I’ve been mass cleaning and purging my apartment and just tackled my sewing patterns.  I got rid of about half to Goodwill and local knitter friends.  For once I had them all in one place but they were in numerical order! I had some silly idea that I’d catalog them all and make a database of what I had so I’d only have to find them by number.  Yeah, like I’ll ever get around to that!

I researched a lot of pattern storage and organization options on the internet and found this solution.  These are basically half size bankers boxes called [IN]PLACE Hanging File Desktop Storage Boxes from Office Max.  I have not seen this size any where else.  I popped down to my local Office Max with a McCall’s pattern (because their envelopes are the largest of the Big 4, excluding the large Vogues) and they had them, and it fit nicely.  I paid about $12 for a pack of 6 boxes and went back the next day for more!

Here’s the insides of one, filled with patterns for knits.  There’s enough room for the slightly taller and wider KwikSew envelopes with the regular patterns and for a few of the larger Vogues on the side.

They fit Burda Magazines on their side…

and Ottobre, Burda Plus, and Burda Easy Fashion.

Sadly, they are not long enough for Jalie patterns.  I have a magazine holder they just barely fit in (tracings kept in plastic behind pattern) with my Threads and other miscellaneous sewing magazines..

But they’re done!  My extra boxes will hold my cutout/used patterns and envelopes in gallon ziploc bags.

These should fit nicely on some 12 inch shelving when ever I get around to it and the boxes aren’t full so I can buy more, right?!

Bonus picture for mom: red hair!