Patons Pattern Hunt

Over the years I've adopted different storage systems and classification arrangements of knitting pattern leaflets.

Storage systems used include

• hole punching and binders (I was 8, give me a break!),
• plastic sleeves and binders
• pamphlet boxes
• box files
• the "Lying Around on Any Available Flat Surface" method for which I have a patent pending.

Apart from hole punching they all have qualities to recommend them. My preference is for box files.

Classification schema have included

• Subject (babies, children, women, men, accessories, homewares, toys, dogs),
• Chronological (order in which they are received, usually in conjunction with the "Lying Around on Any Available Flat Surface" storage method)
• Favourites (often subdivided by subject) and
• Provenance (separate collections based on author or publisher with appropriate sub-divisions depending on the creator - usually chronological by publication date).

Because I am an archivist Provenance is my preferred method of arrangement but what I'd really like is to catalogue and index them all so I have a database searchable by designer, publisher, yarn, ply, size and pattern type. Because I am also a masochist, I've made a start.

Just before I went away for all those weeks, I sat down one evening and put the main run of the Patons patterns into numerical order. When I got back I spent another day or so trawling the various pattern storage devices for other patterns. I found many duplicates, most of which were offered around SnB members.


Patons produced a number of separate series of pattern leaflets in Australia. There are at least two single number series.

• Series 1 is numbered 1-1000 and runs from the 1930s to the early 1970s.
• Series 2 begins in the 1970s and seems still to be going.
• the craft series (number prefixed with the letter C),
• the reprint series (number prefixed with the letter R)
• the classics series.

I've collected the vintage (Series 1) Patons patterns off and on for years and was given a goodly number by Mum and Nanna. Now I want to complete the set if possible. It could be worse, I could collect vintage cars - I once created a catalogue for a collection of vintage cars and associated documentation and memorabilia for a friend's husband, I know what I'm talking about.

A spreadsheet was used to create a list of pattern numbers and colour coded to indicate which pattern numbers I have and in what condition. Grey indicates a pattern in good order and orange shows one that should be replaced if the opportunity arose and the price was right. Green means I'm on a promise for that one.


If you'd like to see the list, it's up on Google Documents.

A printout sits in my wallet with the needle gauge I habitually carry - what, don't you? I can check it whenever I come across a bundle of patterns for sale. Since compiling the list a fortnight ago it's been in constant use. Here's The Shopping Sherpa learning the system at the Salvos Tuggeranong. Why yes, that is a large basket of yarn in front of me - how odd. Please note this was before Seven Things Spring.