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What to do with your pattern while you’re knitting
Notorious Sock Knitters | May 31, 2008
So, here’s a (maybe really dumb) question. I love to have a pattern in a page holder sleeve. I love a pattern that is neat, and clean, and without coffee rings. Is copying the pattern okay if it’s just you using it? Then the copy will get the coffee, (or whatever else) stains. Try as I might I can’t seem to keep my patterns fresh and lovely. So I’m fishing here. What do y’all do with your patterns to preserve them?
 I’m embarassed to even talk about how the last two patterns are holding up. They are such great stocking patterns, they are getting knit up in many different colorways. But Oi! the poor paper.
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15 Responses to “What to do with your pattern while you’re knitting”
It is my understanding that you can make a copy for personal use only and then keep the oringinal nice in it’s sleeve.
Annette’s right. YOU own it, yours to do with FOR YOURSELF.
You can also get color copies at copy shops for not much money, which is especially nice for pages with color-coded charts.
I have a little ritual when I get my packages (it involves dancing under moon light-jkg, sorta) and I always make a copy of the pattern to carry around. The other one stays in it’s lovely sleeve nice and clean! When there are patterns that call for repeats I generally retype the pattern to fit on index card size paper which I’ll laminate and carry on a key ring (I know, I know–I’m taking my meds as fast as I can
The charts I’ll do the same so that I can write on them with a dry erase marker. Like the PP’s have said, make a copy and then make it easy for yourself!
All of the above is correct Meg,you just need to makes sure to dance under a blue moon.
Is that like getting a kiss under the misteltoe?
It’s my understanding that we won’t have another blue moon for a while. Does anyone know when that is?
That is a great idea about laminating and a dry erase marker, Amy. I make copies and then write all over them (and they get VERY messy), so I think I’m going to try your idea.
Index cards are great. They fit in a sock-sized carry-all.
The next Blue Moon isn’t until 2009: December 2nd at 07:29 and the 31st at 19:11. New Years Eve, interesting eh? Just thought I’d find out because, well, inquiry minds want to know LOL.
Index cards!, Duh, what a great idea. I’m known for throwing my knitting into a backpack any number of small cramped bags, (that likely have more than just one other knitting project in it). My patterns are thrashed. thanks for all of the input
Well then Meg you certainly do not need to wait for the blue moon.
You guys are soo funny!!
My ritual for starting any project now includes photocopying the pattern, be it from a book or whatever, and stashing it in a ziploc with the yarn and needles. Those patterns get written on, folded, bent, and generally beaten up by the end. I’m pretty sure general copyright rules allow for copying for your personal use, and the RSC ones explicitly say it’s OK. At any rate, I don’t see any harm in it - I’ve paid for the book/pattern, and I’m not redistributing it in any way.
When the project’s finished, I tend to keep the beat-up copy with the leftover yarn. If I’ve made corrections/alterations and written them in, it gives me a record of how I modified the pattern. Just in case I someday wonder what I did.
Does anyone else like the coffee rings? I might just be a weirdo freak.
I do quite like mine looking gently used if I’ve knitted them up…
I carry a briefcase to work though, so tend to be able to keep the pattern reasonably flat in a side pocket…
Great ideas you all!! I do the same (making a color copy) of the parts appropriate to what I am knitting at the time. A little tape and scissor action, pencil, ziplock and I am good to go. When I am done, the dog earred, coffee ringed, puppy chewed copy goes in the trash and I still have my original for another skein.
R…………..>
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