Do you keep a quilting journal?
 

I've read that some do. I find I'm having trouble remembering what thread, tension adjustments, etc. that I used on different quilts. Because I haven't written anything down, I'm continuously re-inventing the wheel.

I have never seen one of these and wonder if some of you would be willing to share how you keep track of what you've done. I would like to set up something in MSExcel or in a physical notebook.

Anyone know much about these or can give pointers, suggestion, share how you do yours?

TIA,
Dray

actually, I guess I need to be more specific...I don't mean a 'memory' sort of thing...just a technical 'what I did and worked on my machine' type of journal. Thanks

I do, it's best described as a 'stream of consciousness' thing. I was always jotting notes down here and there, and loosing them. So now I write everything down as I think of it. Names of books/magazines with quilts I'd like to do. Sites I want to keep. When I start a project, I start a new page date it, and write things down as I think of them. I also write all my calculations down. I can't tell you how many times I've figured out how many inches of binding I need for a quilt, then can't find the darned paper I wrote it on. Or the number of blocks etc. Or the size I cut the setting triangles. If I had a problem or a technique that worked well, I'll note that. It's not a memory book in that there's no photos of my quilts or swatches of fabric, but I do refer to it. I use a quad ruled composition book so I can also do some sketches of blocks. It's probably not the best way to organize things, when I'm looking for something I have to go page by page, but it's helpful to me.

I have 3 1/2 - 3 ring binders full of the quilts I have made. I take a picuture of the finished quilt and write a little info about it and where I got the pattern, the size, who the quilt was given to and anything special I want to remember about the quilt.

I then put the picuture in the computer, and using a program like word, I type the info and insert the picture of the quilt. I print the story & picture on 8 1/2" x 11" photo paper. I then place it in a plastic sleeve and some scraps of the fabric I used and add it to a 3 ring binder.

You would not believe how many times I refer back to these binders to find patterns. There is many different ways to do this but this seems to work best for me.

I will post a picture of one of the pages in another reply.

Quilting Journal
 

Here is a picture of one of my quilt journal pages

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I like to have the actual book to write in and attach pictures of the progress and finished quilt. Flipping through the memories is a pleasent past time and the notes I keep help me with future projects.

I use looseleaf binders w/ plastic paper protectors to keep my quilting records.

Copy of pattern
List of fabric
Date start: Finished top: Quilted
Quilt name (not pattern name)
any changes of the pattern I make
Some times I rewrite parts of the pattern to make it easier to understand for me
piecing/ quilting thread
Size and type of Batting
I add samples of the fabrics and write selvage info and cost if I have it

When finished I record who I gave it to and what occassion and date and any back story that might enrich the story of the quilt.

I tried but failed miserably. LOL

Mine was similar to Ube's list above.

No I do not keep a journal of the quilts and projects, but I wish I did.

what i have started since i am new to quilting this year i made everyone in my family and some friends xmas stockings i took photos of all stockings and had a photo book made at walgreens when they had the books on sale so next year when i make them again i can refer back to it