SewingKit HD App Reviews

Love the new update. All the problems have disappeared. It is a well thought out and useful program. I actually benefited from the crash and having to input everything again. I was able to really reorganize and rethink how I wanted my data to appear. I am a professional seamstress and use this program to run my business. I travel a lot to clients locations and it is really great that I am able to put together projects on the spot as well as input all of the clients info and measurements and cross reference fabrics, trims and patterns. Was it a rough go at first, yes, but the latest upgrade fixed all of the issues. I highly recommend this program. I think it is well worth the money.

Oh my goodness this app is a hot mess & just gets worse. If you can get it open & get to to stay open, it will sometimes let you search, sometimes not. I paid a premium for the HD iPad edition, & I thought that McCalls partnering with it would bring updates, fixes, & changes, but so far its still a buggy mess! We want to love this app, but please throw some time & money at it!

Have gotten this to work!!! After the crash from update I had to delete the app then reinstall. Lost all data and had to redo but that allowed me to evaluate patterns and eliminate some. I STRONGLY urge you to do the backup on Dropbox!!! Hopefully that will eliminate lost data in the future. I am falling in love with this app again because It allows me to have my pattern inventory with me whatever city I am in and hopefully whatever county I visit. Eliminates buying duplicate patterns and allows for buying correct amounts fabric, notions, trims, etc if patten not there. I just take a photo of back of pattern if not found by app. Now this app is worth the money. One question-- how do I add patterns from independent companies?

Mar 17, 2014...thank you, thank you, thank you! I love this app and was so disappointed with the past few updates that left me with nothing. Just updated and now I have my patterns back. Ive lost everything else, but I can add that stuff back. Please keep going with the updates. There are lots of us out there that love this app. Feb 22, 2014...my review is the same as sewcenlisa. At least I can see that my data is still there, but the app is just frozen. I am willing to beta test the next update before its released! Thats how much I believe in this app.

I can now open the app. Most of my entered patterns are gone. I do like the upgraded features. I will purchase "Dropbox" storage and hopefully that will protect my data. I personally cannot recommend anyone else purchase the app until after I take the time to input my pattern information again and upgrade to the current iOS.

I loved this app, great ideas, but it no longer opens. I dont want to lose my data!!! Still doesnt work after update!!

Ive been using this nifty program for a while--even before it was bought out by McCalls. The current version has some benefits over the previous versions, but there are still quite a few things I wish would be implemented (focused on patterns, as whats what I primarily use it for): Lookups: It would be lovely to have look-ups for some fields that currently dont offer it. Brand (if youve got one Project Runway pattern, you probably have more), Body Type, Storage Location, and Size would be awesome, for example, as having to manually type them each time is annoying (especially when it comes to size, and especially when you have a lot of patterns). In the vein of lookups, its also hard to scroll through to change the lookup type when youre trying to add a lookup to an existing category. The scroll is so limited that you have to do it in bursts, which gets annoying. Furthermore, it would be helpful to make it more apparent where the lookups are to change, as the tutorials online dont point it out (as far as I could tell). I ultimately found them just by hitting every button I could find. Images: Previously, images had loaded when you entered the pattern number, then moved out of that field. Now, they dont seem to load until you save and exit the pattern, so you have to go back in to edit them. Having them load in the initial entry or adding a link/button to load from the applicable website would be great. The delete mechanic is also a bit off. Right now, you hold your finger over the image until a delete option pops up, but Ive found it to be unreliable. Sometimes, itll give me the delete message. Sometimes, no matter how long I hold my finger over it, the delete option wont come up, but when I lift my finger itll change the image I was trying to delete to the active thumbnail. Id love to be able to just swipe to delete images again. I also really, really dont care for the flashing that the screen does when the delete message comes up. Yardage Information: Right now, yardage information from non-McCalls companies drops into Photos. It would be great to have the option to move it from Photos into Yardage Details, if it cant be scripted to determine it automatically. That being said, its still a useful app, especially now that the worst of the crashing seems to have been resolved. The last couple of updates were a nightmare; I went months (and two updates) without being able to even open the app and finally deleted and reinstalled it in a frustrated attempt to resolve my problems. I hadnt realized that my database in Dropbox would be deleted at the same time, so Im currently in the process of repopulating all of my data, a process thats been going on for weeks. Im complaining a lot, but its still an app I would recommend to sewists, especially those with large pattern collections. Entering them may be tedious, but the organization is super-useful when planning projects and scoping out what to pick up at pattern sales. Hopefully improvement will be a continuing process to further enhance its usability.

The ratings appear to be bad because of the inability to keep your file after up grade, so i bought anyway. Here is what it does: Imports Mccall patterns Tracks anything you want once you type it all into one if the folders (eg trim, thread) Here is what it doesnt do: Import any thing but mccalls. It might import the pattern number and size, but you have to type the rest. There is a drop down where you can add patterns from companies that it , only problem is, it doesnt list all of them and there is no option to add the company. I sgree with the reviews about fabric choices, needing to be in some logical order. Also, if they dont want to consult with someone that actually sews, they should allow user to add fabrics they use. So in conclusion, its a nice database to track your stuff, great if you only use Mccalls, labor intensive in this digital age if you dont. So for me, its ok, but think there are several improvements that could make it great, and of course since they partnered with mccall, never super great 5 star since that appear to make it proprietary with disregard to the user. Dont know to many sewers that only use mccall. I havent been able to open update. Crashes, dont know how other people even get it to open. Have e-mailed support no response

I upgraded from SewingKit to the HD version. It looks cleaner, and is a bit more user friendly but still buggy. I attempted to import my data to the new version, only 3 of the fabrics made it over, but it made doubles and triples of all my patterns. It is not as smooth as it could be, and for the price, I expected more.....

I think this app is great if you so items only from storebrand patterns. It does not give you an opportunity to add patterns that you find for purses, bags, etc. and under the material section you cannot add a different material thats in the drop-down list for example Meinel.

I have written the developer a few times. He has answered some but not all queries. Three times I have had to input all my data again. Still I wanted the program to succeed because it is awesome. After the last two updates the program was inaccessible to me, I asked for help and got no response. I finally deleted the program and reinstalled it and it works fine now! Soooo...... I just have to be obsessive about backing up the files and hope the next update doesnt take me out again. If youre feeling lucky take a chance on this program, because when it works it is indispensable.

Ive given this app its last try. Dont waste your time. Youll spend hours inputing your patterns only to have the progrm loose your database. I thought having McCalls behind them would give them more ligitamacy, but it appears not. Plus $8.99 is way too much for an app that has these kinds of issues.

Ive spent hours loading my patterns into this app. I have hundreds of patterns. All lost and have to start again. Not sure I have heart or trust to load them in again. Brilliant concept, but totally unreliable.

Do not like the update will not scan my patterns. The like the old version.

You will receive a grossly overpriced empty database with no initial functionality. The makers of this app rely on you to input EVERYTHING. You cannot browse or download patterns even from McCall, the sponsors of this app. For a price of $8.99 this is an amazingly brazen rip off.

I purchased this app a couple of months ago and was never able to make it work. I emailed the developer (twice) and have heard nothing. To be fair, the second email was just today. I read the reviews and it seemed to me that with a 3 star rating it was worth taking a chance. It wasnt. I wish there was a way to get my money back but since that doesnt seem possible I will just try to warn others.

This app has managed to erase my entire database of sewing patterns. I was so excited about the ease of use at first. But what good is it if it is going to delete all of the data you entered? I wish I could get a refund. Im very upset.

...but alas...theres so much that needs improvement. I dont understand why we cant choose our own color for thread. (And what exactly is "stiped"?) also, the photo taking ability is nice but the photo ends up being more of the surrounding area of what you actually took. Very few thread brands are supported when trying to enter with the bar code. I love being able to keep my patterns and thread catalog with me, but for the price of the app I feel as though we are missing out. but Im not sure if any of it...will ever be addressed... :-(

This app is a bit of a disappointment. Started loading patterns onto it and it CONSTANTLY shuts down. Rather frustrating for a $9 app. If it hadnt been so expensive I could live with the glitches. I feel a bit robbed on this one. Do better or make it $0-0.99. Not nearly as fun as I had hoped.

It would be better for me if it would allow you to use different pattern companies other than the Big 4. I use mostly independent designers and there is no option to use or add those names.