I have the obvious categories like "Alphabets", "Animals" and "Baby", then I have real odd ball categories like "Sock Monkeys", "Objects", and "Smiley Faces". Objects is pretty much anything that is inanimate and I don't have a category for---- My feeling is that how I organize designs must be a reflection of how my individual brain works, since I doubt anyone else would sort designs like this--

I have an Embroidery Designs file, which I have created subfiles for all the companies I get designs from (Designs by Cuties, Cute Embroidery, Embroidery Library, etc).

My in my bigger files (the companies I download most from) I have sub folders that say Christmas, Kid Sayings (for creating bibs), etc.

I also make it a point of printing out each design I download on paper and then filing that 'hard copy' into a binder that I have orgnized the same way. You see, I am a visual person, so this way I can flip through the pages of my Embroidery Designs binder and not only find what I'm looking for in a glance, but can also see the dimensions to see if it will fit where I want it to go.

I know, this may sound a bit anal to some people - LOL!

I have Designers Gallery Studio Plus software. I categorize my designs in that but the downloads I keep in folders with the website's name on it. For categories I have things like Flowers. Then that got too big so I put subcategories like Pansy, Rose etc. I figure if I can't find it, there is no sense downloading it so I often break them down. As an example, I have Gingerbread under Christmas.I keep my alphabets zipped separately and when I catergorize it in Studio Plus, I just categorize the A as an example, no sense filling up the category with 26 designs.

Loved reading all these methods. BRAVO to all who unzip them.
I have a Folder labled "BEV FOUND IT" and another for "BEV's Favourites".
Happy sorting.
From Bev

I have 10 Embroidery folders. No 1 to 11 The 1st is A to B with sub folders, with 1 folder for the new downloads to be sorted into the others. No 2 is C to F and so on. Also have 1 just for Alphabets, 1 just for flowers and 1 just for Lace.
Then I have 1 Folder for the designs that I have digitised.
I have started putting the digitisers name or site next to each design, but have lots that are not done, that is why when I put projects on cute, can't always tell were they are from.

Maybe I will get it done sometime.

Hugs Yvonne

I use 3D organizer which allows me see the designs when I open a folder. I have them in different folders as to what they are and then that folder I have started using folders under the designer name. This way If I want an animal of some sort I can look at them all at the one time. Hope this helps.

Great question Joann-I wondered the same thing-I love reading everyone's organization skills. I started with the folders idea too I.E. Alphabets/Fonts, Animals,Applique, Beach theme, Birthday... I was doing pretty good sorting for awhile, then I added a bunch more designs-now it is a mess!! I keep telling myself, no more downloads until I organize more but... oh this is an addictions!! Gonna try some of everyones suggestions soon... I hope **linda**

I've got to start using subfolders or identifying by designer. I've done a little of this, but not consistently.

I have one folder for Embroidery Designs, in which I have various categories such as Animals & Birds, Butterflies & Dragonflies, Cross-Stitch, Floral, Misc, Xmas, etc. When I download a design I open it in my software, select the category and save it in that. From time to time I backup the entire folder on a CD.

I have it folder and then subfolders.

I now save by the name of the Designer then subfolders. when I use a design I add the designers name or a short version to the name. *4u all

I downloaded a couple of organizers, then picked the one I liked best....it starts with one folder marked designs and then catagories and then sub-catagories.....I wished I would have started this when I got my machine, I'm still filing and will be for a coulple months at least.....I do have a few seperate folders like Emblibrary etc. that I download to and then copy to the folders in my organizer.......great question....thanks.

Thanks for asking this AND to everyone for their answers. Like many I have a totally individual method which works but I am sure there is a better way

Main folder
Embroidery designs
inside the main folder sub folders
Alphabets-Fonts-Monograms
Animals-Bugs
Celebrations-Holidays-Seasons
etc...

Inside the sub folders I have category folders
Category Celebrations
Birth
Sympathy
Wedding
etc...
Category Holidays
Christmas
Easter
Thanksgiving
etc...
Seasons
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Inside each category folder there can be more categories such as
Holidays
Christmas
Applique
Designs
FSL etc...
then inside each of those folders I make a file
Holidays - Christmas - APPLIQUE will have seperate files for
animals
trees
wreaths
snowmen
santas etc...
When I save a design I save in a folder named by the designer or website.
Today I downloaded the free snowman from cute
I saved it to
folder Holidays
category Christmas
sub category Designs
folder of Snowmen
file cute.com

If I need an FSL butterfly design I look in
Folder Animals-Bugs
Category Bugs
sub category FSL
sub category Butterflies
inside there will be all of my fsl butterflies from all the sites I got them at.
Unfortunately I didn't start out using this method so a lot of the designs I got before 2007 I am not sure where they came from.
I hope this makes sense to you

It appears that I do mine similar to what Shirlener88, UndergroundSue and wvlou explained...or more specifically I name the folders the actual website address and then subfolders for sets and categories...for sites like OPW I have subfolders named by the individual designers/digitizers with design specific category subfolders. The problem that I run into is when I am seeking a specific design or theme...it makes for ALOT of folders to look into. But on the upside I am able to give credit to the appropriate parties when needed or go buy matching designs if desired or necessary. I really don't think that there is a generic method and in my experiences, they all seem to have pros and cons equally!!!

I do my folders by site - so cute embroidery, cute alphabets, designs by sick, etc. all have a folder. I have a "paid" version and a "free" version of the folders so I know which is which in case there is a problem with the design I know if I can recover it from that site. Then I use the Catalog Xpress software from Ann the Gran (the Buzz Tools version is basically a clone with ATG version having a resizer built in) to sort the designs by category like alpha, flower, animal (with subfolders for dog, etc).

You have good answers already. I used Ann the Gran to start with. There are many to use as a template to get started. Hers was one of the 1st I ran into and grew from there. Remember everyone is a little different so no 2 of us will have matching files. For me, the important thing was to get to a specific design quickly. So I gave mine listed by digitizer's name or free designs, and then the subfolders. So I can find anything quickly in any folder. If the digitizer (like Ann the Gran) has their designs already organized, I use it with some modifications. Why fix something that is already usuable. Have fun.

Hi. Not sure if this will help or not, but here is a link to a set of files for organizing embroidery files. Some of the folders even have sub categories. If you don't need all the folders, you can delete them or even rename them. Linda

2 comments

by claudenicolas 23 Aug 2010

I think I am a little stupid, can you explain to me what to do with this link, is it a software to buy or to download, or something to print. I have not seen how to use, but i believe that it could be interesting for me, can you help?

by jonell40 23 Aug 2010

It's a free download. All it is, is a download of a bunch of empty folders to help organize embroidery designs. Just above the picture of all the files, there is a light blue link that says, click to download. and if you read underneath the pictures, it tells you that sometimes Windows doesn't like to unzip empty folders and it explains how to do it.

I also have many Folders, such as Alphabets, Animals, Baby, Kids, Ladies, Mens, Kitchen, Flower Multiples, Flower Singles, and so on. My Animals are broken down into separate folders, Animals-Farm, Animals-Jungle, Animals-Cats, etc. On my actual files, after the name of the design I put the name of the designer or where I got it, which is usually abbreviated. Works for me, but I am thinking of breaking down my Flower folders into further sub-folders - after I retire!

I save ALL my designs in folders of the original designer, then I have copies of them in other folders like alphabets, animals etc. I figure this way I have a MASTER set. If it makes you feel better I have yet to organise the designs into the catergory folders but when I use a design and like it then it goes into the catergory folder along with the name of the designer (eg file name is elephant and is from 'blahblahdesigns.com' - I make the file name "elephant.blahblahdesigns")

What a good question. For me it is a disaster. I need all your suggestions I fear to need several years to organize them. from the beggining I have do badly, and now I have designs that I do not even know that I have them

Joann, I started out with folders like that - then changed it after a year or so - went to the NAME of the Designer and then sub-folders. Works for me - I still have a couple of the original folders, such as Alpha - Christmas, but I am slowing putting those into the Designer folder, too.

1 images:[1]

Joann, I make a folder for FONTS (right click 'new' click 'folder')name it Starlet fonts. then make new folders for the different type of fonts and stick them in the 'starlet font' folder. The same for designs. 1 mother folder and subtitled folders eg: FSL designs, redwork, baby, Events etc.
Hope it helps. Regards, Starlet

I have one main folder that stays on my desktop.This folder is subdivided into the obvious categories, such as alphabets, animals, etc. These folders have subcategories in them. An example would be animals, monkeys, sock monkeys, real monkeys, cartoon and vintage monkeys. If I get a set I will make a folder just for it. I have a lot of folders inside of folders. Everybody sorts differently, some love fsl, others vintage, whatever.I don't think there is a right or wrong way but what works best for you.

1 comment

by joann13100 23 Aug 2010

That's what I've been hoping for! There's no right or wrong way, just what works for you!
Thanks--
Joann

I too have wondered this... I have my "usual" folders..alphabets (which is now subdivided, Cutie has it's own folder which then has been further subdivided when a new alphabet comes out) flowers too have been subdivided into different flower types..roses, daisy, I have run into problems, like I have an embellishment file that is kind of a catch-all. I sometimes run into problems when a design could be in 2 different worlds. I have a ton of folders just trying to keep things where I can find them.

4 comments

by joann13100 22 Aug 2010

Me too, and some of them are so huge, like "Floral" that I'd have to hunt through a gazillion designs to find the one I'm hunting----

by crafter2243 23 Aug 2010

I had to create subfolders for flowers like "roses", "pansies" etc. :-)

by iris2006 24 Aug 2010

So did I

by joann13100 05 Sep 2010

I had to break down floral with certain categories, like "lily of the valley". I have a few folders by designers, but not as a routine thing. Usually I file by designer for purchased designs.