And for knitting, I modified it just a little. I will update these with examples of them filled out.

Knitting Project Planner

Crochet Fever

Lately I have had crochet fever. I will post some photos of my latest projects soon. I found it a bit frustrating going to the yarn store shopping for projects but not remembering what I needed for all the things I am wanting to make. I decided to create a "Crochet Project Planner" to fill out and take with me for the different projects to help organize my shopping. Click the link to download!

Crochet Project Planner

Below is an example using "Sea Flower" from Yoshiko Alexanders "Rustic Modern Crochet."

You can see my rough sketch, notes on pattern corrections, a sample of the yarn I am using, and how I circled the yarn weight and filled in the hook information.

The capelet pictured on the cover is on my to crochet list.

On with the New Year

So what does 2010 have in store? I have had lots of down time with the hand to start planning and thinking about projects for this year. I have been doing some soul searching and asking myself questions. Do I do projects for recognition or for personal pleasure? Do I try to do lots of small things for instant gratification or do I go for one really great big project? Do I try to teach and share or just selfishly do my own thing? What has been holding me back from getting things done? How do I get myself organized to accomplish my goals once I set them?

One thing I have learned, is that it does help to set goals and to actually write them down. Writing them down is like making a promise to yourself--if it is important enough to write down it must be something important to you--right? A great site for helping to plan and organize is diyplanner.com I love the templates directory and have even contributed a few myself. A simple dayplanner and a simple weekly planner and my DIY Voodoo Kit. The latter is just for fun. DIY Planner has some great contributors and I enjoy reading the articles on getting organized and how people share their creative answers for getting organized. I wish I could make an organizer system for artists, but what works for one would not for another so I just need to finish making the one I started for myself.

So let's see, back to goal setting... I want to test out my ideas for the dress I am going to make for my niece using kakishibui and indigo. I want to make a bib necklace using the awesome retro beads I found on Etsy. I want to get my shibori videos finished. I want to get my plan for my Japan trip in place. I want to get a better list of Japanese sewing term translations organized and posted. I want to sew my way through the rest of my Japanese sewing books. I want to get my Etsy shop going. I want to get my Spoonflower fabrics tweaked for better colors and make something using my own fabric. I want to experiment more with katazome (rice paste resist dyeing.)

Well I feel better putting that down. It did make me think about what was more important to me. Now I have some focus for the year. Two weeks until the pins come out. I better print out a calendar and start some planning on paper!