Do you keep the pattern after you finish your quilt?
 

Hi
Okay in a vain attempt to declutter and get rid of stuff in my sewing room, I came across a huge filing box of patterns that I have already finished. Should I keep them - probably will not remake them (although I did make a couple several times....) What do people usually do with patterns they have made?
ali

Pass them along to a quilting friend, offer them here on the QB as a PIF (pay it forward) or once you have met selling requirements, post them here on the QB for sale.

I don't have a lot of patterns, but I would do the same as AUQuilter. I can find almost anything I want to do, online, and then figure it out for myself. i don't have any relatives that would be interested in quilt patterns, so no reason save.

It's hard for me to throw anything a way, so personally I'd probably keep it, file it, just-in-case I needed it later. That said, my husband HATES clutter and forces me to go through my "keep files" once or two before filing and each time I am usually able to cut the stack in half. Same with clothes - if I haven't worn something in over a year (or two or three), why do I keep it? He's constantly "thinning" my closet!

Oh, and I've been able to suffer through it by telling myself I can always buy something new! Better! Improved!

Since you know you probably won't use them again go ahead and decide to "get rid of them" either by gifting to a quilting friend or even donating to a local quilt guild if not selling them on the QB. Why keep what you have no further use for.

I take them to guild where we swap/loan patterns.

YES I, do. I don't have that many pattern from quilts, I made. I may go back and make the quilt again, if I like the pattern. Or maybe the same pattern, I will do again, but with a little more difference in design

I I really like it I would probably scan and save on the computer or flash drive...I have tons of old magazines the I will take to the local guild after I scan...

You think you will use it again. Well if it is gone you have to choose a new pattern to try.:D

I keep three or four go to patterns for fast piecing and that I like to make for when I need something fast. TATW, Ohio Star, Drunkards path and the simple 9P. These can be made in any size and I change them up by doing different borders on them so they are always 'new'.

Then there are the three huge binders filled with inspiration quilt patterns that I love to browse through to find some new technique or pattern to make. I will never make them all but I'm giving it a try!

If you really haven't used them for a while, why not replace them with something new!!!
peace

I keep mine (or try to). I'm not sure I have them all. I have very few purchased patterns. Most of my quilts are original designs or well established block patterns. I have a notebook of graph paper where I sketch out patterns. Some are enlarged from published patterns. On the latter, I keep at least the original pattern, but not necessarily the enlargement.

Keep mine, but then again my DH says I keep everything! ;) I AM a packrat!

Anita

I keep mine in a 3 ring binder. I like going back and looking at them once in a while. Sometime it gives me good ideas for another project.

It depends, if I liked the pattern and how the quilt turned out I will keep it. If I didn't like it or it was a PITA I will donate it. Books also, some techniques I have tried and didn't care for so that one goes.

Same here. I like looking back over patterns I have used. One pattern, I have used 3 times. The fabrics are so different, that you have to look closely to realize they are from the same pattern. Since I give my quilts away, looking at the patterns brings back fond memories.

I keep everything. I think the term pack rat was named for me

I keep my patterns, never know when even a small part of it might help in another project. Do not have many patterns.

If you really want to rid yourself of them then give them to local spots like, Guilds, churches who make quilts, retirement homes, Hospitals who take in preemie quilts, babies who don't survive and cancer quilts they maybe have people who do the quilts and maybe they can use the patterns. Just some Ideals. I give mine away or keep them depending on what it is.

I design all my own quilt patterns, so, yes, I keep them after I've finished the quilt...along with all the notes, etc. Who knows, I may decide to publish one or more someday. LOL

I never bother with patterns-they cost extra money and then you need to store them. Generally, a picture in the mind and reasonable mathematical ability will suffice.( in other words, you don't need them-on sell them at a market).

Whatever you decide to do, I know that the recipient will be appreciative.

There are very few patterns that I would want to make more than one or two times. You are pretty much going to find anything you want in the computer. I would see if some church quilting group might use them. Get them out of the way and make room for something else.

Actually, that's considered a copyright infringement. You buy a copy (magazine or pattern), and you can use it, sell it, or give it away. Keeping a copy and giving/selling the original is actually not kosher.

There have been times when I had a ceremonial fire in the outdoor grill, to celebrate finishing a pattern that seemed way too hard for the end result.

I have binders full of quilt patterns I know I'll never be able to around to doing. But they are sure fun to look at and put on my "some day" list.

I would scan them and file them into the computer with notes. You can put them into an album such as. Log Cabin patterns, baby quilts, wedding rings, Susie's Christmas, Benjamin's Bar Mitzvah, Mug rugs, table runners, Jamie's christening. If anyone asks for a pattern, you might have and as AUQuilter suggested can pay it forward. I would include ALL notes, that way is something doesn't turn out right no one can say you didn't put a step in. Like some people when they pass down a recipe but leave an ingredient or step out so it "Just doesn't taste like you made it". That is just mean. Every pattern I have is in my computer and on a jump drive (also know by other names) I carry with me. I have the paper pattern to work off and follow also.

My problem is I would get rid of them and then I need that pattern!LOL But then with the invention of the internet one can find the pattern (not the shortcuts or tips that you wrote on the pattern tho !LOL) and have it handy, the library,family, friends who have patterns or neighbors as well. I have made several large binder notebooks with the plastic sleeve in each binder with patterns that I have used and how useful- This is a decision that one has to make themselves. I also have a large to do folder that I have to decide if I am really gonna make that (I put them in and go back through it in a week to decide yes or no).
IF I decide I don't plan on making that pattern I have a recipe box with cards in them that I put where I got the pattern (what site and their Http address) then the tips are also written on it. On the back of the card I list the material used and if I have scraps leftover those are stapled to it as well so I know for the next time, with a plastic sleeve that I have made to fit the box so the material doesn't fall off .. DH says this system cuts down on my paper clutter in the sewing room. So far this has worked for me...

I keep mine as I may want to make more than one. I have never made two of the same but now I have the fabric I want to make lap quilts from two I made years ago, however I can't find where I put them.

If I am going to make them or think I will again, I keep mine. Then I take the rest to my guild.

Most of my quilt patterns were giveaways except for a few, but most of the time I see something that triggers an idea and I re design or use it as inspiration so yes I save them. When I first got EQ I didn't like it much but use it more now for making my own interpretations of somethng I see or like so they are saved in that program.

I pass them on. This is what quitting friends do. Onward and upward, is what I say. I hate clutter..plus I just don't have the room. Other than a few traditional quilts I rarely make the same quilt twice.

Yes, guess I am a hoarder compared to what has been written. I just picked up a quilt magazine that someone had given to our local "give away" came home and made a quilt out of it. I changed the fabric but it is a beautiful quilt to be given to QOV. I have binders full of ideas. I may not make them all, couldn't live that long, but I always have something to look through for inspiration. I keep all my magazines that have items in it to make. Eventually I give some away or donate to our guilds "second hand treasures" to be sold at our quilt show.

I have a 3-ring-binder that I use for pictures and patterns. This way I can go back and look for it if need be. I call it "I made it." I just use clear plastic pages to hold the pattern and picture.

I always keep mine. I just cant let go. :cool:

I keep them in a photo album with my quilt pictures.

I have not made too many quilts yet but after I read a suggestion here on the board, I have started a quilt binder of the quilts I make. The binder contains plastic sleeves containing the pattern, swatches of the material I use in a quilt, and photos.

However, if you don't plan to make the pattern again, it might not be worth the trouble of saving... but I would definitely find a place/person to donate them.

I give most of my quilts away, so I take a picture of every quilt to keep in my scrapbook. I have another scrapbook with the drawings - or EQ7 printouts of the patterns. I have made several of my original quilts a 2nd, 3rd and 4th time - in different colors.