Thursday, January 1, 2009

Quilt Journaling

How do you keep a record of the quilts you make? I think most of us realize the importance of placing a label on our quilts. As a bare minimum we should document the year, and the person who made the quilt. I like to add the title of the quilt, along with the city in which I lived at the time of the construction. Sometimes I will list who the quilt is going to and the purpose. For example, when my grandson's were born I wrote their name and that the quilt was honoring their birth.

When I took my first quilting class I received the most useful advice. Fortunately as a new quilter I was open to starting new traditions. My teacher suggested we each keep a "Quilt Journal", or record of the projects we had made. It should, or may include pictures, dates and possible feelings that occurred surrounding the project. This book would be nice for posterity's sake.
My first journal was a simple 8 1/2" X 5 1/2" book.

When I filled that one up, I received the one below as a Christmas present from a girlfriend. I'm still working at filling up the pages of book #2. I like that I can go back to a year and see how many projects I completed. Sometimes I wonder if I ever get very much done, and this book reminds me that I've often accomplished more than I remember.
I love reading the stories and memories that went into each project.
It's also a great way to go back and remember the name of a quilt, and sometimes the book it was in when someone asks me for more information on one of my quilts.

Some entries have more information than others, because some quilts have more of a story.

I include other handmade items besides quilts. It's fun to go back and remember my "wool" faze. I often give away quilts and projects to family and friends. The book helps me remember my work when the project has received a new home.

I used to do a lot of cross stitch.

I hope this helps you to think about documenting your work. I'd love to hear your ideas of how you preserve the memories of your creations.

5 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

I used to document my quilts. Now I'm lucky if I even get a label on. I do have pictures of the quilt recepients with their quilts, especially baby ones. Perhaps this is something we can all do better in 2009.

CA FROM SLC said...

This is a really good idea. I do this every time I read a book, now I'll do it with quilts and projects too.

Browndirtcottage said...

This is a really good idea Nedra!!

Nanette Merrill said...

Oh my gosh I wish I had started doing this years ago. I've made so many quilts and I don't know where half of them are - what lives they are living. Because many have been sold or given away. And I have no record of them. I guess it is never too late right? You are always so on top of things.

Eileen said...

Stephanie just sent me an adorable fabric covered notebook for my birthday.. and I told her I thought I might start a journal of some sort.. maybe just fabric scraps. But this is a wonderful idea. I may go back and start at the beginning of last year when I made my daughter's quilt, and fill in up to now, since I have been keeping pretty good records here on my blog to refer to. This is such a good idea. Thanks again Nedra.