TUTORIAL: PATTERN STORAGE

This tutorial is about what to do with your commercial pattern -- or self-drawn patterns -- when you want to put them away until next time.  This is not MY idea.  I'm not sure it was Phylly's idea either, but Phylly is the one who showed it to me sometime this past year.  Before then -- for my whole entire sewing life of 45+ years, I had been folding up every pattern piece into its original tiny shape and putting it back in the original envelope.  This is much better!  I hope you agree.

Here is what I am going to show you:


Another wiggly video.  Still not home where my tripod is.  If I don't get back pretty soon, I'll have to buy another one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPezLVbk9a0














The envelopes are 10 x 13 with a metal clasp on the back: 

I separate the contents into 3 sections:  Cut Out Pattern Pieces -- Uncut Pattern Pieces -- Direction Sheets
I use a glue stick and rub it over the ENTIRE surface of the pattern envelope front and back.  It stays good!
Then I put the uncut pattern pieces with the direction sheets on top and then the cut pattern pieces.  This separates the pieces for easy finding later.

AND THENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN --

THE GREAT TA DAAAAAAAAAAA!!!


It's my Happy Birthday Box that Phylly made for me.  She doesn't even have one herself.  I love this so much and I take it everywhere I go that I may possibly want to sew or even just play with my patterns.

Hope you like this idea.
Hugs, Joy


6 comments:

  1. I'm glad you like the box. It is from Simplicity 8826. It is an old pattern and I don't know if it is still available. I hated having to try to stuff my cut patterns back into the paper pattern bags. I tried Ziplock bags, but the, plastic bags were slippery and didn't stack well together. I decided to put them in the manilla envelopes and glue or tape the pattern information on the outside. After I started doing that, I found others had the same idea. Hugs, Phylly

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  2. I am so thankful for all my friend's advice. I could fill a book with the things I have learned from friends. What a special blessing friends are!

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  3. Martha mwcmax99@yahoo.comJune 3, 2012 at 7:43 PM

    I LOVE this idea!! Thank you for sharing!

    Martha
    mwcmax99@yahoo.com

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  4. Really great idea - especially in the way you separate the used and unused patters pieces, along with the instructions in the middle. Tonight I started shoving pattern envelopes into several manila envelopes and making notes on the front. But I have more than one pattern in some envelopes, and one in another, just to get some symbolence of order. But I like your idea better. And I have a whole box of manila envelopes to put to good use! Also, I LOVE your box that your friend made for you - it is beautiful!!! Thank God for friends - to me they are His angels here on earth :) Happy Sewing!!! Jan Albritton

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  5. I did something similar with my patterns. I love your little box, but I have WAY too many patterns... I am using a filing cabinet and binders. You can see my pattern storage here: http://flyawayhome-4am.blogspot.com/2012/10/fridays-favorites-pattern-storage.html. I too, like the idea I can take my binders with me and play!

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  6. Using bigger envelopes is a good idea. It is practically impossible to get the pattern back in the envelope. I enjoy your blog and your videos. Cathy

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Hugs, Joy