I introduce the first of the Spooky Sewing Studio Series, a new series I will be sharing.
And with all this talk of new years resolutions and it being January, I thought the first article should be about organisation.
Organising Your Pattern Stash
My pattern collection is rather large and as such, was rather difficult to keep organised and to sort through to find a pattern I want, until I decided to make a master list that I could search through.
My first attempt was using an iPhone app, which did not work for me. I ended up running out of space on it because I had so many pattern. Also I ended up loosing it all when my phone dies, taking with it the back up files on my computer by corrupting them.
My second attempt was to use an excel spreadsheet on my computer, but didn't help me when I was out shopping and needed to check if I already had a pattern. And I also lost it when my external hard drive failed.
I then decided to follow the advice of the wonderful Your Wardrobe Unlock'd article on organising your sewing stash and organise my patterns through a combination of an offline master folder, and an online spreadsheet through google Docs.
Online Spreadsheet.
I could of gone all online with the spreadsheet alone, but I prefer having a hard copy to flick through easily, rather than scroll through on a tiny screen.
Also, I have not added photos of the patterns to this spreadsheet, as I keep an offline copy on my iPod (that has no data access save for wifi) and ran into the same problem as the first app I used, running out of storage data.
I like using google docs, rather than an app or writing a note, because you can easily edit on a computer and have changes applied to the shared document on the iPod as soon as its sync'd.
The spreadsheet is set out thusly:
- Company
- Number
- Size Range
- Description of Pattern contents
- Pattern Type (Ladies, children's, accessories, etc.)
- Era (Historical, Retro, Vintage, Modern)
- Out of Print
- Cut
I also have a In Print Wanted list and an Out of Print Wanted list, set out in the same way.
The Pattern Master Folder.
I will admit that the initial set up was rather drawn out, but the upkeep is easy enough. I love having an easy catalogue of all my patterns at my fingertips, which I feel, makes up for the trouble to originally create.
I organise my folders by alphabetic Pattern company, then by number. You could also organise it by garment type or by era.
For the pictures I use my regular printer, which has a copy and an enlarge/reduce function. I copy both front and back of the pattern, usually in black and white to save ink, at 69% reduction. This makes it easier to stick both copied images to the same page.
Once I have stuck both front and back to the page, I write the pattern number on the top right hand corner to make flicking through in search of a pattern by number much easier. Also sometimes the number doesn't come out in in the printing. Because I organise the patterns themselves in large tubs, I label the bottom left hand corner if they are placed somewhere other than by company, as I keep children's patterns and accessories/craft patterns in a separate tub.
I place each page in a plastic sleeve in the folders. On the back of each I record any changes to make to the pattern to make it fit better, like here I need to shorten the skirt by 15cm (yes I am rather a short) or if I have drafted out a modified version (usually if I have had to make a pattern larger) I will record the style number I have given it so I can easily find it again.
(A style number is used in commercial fashion drafting to name and number a pattern.)
Storing The Patterns
After cataloguing all the commercial patterns, I keep them in large plastic tubs, with each pattern sitting with the pattern number at the top so I can easily flick through and find the right one.
This is with the exception of the fragile 40s, 50s and 60s patterns in my collection, which are housed laid flat in their own cardboard box.
Once I have cut out a modern pattern, I can never get it back into the envelope. So I usually put all pattern pieces into a large document envelope and stick the pattern envelope, which I cut open so it lays flat, on to the front.
With the Vintage patterns I usually trace a copy of the pattern and use that to sew or draft with. I usually put it into the document envelope along with the pattern envelope, and stick another copy of it onto the front of the envelope.
How do you organise your stash?
Till next time.
