Ok, so on last week I began one of the final stages of my sewing room reorganization. I organized all of my patterns and began storing the used one's with instructions sheets and original envelopes in 1 Gallon Ziploc bags. I ran across a few patterns that I am CERTAIN I won't be sewing again. Some I really love and others I've fallen out of love with. But then it hit me that up until now, I've never thrown any of my patterns away. I mean I might have tossed one if I lost a pattern piece or something flukey like that but for the most part I've just kept them, even the one's that may have not worked.
My lack of pattern organization may have played a role in that. I used to fold my patterns up and stack them. Now that I'm packaging all of my patterns up, it's easier to distinguish between the one's I like and don't like. So now I have a stack of used patterns to keep and others I don't want to keep. I'm still perplexed. For some reason it seems like a waist to just trash the pattern. But that seems like the logical option when you don't want anything anymore, right? I have NO problem decluttering but for some reason I have reservations about tossing patterns. It's not like I can pass these on for someone else to use, right? Especially after they have my markings on them. Maybe it's my devout love for my craft that makes the thought of tossing old patterns seem wrong. I don't know. But despite the feeling I tossed a trash bag full of patterns that I didn't feel like sorting out. And I'm pretty sure I will toss the undesirables.
(Here are some of the patterns I don't plan to sew again for one reason
or another. Some worked very well and I still have the finished garment.
Maybe that's why I may feel a little conflicted?)
But there's still that reservation. So I'm curious,
Do you trash patterns you've tried and don't want or don't plan to sew anymore or do you hold on to them? If so, why? If not, what's your reservation?
I don't throw away the patterns I no longer love. Instead, I: 1) pack them up and send them to Goodwill 2) bring them to one of my local American Sewing Guild meetings and offer them to other sewers or in the future I might set up an ETSY store.
ReplyDeleteI trace my patterns so they're in good shape but still even marked, I wouldn't throw them away unless there's an error in the pattern.
Last year I gave away patterns to ASG and to PR sewers. This year I'll do the same because I like the idea that they are going to a 'good home'.
ReplyDeleteFreecycle - that's what it's for. I find it sad that you threw away patterns that someone would have happily taken, even with markings on them. You could have put them on ebay, collection only, with a starting price of $0.01. You could have given them to a charity shop (Goodwill, or similar). Trashing them is just awful!
ReplyDeleteI found it hard to part with them, wondering if I will need some detial from them years down the track. I think it is better to part with them though and am trying my hardest. New ones will always come along and most likely will be better.
ReplyDeleteWhether you can pass on your patterns depends on what you do to them. If you trace them and do your adjustments on the copy, then they're basically pristine and can be passed on. But if you work directly on them, then you should do everyone a favor and hit the recycling instead.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing wrong with getting rid of patterns you aren't going to use, or use again. You wouldn't hang on to your used coffee filters, right :-)? You've drunk the sewing that can be done, you're allowed to move on.
Now if you find that you get rid of a large amount of patterns that were not used, that's an entirely different topic for reflection. I find that a very small bit of patternmaking education was enough to cut down my pattern consumption radically..
I usually give them to the charity shop. But lately I wonder if I should be giving them away through my blog.
ReplyDeleteI have also given them to the high school sewing teacher.
ReplyDeleteMost of the patterns in my stash are traced Burdas - altered and traced specifically for me. It doesn't make sense to give the patterns away unless someone is the same size I am - and there aren't many people who are my size! But I still have a hard time throwing away the traced patterns. The most responsible method I can think of is to put them in the recycle bin. A meager thing, I know, but it's the only solution I've come up with so far. I also have a hard time getting rid of the Burda magazines. I usually pass them on to other interested sewers, but it's not an easy thing for me to do.
ReplyDeleteHi, I even recognize one of your patterns in my stash, and it's in Deep Stash with no link to any sewing plan whatsoever! I also have a hard time passing on old patterns, even though I trace patterns (they are expensive here) so mine have no markings, alterations or missing sizes from being cut out. But I am thinking of culling the baby patterns that both DD 2010 and DS 2011 have already grown out of... yet, the idea of making them again for baby gifts... oh it's not easy to pass them on! Not at all. Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteSo, in 1986, I was having a pattern purge. New house, new sewing room. I had a Vogue sundress that I decided to get rid of b/c I thought I had made it too many times. Needed a new look. HUGE MISTAKE. I spent years scouring flea markets and yard sales. Didn't even know the number. Finally found one on eBay about 5 years ago but someone was bidding against me. She seemed so determined that I quickly dropped out. Imagine my shock when my daughter gave it to me for my birthday. Moral of the story, be very careful about throwing out patterns.
ReplyDeleteI can't part with any of them - even the ones I hate! My size fluctuates so much that I am afraid I will need that size or style again later, I learn so much each time I sew a pattern that I am forced to admit a patterns directions really weren't bad at after all, and I've never gotten over the loss of my grandmother's stash - some people just don't understand how important these things are! :(
ReplyDeleteI totally understand your pain - my beloved Grandma tossed all of her Vogue patterns from the 40s & 50s.
DeleteI don't. I assume that I will give them away. Also when folks roll up on me asking me to make them something or teach them to sew, then I already have some thing to get them started with.
ReplyDeleteI cut my patterns so if it's one that I hate, I will simply recycle the pattern.
ReplyDeleteDON'T TRASH THEM!!!!!!! There's a whole world of sewing folk out there that love to find patterns at thrift stores, who don't mind if the pieces have already been cut out and/or altered and/or marked upon. Even if you don't pass them along by gifting, thrifting, or selling them, pattern paper breaks down well in a compost heap. The drawings on the envelope make good paper dolls form young children to play with. Please don't just throw them away. This is, of course, just one woman's opinion.
ReplyDeleteIn Paper Arts crafting people use patterns for everything when making altered books, boxes anything. By all means give them to your local thrift and write off on your tax deduction/expenses. Not only do patterns go out of date but so do the styles. Few women are interested in vintage styles despite what you read on blogs most women want a classic updated or the latest.
ReplyDeleteI chuckled because you wrote "waist" instead of "waste". No pun intended, right?
ReplyDeleteI agree about giving them away; I literally just yesterday picked up a box of patterns from a lady cleaning out her stash on Freecycle. Those of us who can't afford new will GLADLY take those patterns, and if you use Freecycle usually will pick them up from you and everything; all you'd have to do is bag them up! Or Goodwill if you're not comfortable with people coming to get them from you, but someone WILL use them! :)
ReplyDeleteDon't throw them out!! If everyone through out their patterns, there would be no vintage patterns to discover at estate sales and thrift shops. I threw out about 75 or so 80s patterns, all missing pieces, and still nearly shed a tear over it, lol. Definitely pass them on!
ReplyDeleteI think most of us have reached that saturation point with quantity of patterns. I recently weeded out the patterns I no longer wanted and (like other posters) brought them to my ASG meeting and those not taken were dropped off at Goodwill.
ReplyDeleteVictoria, please Don't trash your patterns!
ReplyDeleteI don't have much on my own, so I am still in collecting stage.
(should I give you my address?!) ;-)))
I'd give them away on my blog or freecycle or sell via a sewing group OR just send them to me :) Susan
ReplyDeleteI personally don't throw out any patterns because I use old pattern pieces for parts when designing/draping. I've referred back many times and glad I had them! Saved me from having to purchased a pattern to assist me! I say if you really don't want them, donate them..someone else might use them!
ReplyDeleteI don't trash mine. I give them away or sell them on ebay if they are uncut.
ReplyDeleteWell I HAVE trashed them if I didn't like the pattern lol
I'm happy to see so many commenters agree with me. Please, Olivia, don't throw them in the trash unless they are completely unusable. I live in a country where Big 4 patterns are not sold at all. It takes a lot of creativity, patience and money for me to get patterns (friends, relatives, begging, LOL!plus obscene shipping fees)
ReplyDeleteBroke my heart (and, to be honest, made me a little nauseous) to read this post. Recycle, give away or sell, please!
Please don't toss out your patterns. As style change and as we grow more mature, we change what we like and what we wear. You can always either give them to goodwill or hold on to them for your daughter. Styles always have a way of coming back.
ReplyDeleteI give them to my friend and if I need them again she lets me borrow them :)
ReplyDeleteOnes I'm on the fence about go to "purgatory " do a while, and I decide later. If its uncut, it goes to goodwill. If its cut, it gets recycled.
ReplyDeleteWell,Victoria don't feel bad if you've already thrown patterns away, but hey - you live right there near SCAD near budding fashion designers, so next time I'd donate them to the school or take them to thrift as others suggested. I still have some to give away on my Toile La La blog at sewatoile.blogspot.com and I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to have your unwanted patterns now that there has been response to my giveaways. You'll know what to do next time and good luck with your sewing passion!
ReplyDeleteIgnore all these packrats. U did the right thing. Don't be a hoarder, please.
ReplyDeleteSome people are polite in their opinions, but some are not. Please be diplomatic instead of rude.
ReplyDelete