Keeping a Knitting Journal
How and why to keep a knitting journal
9/1/20252 min read
A knitting journal can be a valuable asset for anyone at any point in their knitting journey. Admittedly, I have not always been the best at keeping track of my projects, and I regret not starting a knitting journal sooner!
Why Journal?
If you’re like me and like to have multiple WIPs at once, a knitting journal will help you keep track of your progress on each project, so you can pick up right where you left off last time. Keeping good notes will also help you remember how you did particular stitches, how you treated the edges of the project (if applicable), and any modifications you made to a pattern along the way. Document anything you learned so that you don’t make the same mistakes again later. This is especially crucial if you’d like to make the same pattern again. Journaling your knitting progress gives you a neat keepsake of your journey as well, and can help you plan future projects.
How to Journal
The beauty of a journal is that you can do it in any way that makes sense to you! Some people choose digital journals on Ravelry or a knitting app, while others prefer the simplicity of a pen and paper. Some companies make special physical journals just for knitting that have space for all the important information you need to include. I have a knitting journal page on my Ko-Fi account that you can print for each of your projects. Try to make it a habit to track your progress after each knitting session.
What to Include
All the important information about the project should go into your knitting journal. This includes start and finish dates, who you’re knitting it for, what yarn you’re using, including the colorway and dye lot, your gauge for the project, the needle size and material, the pattern name, and what size you’re making. Be sure to take detailed notes of any modifications you make to the pattern, and any changes to stitches or techniques you make throughout the project. If knitting flat, you should include how you are treating the edges of the project. For example, if you start by slipping the first stitch of every row, you don’t want to start knitting them halfway through. Remember that this journal is mainly for you, and you get to use it however you like. It can be minimalist with just the facts, or you can write some reflections on how you felt about a particular project or knitting session.
Creative Additions
Some interesting things you might want to include in your journal entries are a mood board, inspiration photos, sketches of the design, stitch charts, and color palette ideas. Some of these are more important to include if you’re designing or modifying your own patterns, but can be a fun addition even if you’re strictly sticking to someone else’s design. Regardless, your particular project is going to be unique due to your color and fiber choices.
I hope this post has inspired you to start a knitting journal if you haven’t already! Use the form below to let me know what you include in your journal. Happy stitching!
