Thread: Dies---organizing?????

I have over 500, but only about 18 or so that are quilting dies. I have an excel spreadsheet with the die name & where it's stored. What I really use a lot, however, is an old fashioned Rolodex. A visual is better for me. I have the one that takes the 3X5 size cards (which I have a die for ) I often have several cards for each die, like filed under strips, then maybe another section for 2 1/2 inch compatible etc. Because dies intended for paper have names that are not very descriptive, "Box 3", for instance, I can have a picture of the completed item. You could have diagram(s) of blocks that use that die. I have noticed that the quilting dies are almost random sizes, which isn't the case for the paper dies. My husband and I built a workstation for storage. I have found the best way to store are cubbies that let you store the dies vertically, like books, and drawers. If at all possible, don't store them in a stack, which makes it hard to get them out as the one you want is always on the bottom. Label the storage area and cross reference that location on your excel file or card list. Here's what my storage area looks like:
Die Cutting Station
Before we built the unit, I used milk crates turned on their sides like cubbies. If you have a cross reference list, you can store them by the size of the die. Not the most intuitive, but it makes the best use of space. I use a label maker to also label the die with the storage location to make reshelving easier.

Originally Posted by PaperPrincess

I have over 500, but only about 18 or so that are quilting dies. I have an excel spreadsheet with the die name & where it's stored. What I really use a lot, however, is an old fashioned Rolodex. A visual is better for me.

I wish you lived in So Cal instead of Michigan. What great organizing skills you have. If it is not in my sight line, I forget where I store things. Starting to post inventory list inside closets. Too many missing quilting items that after cleaning, I STILL can't find.

I found it actually more important to make a spreadsheet of all the dies, with their measurements and die number, with description so that you will be able to know, at a glance, whether you have the proper dies to make a project.

I found this invaluable when looking at a pattern that calls for specific size dies.

Then store them numerically in order, if possible.

I am actually thinking of making another spreadsheet for all my quilting books. So many times, I see a photo or quilt made from a pattern in a book, and think, "I have that book". But do I, really? It would be so helpful to have that information on my laptop in a spreadsheet....

I only have about 60 dies. I keep them in racks and just hunt for the one I want. Gives me a good memory of the ones I do have when I search for one.

I only have about 10 and just bought a duplicate today Geeze, I can't image if I had to remember more !

I've bought a duplicate before. LOL I probably will again. That's okay. Many of my quilt buddies have the Go too so we share and give dies.

Did everyone see the 50% off sale of all dies and Go machines online at JoAnn's one day Flash sale last week? I stocked up on cutting mats and bought a few dies I didn't have. It was posted on Facebook and I didn't see it posted anywhere else until most were sold out.