Reclaim your Pattern Stash
Posted by Wendy Breakstone Ladd | Filed under Quilting for Beginners
[Note: I originally published this post on my former blog, The Fabric Quarter, on March 24, 2011. I've edited it slightly.]
In recent months I’ve seen lots of bloggers showing their fabric stashes, and talking about ideas for fabric organization. When you look at your fabric stash, organize and fold your fabrics, you can get a great
“fabric fix” that will often lead to ideas and inspiration.
I have to admit that my husband has caught me several times just standing and staring in front of my fabric cabinet, day-dreaming of project after project. [Nowadays I call it "fabric meditation" and believe it really has a relaxing effect on my mind.]
But for me… without my Patterns Stash, its just alot of dreaming and looking and not alot of “doing/sewing.”
For many people [like myself] that aren’t great improv piecers, a pattern is part of the inspirational process. I will often see a pattern and immediately get a visual of what fabric I think will be perfect with it.
But when my pattern stash, like my fabric stash, got out of control one day, I decided it was time to organize.
I went to the store and bought a bright orange 3-ring binder, a good 3-hole punch, and got started.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 3-ring binder that has at least 2-3″ rings [trust me, you'll need a big one]
- 3-hole punch
- Tabbed 3-ring Dividers
- Stapler
- Optional: plastic sleeve protectors
Sections for your Pattern Binder:
I organize my patterns into sections:
1. Purchased Patterns: I buy a ton of patterns! Even though I have a great selection from my shop, I am constantly seeing patterns I love – so I buy them knowing that the inspiration they bring me is well worth it.
– Take them out of the plastic bags [don't throw the bags out - they are great for organizing small projects, applique pieces, selvage scraps, buttons, extra binding strips, etc.]
– Flatten out the pattern, and punch the holes. Be sure to put the color quilt design image on top.
– I also staple my patterns because when I use them, I don’t like loose pages.
2. Free Patterns:
– The next section is Free Patterns. These are patterns you receive from a manufacturer showing a fabric collection, patterns you download off the Internet from places like your favorite blogger, and manufacturer websites like Moda or Robert Kaufman. When you print them out, be sure to use both sides of the paper.
3. Magazine Patterns:
Are you a magazine junkie? I AM! But really, how many patterns do usually find in one magazine that you’d consider making? Generally, I’d say two -maybe three patterns [if you're lucky]! For a while I was using Post-It notes sticking out of the magazines with short description of the project. But the stacks kept growing and growing, and I certainly wasn’t inspired.
So now I keep a magazine for about one month. I read it frequently during that time to really see if any of the patterns are resonating with me. Then I tear out the patterns I want to keep, put them in my binder, add any notes on the pattern, and discard the rest. [Isn't this penguin cute?]
Other Sections in your binder:
- Purse patterns
- Kitchen related projects and table runner patterns
- Longer tutorials on techniques [that could be its own binder]
Ideas for Discarding the Magazines when You’re Done:
I don’t throw my magazines out or put them in recycling. I have two Re-use options:
1. If I haven’t pulled out too many patterns, I’ll put them on the free table at my local guild.
2. I bring the magazines to my son’s preschool. They use them for collaging art. Think about all the lovely, fun images and words in your quilt magazines. The kids love them, and so do the teachers!
Other Pattern Organizing Tips:
If you have more than one hobby or keep a collection quilt patterns and other types of patterns, like handbags, home decor or baby clothes, it would be a good idea to get separate binders for each craft/hobby. [I keep a separate binder for my crochet patterns.]
If your patterns require templates, you can store the templates in larger plastic bags or bins. Make sure to number the bins, and mark the bin number on the patterns so you can easily find the template pieces. [Plastic sleeves can work for this too.]
Finally, look through your binder frequently. Clean it out, add to it, give yourself a challenge to make a quilt using a pattern from your binder. You’ll be inspired!
Sew on!
~ Wendy
Tags: fabric stash, quilt patterns, sewing patterns
July 9th, 2011 at 5:41 am
great post! i am so much more creative when things are organized in my sewing area.