| Author |
Stitching & Crafting Room:  Knitting project journal  |
|
|
brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 22 2007 : 4:47:43 PM
|
I have just realized that I've never been very organized about recording my knitting projects. I'd like to start a notebook. I know there are commercial products available for doing that but I think I'd prefer the flexibility of creating my own.
I was thinking I might want to include a copy of the pattern, a photo of the finished item, a sample of the yarn, maybe my gauge swatches, the yarn label if available,needle sizes or knitting machine tension, information about where and when I purchased the yarn, size (if applicable) comments about any pattern difficulties, if a gift, who it was created for.
Some of this I could record on my blog, but I'd like to have the "hard copy" of the labels, the swatches and so on, to refer to.
And nothing beats the tactile sensation of the actual yarn.
Do any of you keep a knitting journal? Did I miss anything I should document about the projects? How do you organize them? I was thinking of perhaps creating a standard form in my word processor and printing it on cardstock, then inserting it in a page protector to put in a three-ring binder. I could staple the swatches to the back of the card, or on a separate card. And maybe I'll knit a "jacket" for the binder, as well....
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
|
|
cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2007 : 6:29:37 PM
|
Hi Brenda!
I sure do keep a knitting journal. (Anyone surprised? I love organization!) Mine's pretty simple, just a project notebook from an office supply store (smaller than a regular notebook, more like a composition book but still spiral-bound). Each project gets its own page and I record:
* yarn: Brand name, color, dye lot, yardage, grams/weight, and how many balls/skeins were used
* needles used
* pattern: where it originated or who wrote it, where I found it, whether I changed it or not
* gauge: I hate this category since gauge always eludes me...but I try
I record all of these things in the left margin in short notes. Then on the main part of the page, I record any pattern changes, or the entire pattern if it's short and sweet, or I draw charts for cables, or keep track of changes with check boxes, etc. Just project notes.
I tape the yarn label over in this area somewhere too, just on one side, so I can still read my notes. I record the project title and who it's for at the top of the page along with start date and completion date.
I don't keep swatches or yarn samples because I like my booklet to still lay flat (like I said, I'm a total nerd). Since it's spiral-bound, I keep a pencil in the spirals so I always have something to jot a quick note. I keep this book in my knitting bag and always have it when I'm out knitting with the girls or knitting in the car or wherever. Great for recording patterns or blogs that my knitting friends talk about!
It's so silly, but my "knitting life" has greatly improved since I started keeping this booklet last fall. Now I can actually reply when people ask me what yarn I used for that project or where the project came from...or if I want to make that same hat again, I can remember how I changed the pattern to suit my yarn instead of having to suffer through the "knitting math" all over again. I love my knitting book!
I also looked at the journals they sell at the big bookstores specifically for knitting, but they seemed too rigid for me. I wanted to be able to write whatever I wanted on the page instead of following a guideline. And, my book has WAY more pages than those expensive books.
Just my two cents! Hope to find a system you like!
Catherine
http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
Edited by - cmandle on Jan 22 2007 6:31:34 PM |
 |
|
|
Cindy Lee
True Blue Farmgirl
510 Posts
Cindy
Sparks
Nevada
USA
510 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2007 : 8:15:19 PM
|
My freinds and I were just talking about knitting journals last week, how funny that you would bring it up Brenda!
I never did keep a good journal with my quilting and I really regret it. I always journal my reading and have been glad that I do and now that I am a beginning knitter, I will have to keep track of all my projects. That will be very easy at this point since there are SOOO few! Good ideas Catherine, thanks! Cindy
If life gives you scraps, make quilts! |
|
|
|
daffodil dreamer
True Blue Farmgirl
805 Posts
Jayne
Hamilton
Victoria
Australia
805 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 05:00:33 AM
|
Hi Brenda,
Great minds think alike! I was just thinking of this myself, when I wanted to remember a pattern I had made for someone a while ago and nearly tore apart my spare room (and still couldn't find the pattern!!) How easy it all would have been if I had a journal! Thanks Catherine for all the ideas - you really should hire yourself out as an organisational guru!!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
|
|
|
shmeg
True Blue Farmgirl
222 Posts
Megan
Granville
Ohio
USA
222 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 05:35:10 AM
|
CAtherine if you ever want to do a little freelance organizational work you can come here to Ohio and visit me! My place could really keep you busy! I have the drive to want to be organized just not the know how! Anyway, it sounds like you keep your patterns in a separate place and just reference them in your journal, is that right?
-Megan |
|
|
|
cmandle
True Blue Farmgirl
846 Posts
Catherine
Minneapolis
MN
846 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 06:54:07 AM
|
Yes, I keep my patterns in 3-ring binders inside plastic page protectors. I have two binders now, since the patterns are multiplying! (I can't help but print free ones from the Web all the time!) I have dividers in the binders for hats, scarves, mittens, sweaters, socks, baby and misc. I also keep a couple of pocket folders in the binders for saving knitting articles, clippings, cool photos of yarn and cards from my Farmgirl and knitting friends!
The plastic page protectors are great because then when I'm working from a pattern, I just take it out and carry it around in my bag in its protector. When I've finished the project, back to the binder it goes.
I do just reference the patterns in my notebook, but sometimes I record the entire pattern if it's something simple, like my Irish Hiking Scarf.
I've often thought about going into "organizational guru-ness" as a second career later on, but I'm not sure if I'd be so productive with someone else's stuff! We'll see...
Have fun organizing your knitting, everyone!
Catherine :)
http://yogurtandgranola.blogspot.com |
|
|
| |
Stitching & Crafting Room: Knitting project journal |
|
|
|
Knitting project journal
