I receive e-mail all the time from people looking for a pattern that has been removed from the internet. Only to be told that the page is no longer available and that it was an off-site link so I don't have any control over the content that was at that particular link. Don't set yourself up for that kind of disappointment!
For a long time my "free print outs" have been piled up and unorganized. Indubitable a page is missing when I want to sew up the free pattern. Not any more!
I made a small investment in preserving the free print outs that I've invested the ink in.
- What you need: 3 ring binder
- Page protectors (also sold as "Sheet Protectors" in department and office supply stores)
- Subject Dividers
For printed sewing patterns & projects, the printed pages slip into a page protector and are safe and secure until I am ready to use them. Once I have used a pattern, the cut out pattern pieces also slip in the page protector with the directions.
For recipes, there is no more "slop and spills" on my recipe print outs! Don't get me wrong, I'm still a klutz -- some things will never change -- but by using the page protectors, I simply wipe the recipe clean at the same time I am cleaning up from my cooking. To organize my recipe print outs, I've used subject dividers and subjects that make sense to me. (Breads, Cakes, Cookies, Dinners etc.)
Organizing sewing patterns can be done in a similar way. Here's a list of the "Subjects" I have in my sewing pattern notebook.
- Dolls
- Toys
- Pocketbooks
- Adult Clothing
- Aprons
- Baby
- Bags & Totes
- Children's Clothing
- Craft & Sewing Room
- Health & Beauty
- Halloween
- Holiday Projects
- Home Dec Projects
- Yard Items
- Techniques & Tips .
- Sewing Machine Info
