Lorraine: This suggestion is perfect. I started using the interfacing since you posted your suggestion.

Catina: Sounds like too much work :). Seriously, I had been using a Bates machine to number job cards (to track cutting and sewing time for customer’s items away from the computer) but the ubiquity of computing these days makes it excessive to make them up. If I ever get around to it, I think the better solution for me would be to create a card template with auto numbering in excel. For now, I have a half page form to track time that is hole punched and hung with each pattern/sample/garment set.

I was hot for Evernote but had to get a refund when I couldn’t use it due to the 50MB limitation. I’d hoped to use the program to integrate/sync a lot of content so I was pretty disappointed. Hopefully they’ll change the file size limitation for paid accounts.

Dana: I have been doing something very similar to this until now. It still seems to make the most sense when it comes to processing samples I receive from customers because there are no style #s on them just the designer’s label. Larger customers will have a style no on the care label if the item had previously been released for production but still, I use a manila tag because the number is too small and you have to fiddle looking for it. None of my customers are doing what you are (attaching a paper tag) but it would be nice if they would. If you don’t mind, I will email you privately about your tag. I think it would be a useful tool for my customers if you’re willing to share it (not obligatory).

Thanks for your suggestions everyone!

After 20 years I have finally settled on a method for this that works pretty well.

Auto numbering stamp. I have a self-inking stamp that gives me a new number each time I stamp it. It goes up to 6 number positions, and I use the first two numbers for the year. This way I always know what year the item was labeled. This year begins with the number 130000.

Tyvek. I save all used shipping envelopes made out of that great papery/plasticy paper that doesn’t seem to tear or rip or wear thin. If I run out of envelopes I also have 5 yards of Tyvek I keep handy.

I stamp a unique number on each tag, affix it to the sample with the designer’s info and pattern version that was used to make it. With my Android phone, I easily take and upload a picture and comments to Evernote. Evernote has character recognition built in, so even if the tag is hand scribbled with “Pattern number T242 v1″, it will still pop up when I do a search and show me the entry and it’s related photos, notes, files.

For sample fittings (or almost any development meeting) I VIDEO recap the highlights and they auto post from my phone to private Google account. This way I don’t have to waste too much time scribbling notes (and may not remember what I meant by them later)… just watch the video!