Organizing an Obsession
I’m in the process of creating a database of all my needlework books and magazines, and the patterns therein, with Microsoft Access. Wait. No. That’s not right. I want to be in the process of creating a database, but I’m stuck. The problem is that I’ve never created one before and I’m not sure how to structure one.
Do I create one record for each magazine and/or book? Or do I create individual tables/records for the different categories I want – baby patterns, adult patterns, curtain patterns, etc.? Or do I just list everything in one very long table? I want to be able to search for the different categories, like pull up the baby patterns in every publication. But I also want to be able to plug in a yarn type and pull up all patterns in all publications that use that kind of yarn.
If you knew how long it takes me to find a specific pattern in my rather substantial collection of pattern books, well, you’d understand my desire for a database. On the other hand, I do enjoy spending an afternoon smack in the middle of my obsession stash leafing through each cherished vintage magazine and book. Each time I do, I come across a pattern I had forgotten about. Like the one pictured, printed in a 1946 Learn to Crochet magazine gifted by blogging friend Sue of Vintage Rescue, it is a vintage version of a fanny pack. I can carry lipstick and a hankie, because I want to blow my nose and make the results the center of attention in my belt. Eeew!
The belt, though, is a great beginning crochet pattern. It deserves to be in my wishful database.
