Today we have our first guest post for our Sizzlin' Summer Series. Fenna from Fabulous Home Sewn is sharing an awesome tutorial on how to organize your PDF sewing patterns.
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Yay! I'm quite excited to be part of the 'Organize Me!! Sizzlin' Summer Series' this year!
Thanks, Chelsea, for having me!
I often see a lot of people asking how to store the printed PDF patterns, so I thought I'd share my method of organizing them.
First, I save them all to this handy little USB stick so if my computer crashes, they're not gone forever.
(I do also have Dropbox but it doesn't have a lot of free space--about 2GB. If you sign up through this link, I get a little extra!)
On the USB, I organized the PDFs with a folder for each designer from whom I have more than one pattern. The other 'random' patterns are just listed in the main folder.
I print off a pattern when I decide to use it, or if I know I'll use it in the very near future.
Each pattern has it's own individual large plastic bag (Ziploc or similar--I use Compliments).
Inside each bag is: the instructions stapled together, the taped original pattern folded up, and any sizes I've traced onto cheap paper.
(I buy rolls of cheap paper at the newsprint shop--their end rolls.)
I print out the instructions because I'm not very technologically advanced--I have no ipad or iphone or the like to have near my sewing space, and the laptop is often in use while I sew.
I store the plastic bags in a file folder:
Which is again divided by designer, with some other folders being 'random designers,' 'self-drafted,' 'toys,' 'bags,' 'home décor/quilts.'
Often, when I am looking for a certain design or style, I like to easily leaf through what patterns I have for inspiration. So, I've printed all the title pages from each pattern and put them in a binder.
(I found the lovely vintage sewing machine clipart online once. Where, I do not know!!)
Here, they are again grouped together by designer, but more loosely.
For example, I print front and back if I have more than one of a certain designer. So, the 'Tinny' from Straight Grain here, is on the back side of the 'Hanami.' While the 'Bella Blouse' from Petite Kids Boutique starts a section of patterns from Petite Kids Boutique.
And, if I have more than two, the 3rd and any subsequent ones are added after the first two.
This way I can flip through my patterns and decide which I'd like to use without having to click and scroll through computer files and get 'lost' on the computer or internet!
I hope you've enjoyed my way of organizing the PDF patterns that accumulate so easily!
Thanks again, Chelsea, for having me and for organizing a fun and helpful series!
I wish I was as organized as you Fenna! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess...I'd go crazy if they weren't organized ;)
DeleteI wish I was as organized as you Fenna! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteChelsea, thanks for having me! :)
ReplyDeletethis is a neat way to organize. Looks much cleaner than my manilla folders! I love the binder to leaf through too! Great Ideas!
ReplyDelete