I don't think I'm *that* old but I keep forgetting where things are Last night after not finding a stitch diagram online, I went through two shelves of books and magazines looking for it. I eventually found what I was looking for. Now I'm sorely tempted (a) not to buy any more books because I have problems finding what I need in the references I currently own or (b) to spend hours and hours creating a master database (index) from these references of where stitches and tips or tricks can be found.
About a year ago I sorted through all of my knitting, crochet, tatting, stitching, quilting, and miscellaneous books and patterns. After making stacks of stuff by technique, I went through each stack and sorted into what I found to be logical groupings. I counted up all the groupings, went to the office store, and bought accordion files, which I then labelled, filled, and put on shelves in my basement. I was amazed at the amount of stuff I had accumulated over the years, and haven't purchased any patterns or books since then! And, I can find what I want very quickly now. It was a chore, but well worth the time and effort.
I've got projects -- past present and future-- in file folders by subject. I don't want to pull magazines apart and wish there was an online readers guide to periodical literature for stitching and craft magazines. Heck, I'd buy a subscription to that type of service!!!
One of our local magazines, one which contained a lot of needlework, did just that, but on floppies for purchase. I bought the first one, for 6 months, and found it very useful.
However, when I sent for the second, I had endless trouble, and ended up losing my money for nothing. I don't think they did it any more after that. Eventually the magazine changed away from my interests.
It was such a good idea, and it would help a lot, but must be produced by reliable people.
For the magazines, you could just put a post-it type flag on the page where a project is that really interests you, and maybe just 1 time as you go through them, write down Mag - Issue- Project. I'm sure it would take a couple of hours, but then you'd have a simple reference list, and keep the mag's intact. Some of the better magazines (like Threads) do have an annual index for the year in an issue at the end of the year. Professional journals tend to do that, but, well, don't know about stitching mags.
As a relative newcomer to non-kitted embroidery, I have less than 3 years of magazines to index. Creating an index would be the perfect activity for an afternoon on the deck; it's too bad I don't have a laptop and wifi.
While I hate to admit it, as it brought much laughter to my in-person friends (one of whom is reading this) - when I'd not been stitching long, but long enough to have several projects going I started a supplies index. Or shall I say a thread, beads, index. And by hand sat and copied all the numbers of Anchor, and checked if I had it, and put initials for the project it was kitted up with , Several pages, but it really didn't take that long. But, did get interesting as I added the silks, the overdyes, metallics, and so on. Sadly, I must say, it's woefully out of date. Kept the thing in sheet protectors, along with my conversion charts, etc. And, honestly, it proved useful when I would start working on something new that just needed a bit of some color, then I could go and steal some thread - put the skein either with the new project or the old one. I think that putting that into a spreadsheet will be my convalescent project when I have the next surgery. Uh huh.
I hope the magazine index works for you. I end up doing things like that or tearing them up and tossing what I don't need (with things like SHAPE). But, reference mags have to stay whole, IMHO.
InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.