eg 70 gsm or under, is to use a
lightbox or that failing (cause not all of us are gonna have a light box
sitting round the house!) use your monitor. just hold the paper pieces up
against it, and the light from the moniter should make them transparent
enough to see the markings well. haven't tried it yet, but will on my next
pattern.
anna
Welmoed Sisson
blouses to evening gowns. You can take a look at my projects:
www.sissonfamily.com/Sewingroom
I've noted with each garment if it was made with PMB.
--Welmoed
arrowlili1
play. they are in a red towelling material and almost exactly like your
daughters except long sleeved.
your PM ball gown is lovely as is the vogue one, but i've got to say that my
favourite has got to be your 'outrageous top, v.cute!
i have really got to start using pm to its full potential. your site has
inspired me!
anna
"Welmoed Sisson" <wel...@sissonfamily.com> wrote in message
news:mpt09vclo51bdld89...@4ax.com...
ticketyboo
"arrowlili1" <arrow...@bluyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:XjWja.123$0Y....@news-binary.blueyonder.co.uk...
> another hint i've heard is, to use a
> lightbox or that failing (cause not all of us are gonna have a light box
> sitting round the house!) use your monitor.
You can also tape them to the window on a bright day and you'll be able to
see the markings clearly.
Vivienne
SewStorm
>lightbox or that failing (cause not all of us are gonna have a light box
>sitting round the house!) use your monitor. just hold the paper pieces up
>against it, and the light from the moniter should make them transparent
You can also use a plain old window, if it's daylight. My monitor is a thin
one, with a liquid crystal display, and there's no way I'm tracing anything on
it!
Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati
Loren Coe
> ....
> which programme, well all i can say is try all the demos, as i did, and just
> see which one feels right. they all have their pros and cons, and they all
> have their learning curve, so it really depends on what features you are
> looking for. for me, i wanted something i could use now, as the newbie that
i have been runing the demos for Gingerly's Tailor Made, they are well
done. the first thing i noticed is that this is just a cad program, not
the easiest type of software to jump into. the dxf files are a bonus, the
common cad file interchange format, non-proprietary.
2ndly i watched the layout demo wondering, "what's all this stuff about
warp, weft and bias?". that seems to left as an exercise for the user.
> ...also, as i got more experienced, i wanted the option to design truely
> origional outfits, without having to buy a whole new programme.
> patternmaster had cad capabilities (even if i'm a bit clueless as to how to
> use them at the moment.) so it seemed like the obvious choice for me. you
> ...
> hope you find what you want. patternmaster has my seal of approval for what
> it's worth. do feel free to let us know which one you choose, my interest
> is piqued ;-) > > anna
it is refreshing to see realtively new applications for cad software, but
the actual value added here by Gingerly doesn't seem that great at first
(casual) glance. depending of the cost, of course, it could be a good
deal, there is a cad engine in there. but very sparse with useful macros,
speaking from a non-user's vantage (and not seamstress). YMMV...
my 2cents, --Loren
SewStorm
>i have been runing the demos for Gingerly's Tailor Made, they are well
>done.
Do you mean Wild Ginger's Tailor Made? Yes, they are.
Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati
Loren Coe
yes, i mis-spoke. since posting i have gone thru the pattern creation
module. this seems to be where the added value lives. pretty neat to
make patterns to a custom size. --Loren
RsKn
Further to my earlier postings last week, I decided on the 'Wild Ginger' PMB
and curves programmes which I got yesterday. At the moment, everything is a bit
confusing and bewildering as you can imagine but I'm pretty sure that I'll be a
regular poster if only with problems! Thanks for all you your comments and
advice.
Rosemary