Quilt joural...Do you?
 

When I was organizing my fabric, ideas kept running thru my head...pattern for THAT fab. This fab looks great with THIS fabric, and so on. So today I found a small notebook and wrote down patterns I want to do AND patterns I want to do augain. We'll have to see if this helps.

I've noticed several quilt websites are promoting Quilting Journals. Looks kinda like a diary...hmmm. How do you keep track of quilt ideas?

{{{I have to admit I have pics of possible future quilts. I just won't tell you how many pages BUT it is more than 20!!!}}}

I bought several lovely journals. they are still empty. I used to be so organized but now, not so much.

I used to jot down in my desk calendar what quilt-related tasks I had accomplished in a day, but have stopped doing that in the past year. I do keep lists of planned projects, and have photos of planned and then finished projects on the computer.

I just have a journal that I record quilts that I have made and finished. I write a brief description, the size it was when pieced, the size it was when quilted and the size it was after the first washing and drying which I do before giving it away. I also note the kind of material (like flannel or batik) if it is not regular quilting fabric. Also noted is the type of batting and the threads used in both the needle and bobbin. I also make a note of where it went. It has been helpful to have this record especially the shrinkage info.

I do a digital "journal", not paper. Too hard to print out pictures and tape/glue in a book. MUCH easier to copy/paste pictures into a digital record. Pictures include patterns, fabric requirements for patterns, inspirational photos, fabrics I like, etc. Because it's digital, I can access it from where ever I am, which makes it easy when I go on a business trip with hubby and discover there's a quilt shop 2 blocks from the hotel.

I've never been a diary or journal type. I have received pretty quilt theme journals for gifts but never used them.

I have several 9 1/2 x 5 3/8 Mead notebooks that have lines on the front of the page and quad ruler on the backs of the page. I made a fabric cover for it so the notebook could be taken out when the notebook is full. I write down all lists, to dos, ufo's, guild meeting notes and general figuring layouts. I have about 6 notebooks completed thru the years. It's great to look back for ideas and inspirations.

I do a digital journal. I start by opening a file on my computer and put down any notes, directions that I need to do the pattern, including a copy of the actual pattern that I have scanned or a pdf copy if it came that way. Then I put a picture of the fabrics I'm using from my fabric file (I keep a file of a picture of all purchased fabrics) then I take a camera picture of the fabric on the cutting table layed together, then as I complete each step, I take a couple of pictures and add them to the file. All the pictures taken with my camera are dated, so I can follow how long I worked on it.

I don't write in it everyday like a diary. I just record the quilt process as I do it and keep notes of any problem places and how I worked through them. And I also record any changes I made, so if I want to make it again I'm good to go.

If you go digital, just remember to make backups. I lost a bunch of files when one of my computers bit the dust, and wasn't able to get the files back. The techs tried, but it was totally fried. Learned a good lesson, I did!

I have casually done a journal for the past three years. This year I got serious and use a MEAD 9 X 5 spiral notebook. I made a list of quilt goals for the year and taped it to the inside front cover. Then each month I start with monthly goals for myself. It may be UFOs, specific WIP or quilts for individuals on my list. As the month progresses I give each quilt about a page and write out my cutting plan, projected size, and a simple pencil drawing of any difficult parts. I tape small fabric samples and include manufacture/color or numbers just in case I need to get more. (This has saved my cookies a couple of times) Finally at the bottom of the page I write the date the top is finished, the date the quilt is finished and who it was given to or if I donated. Sometimes I will note how I would change the pattern or just do differently.

UFOs and WIPs get less detail but the info is there!

It has taken a while to get this routine down but now it works. I have a record of my work. Photos I save by year in folders on my computer and I date each quilt photo with the finished date and if donated or gifted.

Quiltsfor, a good idea to back up photos! Where is that extra thumb drive any way!

Loving how we all approach journaling differently. Refreshing to see all of the options.

I’ve been using my Notes app on my iPad for quilting design for about a year. I realized I should create a special folder for the quilting related Notes and do a better job with the titles. It’s nice to be able to add photos, links to quiltingboards discussions etc and have it all in the same place. Thanks for inspiring me in this thread!

Sort of--I'm keeping the quilt patterns I want to do in one file on my computer and the finished quilt patterns in another file. The patterns are usually a pdf file and I can move it easily. I must note that altho' it says quilt some become pillows and other household items.
Pillows are normally 1 block either enlarged or reduced in size. Household items vary depending on what I am goining to use it for. My giveaway quilts will start becoming 2-sided. Helps get my stash a bit smaller. Hopefully.
Then I come across store people that are NO help. I told you about having to purchase some fabric that started crying because i was not going to buy any!!!!! Well I finally bought 2 yards but while I was having it cut I stepped over to the thread couter and there I bought 3 spools of 100% cotton thread as I was making a mircowave placemat and needed to have the thread. When I got to the checkout everything went thru without a problem as the clerk helps put my items up as I sit in the chair and he doesn't want it to be a problem for me. WELLLLLL when I got back home I took the bag off the back of my chair and started bringing everything out. What I did not tell ya all is the lady cutting the 2 yards put almost 15 yards in my bag. Now tell me how am I supposed to reduce my stash when even the store clercks are "against" reduction of stashes. I immediately went back to the store and the manager was there. I spoke to them at the same time. The manager approved the sale of the entire bolt for the 2yard price because I needed to have something to do--I thanked them and left trying to figure out what to use that much extra fabric for--children's dresses, dolly clothes and of course more quilts.

Somebody Please explain to your store clerks that the idea of stash reduction is to help clean out the excess NOT put more in. I'll have this fabric for 2-3 years as I make the children's clothing and the dolly clothes for Christmas gifts only.

I called all 3 agencies and asked if they had a room to store excess in and all 3 said no because they do not have excess ever.

I use to keep a list of quilts I made and who got them. I don't anymore since I now mostly make donation quilts for foster kids.

The idea of a quilt journal sounds so good. I love those cute covers on the books. But, I have never been good at taking notes or journaling of any kind. What notes I do take really confuse me later. No idea what they mean

My first page in my new digital Quilt Journal for my currently in process quilt. It’s all here (even if not shown on the screenshot), the general plan, a link to the discussion on quiltingboards, the .pdf of the pattern, the excel spreadsheet I used to track fabric, photos, and hand drawn possibilities for the appliqué. I’m sure the notes and scribbles will continue to grow until I’m finished. And of course, I will add photos of the finished quilt, back and label. Thanks for the inspiration that came from this thread!

I'm digital. Here's a screenshot of my "Quilts" folder.

One thing also to remember is that you don't want to just have the website address to the quilt pattern in the file, if that is where you got it, because as time goes on, a lot of websites are taken down, or that pattern is no longer on the website. That's why I put an actual copy of the pattern in the file.

Very good point. I was careful that my only links to websites were to things that were interesting but not essential, such as discussions in quiltingboards and steps on how to draw a particular image.

I keep a notebook with ...well notes. Alot of time I use it to work out math, talk to myself (I'm here and struggling with this) and make notes of completion.

My first was a marble composition book (the kind used for school) but I upgraded to something a little prettier with #2

I have two. One is for finished quilts and the other is a studio journal where I list out what needs to be done each month including deadlines etc. and then note what has been completed or moved to another month. The studio journal also includes a list of my current UFOs, ongoing tasks and shows I'd like to enter for the year. That journal is an old hard cover composition book and I've been using it for the past 4 years.

The finished quilt journal is in a looseleaf notebook and I do a page for every quilt I finish. Each quilt page includes: an overall photo; information on kind of batting used; any special techniques that were used; finished size; date completed; and current location if known or if sold or gifted- the name of the recipient/purchaser.
Additional information for show quilts includes:
Appraisal value if the quilt was appraised. Shows it was in if it was shown and awards won.

Rob

I kept a yearly journal in the late 90's because I wanted to see how much I spent on books and fabric. But they were really interesting with notes and business cards on various shops we visited, shows we attended, notes on current projects, and one year how much time it took to make every Dear Jane block. That one is on the Electric Quilt Dear Jane cd/dvd. One year how much time it took to hand quilt a whole cloth quilt (600+ hours).

It's purpose clarified things, and led to much wiser book purchases, and eventually in 2001 stop buying fabric.
Purpose accomplished, the desire to keep it up evaporated.

Agree! Websites also get redesigned and what was so easy to locate it one day, a month later cannot be found. It may be listed under a new name, a new topic or however the site designer chooses to refresh the site. I save a copy of the pattern in a file on my laptop too. Periodically, I do go through them and dump those that I know that I will never make, just like stash, from time to time it needs to be cleaned out. :)

Your's looks very much like mine but mine is not as qrganized. I also keep a back up on a usb drive just in case I lose the computer files.

Mine's in "the cloud". I can access it from my phone and any computer. No backing up needed.

I use the technology SuzSLO uses. The Notes App. I open up a new title for each project and add notes and pics as I go along, Until the project is completed. Then I take a completed pic of the project and print out my note and place the printed out note and put in a binder. I also keep a list in notes of quilts in progress and what stage I’m at with each project. This is really handy for picking a project to complete. I normally have the project, materials and pattern all together in a bag or normally a box. This works well for me.