Editing My Pattern Stash - Getting Things Sewn

Readers,

I think I’ve come up with a pretty good way to edit my pattern stash.

Although I’m writing this on the road from Ohio, where Jack’s and my househunting adventure is taking exciting new turns, my mind has not strayed far from life’s really important questions:

Do I have too many patterns?
What’s the right number, anyway?
Will I ever know how to make my own t-shirts?
This belted topper pattern from 1950 is a keeper. 5 stars.

I know these questions have been plaguing you, too, readers. That’s why I have been spending all my waking hours this week–the ones not on the phone with our real estate agent–pondering a process for evaluating pattern stashes.

What I made from the topper pattern exceeded my expectations. I love when that happens.

I’ll spare you the details of those first 30 hours of pondering and first two drafts of this post, and cut to the chase: I now have a working model for sorting patterns.

Another great in my pattern pantheon. 5 stars.

When I get back to the sewing domain in Minneapolis in a few days, this is what I’ll do:

1. Bring together all my patterns. I have about 200.

One of my favorite sewing projects ever.

2. Sort them into categories such as:

Coats
Jackets and suits
Blouses, shirts, tops
Vests
Skirts
Pants
Accessories
At-home wear (robes, pajamas, exercise clothes, aprons)
Menswear
Home decor
From 1936, another favorite pattern. 5 stars.

Patterns will be judged and compared within their category.

3. Make space for five piles.

4. Patterns will be rated from one to five stars.

5. Each star rating has objective and subjective statements related to it. Assign each pattern to the pile with the statements that make the best match:

Five stars

I have made this.
I love it.
I would make it again.
Even if I don’t make it again, it’s worth keeping this pattern.
This flatters my figure type.
This works well with my other wardrobe items.
If this is a new direction for my wardrobe, it’s worth building outfits around this.
This works well with the life I’m living or am looking ahead to living.
I can see this in my mind’s eye with fabric and buttons from my stashes. 4 stars.

Four stars

I have not made this.
This flatters my figure type. (For me, a triangle figure type, that would include emphasizing the upper body with a defined waist and shoulders.)
I love this pattern.
This would work well with my other wardrobe items.
I can vividly imagine fabrics or buttons I’d use. (Even better: I have the fabrics and buttons.)
I can vividly imagine where or when I’d wear this.
I can vividly imagine what I would wear with this.
I can imagine loving wearing this.
If I had to learn new skills or get help to make this, I would.
Some of my vintage buttons are waiting for their star turn on this coat. 4 stars.

Three stars

I have not made this.
I like this pattern, but I can’t say I love it.
This has elements that flatter my figure type.
This also has elements that do nothing to flatter my figure type–they’re either neutral or detract.
Something appeals to me about the style.
I might be able to make this work.
I have never vividly imagined the fabrics or buttons I’d use.
I have never vividly imagined where or when I’d wear this.
I have never vividly imagined what I would wear with this.
If I had to make multiple muslins or learn new skills to make this, I would choose a different pattern.
If I were in the mood to experiment, or had the right help, and the time, I would make this.
From 1947. I like this. Would it be too boxy on me? Shall I try it? 3 stars.

Two stars

I have not made this.
Even if this is right for my figure type, it’s not to my taste anymore.
This doesn’t match my life now or how I expect to live in the future.
I am not willing to experiment with this pattern. I would choose a different pattern instead.
I like it well enough, but have never vividly imagined anything about it, I realize.
This is a perfectly good pattern, but it duplicates others I have.
If I let this go, I wouldn’t really miss it.
I bought this for the lapels, but I’d have to take so much design ease out, I might as well choose another pattern. 2 stars.

One star

I have made this.
This is a dud. It doesn’t work for me in fit or style.
If I made it in a different fabric or color it would still be a dud.
It is not worth it to me to fix the problems with this pattern. I’d rather choose a different pattern.
On the 5 foot 10 inch tall model, this anorak looked great.

The 5-star patterns are keepers.

The 2- and 1-star patterns can be let go.

Then I’ll look at the 3-star and 4-star piles again. What can I learn from those piles? What makes one pattern a winner in my mind and another an also-ran? How much am I swayed by the front-of-the-envelope illustration? Is the technical drawing on the back just as appealing, more appealing, or less? In my experience, some patterns have fallen short of the promise on the front of the envelope–but others have exceeded it.

I had such high hopes for this 1934 pattern.

I may notice more patterns that are similar enough to consider duplicates, and choose to edit a few more out.

I won’t limit the number of patterns I can own in each category. However, I do have limits of time, money, and attention. I’m likely to accomplish more by perfecting a smaller number of patterns that I love, especially ones that adapt more easily to different seasons or occasions.

Do you think cutting about 8 inches off the length changed the proportions? Am I willing to try making this pattern a great one for me? 2 stars, or 3?

As I work through this process, I may notice different questions and statements occurring to me, as in the menswear, accessory and home decor categories. “Make, or buy?” for instance. How willing am I to perfect a hat pattern? In the past, not very.

In the future? Put that question in the 3-star pile. I’ll deal with it later.