I think I am right up there with you as far as paper patterns. I don't have my own computer--use hubbys and when I find a pattern I like, I print up several copies. I may never get around to making it, but love to browse for patterns as much as browsing for fabric. I guess I am overly optomistic or just plain loony cause I should know I have more than I can ever make in a lifetime :!: :lol: I store mine in a small plastic 2 drawer chest but hope to find a file cabinet to store them in one of these days.

I do what BeachLady does...print, put in clear plastic sleeves and put in 4 inch 3 ring binders. I have things separated into Quilts and Crafts...over the years I haven't been realllllllllllllly precise in making sure Quilts/Crafts are in their right binder simply because I have about a million! Collecting patterns is like building up a "stash" of fabric........never enough! Nuts! Who said I am????? :lol:

My quilt magazines all have little colored tabs stuck here and there ...those tabs tell me there is a pattern there that I really want to try. I do the same with Taste of Home-type magazines. Tabs here, tabs there, everywhere a tab tab!

BZang: I, too love to look at patterns (and recipes) almost as much as making the blocks or cookies. Have either a quilt book/magazine or a cookbook/magazine in my lap, tote bag, car ALWAYS.

i don't trust the internet or my computer. when i see a pattern i like i save it on a cd......and on external hardrive

If there's something I want to keep, I save it to the computer in a file. The bookmarking isn't as reliable as some patterns get moved, removed, replaced....

I also have countless patterns . In folders , in my favorites , on cd's and on a flash drive . I think we all keep the ink companies in business lol . If I was to try and make all of them , it would truly be a nonstop sewing marathon ! Annie

For some reason, I have to print everything I see that I like, then I put them into a pile on my diningroom table ("in box") Then when I get tired of looking at the pile, I go through it and say oh yeah I really like that pattern, and then it goes on the steps for the next time I go upstairs to my sewing room, then I take it up there and I place it on one of about 1/2 dozen piles, and think, maybe I will spend some time organizing all of these piles of patterns I have printed. Then I sort them into one of 3 stationery boxes: QUILT BLOCKS, TIPS/TECHNIQUES, and SEWING/CRAFTS. That's as far as I've gotten. I then decide that I have had enough for one day, and turn on my sewing machine and put them out of my mind. I never even felt guilt about all of the piles of paper until I joined FlyLady last year.

The patterns I have made, am currently working on, or that I am collecting fabric for are in sheet protectors and will go into a 3 ring binder one day. Along with the journal pages I have typed for each of the quilts that I have made. Oh yeah, these are also in one of my piles. I always have these very elaborate organizational ideas, but the truth is, I'd rather be sewing.
Linda