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lucylocket
Permanent Resident
4172 Posts |
 Posted - 09/28/2006 : 05:15:01 AM
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Hi Suzy and Amber - Welcome both of you to this great, friendly forum - I agree with you both - you never know when you are going to need patterns you admire when you first buy a magazine - I never throw out any of mine - I collect toy patterns and they never go out of fashion!!Hope you both have lots of fun meeting new friends here- Happy Knitting - Lucylocket   |
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scraffan
Permanent Resident
1844 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 05:29:25 AM
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I have a tote for nothing but books and magazines. Well used ones that are a faorite remain in an empty chair. Always within easy arm reach.
Yarns I have them in totes - all sock yarn together.
Mitten yarn in another tote.
Cotten in another tote
And then one for alpaca and others.
Scarffan |
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SheepyHead
New Pal
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 06:21:53 AM
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I don't have much to add - my patterns are also in sheet protectors in notebooks - each notebook for a certain type of knit. My shawl notebook is the largest, since I am seriously addicted to lace patterns... But I love the idea of the FO notebook! Must organize that!
Carol in Oregon |
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Rhondaruthc
New Pal
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 06:23:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bcartercps
In addition to my patterns being sorted by type (socks, hat, etc) I also have a binder of the patterns I've already made, with dividers for each type. This way if I want to make that cute hat I already did for Betty Sue, I can go straight to the "already made" book (which is quite a bit thinner than the other books) and find it there.
~Beth
Like Beth & most everybody else, I keep my patterns in loose leaf binders. One just on Socks ... my favorite and the others aren't anymore organized than by "Baby", "Men", "Children" & "Women". Altho, I just break it down further IF I could find the time to do it. But I want to say, I LOVE Beth's idea of a separate binder for FO's so that I can go BACK & find the pattern I want to use again. Great idea!
Rhonda
Remember: "When you look into a mirror, you are looking at the ONLY person who is responsible for your happiness!" http://www.MyOnlineImages.com/Members/rhondaruthc/images/Rhonda2005May.jpg |
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sassykathy
New Pal
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 06:40:27 AM
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I do what a lot of others have mentioned. I have numerous 3 ring binders, all with dividers. I have sections such as Sweaters, Outerwear, Bags, etc. I am completely meticulous when it comes to organizing. I even put each pattern into a sheet protector before it gets put in the appropriate binder!
Kathy
http://sassykrafty.blogspot.com |
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mkfromKansas
Chatty Knitter
339 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 06:47:08 AM
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How about this? To those of you who are computer savvy, how about copying your patterns onto your computer and then transferring them onto a jump drive. Those little devils, which are no bigger than a big cricket, can hold 50 volumes of written material as in encyclopedia. No kidding. I am a writer and I put a trilogy I wrote on it and barely dipped into the jump drive's storage capacity. It holds about one gigabyte of information I think and the cost is under $35. Also you then have all of your patterns, notes, etc in one place waiting for your quick retrieval. I'm just beginning to create a "pattern and how-to" library and have transferred a lot of stuff I got off the Internet onto my little cricket.
happy knitting
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Knitstoyou
New Pal
18 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 07:03:51 AM
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| I photocopy the index of each knitting magazine when I receive it and put it into a binder under each magazine heading, eg. Vogue, etc. That way I can just skim through the index sheets to find a pattern. I also highlight (on the photocopy) any patterns in the magazines that I think I might want to knit. I haven't organized my loose patterns other than to put into binders and categories. Patterns off the internet are currently saved on my computer. Several good ideas here that I will use to get my patterns better organized. |
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jsins
Warming Up
58 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 07:25:10 AM
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| I keep my patterns in page protectors in 3-ring binders. The page protectors also tend to be big enough to hold most knitting magazines so I keep them in binders as well. I need to catalog my needles and notions and find a way to keep them organized. Does anyone have a good system for that? |
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cshardie
New Pal
3 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 07:56:04 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by mkfromKansas
How about this? To those of you who are computer savvy, how about copying your patterns onto your computer and then transferring them onto a jump drive.
That's pretty much what I've done. All my patterns are on my computer unless they're bound in books. Then I have a backup thumbdrive. If I need a physical copy I can make one and then recycle it once I'm done. Not so good for saving notes, although I can always save them seperately on notepad or something if it's not in a file form I can add them to. It is great for saving space, though, and I don't have much of that.
In this day and age of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act silliness, I'm not sure how perfectly legal it is to make copies of anything.... but I don't pass off the originals to anyone else (I don't even keep them myself if I've got it on my computer) and I don't have copies of anything I'm not allowed to have for free unless I've paid for it. So I'm happy with the ethics of it. |
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iknitt
New Pal
USA
4 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 09:07:17 AM
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I have a binder too and all my patterns go into page protectors. I keep my magazines until the next one comes out and then I take the old one and cut out the patterns I'm interested in, along with design ideas, info articles, etc. and throw the rest of the magazine away.
The jump drive idea is brilliant!
~~Lisa, iknitt in Chicago! |
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phlame
Permanent Resident
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 10:05:49 AM
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I've done it...I bought two humongous binders and I'm going to sort and organize all the hundreds of patterns I have downloaded and printed into these two binders. Really! I am! Today, because I can't exercise because of the pneumonia injection to my arm yesterday.
Shirley Ryan, living in Dana Point, CA
...and dance like no one is watching! |
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mfred52@comcast.net
New Pal
4 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 1:50:02 PM
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I started out with a "wallet" style holder, now I'm morphing to plastic page protectors and 3 ring binders for individual patterns, sorta sorted by project.
I also use magazine holders for pattern booklets/magazines. One think I do tho...when I'm reading a magazine and something catches my attention, I mark the page then make a note on the TOC page(s). Then I copy the Cover of the magazine and the TOC and file in a 3 ring binder, sorted by title. This way, there's less looking when I want that cable stitch I can't get out of my mind.
Anybody who can get all that into a database has my deepest admiration. I have enough trouble getting my fibers/yarns into Needle Trax...
Also, FOs go into the regular binder w/notes, copies of the patterns as I don't use originals; I'm sure to destroy the part you just can't fudge....I put my test pieces in w/needle size and suggestions for the next time around...
I'm also one of those "never say never" people. I'll frequently get a pattern because there is just one element that I like. I'll make a note as to what attracted me, so I don't toss it, coz then I'd **absolutely** need it and not be able to find it...
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Margie
Permanent Resident
1013 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 2:46:57 PM
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Good grief - I was just thinking about this very thing before I woke up. Like many, I have most all of mine in three ring binders and the binders are more or less sorted by what's in them.
And I should spread it all out so I can see what I have, what I'm never going to use, and really organize it.
Maybe if we all go round helping each other we can get things done. I'll supply brownies! You are all invited to my Sorting Party and, of course, I'll help you, too.
Margie (dreamer) |
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anotherbev
Warming Up
90 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2006 : 5:38:32 PM
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3-ring binders and page protectors for me too; along with dividers from the office supply store. Divide projects by category and label noebooks; makes pattern browsing so much quicker and simpler.
anotherbev |
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LaurieAdlerAnderson
New Pal
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2006 : 07:30:14 AM
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Wow...what a topic...I have black binders donated and stuff is stuffed, but then again, I'm organizationally challenged...this will have to change (starting today, I swear!) and then everything in my house will be whiz-bang clean and already pre-knit![!]
Out of every 10 people polled, 14 prefer chocolate!--Sandra Boynton
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DogMomKnitter
New Pal
USA
9 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2006 : 08:33:39 AM
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Well, being a dog trainer, if I find a pattern that has a mistake that has me frogging, I will use those as potty pads for my puppy clients.
HA! Gotcha! (okay, I've thought about it, but never did it...)
Actually, I'm a fan of using 3-ring binders along with sheet protectors (the ones that you can slide the paper into). My collection is not extensive enough for more than one binder (yeah, I'm just starting, really), but I like the idea about using different binders for different types of projects.
My main thing is that when I get a knitting magazine, after rabidly devouring its articles, I look at the patterns that I like, rip em out of the magazine, and in they go into the sheet protector. I like to number the pages of the patterns (you know how they start out in the main part of the magazine and continue on in the end...) so that I don't get lost (which I'm quite good at). If the pattern has a big picture of the finished product, that's what I make sure shows through the sheet protector. It's easier for me when I leaf through the projects (oooh! pretty!!!).
... now if I could just train my goldens to use a ball winder, I'd be set....
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evergreen514@sbcglobal.net
Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2006 : 7:17:31 PM
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I just read everyone's ideas for organizing patterns. It is amazing how many people store them the same way... I also use plastic sleeves, tabs for type of project and put them into binders. I did make up a project sheet ( mostly copied from a knitting journal) and made lots of copies of it. When I finish something I fill it out with all the pertinent info, including a photo printed on my computer, and file it along with the pattern. This was I can write all my notes on the project sheet,instead of writing on teh patterns, but it's right there when I want to make it again.
JK |
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abt1950
Permanent Resident
3019 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2006 : 8:20:05 PM
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I don't buy a lot of separate patterns. But a good half o my tall knitting & needlework bookcase is full of magazines, some going back 20 years. Styles go in and out, and they're always a source of inspiration. Periodically the magazines get organized into cardboard magazine boxes, but then I get sudden, middle-of-the-night urges to rummage through them in search of some kind of pattern that I remember seeing all over and can't find. Then they end up in a big, constantly growing pile on the chair by the bookscase. Never have been able to actually sit there.
I'm much more organized about FOs. They go into clear plastic pockets in a 3 ring binder with my notes, the yarn band, and sometimes the gauge swatch. But the binder is getting hard to close.
Downloaded patterns are easy too--they're organized by type of project. I have also started keeping a running list of FOs and WIPs on the computer. But I don't have a whole lot of them yet.
Anne
Knit long and prosper |
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fibreon
New Pal
USA
11 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2006 : 04:35:16 AM
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I have my single sheets in note books by topic. My technique books are in my office for quick reference. The patterns and books I have a current project in mind and the yarn stashed are also on that bookshelf. The problem I have is that the "current" projects are growing so fast I will be knitting for 10 years to get caught up. I just bought new patterns and yarn this week with the yarn! So many great new books and you just have to have the yarn to go with them.
What an addiction.
Kay Wagner
Danbury CT |
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