Filing Patterns

I have some battered folders (some repaired with duct tape!) labeled Slippers, Children, Hats/Scarves/Mittens, and the like. I use the heavy-duty colorful ones sold in the school supply section, the ones with pockets in each cover, though the pockets aren't of much use.

JaneB

I keep single patterns sorted by item type (hats, sweaters, socks, whatever), in magazine sleeves. I still have to sift through the individual patterns, but at least I know where to find the pattern for that cute intarsia (me? knit intarsia? get real!) kid sweater.

Books are alphabetical by author.

Magazines are in heaps, but sorted by title and usually ordered by issue date.

HTH.

On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 11:00:11 -0400, "Madeleine Norman" spewed forth :

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

I use 3 ring binders w/ binder folders and clear plastic sheet covers. It depends on what I'm tying to file away. If it's something that I have printed from the computer it goes into a plastic sheet cover, if it's a booklet it goes into a folder that fits into a binder (the kind w/ holes on the side) and if it's a book, it just goes on the shelf. HTH

When you get an answer, share it with me. My patterns are in a total mess!

Katherine

I keep my patterns in a very large binder with tabs designating afghans, pot holders, scarves, etc. to keep them separate and easily accessible. Depending on how many you have, you could even designate a blanket binder, a scarf binder, etc.

~Lindy~

Madeleine,

I put my photo copies, in plastic three ring binder, platic sheets. I bought a very fat three ring binder that will hold lots of patterns. Now I used the dividers, and Alphabettically name broad catagories. e.g. Hats, sweaters scarves. All childrens patters are first filled under childrens patterns and if I have very many, I redivide by: hats, scarves, etc. My Artyarn lessons are under techniques, etc etc. When this binder is full, I buy a new one and now divided what I have already by alphabet, and list on the outside of my binder that the patterns in the first one are, say from A-K and in the second one from L-Z. All my magazines are filed in their own magazine boxes, by year and month. If there are indexes published I put those in the front of the box so I can easely find what I am looking for. Now you just have to be neat about this kind of filing and do re-file what you have used in the correct place....LOL. Most of the time it works for me. (remember I am a trained library technician, and my Dad was an accountant....LOL

Els

Are you saying my well-worn folders mended with duct tape aren't.... neat??!!

JaneB

Here's a suggestion: File them according to some category system that seems reasonable to you. Then use a spreadsheet programme (such as Excel) to list your stuff on your computer. You can easily add categories such as designer, yarn weight or anything else that seems useful. If something fits into several categories put a header in that says "filed under..." and list where it is. Then when you need something you can just look it up on the computer and follow the directions to its hidey-hole!

Hope that helps, Eimear

Well Jane if it works for you, naturally it is "neat"....LOL

Els

I would probably need several hundred binders!

Katherine

I am also a trained librarian, but it never carried over into my home life - or into my classroom. It just worked in the library. I should invite you to come and visit me to organize me.

Katherine

No thank you, god forbid two ladies totally organized.....I am may be organized, but my memory it louszy, thus the organization does not mean much either.....LOL

Els

"Madeleine Norman" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@rogers.com...

I have filed lots of my patterns at my PC, sorted by tecnique and then topic. If I need a pattern, I print it out, but I do not print out more than I need for "looking carefully" and for USE.

My printed/bought patterns... Well, I had a LARGE, HARD tiding up! I was very rigorous with what I thought I would use, and what I just kept because I had got it. The ones I kept, are sorted in big binders, by tecniques and then lots of undertopics. It is simple to get to them.

But my experiance is that I keep to many "things" which I, or others, never will use. It is important to me to simplify! But I'm not always good at it! LOL! AUD ;-))

Oh yes Aud so do I, and indeed a good weeding helps to stay on top of it. Not just with patterns, but all through the house. LOL

Els

I have pattern books standing upright in a couple of sturdy cardboard boxes that I've covered in pretty wrapping paper. Other books/magazines are held in the same way in a square laundry basket.

Gem

That is why I write everything down.

Katherine

the store and the list is on the kitchen table...LOL

Els

LOL I started using a day book this year. I am finding that it works - as long as I remember to write in it immediately!

Katherine