Declutter Challenge 2022 - Day 5 - Patterns
Today we are diving into our pattern pile! Don't forget to have your recycling and donation bins ready.
First - Any Patterns that you have already made, put them into a separate pile. We will deal with those tomorrow on Day 6.
The questions we ask of ourselves with patterns are very similar to magazines and books… but because we have so many patterns, we have to do a lot more asking.
Patterns come in all different forms. Hardcopies, PDF downloads, guild handouts. We tear them out of magazines, our friends pass us copies and more. We can be just as insatiable with them as we are with fabric stash and often have more quilt patterns than we can ever hope to make.
So decide how much space you want them to take up? Then ask yourself the following:
How many years have I had it?
Do I still like it?
Can I make it with the skills that I have?
Do I actually need a pattern to make a quilt like this?
Can I make it with the fabric that I have right now?
Then rank them and cull them down to the space that you have. This year I recycled a lot of paper. I hung on to so many last year, just in case. I've learned, if I don't want to make it today, not likely my feelings will change tomorrow.
Also take the time to declutter the patterns on your computer. Make one file where all your patterns can be found. Rename any files as needs be so that they can be found easier. I also make sub-files by designer or series. You might also want to catalogue a list of these patterns in your journal.
With any leftover time, work on your UFO.
Share your progress on social media. Follow the hashtag #jgidqdeclutter2022. I’ll see you tomorrow for Day Six- The Archive Pile