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Digital Patterns have made it super easy to load up on patterns you love without worrying about physical storage (until you print the pattern out). While this convenience makes it easier to create an enviable library of sewing patterns, it’s also a good way to clog up your hard drive. In this post, I take a look at the different PDF storage solution options to help you keep your PDF files organized and under control.
PDF Storage Solution Ideas
Try these storage options below to see which is the best fit for you style.
Writable CD’s– a writable disc that you can save data from your hard drive to. Look for CD-R’s or CD-RW’s. While CD-R’s can be used to record things once, CD-RW’s can be erased and recorded over.
Pros: Easy to use and portable
Cons: CD’s can be scratched and like anything small and portable, they can be misplaced.
Thumb/flash drive– A small data storage device that you use with your USB drive.
Pros: It’s an inexpensive option and the small, portable size makes it easy to carry around. Plus, there are so many cute shapes on the market today that you are sure to find one that fits your style!
Cons: Depending on how many patterns you have, you may need a bunch! It is small and portable, so it can easily be misplaced.
Portable External Drive- a portable data storage device that can be attached to a computer through a USB, Firewire connection, or wirelessly. This is a great option and how I started. I also use this portable external drive for my photography.
Pros: Lots of storage space, low cost, and easy to set up.
Cons: Full-sized drives can be bulky. They are susceptible to the same problems as internal hard drives, so extra care must be taken.
Cloud Storage– When data is stored remotely by a hosting company. While a lot of companies charge for this service, you can get a descent amount of space for free from providers like Google Cloud, Apple iCloud Drive and DropBox. (I personally use dropbox for my many files.)
Pros: Remote access, external backup, and affordable.
Cons: Security and access control. Make sure the hosting company provides good security for your files. Also, since data is stored on an external server that the hosting company has control over, if the servers where the files are hosted should go down for any reason (like for maintenance), then you have to wait until they’re back up again to access your data. In my experience, this doesn’t happen often, but it is still something to consider.
How to Know which Storage Option is Best for You.
There are 2 main points to consider when selecting the best PDF storage solution. The first is capacity and the second is location. Look at how many patterns you need to store (include the file size) as well as any other data that you’ll be storing. The amount of space needed will help determine which storage device is best for you.
For instance:
Flash drives are great for small storage needs and I use them all the time for my embroidery files. They allow me flexible storage in a compact package which is perfect for when I’m teaching a class or traveling to a sewing retreat.
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Comments & Reviews
Another con that goes with both CD storage and Flash Drives is that the device or media can go bad. I’ve lost a lot of data from having the file structure of a CD go corrupt on me. And, I lost a flash drive to the same problem just two years ago. That flash drive had held my Roboform and the login passwords to all the sites I visit. I was able to retrieve some of the passwords, but not all of them. I’d advise people who choose one of the above methods of storage to never have just one copy of their patterns…Choose a flash drive for the portability and an external hard drive or cloud storage for the stability…. and back-up EVERYTHING at least once a year.
My computer “burped” a few years ago and I totally lost over $20,000.00 (gasp!) of machine embroidery designs. I was able to recover most of them from re-downloads on digitizers’ sites, but it was an arduous and unpleasant exercise. Since then, I store my designs on two different computers and two different external hard drives. Flash drives are notoriously unreliable, so I use those only for short-term storage and transferring from one computer to another or to my sewing machine. Hard lesson to learn, but a good one to learn. This year I’m going to purchase a portable external drive, put all my designs on it and store it in our safe deposit box. Your suggestions and comments are very useful. Thanks so much!
Good article — thank you! I agree with both Enid & LadyD about the importance of double or triple backups. External hard drives (I have 2) have gotten a LOT smaller…. my 2 Terabyte drive is smaller than a deck of cards. I sort my digital files by topic (I machine embroider, sew, quilt, knit & craft), then by source (website or designer). PDF files on the computer is not an issue, as trying to find a way to store printed copies, so it’s not wasted & ends of getting printed multiple times. At the moment, embroidery design printouts go into binders & the craft/ knitting patterns go into a large portable folder. I guess everyone has to find what works for them.
I like your post. I too have used all of the above and just two years ago, I had all my patterns, etc. on an external drive and one day while connected to my pc, it slipped off the table onto the floor. I was never able to open it. It ruined my external drive so just be super careful.
Thank you for the great storage ideas. Regarding PDFs. I print the first page of the pattern with the picture of the project. I write on it where I electronically filed the complete pattern. The first pages are then filed in a binder by subject, season, gifts, kids, on the table, etc. This works well for me because it is super easy to open an indexed binder to have a quick look at what I’ve saved. Having said that, the “quick look” always turns into a fun one to refresh my memory of what patterns I have.
Have enjoyed all the suggestions. Happy Quilting.