Stitching Journal/Diary

[Chellie]

Great Day!

With getting back into stitching, I would like to begin a stitching journal/diary.
My problem, I have never done this before, so, I need your help. Please share your tips and advice for beginning and maintaining a stitching journal/diary.

Thank you in advance!

[Tamnsin]

I started a stitching journal this year so I could get some idea of how much stitching I was actually getting done. Mine is pretty simple. I start with the chart name and designer information. I list the fabric type, count, color, how many strands I am using and if I am stitching over one or two. The date started is next followed by the date I finish a page or row. Whatever milestones apply to the project. The back of the journal is used to make notes on fabric and thread choices before I make my decision.

With a new year coming up it might be interesting to write out your stitching goals for the year. In pencil.

[bookknurd]

I use Excel to keep track of current WIPs, projects I want to start soon, what I need fabric for, etc.

I also keep an Excel spreadsheet of complete projects with things like the pattern name, designer, type/color of fabric and threads used, and notes about how it was finished, when and who (if anyone) I gave it to.

I've also started a scrapbook of sorts (not at all a scrapbook in the traditional sense, more of a log) of my finished projects, where I write down notes and vitals about the project. I hope to add pictures to it, too. I'd like a way to be able to go back and remember all I've worked on since currently the vast majority of it has been given away.

On top of all that, I also write in an "art journal" from time to time. This is more to record inspiration, random thoughts, and project ideas.

That seem like a lot now that I wrote it down. Oh well, what can I say, I'm analytical. It's not as detailed as it may appear.

[Rose]

The only journal I keep is the SAL I start on this forum. And at the end I keep a picture of the finished project. I am organized in a lot of ways but have never had the determination or perseverance to write and keep a journal or diary. Good luck with your efforts.

[rcperryls]

When I started stitching in a rotation of sorts, I became curious as how much time I was spending on each WIP and tried limiting the amount of time. I was pretty good keeping track of it in a log book/journal. I did this for about a year but have decided that is a bit too much to keep track of. I am going to continue however by noting the dates I work on something and milestones like completing a page of a large pattern or just the start and stop dates. I keep progress pics not only on the threads I have ongoing here on the forum but I load the pictures into iPhoto on my computer as well as using Photobucket for posting here and on the HAED BB. Helps me stay focused and I love starting a new page in the journal when I make a new start.

Carole

[fccs]

This year (2013) I got a little Moleskin notebook (the tiny ones) to try to track my projects. I note the name of the design, the date I started, the date I finished stitching, and the date it was framed (or otherwise finished). I also include any special info, such as any changes I made (usually the fabric) and anything else I might want to recall later.

[Chellie]

Thank you all for the great information! All of your feedback will be a great help to me

[calico]

I'm not one to spend a lot of time hand writing in a journal but I do like the idea of keeping track of my projects. My solution is a photo journal. I always take pictures of how the finished project will look and then all the wip photos. I have each project organized in a folder on my desktop and then further organized in subfolders (completed,in progress, not started, etc...). I then upload all my photos to Flickr where they are organized according to project with notes in the description of designer name, start dates, fabric used and any changes I made to the pattern. Plus, I also have all my SALs on here bookmarked so I can keep track of progress and accomplishments. Last but not least, I've spent the last few days trying to add all my projects to my blog!!! I still have about 9 more posts to finish in order to be up to date. This allows me to write a bit more about the projects, if I choose to do so. Long story short...there are numerous was to 'journal' your works...hand written in a book, online blog or photo sharing site, SALs on here, and don't forget a Vlog (video blog)!
Hope that helps!

[Chellie]

I'm not one to spend a lot of time hand writing in a journal but I do like the idea of keeping track of my projects. My solution is a photo journal. I always take pictures of how the finished project will look and then all the wip photos. I have each project organized in a folder on my desktop and then further organized in subfolders (completed,in progress, not started, etc...). I then upload all my photos to Flickr where they are organized according to project with notes in the description of designer name, start dates, fabric used and any changes I made to the pattern. Plus, I also have all my SALs on here bookmarked so I can keep track of progress and accomplishments. Last but not least, I've spent the last few days trying to add all my projects to my blog!!! I still have about 9 more posts to finish in order to be up to date. This allows me to write a bit more about the projects, if I choose to do so. Long story short...there are numerous was to 'journal' your works...hand written in a book, online blog or photo sharing site, SALs on here, and don't forget a Vlog (video blog)!
Hope that helps!

Thank you calico, that does help! I have been thinking about starting a blog, but not sure how successful I will be at that, lol - I will put together the feedback that I have been given (which has been awesome, love the ideas) and see what will work best for me. I love the idea of photo journaling and putting project info; start, stop, page, etc.

[bookknurd]

Oh yeah, I forgot about my blog as well. Honestly, I think I just like thinking about stitching/crafting as much as possible, even when I can't actually be doing it (like at work...).

Seriously, one crafty thing or another is almost always somewhere in the back of my mind, so I like to write things down or blog or create spreadsheets to get some of it somewhere else besides my head. After all, there's only so much room up there and I do need some of it for non-stitchy things.

[crosstitcher1]

As all my projects are gifts, I just write the personal info I need, whether it's for baby/wedding or my latest, In Loving Memory remembrances. I give myself a year, depends on how many people, and I start at 5 am-1 pm. M-F and 5 am-2 pm on Sat.
I'm also not a writer in journals. Was trying to do my "life" in a journal, as our middle daughter wanted the grandson to know my side of the family history, but after writing a month, gave up. Whatever makes people happy is my "motto". So good luck on all that are writng your stitching journals.

HAPPY STITCHING IN STITCHING LAND.

[charmagne_capalad]

Hi, happy new year!

I have started a stitching journal since 2008. I have it in four parts:
1. My Finished Projects
A list of all my finished projects since 1998 (photos are in a separate pic album in my external hard drive).
2. My Xstitch Stash
A record of all additional new stash I bought from 2008. I have attached pics of my previous stash prior to 2008.
3. Links to Xstitch Sites
A list of crossstitch sites with freebies. I indicate types of designs featured in each site. I use 1 page per site.
4. My Xstitch WIPs
A record of my current WIPs. I used 1 page for each project. This is were I record the details of each project: designer, size, fabric used, where it came from, whom i gave it for, date started, date finished, etc....
5. My Xstitch Friends
A record of all my friends who shared same interests with mine... friends who sent me xstitch gifts so I will be forever thankful...

Hope you'll be able to start yours and enjoy it the same as I am with mine. Goodluck with your journal. Hope I have helped & inspired you in a way.

[NeedleAndFork]

I think the best way to keep ajournal will depend on why you want to keep one?

In my case, I am planning on starting a blog this year - one of my goals for january as a matter of fact! I want to use it to show off my work to the world as much as for keeping track of my projects myself. When I had a blog in the past, I used to do things like WIP Wednesday.. where I'd post pictures on wednesday of whatever progress I'd made in the last week on whatever I'd been working on.. or FO Friday - when I'd post anything I'd finished in the last week. It was also a great way to keep track of ideas I'd had for various projects and post them to get others opinions about them. And the advantage of a blog rather than a paper journal is that if you use tags and catagories correctly, you can pull up every post you ever made for a certain project or idea and read back over your own thoughts and peoples comments on them.

If all you're wanting is a journal of how much time/money/thread you've used then a spreadsheet might be the way to go. If you're looking for a private place to jot down thoughts, a notebook is great.. if you just want a photo journal, flickr might be a good option if you want to share them online.. if you don't want to share, just an organized filing system for the images on your own computer would work fine.

[MacksMom]

I don't track time or any real details about projects, but I have a little stitcher's notebook where I have sections...WIPs, projects completed, projects to do. Then I just keep a list for the year and I take a picture. Last year (2013) I finished 24 projects!

[Chellie]

Hi, happy new year!

I have started a stitching journal since 2008. I have it in four parts:
1. My Finished Projects
A list of all my finished projects since 1998 (photos are in a separate pic album in my external hard drive).
2. My Xstitch Stash
A record of all additional new stash I bought from 2008. I have attached pics of my previous stash prior to 2008.
3. Links to Xstitch Sites
A list of crossstitch sites with freebies. I indicate types of designs featured in each site. I use 1 page per site.
4. My Xstitch WIPs
A record of my current WIPs. I used 1 page for each project. This is were I record the details of each project: designer, size, fabric used, where it came from, whom i gave it for, date started, date finished, etc....
5. My Xstitch Friends
A record of all my friends who shared same interests with mine... friends who sent me xstitch gifts so I will be forever thankful...

Hope you'll be able to start yours and enjoy it the same as I am with mine. Goodluck with your journal. Hope I have helped & inspired you in a way.

@charmagne_capalad, I like your technique. Do you keep your journal digitally or manually?

[socialsue]

I do not usually remember to write down what I am stitching since I do a lot of different projects. The best way for me to know what I have been stitching is a photo journal in my blog. I usually keep a photo journal of all of my stitching in my computer as well.

socialsue

[stitchingmae]

On my big project like starry night i save each pic I upload to my computer too thag way I ahve a documented picture. I would spend too much time and have too much stuff. other wise and latley i have been fixing photobucket so that I am only uploading to albums each year....I ca.nt imagine printing off pictures etc for each milestone.

I may eventually grab a simple notebook and keepmtrackmof the name of projects I finish....


hmm maybe I can cheat and print off each years thread??? There now I hve a solution it wont be color photos but it will help

[Nachstenliebe]

I like the idea of journaling....but I keep a blog that sort of keeps track...but not on details....

[MaggieM1750]

Have you seen this?
http://www.nordicneedle.com/prod/6663A.html" target="_blank

Its a photo album of sorts. 2 slots per page. 1 gets the photo of finished project. The other you can slip in an index card with the details.

I suppose any photo album would do, and then make up your own "details" cards, or buy their replacement card set.

I've never stitch-journaled, apart from the posts I set up here. But I do make up a label that I attach to the back of frames, or throw inside a pillow that has the pattern details, when I finished it, and that I was the one that worked on it.

[natural_isis]

Seriously, one crafty thing or another is almost always somewhere in the back of my mind, so I like to write things down or blog or create spreadsheets to get some of it somewhere else besides my head. After all, there's only so much room up there and I do need some of it for non-stitchy things. [/quote]

So true for all of us!




Over the last 30 years I've made and given away hundreds of items, and kept no record of them.

I've noticed recently the pride my grandchildren take in my ability to create from fibers and fabric. I regret not having some record of those past projects. So, I just ordered this:

http://www.amazon.com/Navy-JUMBO-11%C2% ... +scrapbook" target="_blank" target="_blank

I plan on using a page for each finished project. I will include a picture, a note of the pattern used and where it came from, crochet and knitting projects will include samples of the yarn or thread used, quilting projects will include samples of the fabrics used. I will also note who the project went to, and any other relavent info.

My hope is that this journal will in some way be a part of my legacy to them. Several of them are already taking "lessons" from me (my three year old granddaughter lights up when she gets to push the stitches off the knitting needles). One of my granddaughters requested her first Haed pattern for Christmas.

I think for all of us a stitching journal is a very personal thing and should be tailored to our own personalities. What works for one person might not work for someone else. I tend to be somewhat "old school" and would really like to do something that I can flip through and actually touch the fabrics and fibers that I used.

I have loved looking through the posts and seeing all the different methods everyone is using to record their stitching journey. May everyone have a wonderful stitching year and fill many posts/pages/pics.

Liz