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The Crochet Crowd

Home » Designers » Crochet Patterns by Michael Sellick

February 13, 2024

Your Crochet Journey Journal

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Crochet Journey Journal
Crochet Journey Journal

Create your Crochet Journey Journal

Does size matter? Yep, it does for me and I realized that in 2018. Every year, I have the intention of keeping a crochet journal. I start with a binder and by February, it's collecting dust and moved off my desk never to be seen again. Occasionally in the year, I may remember I have it but I like continuity. If I quit using it for a gapping time, I say oh well and don't bother again.

We had a guest designer make leaflets to put into a binder for crocheters which is really awesome.

I find myself wandering Staples looking at the planners but I am old now. I know myself. I know I love them in the moment but give me a week and I know it's collecting dust.

This past July, I had a crazy content month. I had so many notes and partial or full patterns that my head was spinning. So while picking up milk at Walmart, I passed by the Notebook Section and I saw this Red Hilroy.

Crochet Journey Journal
Crochet Journey Journal

So I bought one because it has no tabs, just paper and I was more attracted to the size of the book. It's small enough to lug in my crochet bag. It's easy to carry it around the house or where ever I need it to be. The book doesn't tell me the months, so there's no guilt if I am skipping over time. Truth is, there are times when nothing much is happening and I am caught up.

Knowing myself, as a sign of finishing a pattern. I fold the pattern in half. It's my way of saying, I'm done. Most times, I write my own notes on a pattern but if I never keep those, my notes are permanently gone. Sometimes, the notes have crochet diagrams, yarn subs, different hook sizes I used or highlights in the pattern that I know tripped me up. It essence, this is my crochet growth journey. It's my personal workbook.

While on important phone calls, I use the book to take notes. Because gawd forbid I am looking for that phone number again. In fact, proud to say, my desk has never been so organized as it has this past 6 months.

Mikey's Desk
Mikey's Desk

Shockingly, I know. I didn't clean off my desk before I took this photo. My notes are inside my journal instead of all the scrap paper that used to be lying around my desk. I'm known for having a messy desk of paper that I end up stacking on top of each other with no counter space left to do anything.

When crocheting in my 'Away from Cyber Life Room', my journal is small enough to put onto the end table. I can take notes with it resting on my knee.

At the end of the pattern, I staple the pattern folded to a piece of paper inside. If I need the pattern again, say it's a WIP, I will just paperclip the pattern to the paper so I can easily remove it.

Mikey Inside Journal
Mikey Inside Journal

My handwriting, if you noticed, is always upper case letters. I trained in high school and college to be a design engineer. This was pre-computer where you would have to hand draw schematics and more. So the general rule was all writing is all upper case. My dad also has the same writing skills as he was a tradesman in similar trade I was studying to be in. So if someone writes in upper case on the internet, I don't perceive it at yelling.

I had just finished this girl's poncho but was deciding how much yarn to giveaway for Jeanne's H & K Giveaways we did back in October. If I ever need to remember how much we gave away for the challenge, I have it now. Before, it would be on a piece of paper and most likely long gone to my recycling bin.

Conclusion

For me, I have realized that big binders or organizers that are too planned don't work for me. While I really like the idea having something crochet based or organized, for me, simpler is better and without guilt. For the $2 it cost me for the my journal, it was a sound investment and my life is much better.

Removable Journals from Cover
Removable Journals from Cover

For 2019, I am moving my journal to something a little more fancy. I found an artisan that works with leather at one of the local craft shows. She had really super amazing journals but I had one wish. I wanted the journal to be removable from the cover when my journal gets full. A journal that I can easily replace out when it gets full.

The sailboat on water in leather feels like renewal as I am living in the Maritimes now. The Journal is handmade which I adore as thought and time went into it. It's the same size of the journal I am currently using, so it means I will use it.

Don't get wrapped up into journals you may see that are so organized that you know you may never use them. At the end of the day, simpler is better. Save your money, get a small book at the local office supply store or general retailer. For me, it's helped me beyond measure. If you are living in paperwork hell with patterns, this may help you too!

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Filed Under: Crochet Books & Reviews, Crochet Patterns by Michael Sellick, Exclusive Crochet Crowd Knit and Crochet Patterns, Mikey's Crochet or Knitting Advice, Yarn Tools

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. linda says

    September 26, 2021 at 8:54 am

    Thank you so much for your patterns. A preacher and his wife are having there first baby and I want to make them a baby blanket. I found several, I just wanted to make it special cause his dad died last year with the Covid. His death has broken many hearts so hope this will help a little.

    Reply
    • Mikey says

      September 26, 2021 at 9:29 am

      That's sweet of you to consider others feelings and step forward in the active of creative giving. You are the difference. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Louise Kadrovach says

    June 11, 2021 at 8:38 pm

    I use a comp book with date & year - who it is for - pattern I'm using - yarn & color - hook size & ch # / I write my notes on the pattern itself or put a sticky note on it - I'm in the process of trying to truly organize by - eg baby afghans, baby items, afghans, special items, Christmas stuff, etc - any help or ideas would be appreciated !! Thank you

    Reply
    • Mikey says

      June 23, 2021 at 2:49 pm

      I think you have the idea pretty good. Organize it in a way that makes sense for the way you would search. For myself, I would do by the project type.

      Reply
  3. Kathleen I Van Orden says

    December 28, 2020 at 4:38 pm

    What is the size in inches of your journal?

    Reply
    • Mikey says

      December 28, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      8" x 10"

      Reply
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