What to do with free BOM patterns

OK, so call me OCD but here's what I do with all my free BOM (block of the month) patterns:

I keep a spreadsheet of all the free BOMs I'm downloading with the internet URLs and months of the year. Some BOMs are only 6 months so I black out or put Xs in the months the BOM is not going to be published. If the patterns are published on a day other than the 1st of the month, say the 7th or the first Friday, I put that date in the month block in red to alert me (and to keep me from checking it every day or so until that specific day arrives).

Next, I keep a binder with a sheet of lined paper (like we used in school) on each BOM filed alphabetically behind ABC tabs. This handwritten paper keeps more notes about the BOM (how many months, type of BOM - redwork, appliqué, piecing, paper piecing, whatever) as well as the name, website URL, and the patterns I have downloaded. (I suppose at some point in the future I will type these up in a set format but I still have other times to do in my life. LOL!)

I may as well mention that my downloaded files are done in a particular way also. I keep a folder for each BOM. So the Just Takes 2 BOM is in a folder titled "BOM Just Takes 2." then each pattern is titled something like this: BOM Just Takes 2 - Block 01-2012. Sometimes I will also include the name of the pattern after the Block #-year. If the BOM breaks up their pattern into, say, instructions, templates, or something else, I still use this format and include the suffix (instructions, templates, etc.) on the end of the document name after the block #-year. The computer will put the files in order alphabetically anyway so I want to keep all my files for each block together in this fashion.

As you can imagine, things get rather hectic around the first of each month as most BOM patterns are released then. I just pull out my binder, open my spreadsheet, and start downloading a few at a time. This system enables me to check back throughout the month and be sure I've downloaded all the patterns in a timely fashion.

When the BOMs are completed, I move the lined paper sheets to a different binder and make sure the electronic copies are saved either to a CD or to a specific flash drive I keep for patterns. I don't print out all the patterns to each because I never know if I'm really going to do them or not. Oftentimes I will print out a picture of the BOM to put with the lined sheet of paper so I have a visual reference when I'm flipping through the binder.

If the BOM requires the making of templates, the printed copy (when I print them out) of the pattern goes in a plastic page (that's open at the top) and is filed in a different binder according to the type of quilt (piecing only, appliqué, paper piecing). Then the templates are also stored in the plastic page with the pattern.

Hope this helps some of you! Now if I can just get to the actual doing rather than just the collecting!

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year 2012!

Well, here is another year starting and I still haven’t managed to get my camera working so I could post pictures of my various projects. Oh well. So, you’re just going to have to look at my resolutions for 2012.

1. Post on this blog at least once a week. That means 52 blog posts. Hmmmm.
I think I can do that.

2. This is a biggie: get my studio/office organized so I can actually do more than just sit at the computer and play on the internet. GULP! Details later.

3. Crochet or knit at least 365 items for donation to the Common Thread Circle. I think I got pretty close to 365 last year but I'm not really sure about that. Need to keep better records this year.

4. Knit at least 4 pairs of socks that aren’t tube socks. I managed to make 3 pairs of tube socks in 2011 and now want to learn how to put heels in my socks.

5. Knit at least 12 dishcloths. Why? I don’t know. I’ve never used the ones I’ve already made but I’d like to . . .

6. Figure out who will receive what handmade item(s) for their birthday or Christmas present early enough to get ‘er dun on time. Oh, and wrapped appropriately would be nice, too.

7. Finish some UFOs. Oh, yeah. You know who you are. Those UnFinished Objects that lurk in bags throughout the house. You have GOT to go this year!

8. Stay a little more on top of the housework. Ummm, ‘nuff said there.

Having said all that, I do actually have a couple of finished objects and a WIP (work in progress) to report on already for 2012:

Finished Objects
2 tiny knitted Santa Hats in red and off-white

WIP
Redwork daisy heart – for either a couch pillow cover or for a quilt (not sure yet)