Yesterday’s task of going through all of your knitting and crochet books, pattern books and magazines was a big one. Some of you were overwhelmed by it or didn’t have the time to work on it. No worries. We’ll continue working on our our patterns through the weekend. And remember, don’t feel like you have to keep up with each task every day. Do the tasks you feel like you need to work on. And come up with your own schedule. I suggested to someone yesterday that instead of 31 Days to Get Organized, make it 31 Weeks to Get Organized, one task each week. This blog series will be waiting for you when you’re ready.

Now moving onto today’s task of organizing our single patterns. First step is to go through all of them and figure out what to keep and what to get rid of. Some things to consider while you’re sorting through your patterns:

• Is this a duplicate copy of a pattern? Do I have this in a book or magazine?
• Do I have an electronic version of this pattern that can take the place of the hard copy?
• Do you not like the pattern anymore?
• Did you start the pattern, got stuck, too hard to follow, or lost interest?
• Have you already made the pattern and won’t make it again?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, the pattern might belong in the get rid of pile.

Next step is to figure out how you want to sort your patterns.

• By date, newest in front or newest in back
• By designer or company
• By craft – knitting and crochet
• By completion – finished but will make again in one section, haven’t started yet in another section
• By type of garment – sweaters, blankets, hats, etc.

Once you have an idea how you want to sort your patterns, you’ll have a better idea how you want to store them. I used to store mine in 3-ring binders. Now I’ve switched to hanging files. Here are some examples of ways people organize their patterns.

• Hanging Files – easy to put away patterns, but files can get messed up more easily
• 3-Ring Binders (with patterns in plastic sleeves so you don’t have to punch holes in your patterns) – keeps your patterns well sorted, but takes more time to pull out a pattern and put it back
• Magazine Files – basically a vertical pile, but if you don’t have many patterns, very easy to set up
• Expanding Files – a lot like hanging files but more portable, but also more difficult to change your categories
• 2 Pocket Folders – could work well stored in magazine files
• Digital copies – scan your patterns to create digital copies (more on organizing digital patterns this weekend), then store your hard copies in a box out of the way

When deciding on a method to sort and store your single patterns, consider the size of your collection, if space is an issue, how easy you want retrieval to be, and the ease of keeping your system up to date and organized.

What’s your favorite way to organize your knitting and crochet patterns?

Wow! We’re just about halfway done with organizing our knitting and crocheting lives. I’ve been impressed with all of the work you’ve been doing so far this month. Great job everyone!

Next up we’re tackling our knitting and crochet patterns. Today we’re going to sort through our books, pattern books, and magazines – all those patterns we might keep on a bookshelf. We’ll cover organizing single patterns tomorrow and digital patterns and eBooks on Saturday.

Gather Your Stash

If your bookcases are overflowing with knitting books, craft magazines, and crochet patterns, today’s task is perfect for you. Start by pulling all of your craft books, pattern books, and magazines off of your shelves. You might have these spread all over the house. Some of them may be hiding in a stack on a table or desk. Collect them all into one place.

Pre-Sort Your Stash

If you have a sizable collection, do some pre-sorting as you’re pulling everything together. Don’t spend too much time with this step. Don’t start flipping through the pages yet. This will slow you down. Just start stacking in broad categories like pattern booklets, magazines, knitting books, crochet books. This will speed up your finer sorting stage later. Also if you need to break up today’s task over a few days, it’ll be easier to sit down one day and just tackled magazines for example.

De-Stash

Now it’s time to make some decisions. What are you going to keep and what are you going to get rid of? This is going to feel a little like when you were de-stashing your yarn – keep, give away, toss. Keep anything you think you will use someday. I have a rule for myself I try to follow. If a book, magazine, or pattern book doesn’t have at least 3 patterns that I will make someday, I get rid of it.

Your tastes change over time too. Maybe you bought some sock books at one point, but realize after knitting some that you actually hate making socks. No reason to keep them. Getting rid of duplicates is a no-brainer too. When you’re done going through your stacks, consider getting rid of your give-away pile the same way you got rid of some of your yarn. Books and patterns are great additions to a yarn swap.

Fine Tune Your Sort

Go through your keepers and start sorting them like you would want to store them. Group your magazines by publisher and sort them by date. Magazines are floppy, so I like to store them in magazine files since they don’t take up much space on a shelf. A magazine binder also works great. I find pattern books kind of floppy too and tend to get lost on a shelf, especially the kind with stapled spines. So I like to keep these in magazine files too.

For books, I sort them by craft, and then sort them further by how to, stitch dictionaries, and pattern collections. Most books fall into one of these three categories. Others may prefer to sort by author name or book title. When I’m looking for a book, usually I’m looking for a type of book such as baby garments. Pick the sorting method that works for you.

Flag Your Favorites

Now comes the time consuming part. If you have trouble finding the patterns in your collection that you’re looking for, you might want to add this extra step. As you’re doing your fine sort, flip through the pages and mark your favorite patterns with a sticky note or tape flag. Sticky notes can be particularly nice since you can jot down the name or type of pattern on the edge of the note and have that portion stick out from the edge of the book. On Sunday, we’ll be covering more tips on how to track your pattern collection so you can find what you want.

Hope you have fun with this task. When I go through my pattern books and magazines, I always rediscover something I forgot about and get inspired all over again.

What is your favorite tip that helps you find the pattern you want from your pattern books and magazines?

- Dena

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Guest: Kathy and our Berroco Rep., Andra Asars, discuss the New Spring yarns from Berroco.

Fuji -  worsted silk/cotton blend, almost a tweed or marled effect due to the fibers taking the dye differently

Maya(Andra’s current yarn crush!) – a chainette construction pima cotton/baby alpaca blend  soft and machine washable with beautiful drape

Karma – bulky cotton in a fish net construction, like the ruffle yarns, but meant to be knit as a classic yarn.

Two additions to existing yarn lines: Captiva Metallic and Weekend DK. All the new, spring yarns are machine washable

 The cover sweater, Niche, from Norah Gaughan Collection Vol. 12 is knit in Maya.

There are 56 new designs for Spring!
Pattern Booklets: 332 – Floret, 331 – Maya, 330 – Karma, 329 – Lago, Seduce & Captiva Metallic, 328 – Weekend Stripes, 327 –  Fuji

Additional patterns are published throughout the season and can be found in Knitbits.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Art Yarns Silk Essence
• Cascade Cash Vero Closeout
• Cash Vero DK Closeout
• Cascade 220 Quatro Closeout
• Stylecraft Life Dk Closeout
• Stylecraft Life Chunky Closeout
• SMC Highland Alpaca Fino Closeout
• SMC Alpaka Closeout

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Guest: Kathy and Leslie Ann talk about some great last minute gift ideas. Bulky yarns will work up quickly for a few more handmade gifts.

Greta’s hat in Fibre Company Tundra - or try a simple ribbed hat in Cascade Magnum or a cute earflap hat crocheted in Berroco Souffle

Leslie Ann and Kathy also discuss great little gifts to put together; washcloths in soft cottons with fancy soaps, potholders with cookbooks, or coasters with some special mugs. Don’t forget sheep themed, little, stocking stuffers!

And for the weaver you can’t go wrong with a new shuttle or a beautiful and unique shawl pin.

For more ideas check out our videos: Holiday Gift Ideas for Knitters and Crocheters and Holiday Gift Ideas for Weavers

WEBS Annual Year End Blowout Sale is happening online now through January 1st and  In-Store December 26th – 31st.

Steve’s Year End Blowout Sale Yarn Picks

• Tahki Cotton Classic Grab Bags
• Tahki Cotton Classic Lite Grab Bags
• Supreme 5 and 10 bag Grab bags
• Classic Elite Cottom Bam Boo
• Filatura Di Crosa Prestige Baby
• Filatura Di Crosa Prestige Baby Print
• Cascade Yarns Pastaza
• Filatura Di Crosa Lovely Jeans
• Cascade Yarns Covington
• Noro Wadaiko

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Guest: Kathy and Vicki talk about her new book Step It Up Knits, a great collection of patterns to help you to build and hone your knitting skills.

They discuss Vicki’s wish to offer useful and beautiful patterns in a range of yarn options that are accessible to every knitter.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Cascade Magnum Paints
• Lotus Yarns Tibetan Cloud Fingering
• Valley Yarns Sheffield – New Colors
• Plymouth Yarn Grass – Closeout
• Plymouth Yarn Sweet Caroline – Closeout
• Plymouth Yarn Vizions – Closeout
• Adriafil Crea – Closeout
• Filatura Di Crosa Zarina Baby Print- Closeout
• Filatura Di Crosa Baby Love – Closeout

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Guest: Kathy and Kate talk about the history of Twist Collective; they’ll be celebrating 5 years next summer!

Kate explains the process of choosing patterns, yarns and colors as well as the clothing to be worn with the new designs, and styling the models for the photo shoots.

They also discuss the painstaking tech-editing process each pattern goes through to provide the highest quality patterns.

The Winter 2012 Issue is live now and features 2 designs using Valley Yarns. North Wind knit in Valley Yarns Northampton and Esme knit in Valley Yarns Northfield.

Horatio and Oren mittens knit in Valley Yarns Huntington or Northfield, from the Fall 2012 issue of Twist Collective. 

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Lotus Yarns Sunset
• Lotus Yarns Mimi
• Prism Yarns Layers Stuff
• Blue Ridge Yarns Footlights
• UKI 20/2 Mercerized Cotton cones – Closeout

Tomorrow team WEBS will once again be walking(while knitting!) and running in the Annual Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage. Last year we raised $6000 dollars and we’d love to raise even more this year. If you’d like to help out, please visit our donation page. Kathy and Steve will be matching all donations made through till the start of the Race tomorrow morning!

WEBS is open Sundays through 12/23, from 12 to 5PM EST, for your holiday shopping convenience.

Upcoming Events:
Thursday Dec 20th, Event with Bruce Weinstein and his new book, Boyfriend Sweaters.

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There’s still plenty of time knit or crochet a few fantastic items for those special people in your life.

Valley Yarns Pattern #503 Hearts of Oak Stocking knit in Valley Yarns Northampton would not only make a great gift for a new baby or a newly married couple but 5% of the proceeds from the pattern sales benefit the Stitch Red campaign.

The traditional Fair Isle motifs and colors of the  Valley Yarns Pattern #504 Holly and Ivy Tam knit in Valley Yarns Northampton Sport really evoke the winter holidays.

The skillfully curved armholes and neckline of Valley Yarns Pattern #507 Linda’s Vest crocheted in Valley Yarns Northampton Sport, as well as the ribbed trim give this simple granny stitch vest an edge of style and sophistication.

With a classic knitted on edge and textured eyelet stitch pattern throughout Valley Yarns Pattern #487 Dappled Shawlette knit in Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand Dyed is the perfect showpiece for gorgeous hand-dyed yarns.

We love that Valley Yarns Pattern #363 Pincushion Moss Shawl crocheted in Valley Yarns Southwick is an easy, lacy shawl that grows from the neck down letting you crochet to the size you desire.

Valley Yarns Pattern #286 Shale Pleated Scarf  has a great architectural stitch pattern that makes it perfect for men or women and when knit in Valley Yarns Berkshire it’s like being wrapped in a hug each time they wear it.

What projects are you excited to be working on this week?

This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about gifts! We’re busy getting our gifts ready for the holidays; only a few weeks left!

( Left) I made the hedgehog wool pet as a gift for my girlfriend. The instructions were easy to follow and the pictures demonstrated every step. After I made the body, I used the finished picture as a guide for the nose, ears and coat pattern. I’d recommend wool pets for anyone looking for a fun and creative gift! > Kyle C.

(Right) I’m making several pairs of socks as gifts this year, and I’m in love with the Karbonz needles. They have the nice, sharp points I love from the Novas, but the carbon fiber has a little grip to it. The joins between the different materials are smooth, and I know I don’t have to worry about my yarn snagging. Definitely a plus when working with thinner yarns! > Jackie V.

I don’t do a ton of holiday knitting, but every year my Grandma Gen is at the top of my list to receive a handmade gift. This year I wanted to go with something beautiful but fast. The Kid Cozy Throw was exactly what I needed; a combination Berroco Boboli and Berroco Cirrus yarns knit on a large needle to make quick work. Plus, I think I like it so much that I’ll have to make one for myself! > Greta S.

When my girls were much younger I made them each Ganomy Hats and a pair of Mitered Mittens from Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Knitter’s Almanac using Noro Silk Garden. They have outgrown them now but my youngest daughter asked for a new set this year. I let her dig through my stash for yarn and she chose the new Noro Kirara, color #11. She’s thrilled with how it’s turning out and can’t wait to start wearing it. > Sara D.

Trying to figure out what to get the knitter or crocheter in your life? Not sure what to put on your list? Check out our video for a few great ideas.

Gifts for the Knitter:

Jade Sapphire Brigadoon, Valley Yarns Pattern #485 – Chrysanthemum Hat, Knitter’s Pride Dreamz 16″ Fixed Circular Needles OR Knitter’s Pride Dreamz 6″ Double Pointed Needles, Della-Q Project Bags

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Guest: Kathy and Shannon talk about her experience publishing her own books, the history of Cooperative Press and it’s aim to better promote and compensate the authors and designers it publishes.