Hello,
Back in July I shared my sewing planner setup and now I thought it would be a good idea to share what really worked for me in my planner.
I know there are many printable planners out there and maybe some that are even digital, but why did I end up creating one in an empty bullet journal?
First: I wanted a planner where I could list all my ideas and plan my difficult sewing projects in as much detail as I could.
Second: I didn't want to print a one sheet/project, but I still wanted to record my finished projects and not all of the need an a5 sheet of paper to describe them.
Third: I can't really plan too much (because life happens) when and what I can sew, so monthly planners were a no-no. I can write down the idea and do a rough plan, and then move projects to a "serious list" of to-dos.
So what do I have in my planner that I actually use?
My Craft Tracker - to record the days I spent doing something during the month. I use different colors to mark a different craft and it actually works. I thought I wouldn't like trackers, but this is actually kinda cool and probably one of my favorite parts in the planner.
Have I remembered to mark down everyhting? Absolutely no, but that is not the point. I don't want the filling of my planner to be more important than getting the projects actually done. The pages would probably look nicer if the tracker was done so that it would cover a year in two pages, but since I started my planner in July it kinda cuts in the middle.
Shopping list - What do I need in my projects and can it wait until a seasonal sale. I wrote this section because I tend to forget to buy something crucial when visiting a shop.
And now especially when I try to limit the time spent in the shop. (This would work, if Only I remebered to take the planner with me when I go to a fabric shop and would check the list...)
Ideas - I reserved a few pages in the beginning of the book to write down ideas that I get when scrolling social media or flipping through my sewing magazines and books. When an idea comes to my mind I try to write it down quickly, few lines is good. The idea can be a concept of something I want to make or a certain project, something like: "This would be nice to try out from that fabric/Oh, I absolutely have to make this/I would love to make something for that person."
From rough ideas I move ides to my Project Planning pages were I write down the exact ideas or patterns/fabrics that I'm going to use, and even try to draw a picture if needed. I try to plan the projects in as much details as I can in the planning section and write down all the smallest things that I think that I need to take into a consideration when actually sewing the project. 
Why did I decide to make two separete categories? Because ideas come and go, sometimes the idea can be on the idea page for ages, but projects that I have on decided to do on a more serious level sometimes need more careful palnning. Of course I've done projects where I've just written down the idea and then made the project the very next day, completely skipping the planning pages. And for some projects that works just fine.
Completed Projects - This is where I go over all the finished sewing projects. I try to rate the pattern based on my sewing experience: is the fit good or was there obvious mistakes in the pattern that I need to avoid the next time.
I write down stuff that I liked and that I didn't like and give my self a feedback ( I don't have a teacher to do that for me anymore): where did I succeed or is there something I need to learn or do better the next time. I try to write down notes from every project that I sew, because one of my goals is to get better at sewing clothes, especially knit clothes. I try not be too critical with the result and be a realistic as I get.
Budget - In the end of the planner I've written down the amount of money I've spent on supplies, with shipping included. That is actually quite refreshing to see how much money I've invested in my sewing. Maybe I should also add a page where I try calculate the time I use for a project...
What I haven't used (yet)
I have a section for measurements tha I haven't just written down there yet and pages reserved for blog posting ideas.
I have a sectiong for sewing Goals, techniques and skills that I want to learn properly. I have to work on that section.
I have two pages reserved for the info about my sewing machine and serger. That section could have been shorter, but I still want to include it. I've written down the dates of the service for both of my machines. I try to get my machines to a service regularly and it is just too easy to forge the exact date when my machine has seen a mechanic and how much it actually cost me.
I like the dotted pages of a bullet journal for my planner, I was a bit skeptical at first, becaus I don't doodle or do trackers that much, but it works. Maybe when I've used this one I create the next planner in a ring-binder (But that is going to be a while)
Hopefully you got some ideas for your planner too!
- Minttusuklaa
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