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Searching and sorting within the app
keerthi   Intermediate LA USA Member since 3/16/04 Posts: 12	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Sewing Kit App: Searching and sorting within the app Date: 3/19/12 6:00 PM Hi All, I bought this app last year to use with ipod touch. I didn't get too far with it ... I did figure out how to load my patterns and get the images from the pattern companies. Now I have an iphone and I have successfully transferred those patterns to my phone. Apparently I am a pattern collectorI have 70+ patterns ... (and I haven't loaded my simplicity or new look patterns yet!) So with all the spring fashions, I am getting inspired to sew but I can't seem to "sort" for a particular pattern, like "Pants' or shorts or the like .... have you figured this out yet? -- Edited on 3/19/12 6:00 PM --
julibet   Intermediate NC USA Member since 6/6/05 Posts: 9	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/20/12 3:28 PM see if this works. On the bottom set of icons, tap Patterns. A green Plus sign should appear in the UR corner. Right under that Plus sign is a tiny little letter Q (which I guess stands for Query). Tap that and you will get a place to type in the category you are searching for.
jenleeC   Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 6/4/11 Posts: 734	Login to reply to this post In reply to keerthi << Like this post Date: 3/20/12 8:32 PM You can search on Pattern Company by tapping the A-Z letters that run down the RHS of the screen and you can do a basic search using the 'magnify' icon as described in the above post. This will find 'Pants' provided you have added this as the pattern category. Where you have combination patterns you can't select 'pants/skirt/jacket' together so this is a problem unless you add "Co-ordinates" as a category and also search on that. You can't search for multiple items - eg Children AND Sleepwear. Two days after purchasing the Sewing Kit app a new version, 'Sewing Kit HD', was released. Apparently this does have some additional search features, as well as a specific iPad version. (The bar code scanning does not work on an iPad despite the app being listed as compatible for iPads). I contacted the developer and expressed my dissatisfaction and he basically said "too bad, too sad, you'll have to buy the new app". Needless to say I was a bit annoyed! Anyway, enough rant. To answer your question - there is a basic SEARCH feature as described above but it depends very much on you spending time filling in lots of data fields. I have been in serious 'testing' mode to find the best pattern cataloguing program/app. I purchased and tested Sewing Kit on an iPad2. While I loved that it downloaded the envelope photos for you, I found the data entry cumbersome and slow and thought it failed the basic test of a data base in that there is no facility to add tags that you can search on. FYI, I also tested PatternPal. This is a neat, cheap, simple little app that has some basic SORT functions. It has no auto-fill capacity so you need to collect your photos/line art/yardage yourself (scan, photograph, download from the websites). This makes adding lots of pattens a bit slow. It would be fine for someone with a small collection who is not looking for anything too fancy. By far the best program/app I have come across is one called Pattern File. It is a PC based program that has apps for iPhone/iPad and Android devices so you sync from your PC to the app. It is significantly more expensive than the basic iPhone/iPad apps but it really does operate as a proper data base. There is an auto-fill feature for several of the large patterns companies and this pre-fills all the photos, line art, pattern description and category. This makes for very speedy pattern entry and lots of high quality images! There is a tag field where you can add any tags that are relevant to you and search on them. The search facility also cover the categories and descriptions so you can sort on Pants, Dresses, Evening, Bias, circular skirt etc. And if aesthetics are important to you, it looks really pretty as well! There is a thread under the 'Patterns and Notions' heading titled "Pattern File Software" where are few of us who are using apps to organize our pattern collections are exchanging ideas and learning from each other. Head on over if you are interested! -- Edited on 3/25/12 3:45 AM -- ------ Jenny, Perth, WA
Mrs4Him   Advanced Beginner MO USA Member since 7/19/09 Posts: 82	Login to reply to this post In reply to julibet << Like this post Date: 3/24/12 3:13 PM I think it's the 'search' icon which is a magnifying glass. ------ Baby Lock Ellure Plus * Kenmore 385.1764180 * Singer 115 * Baby Lock Imagine Wave ><> www.sewinseeds.blogspot.com ><> We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot.--Eleanor Roosevelt
Mrs4Him   Advanced Beginner MO USA Member since 7/19/09 Posts: 82	Login to reply to this post In reply to jenleeC << Like this post Date: 3/24/12 3:24 PM Is the app you like called PatternFile Mobile in the itunes store? It says that app is free so I was wondering if it was the same thing-? ------ Baby Lock Ellure Plus * Kenmore 385.1764180 * Singer 115 * Baby Lock Imagine Wave ><> www.sewinseeds.blogspot.com ><> We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face...we must do that which we think we cannot.--Eleanor Roosevelt
jenleeC   Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 6/4/11 Posts: 734	Login to reply to this post In reply to Mrs4Him << Like this post Date: 3/25/12 3:52 AM Yes it is. This is the app that syncs with the PC program. I am not sure how the app works on its own - I have wondered about that. I would be interested to see what happens if you download it and use it without purchasing the related PC program. I am guessing you get the basic features but don't get the auto-fill which is the best bit about the program. If you download it to try could you post some details on the thread we have going for this (and other) pattern cataloguing apps? It is under 'patterns and notions' and is titled 'pattern file software'. ------ Jenny, Perth, WA
Clareew   Intermediate UNITED KINGDOM Member since 5/10/06 Posts: 923	Login to reply to this post In reply to jenleeC << Like this post Date: 3/25/12 1:07 PM You don't get anything unless you have the PC app for Pattern File as well. I tried to download and use the updated PC app but because I had looked at it before, it wouldn't let me. Pattern file seems expensive, what do you think? ------ Clare Blog: http://art-by-clare.blogspot.co.uk/ Machines: Juki F600, Juki 654 serger, Bernina 550 for art work, Janome Coverpro 1000cp barely used A Singer Featherweight Centennial and an old Necci in the loft waiting for TLC http://art-by-clare.blogspot.co.uk/
Steffie Intermediate MI USA Member since 11/6/04 Posts: 850	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 3/25/12 1:28 PM I have purchased and started using Pattern-File since the iPad app is also available now. I think it is a good product and will be even better when they add additional pattern companies for the auto-fill (awesome) and additional sorting capabilities. Both of these features are on the 'next up' list of changes that the developer is working on.
schmammy   Intermediate TX USA Member since 12/5/06 Posts: 467	Login to reply to this post In reply to Clareew << Like this post Date: 3/25/12 1:37 PM <> I agree that it is pricey. I've been using it on my PC for about a year, hanging on in hopes they really would release a mobile app. The auto-fill feature is such a convenience; that's the primary selling point (for subscribing annually). I have also used MS OneNote ($$) and Evernote (free for a small amount of storage). With some tweaking, I believe both of those are suitable, cheaper methods of accessing pattern info at home and on the go. Maybe frequency and depth of use help sewists decide which best suits their needs and pocketbooks. ------ Indecision may or may not be my problem. -Jimmy Buffet http://chihuahuaonmylap.blogspot.com/
jenleeC   Intermediate AUSTRALIA Member since 6/4/11 Posts: 734	Login to reply to this post In reply to Clareew << Like this post Date: 3/25/12 8:34 PM Clareew, am I understanding you correctly - you were not able to download it because you had previously used the free trial? Mrs4Him, maybe you could download and test out the free trial to see if you like the program? It is expensive compared to the other apps so it is good to try it out before you commit your dollars! For me the auto fill on Pattern File is just so fantastic and the whole layout, visuals and data entry of the program is superior to anything else. It is not perfect, nothing is, but the programming is better than most and it has clearly been designed by someone who sews or with significant input from one who does. But I do agree with Schmammy, there are other cheaper options available that work quite well and so you need to choose based on your own personal situation and objectives. Ladies, can we move this discussion over to the Pattern File thread so we keep all our discussion together? -- Edited on 3/25/12 8:38 PM -- ------ Jenny, Perth, WA

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