lynda1945

I have 2 bottom drawers of a tall filing cabinet. Top drawer goes from A to N, bottom M thru Z. I have two letters for each along with regular folders within. Patterns, instructions, etc. each have their own section. Hope this helps. Stores alot! LyndaJean

AnnieH

Oh my goodness! Now I need to start filing!
Annie

rusty quilter

I use magazine holders and sort my quilt books and patterns by methods ie...Eleanor Burns, Kaye Wood, etc. I put misc. patterns in another magazine holder. Usually I am thinking of a method, before I pick a pattern. If I am not thinking of anything specific--out they all come, but in their holder, so they can go back the same way.

crankygran

Me, too. I have thought of sorting them by type and by block size and by construction method, but so far I just have them in notebooks and so when I am looking for a particular pattern I often get so sidetracked and may change my mind about a project several times. But that is part of the fun......isn't it?

gale

Mine are laying all over the place. I need to put them in notebooks-I have plenty I've bought from BTS sales.

luvTooQuilt

I do this as well and the most current 'TO DO" list is on individual clipboards hanging on my wall next to my Pfaff..

Jo Belmont

I have a few hundred done like that, but I also have almost 1,500 from my pre-computer stash of patterns. Of course, I will never use all those (though many are used for by my students as they dream about their projects), so I want to hang onto them.

Trouble mostly is if, say on a baby quilt, it ideally meets several criterion: It's got a great color combo; the border is unique; the pattern also has accessories (diaper bag, toy, sleeper, etc.), the block and assembly is easily used in other projects, etc.

At this point, I'm beginning to lean toward a data base and/or spread sheet entry that would facilitate filing all patterns by number for starters. Then, as new patterns come in, I know the very box in which to place them after they're entered.

I also intend to have a book with a thumbnail (from pdf or scan) of each pattern (numerical ordered) that could be reviewed quickly - say a dozen or so per page.

Then the entry could accommodate not only the actual name of the Pattern (as assigned by the pattern-maker), but all other cross-references and additional keyword references as might be needed.

I envision then doing a simple search to find all instances of a given descriptor, going with an output list in numerical order and knowing exactly which box to go to.

I am definitely thinking about the sleeve protectors, however, that so many use. They would nicely accommodate patterns that absolutely refuse to refold well enough to go back into their original package.

Thanks all for your input. I'll work on this for a bit and see if it works. If it does, it will go a long way to giving me more time for quilting besides cleaning up my sewing room.

Happy and Blessed New Year to all ~Jo

kacie

Plastic sleeves in binders. The patterns themselves are in plastic bins waiting to be organized and inserted into the plastic sleeves. As if I'm ever going to get around to actually using the patterns . . .

quiltmaker

I use the largest (4" I think) binders and put them all in the plastic sleeves. Also have the quilt picture on top. I have maybe 20 binders or more and they are all catagorized by types. Course I have been doing this for years but it works for me. Also binders with all the greatest tips, quilting methods, and just about anything to help with quilting. quilt history and vintage quilting. My youngest daughter has been eyeing them for years. Most of the info and sites no longer have the same information on them and many of the patterns are no longer there. I am so glad I printed it all out. So to anyone that is starting this I would recommend print out everything that would be a possible help for you plus any patterns you like as they won't always be available there for you.

Gina_D

I'm getting so many ideas from you people! Another New Year's project.