pattern storage

Ward wrote:

Hi Dee,

I get a little crazy with my patterns. After I cut apart the tissue I fold
each piece into a little package with the pattern number showing. I pile
them from #1 up, unfold the instruction sheet, place the folded pattern
tissues inside, and they all fit nicely back into the envelope. I store
them in pattern number order by pattern company. As if that's not crazy
enough, before putting the pattern away, I scan the front and back of the
envelope. That gets printed out, put inside a plastic sheet protector and
then inside a 3-ring binder. I have the photo copies separated by pattern
company too. I know, it's twisted, but I do love sitting with a hot cup of
coffee, flipping through my "pattern" book. When I decide to sew something
I take the scanned image of the envelope with me to the fabric store.

The patterns are stores in those blue cardboard boxes you can get in the
Notions department. I write the pattern company name on the outside of the
box. Once I have selected the pattern I want from my 3-ring binder, I just
pull down the correct box, flip through to the pattern number, and pull it
out ... just like the fabric stores.

Happy sewing.

Liz



Liz! Oh, I do take my hat off to you! I *love* your storage method and
the organisation you have achieved with your patterns! It's something I
might work toward myself, since all my patterns are squished together in
boxes that are too small for them. That is, the patterns have outgrown
the boxes...

For everyone's information, the flat boxes that copy paper comes in
(Reflex brand is the one I use) will fit two rows of patterns perfectly
when they're placed on their sides. Three rows when placed upright, but
then the lid won't fit on. Which might or might not matter...

The boxes I mean are the ones with a footprint the size of an A3 pice of
paper, not the smaller, taller ones with an A4 footprint.

I know what I mean... Do you? ;-D
--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, Australia

I do what Barbara does, but my patterns are organized by size.
Categories should probably be
No way in H***
Gosh, did this ever really fit me?
If I am willing to do a little altering
Looks like a tent, must fit

liz young

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA - sounds like my clothes closet!
Sharon

So after doing all this, when do you find time to sew???? Ha Ha
Barbara in FL & SC
set it up correctly from the start.

I get a little crazy with my patterns.

For a Christmas gift my Mother gave me a week of organization
help...(she has seen my basement - mounded with piles of sewing
stuff!) and the other day we tackled the patterns first. I admit, I
have sometimes rushed from one project to the next without putting the
pattern back in the envelope...so we had to sort hundreds of patterns
by number and then I ironed all the orphan pieces we found in the
basement crumpled in heaps or rumpled in bags etc..... and tried to
match them back up with their envelopes. I too iron and refold with
the pattern make and # showing (when I take the time). After that, we
didn't need the patterns sorted by number anymore so we sorted by
style/theme and put in clear plastic bins...12 in all! The 15 Qt
Sterilite work perfectly...with oversize such as Stretch & Sew fitting
flat in a separate one.
Joy

On 10 Jan 2005 16:56:59 GMT, ospam (DKiely33) wrote:


What is the best way to store patterns that have already been used, cut and
will be used again?

I'm going to be setting up a little sewing area and would like to know how to
set it up correctly from the start.

Would an art store be useful for storage options?

Thanks,
Dee

On 10 Jan 2005 16:56:59 GMT, ospam
(DKiely33) wrote:

What is the best way to store patterns that have already been used, cut and
will be used again?

I use 9 x 12 envelopes (the kind for mailing letter paper
flat). I punch a hole in a corner of each envelope so I
can hang the envelope on a nail while I'm using the pattern.
When not in use, I keep them in an antique trunk.

Each time I use the pattern, I write the date and the name
of the fabric on the envelope -- and on each pattern piece
that was used for that garment. When I'm feeling really
organized, I'll glue a snippet of the fabric to the
envelope.

This system doesn't work very well for stuff made of the
blue-plaid linen shirting I bought to test patterns with,
and that's when version control is most important!

The last time I used the same fabric a second time, I
embroidered a mark on the garment and put a matching mark on
each pattern piece. I *meant* to put the mark at center
back of the neck, like a label, but when the finishing was
nearly done, I found a fabric flaw near the hem of one
sleeve, so I put the mark there, using thread that matched
one of the colors in the print.

Joy Beeson
--
http://home.earthlink.net/~joybeeson/ -- needlework
http://home.earthlink.net/~dbeeson59...HSEW/ROUGH.HTM
http://home.earthlink.net/~beeson_n3f/ -- Writers' Exchange
joy beeson at earthlink dot net

"BEI Design" wrote in message
...

"Ward" wrote in message
groups.com...

I get a little crazy with my patterns. snip

That has to be the *year's* biggest understatement! ;-)

(I have to admit a secret admiration, though.)

--
Beverly
delete no spam and .invalid to reply

It's worse then I let on. I was buying an extra 1/8 yard of fabric just so
I could organize my stash. In the store I'd write down all the information
from the end of the bolt and the yardage amounts onto index cards. Then I'd
go home, cut a swatch off the extra yardage, and staple it to the card.
Just in case I wanted to match the fabric with something else, I'd cut about
a 4 inch square, clean finish the edges with the serger, put a button hole
in the corner, and then stick it on one of those big snap-apart binder rings
you get in the office supply store. When I'd go shopping at fabric sales,
I'd snap apart the ring, snap it closed onto my handbag strap, and use it to
compare fabrics / colors at the sale. Before putting away the new fabric
I'd make a copy of the info on the index card and pin it to the edge of the
fabric so I wouldn't forget the washing instructions, etc. I finally
dropped the index cards and the fabric swatch habits, but I still tag the
fabric before putting it away and scan the patterns I buy. I keep the index
cards around as a reminded to remain in control. I'm a really addicted to
this stuff.

I store my patterns in those plastic stackable boxes you can find in any
discount store. I sort them by style; for example, skirts in one box, stretch
knits only patterns in another. Over the years I've had to subdivide the
categories. Dresses with waistline seams go in one box, those without a waist
seam in another. I put a 3 x 5 card in the box with the category name placed
so it can be easily visible through the plastic. After forty years of sewing I
have an embarrassing number of patterns and this works for me.

Fran

"Trish Brown" wrote in message

Liz! Oh, I do take my hat off to you! I *love* your storage method and the
organisation you have achieved with your patterns! It's something I might
work toward myself, since all my patterns are squished together in boxes
that are too small for them. That is, the patterns have outgrown the
boxes...

For everyone's information, the flat boxes that copy paper comes in
(Reflex brand is the one I use) will fit two rows of patterns perfectly
when they're placed on their sides. Three rows when placed upright, but
then the lid won't fit on. Which might or might not matter...

The boxes I mean are the ones with a footprint the size of an A3 pice of
paper, not the smaller, taller ones with an A4 footprint.

I know what I mean... Do you? ;-D
--
Trish {|:-}
Newcastle, Australia

Hi Trish,

It took me almost a month when I first decided to do this project. I had to
fit in my scanning time with work, kids, etc. It all started as a way of
leaning how to use the new scanner and not as a way to organizing my
patterns. It just became a monster after I discovered I could enlarge the
scanned envelope which made reading the tiny print easier. The plastic
sheet protectors came about when I discovered the holes I was punching into
the scans were covering some of the information from the back of the
envelope. If I buy a pattern in various sizes I note that on the scan so I
don't buy the pattern again. That's another bad habit. If the pattern is a
classic design, and on sale, I buy it in all the available sizes.

Liz

"Ward" wrote in message
groups.com...
snip

Oooooowwwww, make it stop!
;-

--
Beverly
delete no spam and .invalid to reply

When first using a pattern, I cut apart any pattern pieces that are printed on
a single sheet. Then, I refold all pieces ...sized to the pattern
envelope....with the name and part of the piece on the outside....
Thus......all pattern pieces are refolded and slipped inside the printed
directions. Then, all pieces are put inside the envelope.
For those patterns where that would make it much too bulky to fit inside the
envelope, I place everything in a plastic bag with the picture envelope
showing.

It may seem like a lot of work, but it is especially convenient when patterns
are used again. All one has to do is sort through the folded pieces for the
needed ones.

As for storage......I use those pattern storage boxes (cardboard) that I get
from fabric stores (JoAnne, Hancock). I use one for each category......dolls
and toys..... garments and accessories.

I don't list the patterns on the outside of the box.....only the categories. I
enjoy, when selecting a pattern to use, going through all the patterns in a
box...refreshes my memory....and I can think about the good time sewing and the
results of that sewing experience..... Good memories and bad....G......