Organizing Patterns & Books
Organizing Tatting Pattern notebooks
I have been asked for advice about organizing those patterns, the "one copy that you make for your personal use" from the many patterns that designers have freely shared on the internet. Hmm...and what about the patterns shared weekly in the Online Tatting Class...and those posted on tatting blogs and FB pages?
Our reader, Patricia, wrote:
"Here is my problem. I have a dozen - big, fat, basically unorganized notebooks! Some of these patterns (in non-English languages, or from discontinued websites) would be very difficult for me to find again. Some are patterns that have my notes about the pattern all over them. I??m not ready to turn loose and go paperless quite yet. At the same time, as I go through the clutter, I am finding that I have often liked the pattern so well that I have four copies printed off over four different years! Better organization could help me not waste paper and ink on patterns that I already have."
I know that many tatters out there understand this problem very well. Myself included. And I would bet you are imagining that all my tatting books are well organized with loose every pattern at my fingertips. Well, here is the truth.
The core reference library shelves. Those folders with the orange tags are all alphabetized by author and by title. Up to the marker "JNT" or Jiffy Needle Tatting" by Ed and Selma Morin.
The next shelf with all the white file folders is almost alphabetized but with 2 stacks to be integrated.
Then the foreign language tatting books begin. The author's names and book titles have been transcribed into the English alphabet for ease of organizing. And the info is provided in a label for the spine and pencil notes on the inside cover of the books.
That third shelf is where the out of print books and printer copies of antique books (public domain) begin.
Isn't this all just too, too organized?? Well, let's us look further. Look down to the floor.
A large storage box plus 4 file boxes await sorting. And, yes, those shrink-wrapped packages are more file folders.
And the loose patterns and items from online or the Online Tatting Class? Those are much better organized. Take a look:
These are sorted into 3-ring binders annually and by the date of the class. Additional notebooks have patterns, samples, and info from tatting days and workshops. Years 2008 - 2016. The notebooks from 1999 to 2007 are on a 12' shelf in the sewing room above the shelf with the tatting thread.
I hope these ideas help you to organize. I had hoped to get some tatting done today but I see this red box on the floor next to my foot. And it is full of new books to be reviewed! What fun!
Happy Tatting all!
I have been asked for advice about organizing those patterns, the "one copy that you make for your personal use" from the many patterns that designers have freely shared on the internet. Hmm...and what about the patterns shared weekly in the Online Tatting Class...and those posted on tatting blogs and FB pages?
Our reader, Patricia, wrote:
"Here is my problem. I have a dozen - big, fat, basically unorganized notebooks! Some of these patterns (in non-English languages, or from discontinued websites) would be very difficult for me to find again. Some are patterns that have my notes about the pattern all over them. I??m not ready to turn loose and go paperless quite yet. At the same time, as I go through the clutter, I am finding that I have often liked the pattern so well that I have four copies printed off over four different years! Better organization could help me not waste paper and ink on patterns that I already have."
I know that many tatters out there understand this problem very well. Myself included. And I would bet you are imagining that all my tatting books are well organized with loose every pattern at my fingertips. Well, here is the truth.
The core reference library shelves. Those folders with the orange tags are all alphabetized by author and by title. Up to the marker "JNT" or Jiffy Needle Tatting" by Ed and Selma Morin.
The next shelf with all the white file folders is almost alphabetized but with 2 stacks to be integrated.
Then the foreign language tatting books begin. The author's names and book titles have been transcribed into the English alphabet for ease of organizing. And the info is provided in a label for the spine and pencil notes on the inside cover of the books.
That third shelf is where the out of print books and printer copies of antique books (public domain) begin.
Isn't this all just too, too organized?? Well, let's us look further. Look down to the floor.
A large storage box plus 4 file boxes await sorting. And, yes, those shrink-wrapped packages are more file folders.
And the loose patterns and items from online or the Online Tatting Class? Those are much better organized. Take a look:
These are sorted into 3-ring binders annually and by the date of the class. Additional notebooks have patterns, samples, and info from tatting days and workshops. Years 2008 - 2016. The notebooks from 1999 to 2007 are on a 12' shelf in the sewing room above the shelf with the tatting thread.
I hope these ideas help you to organize. I had hoped to get some tatting done today but I see this red box on the floor next to my foot. And it is full of new books to be reviewed! What fun!
Happy Tatting all!
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