Sunday, July 15, 2007

Knitting Journal

When I first started Knitterella in 2003 I sold handmade knitting journals. I didn't sell a lot but enough. I had to stop though because I had so much time invested in them that I really wasn't making anything. I mean I cut the front and back covers out of mat board, cut out the window, stained the title graphic with gold ink, cut out the layered cover, hammered in the grommets, put in the ribbon so you could tie the journal shut AND cut and scored all the interior pages, folded the pocket cut the slits for the photo page etc. It was crazy! I was crazy!I didn't realized I had any more of these around but while I was cleaning out my stash I found this marron one and this green one.
This is the blurbage I used to use to plug my journals:

This knitting journal is the perfect addition to any knitter's basket! With this journal you are able to log projects from beginning to end. Each journal cover is hand crafted. The project pages have a special place to log your entries, a pocket for yarn labels and swatches...and even a place to insert a photo of the finished piece. With a 6 by 9 inch format, and ten project entries with pages for additional notes, you can take this journal wherever you go!

Here's an old photo of an interior spread.I understand now that 10 project entries is not a lot at all but for those special projects, these journals might be an attractive place to put them.

I've always had intentions are selling journals again but I have yet to find a good vendor and come up with a good design. In the mean time what I've done for myself is designed a single journal page that I print out on card stock and use to log my projects. I use double sided tape to sick my photo, yarn label and swatch in place. Then I slide it into a plastic sleeve and store them into a basic 3 ring binder. The cover has something to be desired… but I'm working on it!So after Peaknit had a drawing and I was one of the lucky winners (Yippee!) I thought I'd try some of this contest/drawing fun myself! So I'm going to give these journals away to two lucky winners. If your interested in getting in on the fun just leave me a comment about this post. Get your comment in by end of day Tuesday and in the next couple days I will draw two lucky winners. I'll then contact you via email (so make sure I have a way to contact you) and ask for your address so I can mail the journal to you. This should be fun, eh? :)

I also want to share the journal pages that I've designed. I find them really useful and hope you do to! I'm inviting you to download my journal page design and use it for your personal use only. You can download a pdf of journal page here. Enjoy!

19 comments:

a friend to knit with said...

Jill, those journals are awesome!
Yes, it looked like it was A LOT of work!
I saw that you won over at peaknits........congrats!
Thanks also for the pdf of the journal page........I have always wanted to do this!

Anonymous said...

Jill - Wonderful idea. This is just what I have been looking for. I have been knitting toys for my daughters and thought of taking a picture of them to save and keep track of what I have made. Wonderful inspiration! You put time and care into all that you do!! Great work! Thanks for the inspiration!

Lovemook said...

Hi! I am knew to blogging and interested in keeping a journal myself. With a newborn, it's really a good idea to keep track of what I'm making, otherwise, it'll be lost in the Mommy-brain (or lack thereof). :) I've been coming here in the last few weeks and enjoy all you make and say, by the way :) THANKS!

Anonymous said...

Oh Jill those are so pretty! I was just showing the ladies my quilting "brag book" and tey asked where my knitting one was. I should really do something like that.

peaknits said...

These are wonderful - and could easily be stashed in a knitting bag - I have the binder too, just convenient but this is just plain sweet - and scrapbooking is a hobby I miss, I am overrun by stickers and fancy paper... thanks for the inspiration to not forget that craft!
And, yay! I am glad you won my contest - I hope to get the good out by Tuesday.

ikkinlala said...

Thanks for sharing the pdf - it looks so much nicer than the lined notebook paper I've been using.

Knitserland said...

I remember seeing your journal pages, they are so cute. Thanks for sharing them!

Bianca said...

These are indeed looking great. I am noting down everything when knitting so making it a journal sounds like a super plan to me. :-) Found your blog through Peaknit

Anonymous said...

Those journals are so pretty and useful. =)

Thank you so much for sharing the pdf, it is definitely going to come in handy.

Lovemook said...

Thanks Jill! My first commen ever, yeahh!! :) Yes, those hats are from itty bitty :) I love Susie's hats, I know you agree :)

Anonymous said...

I started to picture journal my knitting -- then forgot a few things over last year and fell away from it when I got busy with getting things done for the holidays... I've been more diligent this year but I really want to make it more organized and informative. Thanks for the pdf on the journal page, I may just try using yours! :)

Terrie D. (StarSpry) said...

Jill, those journals are awesome! I can see why they were so time consuming!

Thank you for sharing your journal page. That is such a great idea :)

Anonymous said...

They certainly look time consuming, but BEAUTIFUL!

Anonymous said...

There is nothing like a nice journal to write in. Your's are beautiful! Thanks for sharing your journal page!

Anonymous said...

I forgot to give you my e-mail (or do you have it) jodieg99@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Well awesome. They're delightful little journals. I can see how their beautifully detailed design would be time consuming.

moosie said...

Great idea! I mostly knit gifts and a lot of them I dont have any pictures of, what a cool way to remember them and remember what you used, very smart, right now the stuff I have taken pictures of is just in a file on my computer, maybe Ill give this a try...btw I love your summertime tunic, I may even try another one to get a better fit like yours :0)

Galadriel Thompson said...

How awesome! I might just have to start knitting after all.

Kerry W said...

Hi - I have just found this page (three years after you posted it) but the link to the pdf page doesn't work :-{

Can you please re-do the link?

Thanks - Kerry