I organize my quilting books mostly by subject matter; like applique, piecing, basic instructions, quilting ideas, etc.

I like not to organize them, that way I spend a few hours looking through each one.

Mine are totally disorganized. One of the shelves was so heavy it broke the little pegs that hold it in place,and of couse that broke down the shelf underneath. I think I am going to organize by author and get DH to makea few shelf supports. Does anybody know if you could make a spread sheet and organize them that way? not a computer nerd! Diane C.

Keep a separate note book with project names you REALLY LIKE and put the book/page down for it....I find that works WELL !!!

For magazines, I use the MANY EXTRA address labels, folded and stuck to the top (or side) of magazines with the name of the quilt written on the edge.

Books, technique,alphabetical, Magazines, I purchased at Staples 3" binders, top loading page sleeves, computer printable labels. Set up a binder for each magazine, as I read each magazine, I immediately remove the quilt pattern, how-to,etc., place it in a sleeve, add it to the appropriate binder. I type up a label with name, technique, size,, etc, and place it on the front of the binder. I also set up a binder for my previous EQ designs. And one for all the quilts I have made, with a picture of the quilt, and scraps of material left over in case a repair is needed. I also indicate who I gave the quilt to for future reference. In word Excel I created a cross reference spreadsheet, set up by teacnique for quick reference, indicating which binder it is in. I have been saving quilt info this way for over 20 years,, now have more than 15 binders, and can easily locate something, have no piles laying around, everything is on shelves with each binder labeled.

lol too funny

I have mine organized by category - I have recycled medium flat rate boxes to put my books in. I cut them down and covered them with wrapping paper.

"Organize"??? I don't know that word. What does it mean?

Mine are by topic, and they are on shelves my husband built for me. I need more shelving in my sewing room though--not for books, but for supplies in general. I have an idea about how to do it. Now it just requires cubic dollars.

You are my hero!

:lol:

Very admirable of you! When do you have time to quilt?

I have almost as many quilt history books as I do quilt patterns/techniques books so they are kept on separate bookshelves in different rooms. The techniques and patterns are in my sewing room shelves, categorized by piecing, applique, color studies or general. My basic all in one how to do quilting stuff book is the easiest to get to since it is the one I refer to most often.

My quilt history books, plus several oversized books that won't fit sitting up on a regular bookshelf, are in the bookcase in the den. This is where I sit while browsing through the antique quilt photos and stories at my leisure dreaming of replicating some of those designs.

By the way, I keep an inventory of my quilting books on http://www.librarything.com. It's a free service and easy to use. Also, it helps prevent me from buying a duplicate book if I check my list before making a purchase.

I organize my books in a bookcase by subject - all those on scrappy quilts are together because that's what I'm most interesting in lately. All others are by author. I do have a few that I use all the time like Around the Block by Judy Hopkins and Block Magic books by Nancy Johnson-Srebro and have had them spiral bound for easier use. These books take up one shelf. Then I've changed my plan on magazines. They are in cardboard magazine holders labeled by the name of the magazine. I no longer keep every issue and those I do keep all have little sticky things with markings -- all those containing a bag pattern are marked as such so I can find them quickly. Any magazines that I just have a few of are grouped together. And then all the books that I use rarely but am not ready to part with are in a totally different space. Oh, and I also keep 3 large white spiral notebooks with plastic pages that are designated as applique, pieced pages taken from discarded magazines and blocks or quilts from classes or guilds. I look through all of this stuff often when I'm searching for an idea.

Mine are pretty much organized by subject in two bookcases with a lot of bookmarks for projects I might one day be interested in starting. But they also seem to migrate to other parts of the house. There are days when I don't want to really sew just browse. Then I pull a half dozen or so books, get a cup of coffee and relax in my easy chair.

Try librarything.com

I don't have a lot of books but do have many magazines. I take a large post it note and as i read the magazine i write down the page and subject or title of what interests me. Then i stick it inside the front cover. Occasionally if i go thru the magazine again, i might see something else i missed the first time and just add it to the list.

My books are arranged by subject. I like to be able to find a given pattern at any time. So I have made a index on my computer in excel. I have listed every quilt pattern, that I have. First I did each pattern, the book, and the page. I did this for all the books. I also have binders with sleeves in them. I did the same for each of them. Now if I want to make a pineapple quilt I type in pineapple pattern and excell tells me that I have 6 difference places that I can find the pattern, in which book, or binder and the page. It takes time to organize this data but is well worth the effort, as you just look at 6 different quilts all in the same pattern and get ideas real easy.

I have a list on the computer, the actual books are pile filed by what I am doing at the time. Example if I am doing applique, I pile file applique books close by. etc.

lol I don't have enough to require any kind of organization...but somehow, they're still all over the place.

I agree -- Mine are on the shelf, in alphabetical order (I married a librarian)magazines are in chronilogical order -- unless they are not.
If I pull a book or pattern out, I try to return it OR leave it with the WIP so I do not forget what I was doing when I return to the project.
I also keep a list on Excel by title, author, date, publisher and a two word description (design, Hawaiian, celtic, appplique, machine, etc). As it is on a spread sheet, I can access it many ways. When I go to a big show, I print out the list so I do not duplicate.

My quilting books are on shelves ordered by author's last name. There are lots of post-its sticking out the tops for quilts that really caught my attention.

I can't believe how alike we quilters are !! I love my two shelves of books, magazine containers, and notebooks of ideas. They are not organized,yet !! :-D

Mine just go wherever I find a space large enough to fit them!

Since I have several types of books I break them down into:
Sewing, crochet/knitting, embroidery, etc. Then I break down my quilting books by applique, piecing, holidays, baby/children, etc. I have a five shelf case for just these. Since I am a prolific reader I also have my reading books stashed elsewhere. I could probably start my own library if I wanted too. I have given a lot of books away, but for some reason they do not do too well in a garage sale. Still haven't figured that one out.

I forgot to mention that I also have several 3" binders broken down by categories with stuff off internet, from magazines, etc.

I have some of those fabric-cardboard things that are a drawer when used in a cube organizer. But for the most part, I have a stack. When that stack starts to fall over, I start a new one. LOL

I cut the copy paper boxes to an almost triangular shape (like library magazine boxes) cover them with self sticking vinyl for strength and to make them look better, stick a label on the box and put magazines in. The others go in my pigeon hole shelf that never stays organised - it has 30 pigeon holes and the case is made of wood similar to a book case.

Mine are in the magazine holders with the quilting magazine as well and then when I want to look at some at night, I just get a holder out that I have not looked at for awhile. I have little stickiey notes sticking in the magazines to tell myself it was something I wanted to make. I write on the post it and it sticks out of the magazine. The holders for these I keep in my bookcase in the Hall.

When I buy a magazine I take out the patterns that I want to keep and put them in plastic page protectors. Then I put them in notebooks.I keep the applique ones in separate notebooks. The patterns I print from the computer I also put into the notebooks.That makes it easier to find the quilt pattern you want to make if you don't have a big stack of magazines to go through. I have a 4ft x 4ft bookcase with 4 shelves. the bottom 2 shelves have quilting books and the top 2 shelves has pattern notebooks.

Gal 288, I got tired just reading what you do. When is your Birthday. You are really organized. one thing many of us do it the postit note on the magazines or books sticking out. We have that in common.

[quote=Hen3rietta]

For finding things, I like to use sticky notes that I place so they stick out beyond the top edge of the book.

I do this too. I put the colored sticky flags on things I have made, and another color for those I would like to make or are worth another look.

I always wanted to buy those hard plastic magazine holders to put mine in. But they are so expensive I couldn't afford them. Well one day I saw these hard cardboard holders at Dollar General that hold merchandise, and bingo, it hit me. I asked the clerk what they did with them. She said they tossed them, so I asked if I could have them. I covered them with contact paper and labeled them. Now my mags are labeled, christmas, scrap, vintage, etc. and they're standing up in the bookcase. No Cost. Except the contact paper.

On the books, I use a sticky note/notes that have the name of quilt & page # on it. On my magazines, I just write the page# right on the magazine and usualy add a note as to who I plan to make quilt for. Works for me. Otherwise, each time I go to look for a pattern, technique, ect. I spend all day looking at my books and magazines.

Like many of the people posting on this thread, I keep my books in categories (baby, applique, techniques, precuts, Christmas, serger, scrappy, etc.) then by author's last name in each category. But what I do differently is to type each category into my label-making machine and print out the category name. Then I affix the label to the bookshelf so I can locate that group easily. I also have a master list in my computer which I update faithfully every time I purchase something. I take this list with me when I shop to prevent duplicate purchases.

I have mine by type. All of my quilting only books are together. All of my basic instructional books, traditional quilts, quilts with animals, applique, special techniques.... I don't have that many that I can't scan them for what I need.

By my bed, by my recliner, on top of old sewing cabinet, on top of desk, in bathroom, etc.

Good Donna, now can you tell us if you have an index system set up for them, and explain how you did that?
Not trying to be funny or cute about this, but I have a lot of quilting patterns in 3 ring binders and just listed some on the label of the binder, I would really like to get them set up much better. All of these are in plastic sleeves to keep them from getting wrinkled or torn. Any suggestions qould be appreciated.

I just added a new book to my computer database bringing my book collection (not magazines) to 300 even!! They are all in order in two bookcases by subject/technique.. art, piecing, juvenile, applique, redwork, etc. I will also tag particular projects or information with the small sticky tags.My database gives where and when I bought it and especially who borrowed it! I have lost books in the past by forgetting who I loaned them too. I will also enter into another computer list those projects I want to do some day giving the book or magazine's title, page, etc. My sewing room is not huge but well organized. I "usually" know where everything is.... usually!

I have mine on a bookshelf, orgainzed by size from the biggest to the smallest.

I organize by subject - 30's - crazy - etc. I also have all sorts of patterns printed from the computer (both quilt patterns and cross stitch patterns) these are in plastic sleeves and binders of like patterns - I currently have 30 notebooks and growing - I also have so many quilt magazines that I intend to start tearing out patterns to add to the binders - that way I can get rid of stacks of magazines and be able to locate patterns I want without looking through 5 feet of magazines. - I keep most of my books in a floor to ceiling bookcase in my computer room but I also have two metal shelves that is full to the gills also - too many books