How I Organize My Patterns and Sewing Ideas

When I was growing up, patterns were most commonly bought in at stores.  Nowadays, many patterns are available online and through PDF files.  While I love being able to store these patterns on my computer (and a back up hard drive for extra security), I also like seeing the printed version of these patterns in a book.

Once I had accumulated a small stash of e-patterns, I developed this organization system that helps me keep all my patterns neat and easily accessible.

I use a pretty 1" binder with plastic page protectors to store my patterns.  Each page protector holds one pattern and the pattern pieces.  Keeping all the printed information for each pattern in one plastic sleeve makes it easy to grab one pattern and flip through the binder quickly to see all the patterns I have.

I print the pattern instructions on plain copy paper (regular printer paper).  I print the actual pattern pieces on white cardstock.  I have found that doing this gives a lot of stability to the pattern pieces, and allows me to pin to them to the fabric easily when cutting or tracing.

I put the pattern instructions in the front, and then the cardstock pattern pieces in the back of the page protector.  Sometimes the pattern pieces do stick out the top of the plastic, but I'm okay with that.

I store the binder on my bookcase in my sewing room, which has plenty of clearance at the top for those tall pattern pieces.  This organization system makes my patterns almost seem like my very own book or portfolio of what I can make or what I want to attempt to sew soon!

How do you organize your patterns?