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: Pattern Emporium’s Lyrical Top Featuring Fabric Mart Fabrics

 Sewn in a lightweight  rayon challis , this top combines style, comfort, and fluidity. There’s one thing I love in a summer sew: effortless drape—and the Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium delivered just that. This pattern is a new release, and when I spotted this dreamy rayon challis from Fabric Mart Fabrics, I knew it was the perfect pairing. Lightweight, breathable, and with just the right amount of movement, the fabric really brought the pattern to life. Today, I’m sharing all the details—from fabric choice and construction to styling and fit—plus a few thoughts on why this top might just become a repeat sew. Pattern Overview: The Lyrical Top by Pattern Emporium The Lyrical Top is a relaxed-fit design with bloused sleeves and a gently flared frill cuff. It comes with three sleeve lengths and two neckline variations. I chose the tie-neck view, but there’s also a collar option for a slightly different vibe. I’ve been looking to add more stylish tops to my wardrobe this year, a...

Made By A Fabricista: A matching set and a happy error.

 Hi sewing friends! Today I’m sharing a new outfit I made inspired by looks I’ve been seeing pop up in my Facebook and IG feeds a LOT this year. I’m talking about those monochromatic matching top and bottom outfits, sometimes in linen, sometimes in a flowy knit - the ones that advertise they go effortlessly from loungewear to office wear to going out wear. So I decided to “sew the look” using Fabric Mart fabric and a few patterns I already in my massive pattern library. First, let me share that I have very few solid color pieces in my closet. I’m so taken in by whimsy and geometric prints that this is still a gaping hole in my wardrobe -  a matching solid color set was actually a practical addition for me.  So let me walk you through how I created this look, and also tip you off to an error I made while cutting that worked out pretty well after all. Can you spot the error? Hint - it’s somewhere in the top: Here’s how I went about building my matchy match outfit. And here’...

Made By A Fabricista: Turning Simple into Statement – Scallop Trimmed Top and Pants

Hello Sewing Friends! It’s Sharon from Sharon Sews back with another Fabricista make.  This time I choose a rayon/nylon blend designer suiting fabric – obviously because of that gorgeous blue color – and decided to sew myself a matching blazer and pants.  Ha! Just kidding. As you can see I sewed a matching set, just not a suit.   Just because a fabric is labeled “suiting” doesn’t mean it has to be sewn into a suit. When I ordered this fabric I planned to use it for a dress. But, true to form, I changed my mind just as I was preparing to cut out the pattern pieces for the dress.  Let me explain. The day before, I wore one of my favorite pairs of pants (with a flirty side ruffle) which I had sewn a few years ago using McCall’s 7786.  I was admiring the way the blue fabric draped, which got me thinking “how great would another pair look in this new fabric?”  I pulled out the pattern and started cutting before I could change my mind.  Lately, I’ve be...