A New (To Me) System.

So, I have a terrible habit of starting a project, getting bored, starting something else and then coming back to the original thing.  Hey, variety is the very spice of life, no?  I don't always work this way, just with large scale projects.  I'm trying to cut that out but old habits die hard.

For me, coming back to a painting and figuring out what colors to mix to get back to where I was at is no problem.  However, with embroidery it's always hard.  I sit there, holding every darned (insert color here) bobbin up to the piece.  Saying the whole time, "nope, that's not it..." until I come up with something close and then obsess over whether or not it actually matches.  I don't keep particular floss for each individual project, so I may have run out of a color or the kitties might have taken it to their stash.  Unable to find a match, I've even ended up at the craft store trying the comparison method.  Needless to say, that system wasn't working.  

Now, this is what I do for most of my big projects that are completed over a long period of time. 

Easy Peasy!  Two index cards, two staples.  All you have to do is remember to write down the number and location.

 (You may recognize the Sew Lovely Embroidery Pattern.)

I take the little bits that are too short to stitch with and add them next to the number.  That way I can be sure, I guess I don't trust myself with what I'm writing down.

People always ask me how long it takes and I never know.  So, now I also try to keep track of time for the pieces on the back cover.  (It also has the date started, some would say I'm obsessive.)

Yay for being organized!  Yes, I really do say things like that, sad, I know.  Besides being organized, I think it's a great way to keep track of projects, like a little memento left behind for the projects that get given away.   I have a stack of fuzzy edged books adding up.

How do you keep track or do you just eyeball it?

Thanks for looking, have a craftastic day!