Organization Ideas
By crochetkid
@crochetkid (351)
United States
February 18, 2009 2:10pm CST
All crafters love their art! Regardless of what you do, it has taken over and only you and other crafters can understand this. Since the internet has become so popular and easier to use more and more free patterns are available. I had stacks and stacks of them. Here and there, my craft room was stacks of printed out patterns, then the livingroom got taken over. Hubby is very supportive and understanding, but he finally stated that something had to be done.? I didn't know what to do with my precious free patterns all of which I had to keep. You know, one day I was going to "make" them, all of them. We've all been there.
Then it hit me! I stapled each pattern and it following pages together. Then I bought a box of the plastic protector sheets and those inexpensive plastic notebooks and some file tabs. I seperated my patterns into catagories, label a notebook for each catagory. (the plastic protectors have a 3 hole edge on them so I didn't have to sit and punch all that paper)I put 2 pattern to a protector one facing each side and put it in the notebooks. The tabs I used to catagorize within a catagory if needed. Now my patterns are organized, protected against bending and spills, I can easily find what I'm looking for, and hubby is very pleased. This also makes the pattern portable, you can keep it with your project and you don't have to take the whole notebook with you. So now as I print out patterns, I try to take care of them righ away. LOL Notice I said TRY.
Now I just have to figure out away to make the color ink cartridges bottomless. Seems I'm always running. Go figure?
When I'm using a pattern, I also use a piece of sticky pad paper under each line of the pattern I'm on and move it as I go. This is also handy for making notes of stitch count, where you left off, personal changes and so on. Pencil/pen and a sticky pad is always within reach.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@pinkap (48)
• United States
22 Feb 09
This used to work for me back when I had controll over my patterns. :-) I now have wall to wall shelfing along one side of my craft room and two of those shelves is filled with books, magazines and patterns. The notebook idea was awesome but eventually became too expensive for me.
I found these cardboard magazine file organizers that I use as markers to separate my books. Then, in each box I put the thinner books, magazines and printed patterns that go in that category. For example, I keep all of my thread patterns and books together. On the shelf are the books, then in the magazine file are my flimsy and smaller books, patterns that I printed on line, and a cd with burned patterns that I haven't printed but still saved. On the outside of the file I wrote "thread" with a thick sharpie, then underneath in a smaller pen I wrote examples of the kind of pattern books that blong there... doilies, ornaments, tatting, bobbin lace, filet, Irish lace... you get the picture.
I go the files from Ikea for fairly cheap. They have the white cardboard files in packs of 5 for about $3. I got 4 because I also organized my subscription magazines that have a little of everything organized as well. :-) I have pictures if you'd like to see them. Just email me: pinka_m@yahoo.com
Take care,
Pinka
http://pinkap.blogspot.com
http://pinkap.etsy.com
@crochetkid (351)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Hi Pinka! So glad to see you posting to my discussion. I am really looking forward to recieving my bracelets! You did such a wonderful job. After reading your comment, I think you have alot more to organize than I do. Although if you want to help me organize mine, come on over. LOL I don't know if you receive the www.sweaterbabe.com newsletter, but they have a really nice free crochet scarf pattern available. I have more of an afghan in mind for it. It is really pretty. There site puts out a monthly newsletter you can sign up for free for. Anyone who reads this can sign up. I'm not affiliated with them, nor do I earning anything from them. But they offer either a free knit or crochet pattern each month, and they also have purchase patterns available which are also really nice. Also, when my Crochet! subscription runs out, I'm thinking of joing the CGOA. But if you get the chance to check out that pattern, I think you will like it.
@pinkap (48)
• United States
25 Feb 09
Yes, you're right... I have a ton of books and patterns and need large ideas for sorting large amounts. :-) :-) But the, this collection is more than 20 years old.... It's amazing how much stuff one accumulates in 20 years. :-)
Pinka
http://pinkap.etsy.com
http://pinkap.blogspot.com
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
18 Feb 09
Thats an awesome idea. I may have to try that. Since I started crocheting my free patterns have been taking over. lol. Most of my cross stitch patterns are purchases and are leaflets. So I bought a file folder box, you know, like for offices and put the leaflets into the file folders to organize my patterns. Now if I could only organize my yarn and my cross stitch kits. Crafting just takes over our lives sometimes it seems.
@venshida (4836)
• United States
22 Feb 09
It helps 100 percent when you are organized. I store my craft ideas and garden ideas also in a binder with the plastic sheet covers. I use to save magazines because there was a article or something I wanted to try, but I had so much clutter that I started organizing them
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
22 Feb 09
That's a very good idea! I do something similar with my scrap paper but haven't done anything with my patterns or with my samples.....I think they need to be organized and if they are then I'll have more space available...and some empty containers! Thanks!
@joyoustreasures (185)
• United States
18 Feb 09
That's a great idea! I have a back pack stuffed with patterns. I have patterns in my closet, under my bed, and on my shelf. I usually have to tear my room apart to find the pattern I want because they're not organized.
@crochetkid (351)
• United States
18 Feb 09
I just posted posted purchasing info and some other ideas under another post. Take a look at it, your ideas may start cooking too. Thats what I love about My lot, is the sharing and creativness.
