How do you store your patterns?

[bethstreet]

I am a pretty new quilter but already I notice that I have a pattern here and a pattern there and they are all different sizes, some are in half page plastic bags, others I have in plastic sleeves in a binder... has anyone any suggestions??
Thanks in advance for your help
Beth

[knitnoid]

I do a bit of everything.

I have a magazine holder - one of those cardboard boxes - that I've got my 1/2 page in a plastic bag patterns in. Stuff I print off the internet I've got in a 3 ring binder. A couple of BOMs I've put in plactic sleeves in the binder. Pattern books are on the shelves with my quilting magazines.

Do I know where everythign is? No. Is everything in it's place - definately not. But maybe by the end of the month after I rearrange the sewing room.

[grammiequilts]

I have binders wiht plastic sleeves I think no matter how you store them, the trick is to have every pattern you have in one place. a shelf a box or a bin. one day when you have time you can put them in some order but as long as they are in one place you will at least having a starting place when you need a pattern

[CaroleJ]

I have a cute accordion folder sort of thing, with a flap top and an elastic band to keep it closed. Each slot has a different category of "stuff" in it: information on quilt shows, vendors to investigate, block patterns, quilt patterns, and so forth. Keeps it all in one place so I can actually FIND things.

Yes, QIAD items have their own category!

[SFOQuilter]

I went to Office Depot and bought plastic magazine holders. They are really cheap. I put all my quilting magazines, patterns and books in them. I have them on top of a medium high cabinet and they are really easy to access that way.

[sewbug]

I scan my quilt patterns and put them on a flash drive that I use only for quilt info. I can print out any pattern as needed. The original patterns I keep in a 3 drawer bin in the closet out of the way. FYI: when using a flash drive always be sure to select disconnect hardware (the green check mark in the task tray) before removing the drive, removing the flash drive without disconnecting it first can erase or corrupt the data on it.

[quiltwithmom]

Hi Beth,
I use a 3 ring binder with clear plastic sleeves. Works well especially when you print the directions from the web on 8.5 x 11 paper. Others I fold the pattern to fit in the sleeve. I have them on my bookcase and when I need a pattern it is close at hand. I also think using a basket or bin is good too. Just try to keep them all in one place. As you can see my mind works the same as the other quilters/sewers. Great minds think alike!
Hugs, Kathy

[purrfect-lady]

I have a bookshelf in my sewing room where I keep all my quilting books & saved magazines together. With them, I also store my individual patterns in 3-ring binders. I clip the patterns from magazines, print them off the internet, or other sources, punch 3 holes in them, and in they go. I now have two binders full, so I separate them as best suits me. To store my long pantos, I punch a single hole in one end, reinforce it with one of those little hole reinforcing stickers ("dots"?) from the office supply store. Then I hang the long pantos from a hook high up on a wall in my sewing room. Everything is close at hand and in one place. I use sticky notes to mark patterns, ideas, photos, etc that I know I'll want to refer to in the near future. And it works for me!

[rosebud3]

Patterns in books I leave in the books and have them on a bookshelf for sewing, knitting, crochet, and crafting (like a library). clothing patterns and loose patterns I file in a filing cabinet.