· Sewing Pattern Buddy app ·

Happy Monday, everyone! :-)  I was approached by Megan of Kwirky Kiwi about trying out her app for organizing sewing patterns and I loved it so much that I wanted to share this with all of you!

I don't know about you, but I tend to amass patterns in batches and I'm quickly reaching the stage where I can't remember every detail of every pattern I own.... I'm happy to report that the Sewing Pattern Buddy app is the end to my woes!  Megan has designed the app with so many opportunities to organize and categorize patterns according to your personal favorite method and I've been so impressed by how intuitive and easy it is to navigate. :-)  This app is free for up to 25 patterns and is just $6.99 NZD (approx $4.99 USD) for unlimited storage!

Despite being a Millenial, I'm very decidedly *not* tech savvy, but I'm here to tell you- if you already have a smart phone, you're tech-y enough to figure out how to utilize this resource too. ;-)

The app has a wide range of customization already built in with different filters for Pattern Company/Number, Garment Type, Era/Year,  Personal Rating scale, Tags, Previous Makes, Pattern Completeness, and Pattern Type.  There is also space on each pattern listing for measurements, fabric requirements, personal notes, skill level, place/time acquired, purchase cost, printed/unprinted, condition, relevant website URL, location in your stash, and number of copies!

The categories come empty, all the better for using your own organization method.  I really love that I'm able to add specific design elements to the "tag" section.  Frequently I'll be looking for a pattern that incorporates princess seams/long sleeves/collar/etc and having an easy filter to find them is so helpful!

After backing up the photos and info, the app is fully navigable without internet or data- which is huge for me since I'm on a no-data plan!  The images are clear and zoom-able, so if I need to see details from the envelope back I still have access to that information. The app takes up less space on my phone than any other app I've downloaded- I really haven't found a negative to this app. ;-)

This app really is all could ask for as a pattern database and I'm excited to keep adding to the database!  This probably settles me firmly in "nerd" category, but I'm not ashamed.  I love organization so much that the thought of spending this evening adding more patterns to my personal catalog adds a little spring to my step today, haha! ;-)

· Disclaimer- I did receive the expanded app as a gift from Megan without the requirement for posting, and all opinions are my own! ·

· Sewing Room Decor ·

I've been a bit hesitant to post these pictures because our sewing room still feels like a work in progress.  Quite honestly, I have grand schemes of re-painting, putting down new flooring, re-doing the trim, maybe even adding built-ins??  Posting about the room seemed anti-climactic when I'm in the "re-do it all!!!" mode, but after thinking about it- all the things pictured are the things I love and want to keep in the room anyway. ;-)  So here you go- a glimpse into the details of our sewing room. 

A vintage train case holds our jewelry supplies.  The "Complete Course in Dressmaking in Twelve Lessons" from 1922 is a delightful read, but also doubles as charming decor. ;-)

At the time of this photo, this shelf housed our button collection.  It has now grown to twice this size, so I have yet to discover a suitable alternative!  The jars are all old food jars, with the lids covered in paper that would correspond to the buttons inside. :-)

I think this print featuring Regency fashion plates is the most remarked-upon feature in the room!  The ridiculous court gowns always provoke comment. ;-)

This cute little shelf houses our collection of snaps, hooks and eyes, and belt buckles.  The top shelf was a great place to feature the vintage buckle/button sets I have. :-)  I just LOVE vintage packaging, so this is a great way to get enjoyment out of these before I use them!  Although to be honest, I love them so much that I have a hard time even thinking about using them....

This shelf has since become much more "cluttered", but in the best way possible. ;-)  It's just too tempting to keep putting cute vintage ephemera up there!!

Gretel got me these c. 1912 magazine pages for my birthday one year, and they hang above my sewing machine so I can admire them all day. :-)

What do practical baskets need?  Why, a mini bunting, of course! ;-)  Our ironing board remodel is still one of my favorite additions to the room!

I covered some boxes with paper several years ago, and they've become quite useful for holding odds-and-ends.  The photo squares are cute, but also make re-labeling the boxes a breeze!  Speaking of which.... I think it's high time to move the last of the paper crafting out of the sewing room. ;-)

Our library was getting rid of their old cardboard magazine files, and at the perfect time!  I was deep in my re-covering boxes phase, so these were suitably refurbished as well.  They also proved to be the ideal use for the Early 1920s Fashion Plate Paper We Couldn't Resist. ;-)  I keep my old magazines, small pamphlets, and assortment of notes/patterns in them.

Maybe in a year or two I will finally have decided how I want to remodel the room, and I can share pictures of the whole thing then. ;-)

· Photos by Kathryn! ·

Organization · Fabric Inventory

Every year, between Christmas and New Year's, I update our fabric inventory.  I love things like this, and it's something I look forward to doing each year. :-)  We have a small closet in the sewing room, and it's the perfect size for 2 stacks of giant Rubbermaid tote boxes.  Over the years, the fabric stash has grown and we now have 7 totes.  I'm trying to keep it to that amount, but it's proving most difficult!  Several years ago I decided to take an official inventory of our stash and label all the boxes.  Hoisting several 50 lb boxes once or twice a day does have the attraction of encouraging good lifting habits, but has little other benefit. ;-)  Over the years I've made a few tweaks to my system, but overall it has stood the test of time and has worked well for us!

I measure each length of fabric and then cut a small swatch and record the length, width, and fiber content.  I try to organize the fabric by types or fiber content, as much as possible.  Some years everything fits evenly into boxes, other years- not so much!  Each tote gets a label with the general contents and a number that correlates to the master list.

My master list is very low-tech, since computers are very close to being my Nemesis.  I just use a few sheets of notebook paper and tape them to the inside of our cupboard door. (although now that I'm thinking of it- I really should put it on the inside of the closet door!)  Each line allows enough room to record the info, and the fabric swatch ends up being large enough to trigger my memory.  Since I'm fairly well acquainted with all the stash contents, using a larger swatch seems unnecessary and I like to keep all of my remaining fabric intact as some projects use Every Last Scrap.

If I use part of a length of fabric during the year, I like to update the list with that info.  I don't worry about adding fabrics to the list until the end of the year, though.  Updating the list each year is pretty straightforward and I just remove the old swatches and glue them to the new list.

Photo-corners mean that I can update the labels easily each year!  This idea has ended up working even better and lasting longer than I originally thought! :-)

And in other news- I recently got a new camera and am looking forward to learning how to utilize it more efficiently and effectively! :-)  So far, it has proved to be much less frustrating and much more enjoyable than our previous one.  Hooray!! :-)