Yesterday I got a burr up my behind and decided I was going to organize all my patterns. As it is they're standing on end in shoe boxes with cardboard dividers (very primitive ones) as topic organizers. I got the idea to put them in notebooks, and so I bought two 4-inch ring binders (the big ones), scads of page protectors, and some indexing pages. I was going to put the quilting patterns into one notebook, and the general sewing patterns in the other. Well. When all (or part) was said and done, the quilting patterns took up BOTH notebooks. It was incredible.
Prior to this, I had no idea how MANY quilting patterns I had accumulated. Only about 10% of them were purchased patterns. The rest had been printed off the internet from various sources for free. Of course, it's not completely free because I used my color printer. Let me tell you, that many patterns uses a lot of ink; and those printer cartridges are not cheap either.
So when I realized that, I decided then and there to take the "No More Patterns Pledge." (I just made that up.) Here is the pledge:
I, Barbara, promise not to buy OR PRINT any more patterns, unless said pattern is so stunningly beautiful that it will move immediately to the front of the line. In other words, unless I'm going to make a pattern RIGHT NOW, I can not and will not purchase or print it.
How's that for whipping myself into shape? The truth is, that quite a few of those patterns no longer really fit my taste in patterns. I printed them so long ago that I don't know now what I saw in them. It could be that the only thing I saw was that they were free.
Truthfully, I have a section called "Favorites," which has about 30 MUST DO patterns in it. And those are in addition to the dozen or so patterns that I've matched to fabric that are currently stacked in bins waiting to be made. It's insane, really. I hope I live long enough to finish all I've taken on.
I'd like to hear from the rest of you. Will you join me in the "No More Patterns Pledge"? Let me know in your comments.
Cats, Cooking, Quilts, Gardening, and Photography
2 comments:
I, too, have piles with fabric selections for Future Quilts; patterns for little forest critters, stuffed animals, various bags, baby blanket with appliques, kid clothes, and quilts.
I promise to accumulate no more of anything til I am able to fit all I have into my already generous existing space!
I'm glad you have that "beautiful" clause inserted into your pledge. It's always nice to have a way out if temptation is too much. LOL
I also like the post of your greenhouse. Very touching with it being anearby reminder of your Mom and times shared. Jane
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