Skip to main content

DIY Tutorial: Pattern Book Organizer

How many times have you gone on a fabric expedition and found a fabric you just NEED but you have no idea how much is necessary for this pattern you know you have but you left at home?
 
Or perhaps you did remember your pattern but it was thrown into your purse and in a shabby condition once it retreated from inside the time capsle.
All you need is:
 5 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in binder
5 1/2 in x 8 1/2 in sheet protectors
Stick-On Note Tabs
Your Sewing Patterns
Photo Copier

Once you have your supplies you are ready to make your book.
All you need to do is take your pattern and photo copy the front and back.
Cut off the excess and insert the pages with the pattern sides facing out into your sheet protector.

Now when you find that perfect fabric you can flip open your pattern book and know exactly how much fabric you will need to purchase.
Yep, it's that simple! 
Now the hard part is remembering to put it in your purse!
 
Fabric Mart trip, anyone?!
p.s. The Retail Store is on sale for $1.00 a yard!
Visit our location at 3911 Penn Ave, Sinking Spring PA
and shop the round tables!


Comments

  1. Thanks for the tip! Surely the girls and I will have fun this weekend working on these organizers… Cheers!
    TheLegacyDrawer.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. What brand binder did you use? It's really cute and cheerful looking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. We used a Martha Stewart Brand Binder from Staples. They are offered in Blue, Red, or Black. You should make one! Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I started to do this before, but never finished it. I will have to look for the binder at Staples.

    ReplyDelete
  5. If your patterns are fairly current, you can probably see them on the Web, but the publishers' Web sites are NOT mobile-friendly and most patterns do eventually go out of print and get dropped from the sites.

    I created a Web page where I show the pattern front image and link to either a screen capture of the pattern's Web page (for Butterick/McCall/Vogue where the full pattern envelope info is displayed on one page) or the downloaded envelope back PDF (Simplicity/Kwik Sew). Which is still not optimal for mobile ...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I did this with all of my patterns over the last couple of years. They filled two 3" notebooks. I also put the scanned files on a usb flash drive. It was a very worthwhile project. All of my patterns are filed, by number, in plastic bins with start and finish number series marked on the bins. So...no more purchasing the same pattern more than once!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. There are also apps for your phone that you can keep this information handy. app names: 1. Sewing Kit 2. PatternFile Mobile 3. craftgawker

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love this. I have an app on my phone that I could use, but the app doesn't recognize certain patterns, including the ones that belong to the pattern running the app. More importantly, my Joann's is an internet "dead zone" so I cant use it. A binder could help in those situations. I certainly will make this cute binder.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: A Wool Pinafore for Winter

Hello exciting wintry weather! Brrr, though. For my December post, I wanted to sew something more unusual for me, something outside my wide leg pants and big boxy sweaters, and this pinafore combination is exactly that. I really like the layering aspect and how easily one could switch up the look based on the top worn underneath, and how this pinafore pattern could easily work for all seasons based on fabric choice and possibly adding leggings. The new Love Notions Pianoforte Jumper in this incredibly charming polka dot wool blend suiting is just right. I wanted wool for warmth, and the sweet print just sent me. Of course a pinafore looks SO darling in dots. The Pianoforte is a slightly-cocoon shaped dress with princess seams and some large and handy front inset pockets. There is a zip-front option, but I went with the pullover plain front. I love the vintagey, sort of old-timey vibes of this style, and categorize this one under dopamine dressing.  Because the wool is on the heavi...

Made By A Fabricista: Cozy Sewing Season

The cozy sewing season seems like it came early this year! Temperatures in Pennsylvania have been in the freezing range for weeks, so it is time to break out the flannel, sweater knits, sherpa, wool, and other warm fabrics. Fabric Mart's website is stocked with gorgeous cozy fabric perfect for sewists living in cold climates. While searching for fabric for my first cozy sew of the season, a Cranberry Plaid 100% Cotton Flannel fabric caught my eye. I loved the colors and the plaid pattern. I ordered 3.5 yards to make a button-up flannel shirt for myself, and a little extra fabric to make a button-up shirt for my son. I also ordered two packs of 10 Soft Pearl Plastic Shirt Buttons and "My Mama Made It" sewing labels from Kylie and the Machine. I envisioned one of these labels being added to the side seam of my son's shirt for a bespoke detail. Once my order arrived, I washed my fabric and reached for my Grainline Studio Archer Button-Up paper pattern. I used this pat...

Made By A Fabricista: Feeling Festive in Red

Happy Holidays! I’m so excited to bring you this all red holiday look that would be a hit at any holiday gathering this season. Whether you’re headed to your company holiday party or just going to sit in your living room, you’ll fabulous doing so. For this month’s post I knew exactly what I wanted to make. I have been a Sew It Academy student since Mimi G opened it back in 2016.  Sew It Academy is her online sewing academy that shows you what to do once you open your sewing machine and different lessons come out every month showing you different techniques and how to sew different things. Sew It Academy now offers PDF patterns and sewalongs that come with them. I made the Boxy Pullover Top and the Bubble & Wide Hem Skirt which are both Sew It Academy patterns. The Boxy Pullover Top is the first garment class offered in Sew It Academy, so it’s super easy to make.  I’ve seen several YouTube videos for the same top and they are all pretty much contructed the same way.  I...