I am trying to figure out a good to store my patterns...
Categorize by type (applique vs. patchwork) or by size (but I could always change the size) or by designer? etc?
And what to you keep them in? Plastic sleeves in a binder? A filing cabinet? Help!
OOOhhh and show me pictures too:)
I use a 3 ring binder and page protectors, for loose patterns. If it is a smaller pattern in a ziplock bag, I slide the whoe thing in the page protector. I have pulled out some patterns form magazines and put in the binder too. Beyond that there is no other organization. Books and magazines are kept in milk crates stacked on top of each other. I'm a former camp counselor, we used milk crates for everything and anything!
Sorry folks - testing something - but Demo likes to keep his patterns all in his pretty little head.
You mean they aren't supposed to be crammed in a giant ziploc bag? Whoops!
I love organization talk!
My problem with pattern storage is the same with recipe storage. I have a pattern (it may be magazine, website or purchased) and I get to the quilt store and I see they have this great fabric on sale which would be perfect for one of the many patterns but I don't know how much fabric I need. I come home then try to find the pattern...is it on my hard drive? Was it from a quilting email? Is it in the file folder of purchased patterns?
I'm doing my best to keep it all electronically now. I have done some scanning of the magazine ones I want to keep and try to label the filename with the most specific as I can be. I email it to myself or save in Google Docs. Not sure what will be the final spot for all these patterns but I need a way to find them.
I have found myself looking for that one "star" pattern...oh I can see the pattern in my head, now where is that pattern. Bugs me to not find it easily. Electronically I can search for star pattern or Atkinson and be able to find it much faster than if I have to flip through my stack of quilting mags.
I did send myself a few emails with yardage amounts from a couple of patterns that are my "next ones up" so that I have the correct info with me. That is handy.
I use Ziplist for my grocery lists, Costco list, errand list, Christmas gift lists and now I have a Quilt Project list. I like that too...
Why do I feel like there should be an app for that? Quilts I'd like to make. Then you could have a place for a picture and fabric requirements and as you purchase said, you could check it off. Anyone make phone apps? I'm thinking this could be worth at least $1.99 in the app stores!
I put the patterns in page protectors in three ring binders. i sub divide the patterns into pieced and appliqued. I have not divided them more than that yet. I buy few magazines so don't have many magazines. I tend to just let the few I have sit on the shelf. If I have made one, I always photocopy a working copy and keep that in the binder. The same with patterns in books that I have made. I do the same thing for clothing and knitting patterns.
I store my magazines in the little cardboard magazine boxes from IKEA (A$5 for 4). I also use these to store a patterns and any collected fabric for future projects (sometimes UFOs). I store my books and patterns on a shelf. Like Seeneed, I don't really have a system, but as I don't have a ton, I usually know what I'm looking for. When I moved in July I did cull about half my magazines (I was seriously addicted for a while, especially to the three packs that are popular here) and donated the ones with projects that I would never do to a local craft group. I looked through every single one to sort them. Probably not the most organised system.
PATTERNS from magazines I have (horror) torn out in the entirety and put plastic sleeves into three ring binders by category ( piecing, modern, applique, etc) I have torn out what I want and discarded the junky stuff magazines pack into their issues. I am amazed that if I save every pattern or important article in a magazine I am saving less than quarter of the magazine's volume. I have been purging /clearing out magazines yearly and it really helps declutter the house. I keep the information I want and discard the rest.
I also have a three ring ringer binders to store patterns I have purchased.
I can stash all the binders in a out of the way shelving unit.
Nonnie,
I keep my patterns in those magazine storage boxes that hold about 12 magazines. Right now I don't really organize the patterns by type or size because I like to look through them and see what strikes my fancy at the moment. I've only been quilting for a little less than 2 years and so I don't have nearly as many patterns as those who have been doing this for years and years. But for me there is just something about going through the patterns that keeps my juices flowing.
I just have my books and magazines on a book shelf with sticky notes on pages I want to remember with a note on the sticky about why I wanted to remember the page.
Another thing I do is keep the pattern with the fabric I want to use or group fabrics and several patterns together until I decide which one I want to use.
I am participating in a fabric swap with my guild and I have no idea what I will do with all the fabrics once the swap is over. So for now I have the fabrics all together with several books, magazines and patterns with them until I decide which one I want to use. Not very organized I guess but it works for me.
I have not purchased many individual patterns so I am really not very much help, but mine are currently stored in a Staples copy paper box. Actually, most of my individual patterns were downloaded from various online places and are stored on my hard drive. Hmmmmm. I'm really not much help, but I'll post this anyway.
I like your idea about using sticky notes not just to mark the pages but to remind yourself about WHY you marked a page!
Like everything else in my life, I tend to be in a constant phase of 'aquisition' with patterns and books and I agree with Seeneed - it is a great way to keep the ideas flowing - even if don't use them.. (ahem. I mean, of course I use them...)
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