Thursday, October 16, 2014

Show Your Stash: Patterns

Thank you for your kind words on my recently finished Thistle and my latest WIP "Our Souls." And for not thinking I'm a coconut for rejecting the notion that Wuthering Heights is a great romance.

I had meant for our Show Your Stash meme to be very regular, but my god, when have you ever known me to be very regular? Today I want to see your patterns!

When you shop for patterns, do you buy on impulse or do you buy only what you need? Define "need", amiright? I'd say about 80% of the time I buy on impulse. 
How do you sort your patterns—by designer? theme? Season? My designs are sorted by theme ("flowers," "houses," "verse," "sampler," etc). I consider the seasons themes. I do not alphabetize them in any way, however, (unlike everything else in my house including spices) because the visual is the important thing, rather than the titles, which I can never remember.
How do you store your patterns? Most of my patterns are in folders in a filing cabinet. Patterns from magazines are in plastic sleeves in three-ring binders. The patterns that are kitted up are in baskets.
Which designer do you own the most patterns by? I went to consult the database I created several years ago and the computer I had it on is dead but I did find a copy. The copy is corrupted. So, wild guess, Cricket Collection.
Which designer have you stitched the most patterns by? Maybe Shepherd's Bush?
What tips do you have for building up a well-rounded stash? Be overly-optimistic about your capacity for speed stitching.
When do you say enough is enough? Never.
How do you whittle your stash down when it's gotten too large? Giveaways. I've turned into my grandmother pawning stuff off on the unsuspecting!
Do you have a current favorite in your stash? Let’s see it! I have a lot of favorites! Some of which I am stitching, and some of which I just like to pull out and look at. (Silly, I know.) I think if I chose one today it would be different tomorrow. Seriously, I've been going through the patterns, and I like different ones for different reasons and the feelings have similar intensity. I can't pick a favorite!

7 comments:

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Love your tip for building up stash! That is so much like me too.

I am not at all organised with my pattern stash. The Just Nans are in one place as are the Mirabilia/L&L but because many of my patterns come from my fellow bloggers they actually live in the envelope they arrived in along with the card or letter!

Linda said...

I buy something just because I like it and think I might stitch it someday. If I could start and finish one everyday, regardless of size, I would have enough for at least the next 10 years. Mine are about 90% organized. Right now I'm trying to organize all the charts that I just bought on Etsy and the gazillion free crochet patterns.

Linda

Frances said...

Your stash looks very neat and organized! Wonderful!

Unknown said...

Very organized! Will have to do my stash post this weekend!

Anna van Schurman said...

Looking forward to seeing your stash! Make sure you link in the comments.

Nina said...

I would love to be able to take a picture of my stash...but it's all over the house! I have some patterns in binders in one bookcase and some more in magazine holders in another bookcase. Then there are those up in the craft room, which is still (and forever will be) in the process of being organized.
I had at one point a spreadsheet of all my patterns and designers.....can't remember the last time I updated it.
Every so often I'll pull out some of my patterns and have a wonderful time reminiscing about how I was going to do this one for my sister and the other for my friend. I'll think of how much they will (would) enjoy them. And that will be the afternoon gone!
Who do I like? Whoever is on top of the pile at the moment!
I do love cross stitch and other counted thread techniques. My favourite however is Hardanger. I always seem to come back to it.
A stash that's too large? Maybe if the house is gets too small, but there's always a way to fit one more pattern in!
Thanks for a look into your world - always enjoy hearing what others do.
Nina

Sandy In Montana said...

Sorry it's taken me so long to post for this one, but I finally made it and got it posted to my blog.

Take Care & Happy Stitchin'
Hugs, Sandy