template jumble
 

Sinçe I started quilting my own quilts. I have a "collection"of templates...what a mess...what to do so I can find what I want?

Get something that you can organize them with. I do not have many so I just throw them in a drawer but, you can get somthing to file them in.

Do you have room for a peg board, or a template ring they sale at Walmart and alot of other stores. My DH is standing here and suggested a thrift store old LP record stand or holder. Look at some of the old pictures in this section and you will find alot of different ways. But I myself couldn't survive without my peg board. Google it as well, there are endless organational sites and blogs out there. Good luck!
Country1

Similar to the shower curtain ring, I use a belt organizer ring. I bit larger and I hang it on the back of the door of my sewing room.

Paper ones in a large 3 ring binder with dividers for category

Peg board, without a doubt -- templates stay nice & flat, are easy to see, and lots of room for other things, too. I put mine up on the wall that a door sets against - its out of the way, can't be seen unless the door is closed and I have lots of storage there. I have almost no wall space, so am very glad for that pegboard.

In my adventures this week, Tuesday Morning had a zip binder by Omnigrid that had zipper pouches on the inside, different sizes made just for templates. Was a good price at 9.99.

Pegboards workmfine for the ones with holes. For the templates w/o holes- DVD cases will hold smaller ones, binder with pockets, small plastic organizer container to keep them together.

I have a file cabinet with hanging file folders. I arrange them by shape. The diamonds go in one pocket, triangles in another, etc.. Works for me.

I poke a hole iln them with a hole puncher (inside the edge of the template and put the holes through a large safety pins (I have also used a stitch holder for knitting). You can get alot of templates onto the pins or stitch holder

I use a wallmount lid holder that I found at a thrift store. It's still awkward because some of the templates are so long & clumsy. So I may go to just using the hooks on a pegboard as many of you seem to do so they'll lie flat.

I have a very heavy large flat box that I store mine in. It can fit under a bed or table where there is little space. Love it! It came from a newspaper office and I believe it originally had film in it.

I have a huge binder. I put loose patterns and templates in large Ziploc bags and punch holes in them and file them in the binder with a picture on the front of each one.

I have several plastic templates and a few paper ones that I drew, I punch holes with a three ring punch and file them in a binder. I intended to organize them using some sort of system, but mostly I just stick them in the binder on top. I've discovered that one advantage is that I can easily see which ones I use most--they stay on top. That allows me to flip through the others every once in a while or when I want something "new." The small ones were a problem flopping around and tearing but now I slip them into sleeve protectors. Works really well for me.

I rely on zip lock plastic bags. You can write which project they are, keep them separate yet together in a box or draw and keep them safe.

I have put mine in a large manilla envelopes or the freebie from the post office. On the outside on the envelope, write as much information that you want (book or magazine that it came from and I like to put the date that I made the templates...older ones might need a second look.) and on the inside with the templates, a paper copy of the templates and a picture of block or quilt that the templates make.

i opened up two file folders and taped the long sides together. i put my templates in there and slide the folder behind the sewing machine that i don't use much

For the templates without holes, drill them. Very easy to do and doesn't hurt templates.