Do you ever think “I really should write down how I did this?”
 

I made a quilt for my daughter’s sister-in-law for her first baby. While making it I thought I should write down how I made the quilt. It was made from flannels, quilting cotton and minky fabrics. My daughter requested a faux fur backing. I didn’t write anything down because I wasn’t going to make another. Fast forward two years, my daughter’s mother-in-law asked if I would make another quilt because her daughter loved the quilt so much. While I was racking my brain trying to remember how I made the first quilt, again I thought I should write down what I doing. I wrote nothing down because I won’t be making another. One year later, the MIL asked if I would make another for baby #3. You quess if I wrote anything down this time! If you quessed no, you are right! Some people never learn.

I started quilting before smart phones and when pictures required actual film that needed processing... I started keeping 3-ring albums of my completed quilts. First just pictures, then tidbits of information, then little sample blocks of the actual fabrics because they looked different than the pictures. Now I include all sorts of notes to myself -- what worked, what would have worked better next time, and any templates I may have made. I also include the pattern whether it was one I drew up myself or bought -- I found it much easier to find what I was looking for if it was all in the same place. For books, a quick photocopy of the project with the name of the book. The "loose" stuff goes in a plastic baggie and can just be punched through the rings of the notebook.

I also take various pictures (which I periodically store/backup) that I call "process" pictures. I don't always print these out but in addition to the notebooks, I have computer folders for each project.

I find if I have to put away a project before finishing that a note to myself telling why I stopped and where I am at -- like "need 23 more 9-patches" or whatever helps quite a lot!

Some of my projects require collecting fabrics for long times, often years. I make "project boxes" to keep everything together. I include the pattern, notes to myself, and at least a sketch of what I am trying to achieve.

You sound very organized! Your method would certainly keep me from reinventing the wheel or quilt in this case!

Love those three quilts you made, sewpink! So lovely and boyish....

One year I tried to keep a journal of every project I made and slavishly wrote them up and pasted pictures in the journal. I hated it. I am not a journaler, and hated all the bookkeeping! It would be great to have info on tap for every project I might want to repeat, but it sure took the fun out of creating. So I'm back to my usual 'winging it', LOL.

I think as long as you are making great quilts like these 3, then I don't think you need to write it down. It seems you enjoy letting your creativity lead you to making each quilt and they sure turn out lovely.
PS. please share how you did the minky binding...was it the backing turned to the front? Thank you!

sewpink, I love all those quilts! Great quilts for kids. I don't write anything down but I do try to take a picture at least of every quilt I make.

Great quilts, Sewpink! Those boys are sure to love them to pieces in the years to come!

If I need instructions, I print them out and make a folder. I tried a binder for projects, but it fell by the wayside. I have not repeated quilts, but "plan to someday", except for the kaleidoscope quilt that I designed. I thought I knew what I was doing without a drawing, but when I finally committed it to graph paper, the quilt was not square! Much better when square...

Now, when cooking, I say this all the time. I tell my family to enjoy it because it was improvised, and I can't remember all steps.

Oh yes, that happens to me all the time. I really admire organized quilters who keep directions, edits and photos of patterns. I am pretty much a one and done type of person.

I've never thought, 'I should write this down,' but sometimes I think, 'I wish I would have written that down!'