how do you organize/ keep patterns?

[sweatereyes]

(first off, I'm sorry mods if this is in the wrong forum, I looked at all of them and thought that this was the best place to plop it)

So, I need some help!  I was wondering how others, who have/ make etc a lot of patterns, how they store them while not in use?  At first, I was keeping my patterns in a green plastic folio (with dividers), but it only has 6 dividers (and I've looked for ones with a lot more, I've only found a few and they are e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e).  My patterns tend to have a lot of different, tiny pieces (as they are not for clothing but for stuffed animals) and I keep losing pieces of them without having an easy organization system.  I was hoping for something a little DIY, and not just directing me to any particular "product" (if that makes sense.. I mean, I'm not interested in buying a fancy system or anything, I just need something that works!).

Please share how you keep your patterns organized!! 

[Antidigger]

I put mine in poly pockets and keep then in a lever arch file. It does get bulky, but nothing drops out if I keep the file upright.

[Alexus1325]

I'm a bad crafter I just fold up my patterns with the smaller bits inside the folds and stack them on top of my computer stereo... I DO label all my pieces, though, so I know what they are, and some of the pieces (sleeves, mainly) are interchangeable. Yeah, I'm no help to you

You guys did just give me an idea, though! Those plastic sleeves that can go in a binder come in 10-packs at the dollar store. I think if I folded the patterns really nicely, I could make them fit into the sleeves...

[leopardstripes]

I use gallon ziplock bags, and an old file cabinet with hanging folders. I also photocopy the covers, front and back, and keep those in a three-ring binder, so I have a reference to locate them. Yeah, I know. It's a Taurus thing. 

[JHall]

I recently made a bunch of McCall-sized envelopes out of 12"x12" scrapbooking paper for stuff like this. I label them and keep them in the same bin I keep all of my regular patterns in.

[N30Nb100d]

I mostly use quart sized ziplock bags lined up in a box. They're about the same size as a pattern envelope, so the patterns I trace/make end up the same size as ones I've bought. I've also used the brown paper envelopes with a small metal clasp. It's easy to write notes on them and they come in lots of sizes.

[ChrisSews]

I have a couple of ways to keep them. 

Regular patterns I keep in their envelopes and store them in shoe boxes.  I'd like to have a better system to these but the shoe boxes work for now.

Patterns I've made myself, copied and altered from bought patterns, or printed from online I typically fold and put in those plastic page protectors.  If there are lots of small bits...like for tiny stuffies I put them in envelopes and then into the page protectors.  All the page protectors are in a huge binder. 

Some that I don't use much but still want to keep are in plain manilla mailing envelopes, labeled, and filed away. 

[me04071986]

I use ziplock bags, the biggest. I can write on the bag the size the pattern is cut to. Then I can put all the pattern pieces in it, as well as the original pattern 'bag'. Keeps moisture from getting to your patterns as well. I store them in clear plastic totes, by type. Like dresses in one, skirts in another, etc.

[Alexus1325]

I did it! I bought page protectors and a new binder at Dollarama



Each pattern gets it's own "title page" with a photo and description of what the pattern is.




Now I just have to *find* the rest of my print-off patterns and put them in there!

[NattyBee]

I have a variety of ways of storing the patterns that I make or draw myself I keep in a large artists portfolio thing that a friend gave me.  I also have a large tube that I keep a lot of patterns in so that I don't have to fold the paper.  And then the rest of my patterns and pieces i keep either in manilla envelopes or ziplock bags.