Sewing Databases?

[Judy Batson]

Hi,

Based on a recommendation found on the Colette Sewing Blog, I purchased Tap Forms, but I have yet to figure out how to set up usable databases for my hundreds of sewing patterns. A couple questions:

Does anyone have a template for such a database to share?

Is it possible to scan bar codes into Tap Forms to get info from a pattern envelope?

I’d really love to USE the Tap Form app since I bought it, but thus far, over a year later, have only tinkered with it on my laptop and haven’t figured out a way to make it handy on my iPhone for reference when I need to check if I already have the pattern or to find out what sort of fabric to buy and how much is needed.

Thanks very much!

Judy

[Trey Childs]

Hi Judy,

If by barcodes you mean Universal Product Codes (UPCs), then you wouldn’t get much more than the product name. Still, you could search off of a product code to see if you have it in the database. It’s possible to get all of the UPC information available (outside of TapForms) for any codes you have and use it as an import file. This would help you identify if you already have the pattern. There is a UPC lookup website where you could enter a few codes and see if it is descriptive enough for your needs. If you decide that you need hundreds of codes processed that way, let me know.

Any fabric info would have to be entered in or associated for each item. I would only add that kind of detail as needed.

I’d like to know more about what you’ve tried so far and see if I can help. Have you contacted the person who posted the recommendation on the sewing blog? Perhaps you could get them to export a template for the structure they use.

[Nan Auhll]

Trey
Can you explain the fabric info in more detail?

I have set up the template that I like, but I would like to add all the fabrics that the pattern uses. Some times it could be more than 6.

[Trey Childs]

So you could have several fabrics, of different types, colors, lengths, etc… For the most part, I’d guess that it’s fairly specific to the pattern. It sounds like that could be accommodated with a link to another form, one to many, and hidden from the usual display. Let’s call that form “Fabrics.” You could add as many or as few records for fabrics to a single pattern, for each pattern.

With a fabrics form, linked to your patterns, you could specify a description, length, cost per yard, number of yards, and a calculated cost for each fabric. The sum of the fabric costs could be shown on the main pattern form, with a “tokenize” function.

The fabrics would have to be entered manually, unless someone has a more clever idea to import records into the fabrics form and associate them to patters, one to many.

Does this help?

[Rebecca Hamilton]

I know this is an old question, but in case you’re still looking, here’s what I did.
I set up a form with photo fields for the views from the envelope. Then, I created a field for each of the following: pattern company, pattern number, pattern description (i.e., shirt,skirt,dress or whatever.), fabric type, yardage, notions, winter, summer, autumn/spring. I created photo fields for the fabric I bought and intend for it, but that’s not really a pattern thing, just a way to keep track of my workflow.

You can create fields for anything you want.

Hope this helps.

[Wendy Farkas]

Rebecca, would you be willing to share your template so I could have a head start in my database development?

[Rebecca Hamilton]

Sure, I’d be happy to. I’m not in a place where I can right now. Would you mind pinging me again on Monday? I’m not likely to remember otherwise. I’ll do it then.

[Wendy Farkas]

If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to see what you created. Thanks.

[Rebecca Hamilton]

Apologies. I forgot to do this yesterday. This is the template for my sewing pattern database. I use it all the time. It has 245 patterns in it. When I’m out shopping for fabric, I use it on my iPhone to know what to buy for whatever pattern I’m making. It has a number of fields in it that are idiosyncratic to me, the way I work, etc. Hope it helps you get going.

I’m also including the databases I use to keep track of my fabric stash and various presser feet, etc, for my machines. Again, these are very individual, since they are for my use alone.

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[Kimberley Hoffman]

You could try mine, I don’t know how well it will translate. It was the first time I tried putting in a background photo. The font I used on the layout “The Pattern” is Amberly, which I bought from MyFonts.com. You might have to replace it with a similar script.

Try it out. I’d like to know how well it works for you.

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[daffy]

Hi, are you still looking for / using a form for sewing and fabric etc?
That’s what I came to Tap Forms for too, I think we must have read the same blog post.

This is the link if anyone is interested… How to organize a mountain of sewing patterns with your phone

So far I have created four forms. They each utilise the ‘link to form’ option. My forms are Fabric Stash, Paper Patterns, PDF Patterns and My Makes. So I add my fabric stash and my patterns, then when I make something I can record what size I made it in and link it to my fabric stash and the pattern used. I checked the box that will show the info on the form it is linked to, so when looking at my fabric stash I can easily see if I’ve used it for something already and if I have, how much might be left over (roughly) and when looking at my patterns I should be able to view garments I have already made using that pattern.

I’m right at the beginning of this process, so I don’t have it all working yet, but thought I would say hello and see how you guys are getting on.

[Robin McClish]

Hi Daffy,
Did you ever create your databases and will you share them? I’m very interested to see how you managed it.
Thanks for considering my request,
Robin McClish

[daffy]

Hi Robin,
Yes I did and I use to lots. We have a family do thing happening tomorrow, but I should be able to look at sharing the template sometime next week. I’ve not shared a template before, so I will have to find out how it’s done. I have often though of writing a blog post about it, perhaps I should do that…? (ponders…)
Feel free to give me a reminder if I forget to do this. Life is crazy busy right now.
I’ve attached a quick screenshot from my PDF pattern file. It’s a bit squished because I’m on my MacBook right now, but it looks great on my Big Mac screen.
Daffy

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[Wayne Powell]

Daffy,

Your Tap Forms Sewing Database sounds exactly like what I was looking for to organize my stashes and projects. The PNG Sample looks great and the interconnection of the Tables would be fantastic. Any chance you can export it as a Tap Forms Archive? (You might want to create a duplicate and empty it of all records but one example of each that are related to each to make it smaller.) Or if you can upload the individual templates then that too would be a great starting point!

Thank you!
Wayne

[daffy]

Hi Wayne, apologies, I’ve not been able to upload the template because I’ve been too unwell to work on my computer. I hope you manage to create something that suits what you need.

[Wayne Powell]

Daffy,

I am truly sorry to hear that you are unwell, and hope that you are able to have a successful recovery. It was very nice of you to reply. Wishing you the best, Wayne.

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