A couple of years ago, I wrote about my obsession with finding the perfect sewing journal. You know the kind: a place where you can write about sewing plans, sketch designs, keep fabric swatches, muse about how well (or not so well) a project progressed. And, if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you know that in my non-sewing/designing life, I’m a writer. In the early part of my career, I was a health and medical writer and then moved onto corporate communication so most of my early magazine articles and books fall into those categories. Lately, however, I’ve been writing women’s fiction but that’s a story for another day. What this means is that journals are very important to me.
I keep a journal for every long-form writing project. In fact, I’ve just bought a new one as I begin a new project. But what does all this have to do with sewing and sewing journals?
I’m a big fan of Moleskine notebooks – the kind the likes of Ernest Hemingway used to keep notes on new novels but they aren’t really amenable to the kinds of things I need to keep in my sewing notebook. And I’ve tried lots:
Well, after the last time I posted about my search for the holy grail of sewing journals, someone suggested I create one. It’s taken several years, but I’ve finally done it. I’ve created a journal that might be able to take the place of several journals that I use regularly.
I decided that I would make it available for others if they want to try it out. But before you consider trying it (and telling me what you think) here’s me telling you about it…
The coil-bound version is the better of the two in my view but it’s more expensive especially for those of us in Canada since I wasn’t able to have it distributed on Amazon with that binding. It’s only available from Lulu.com. (They do list it in Canadian dollars which is a bit daunting and they do ship to Canada and other countries.) So, I made a less expensive one available with a non-coil binding available on Amazon worldwide. On the upside, it’s cheaper; on the downside, it doesn’t stay open quite as well as the coil-bound one.
Anyway, if anyone out there decides to try it out, I’d eventually like to get your feedback. What other kinds of things would make it perfect for you?
The G. G. Files 
That is so cool. I’ll order one!
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I ordered the one from Amazon, and if it works for me,I’ll order the coil one next time. Thanks for designing a journal for sewing, it is much needed!
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I received your journal “My Ultimate Sewing Journal”, yesterday. Lovely cover. Thought I’d tell you how I’m “making it my own”. I have created a paper pocket for each month, to store my notes in, and plastic zip lock bag to keep my swatches and other little tub-bits in. These pouches are taped to the black page before the beginning of each month. I will fill in your question sections when the project is complete for quick reference and a wonderful recording of the process of each project. Thank you for this useful and pretty journal. Joyce from Sudbury.
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OMG, this is terrific, Joyce! To tell you the truth, I really wanted to put pockets on the inside covers but couldn’t do it the way I had it published. Once I get feedback like your (which is terrific) I’ll see about adding some features and going a different route to production. When I do the next iteration, you get a free copy! Thank-you for reviewing this!
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