How do you organise your downloaded patterns

If you are like me, you now have a lot of patterns floating around that you may or may never need. It is however a huge effort to scroll thru them all, when you want to start a new project, in order to find just the one.

I have been thinking of putting my patterns in a database, so I can search on craft type (ie knitting), occasion (Christmas) and so on. But I also want to be able to look at the pictures instead of having to look them up individually. (ok so I am a control freak).

Do any of you have the same issue ? And if so, how did you solve it ? I am disabled, so I have a very limited budget for purchasing a program.

I considered using MicroSoft Word, but it gets clunky very fast. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Toxus

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

Toxus

                               
Login/Register to enlarge

2019-1-1 17:09
Its a big issue XD I tend to collect far more design that is reasonnable... enough for several life ...

All microsoft stuff is expansive. And Access is shit if you pardon my language. Perhaps due to my profession but I think is too complicated even for a programmer. You need to dig in code if you want to make something useful. I confirm TheKnitter suggestion of open office who have a spreadsheet option. I dont know actually what is a viable alternative to Access. I need to make some research. I want to change from that database. happy new year !

Toxus

Its a big issue XD I tend to collect far more design that is reasonnable... enough for several lifetime... So yes big need of organize all this :lol

My organisation is from some year ago, I dont think its the most effective actually.
Initially, I want to store then on CD. I create a folder I name CD with a sequential number CD1, CD2, CD3 and so on

I create two folder, one for repaint format and one for scanned. Each pattern is labelled with the same string "Name Designer - Name of pattern".
In repaint folder files are organised by designer name, one folder by designer.

As I am a analyst programmer, I cheated a little and I use computer tricks to create a txt file who list the file and then I have create a macro in a Access Database for create automatic entry.
On each CD there is a folder where I store only a picture of the chart labelled the same as the chart. So I can create a link from the database to see the pict.

All this stay in stand-by all the years i have stop stitching, now I plan to reorganize all this but I dont know how !

Word is clearly not the most efficient product for this sort of use. Better use Excel who as a spreadsheet is more efficient if you want to sort or search charts. There some automatic feature in it that can be used for find a specific chart.

cbogn2882

I probably have way too many patterns (is there such a thing?). Most of mine are sorted by simple folders according to type. Then sub-folders by designer. I would like to get a better method, but get easily distracted. Maybe Ill actually do it this year. Im also very stringent about my actual organization. A few years ago I was working on building a database for my books, maybe I can bust that out and fiddle around to make it work for patterns. I second the Excel suggestion as a more efficient way to be able to search.

CraftyLouAnna

Funny as I would have suggested Microsofts Access database as it does allow you to store the image, but you are right..... knowing the location of each file would get cumbersome.

I have 2 very large folders on my computer of cross stitch charts.  One I started many years ago is now over 90GB and I have stopped adding to it and have backed it up to a server and another drive on my PC.
It is not sorted as well as my second one as I sorted that one by the type of chart whether it was for children, scenes animals etc.   My newer file structure is based on the designer.  Magazines are all separated out
and organized by issue number and year.  Now if I am looking for a chart not knowing whether I have it I can check to see if I have any made for this particular designer or manufacturer.
Its the sorting them into this file structure is what takes my time.
I not only cross stitch, but I knit as well, along with crochet.......so you can imagine the folders I have.
And I do design my own charts from images I like on the net........... lets not go there!  lol

TheKnitter

I dont organize except for socks.  I add all my purchases to the library on the purchase site so that helps a bit (even if I get them here I go there and "add to library" so I know I have it.  If you have open office (free) you could start a spreadsheet, list everything and then just sort on different criteria when youre looking for something - lots of work though.

Silverlea

I have one folder and in that folder I have broken down into various catagories because I crochet, knit, cross stitch, sew, bake etc.  In those folders, I have sub folders.  I file downloads every day.  This method does not require a data base but a lot of time to set up initally.  As I evolved, I merged some folders (like mens, womans and children scarfs into one folder).  i back up once a week onto an external and once a month onto another desktop.
These are my folders in Crochet

diystuff

I dont sort, too busy stitching.  :)

Silverlea

@Kelara

The last picture above shows Crochet folder.  There are sub folders in the above picture.  To give you examples I have taken a screen shot of Xmas Folder.  (its in the above screen shot)


I have opened Stockings and taken a screen shot.  So if I want to make crochet Christmas stockings I can go straight to the folder to make my choice.  No duplicates!
When I first started this system there were a lot of dups because people rename files.  As mentioned, its tedious work but if you spend an hour a day sorting out your patterns the way you would like them it really does make life easier.  I also exported all Word docs to pdf so I can see all the pictures :-)



So to recap:

1. One folder on my desktop
2. In that folder I have all my crafts folders.  Crochet, knitting, cross stitch etc
3. In those folders, I have sub folders-as seen in the second picture in the first post. This is my Crochet folder
4. Ok so far?  Next I open my Xmas folder and that has sub folders (see 1st pic in this post)
5. I opened Stockings and here are all my crochet Christmas stockings.

As I mentioned it is time consuming to begin with-and I am OCD :-(.  At first a spent all my time trying to sort the downloads into workable folders but you can get yourself into an awful mess.  My advice is to spend at least one hour a day (and maybe another hour after you have had a break).  Work on one folder at a time.  For instance name a folder:  Beanies, hats, torques and put all of those patterns in there.  I used to have a folders for Beanies babies, Beanies Children, Beanies Ladies, Beanies Men but found most of the beanies are unisex and are multi sized - hence the one folder for them now.

Hope I am making sense.  It is really very easy to find patterns for my next project.  

Silverlea

1. Knitting folder

2. Sub folders in Knitting folder:


3. Opening Adult, Jumpers, Cardigans and tops.