Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn | Sew Simple Home
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Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn

 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!)

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

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.

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

I print off a pattern when I decide to use it, or if I know I'll use it in the very near future.

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

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.

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

I store the plastic bags in a file folder:

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

Which is again divided by designer, with some other folders being 'random designers,' 'self-drafted,' 'toys,' 'bags,' 'home décor/quilts.'

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

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!!)

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

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.

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

And, if I have more than two, the 3rd and any subsequent ones are added after the first two.

Organizing PDF Patterns with Fabulous Home Sewn at GYCT Sizzlin' Summer

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!







5 comments

  1. I wish I was as organized as you Fenna! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. Thanks Jess...I'd go crazy if they weren't organized ;)

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  2. I wish I was as organized as you Fenna! Thanks for sharing :)

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  3. Chelsea, thanks for having me! :)

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  4. this is a neat way to organize. Looks much cleaner than my manilla folders! I love the binder to leaf through too! Great Ideas!

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I'd love to hear from you!