Ideas on storing PDF sewing patterns

Sometimes organising and storing PDF sewing patterns can become a little overwhelming as they are printed on regular paper which makes them bulkier than than your normal store bought tissue paper pattern. Also, they are more affordable and easily accessible so the pattern stash can grow very quickly. Not only do you want to store them in a space efficient way but you also don’t want to pay a fortune for storage. Here are a few ideas on storing your PDF sewing patterns that I have tried and some ideas that might help sort out your stash.

Binders.

Supplies: Large three-ring binder, A4 plastic pockets, A4 dividers.

When I first started purchasing PDF patterns I stored them in a three-ring binder and this is probably still my favourite storage method. The binder fits the A4 pattern pieces and instructions perfectly in the plastic pockets and the dividers make it easy to seperate into Tops, Dresses, Skirts etc.

I usually pop the front page with the picture or illustration of the pattern at the front of the plastic sleeve so I can identify the pattern and then insert the instructions and pattern pieces in behind or a seperate plastic sleeve behind if the pattern has already been cut out. Very simple and very affordable.

Plastic Document Wallets

Supplies :Plastic document wallets. Basket to store them in.

These plastic document wallets are clear so perfect to quickly identify your patterns. They are large enough to fit all of your instructions and the cut out pattern. They are too big to fit into a magazine holder so you will need a basket or box to store them in which can look really inspirational sitting on your shelf. These will take up a little more room than a folder, are a little more expensive but look a bit glam!

Foolscap document wallets

Supplies: A packet of Foolscap Manilla document wallets, glue stick or sticky tape and a magazine holder.

This is one of my favourite ways of storing PDF sewing patterns. The foolscap document wallets are cheap and fairly durable. They are not clear like the plastic ones so I just stick the pattern photo or illustration on the front of the wallet. Pop your instructions and pattern inside and then pop into a magazine holder. I put any cut out patterns in a plastic sleeve and it all fits in perfectly. They are big enough to store everything and the perfect size to fit on a book shelf. Not as durable as the plastic wallets but a lot cheaper.

Rolling uncut A0 (large format) patterns.

Supplies: Large rubber bands, tags and a pen.

If you don’t want to fold your uncut large format pattern, roll it up and secure it together at both ends with rubber bands. Don’t use small rubber bands as they will crease your patterns.  Label your pattern so you can easily identify it with tags and tie them onto the rubber band. Just arrange them in a basket or unused bin and pop them in the corner of your room. They can look very stylish too!

All of my supplies were bought from Officeworks but you could pick them up at any stationary store.

I hope I have inspired you and given you a few ideas on storing pdf sewing patterns to tidy up your pattern stash. You will feel like you have a new pattern library!

Never used a PDF pattern before? It’s easy, just follow these steps on how to print and assemble a PDF pattern