I use Ravelry to see the pictures people post of their projects. The different stages of them. It helps me to see how it's constructed and if I'm doing it right.
As a big ravelry person (like, multiple times a day, i promise i dont have a problem level), I would encourage you to track WIPS. Its a nice part of the cast on ritual for me to set up the ravelry project page, and that makes it super simple to put in things like needles, gauge, yarn, start date etc when they are still front of mind. I've also started logging all the new yarn i buy in the ravelry stash page as its really easy to see what yarns you have that could work for a given pattern, or to find patterns based on the yarn you have. Edit- just want to be clear that im not saying you should or have to do these things, just they have been a really great addition to my crafting practice and doing it as you go is so much quicker than catching up later. You dont need good (or even any) photos to make a helpful project page
You’re so right. For the first time ever, I have a lot of active WIPs and have been stressing tracking them all with their yarn and needle size. Sticking my WIPs in Ravelry would really help!
I couldn't agree more! After my very first project, I realized that I needed to keep track of needle size, start/end dates, what size I was making etc. What a great tool! That being said. I can't say that I'd go full out like Bella did if I hadn't just been keeping track. It's such a big task. It's incredible.
I like to look at other people's projects on Ravelry to give me an idea of how something might look on a body like mine, and different yarn ideas. I really appreciate it when someone notes how much ease their garment has. And I love to see how creative people are -- so many interpretations from one pattern! Was it fun to look through your old journals?
Ravelry has changed the game for crafting to me - given i have ADHD, it kind of acts as an accountability tool, last year after "properly" joining Ravelry (had an account but wasn't using it) i have knitted more last year than i had in AGES. It helps me keep track of wips even when ive got them on pause, so i dont completely forget their existence, as well as the stash feature helping me visualise my yarn when visible storage solutions just feel cluttered and overwhelm me. I also have enjoyed being in communities over there and seeing others projects, i sometimes wish people were more active on commenting on others projects as well as forums because that discussion feature i really enjoy !
I don't consistently document my projects, but when I do, I like to add notes and information that is useful for other people doing the same project. I like going through the projects other people did of a pattern to check if they have made modifications or anything else that might help me make the project or overcome a hurdle I have while knitting. Also for showing off what I did because I'm proud of the end result :D But the most photoshoot-y it gets is me arranging the project nicely somewhere in my flat and standing in front of my mirror with it on (if I'm extra fancy I wait for nice daylight). So yeah, no pressure. I see it as adding to the community.
I really like using Ravelry to track my wips (I'm the opposite of a monogamous knitter/crocheter, I usually have 10-20 projects going at any given time). That's especially helpful for remembering any pattern changes and hook/needle size if I took a long break and/or borrowed the hook/needles for another project. And then I use Instagram to document finished objects. Since they changed their algorithm to favor reels, my followers don't ever see my posts, so there's no "social" aspect anymore (but I only have around 100 followers, so I'm sure that is different for people with bigger followings). I also think Ravelry would be super useful as a way to track my yarn stash, but I have such a big stash (stored in 3 different rooms of my house) so I have felt too intimidated to start! Your video has inspired me though to just start, even if it's "imperfect"
Thank you for another fun episode! I use Ravelry as my knitting journal (now). I never used to track what I made at all and now I really enjoy having a record. After years, it occurred to me to take a picture of my yarn labels so I have all the info when my future self encounters this mystery yarn where I know what I made but remember nothing else. So, I start a project in Ravelry using the pattern as a kickoff point when I start it, so it records the date for me. At that time, I upload pictures of the yarn with the labels. Then as soon as I’ve finished I update my project. Sometimes I add notes in later.
What really helped me is reminding myself that I don't need to be consistent to keep going. I started tracking from the moment I decided to start tracking (so not everything before that), and I don't always get around to making pictures. Or to making pictures with me wearing something. But because I'm not too hard on myself I do keep up with making project pages for every project, even if it's not always with extensive pictures. Because as you noticed, those pictures can take up quite some time!
Using Ravelry improved my sock knitting, or rather the fit of my socks. Writing down what I did with which yarn on what needle size etc helped me a lot. I started out with writing notes in a journal, but I kinda got too lazy to use that journal (apparently getting the journal and a pen out was too much for me). I use Raverly on desktop and as the app version. And since I knit a lot while commute, I can easily access my notes on my phone. + using the forum feature also helped me a lot (there are SO many people with so much knowledge out there who are willing to help beginners!)
I mentioned this before but you really inspired me to knit. I am currently working on the petitknit novice slipover :) this is my first big knit project
Your honestly one of the best TH-camrs I’ve ever watched 😅ik it’s basic stament but your one of the most inspirational and calming person ever. I mean I don’t even knit or have ever been interested in it even now but your content is idek I just love it??
I did not realize how much I needed to hear someone else say Canon's app stinks! I have been using a Canon for years, struggling with it FOR YEARS, and I'm so inept with technology that I've just kinda assumed it's my own fault. XD
My favorite thing with tracking WIPS on ravelry is I can make extensive notes so by the time I get to a second sock or second sleeve I remember what I did. There's also a few patterns I've made multiples of and it's nice to remember changes that I did and if I liked them or not
I have used Ravelry for 15 years now. On and off, as my fibercrafting has fluctuated as well. It's my primary way of taking notes, and i upload picures directly from my phone. Unedited, messy, real time. I do like adding a slightly more thoughtful picture(s) once the project is done and I have the opportunity to take a good pic highlighting the FO. I have added my stash as well, both fiber and yarn, which is very handy for me as I dont have the proper space in my house to have a good visual overview of all my materials. I add notes, and fill in details I find relevant for myself. I also want my projects to be potentially useful for others making the same pattern, as I myself love browsing projects before or while knitting a pattern. I think part of it is also that i dont have a lot of people that i feel I can truly spam with every little thing about my projects. So I just automatically open Ravelry and add an update.
The rating is meant for the pattern itself, how good you think the pattern was (clear, well written, well formatted, size inclusive, etc), you can track how happy you’re with your project above on the right, where you input the started and completed dates. Personally since I don’t keep a journal, Ravelry is really useful for tracking as I knit. I create the Ravelry project when I start knitting and I input my gauge, needles and yarn, that way if I don’t work on that project for some time I can always know which needles I was using (this happens to me all the time 😂). I also make a short entry on the description each time I feel I've hit a milestone, so later on I can have an idea of how long it took me to knit a certain portion of the project. I'm usually too lazy to take pictures right away so I include a photo of the yarn until I've had time to take photos of the finished item.
Ravelry is just a relational database, so you (the colloquial you) should definitely use it in the ways that you think you'll want to search, or categorize, or summarize your projects. I've been on Ravelry since 2008, and I'd be lost without it. My entire knitting life is documented on Ravelry, and my yarn stash is hosted there as well. I calculate yardage for my finished objects through my project/stash tracking, and I make notes and updates to my WIPs as I work on them - it's fun for me to see the progress over time through both photos and notes. (I agree with others that have commented about starting your Ravelry project page at the beginning; it really makes managing WIPs much easier, I think!). I also only buy patterns on Ravelry, because then I know where they all are when I want to start working on something new. I love the site and would be devastated if it changed in any way. It's very nearly a perfect web application, in my opinion.
my gateway to ravelry was looking at yarn that i wanted to buy. it's a great resource for seeing examples of different yarns in action!! i'm mostly a lurker on ravelry but i'm very thankful for everyone who takes the time to post pics and info about their projects solidarity.. also gonna have a chocolate croissant
😍 Your project page is sooo satisfying! It would almost make me want to re-take the photos of all my projects just to have the same harmony you have 😁 I'm all for organisation so I track all of my projects from start to finish and it's a step I really like, it adds to the satisfaction of the making of the item 😊 Ravelry can be really powerful and useful if we use it to its full potential, which I'm doing more and more! (also: you don't have to fill the category of your project if you have a pattern linked to it because it takes automatically the category of the pattern I think!) Thanks for this video!!
Even your unedited project snaps are better than 99% of what's there on ravelry. Made me want to start my 14 yo rav project database all over again. :-) Personally I've swung the other way lately and have had that weird 'stationary excitement' feeling with a paper textiles project journal (I use the 'creators friend' bundle with their fast brain ADHD planner), I LOVED looking at those pages in yours, I'm so nosy. My Rav input is extremely sparse these days but there were many years when I thought it would be anathema NOT to put a project on ravelry, over the years I've let it slide which originally was very liberating. But since I started a you tube channel it's sparked my organisation/documentation fire again. If I have a project that I love or worked really well I like to add it to my projects on Rav, or if I do big mods I'll put it in as well. But if it's just 'I made this to the pattern, it worked' I'm not sure how much it contributes to that oversaturated uncurated shambles of a database that we love.hate in Ravelry. What's my point? I dunno, maybe that the desire to document our makes swings in roundabouts, and that life is long. Love you and your channel - Ailsa.
This video couldn't come up at such a perfect time. I'm decluttering my overall social media presence and with that comes a question of how to put web content out there without it. With some basic front-end skills, I'm upkeeping a website showcasing my craft projects. I considered going from oldest to newest but I was overwhelmed with all the data I had to collect and just decided to wing it and add my current WIPs. Naturally, I haven't added the pictures of the finished products, haha. But this is just for me, so I'm giving myself permission to leave it off until inspiration strikes, and it eventually does. l also enjoy using a good ol' notebook. I think the most important question to track craft projects is, "what do I keep track of?" As a PKM nerd, my honest answer is "whatever you feel is most important." I can't stress this enough. If a piece of information is not important to you, then don't record it. The metadata I record for my projects are start and end dates, yarn information (brand, collection, and color), needle sizes, patterns, other misc. materials, and notes. I want to add a scan of my journal entry onto the site as well but I need to be in a particular mood to take pictures and upload them to the internet. Loved the video!
Big kudos on undertaking such a big project! The only project no documented on my Ravelry was my first. For whatever reason, I just started right away. I think really quickly I wanted to keep track of how long it took, and what size I was making. But I'm not usually this organized. I love your perspective on it.
I love the photos you added to your journals of all your projects! Did you just print out your pictures and glue them in or did you turn them into stickers?
I've started using ravelry projects as like a journal of sorts, or even a stream of consciousness almost - my entry on the field cardigan was somewhat unhinged 😂 Also it's a great resource for seeing how certain yarns behave with certain projects
I love Ravelry, I’ve been on for 17 years and have over 1100 projects. Some are really wacky because I do objects especially for craft Exhibitions so they one offs. I love to look back on things I’ve done over the years.
I enjoy tracking my projects on Ravelry. More or less detailed. Seeing the amount of yarn I used, all the projects I made and already have forgotten about. And in particular if a project is on a longer break, I can check which hook I used. Though I am slightly annoyed when a pattern isn't on Ravelry and I can't quickly checking out, someone else's project.
I was initially using Ravelry just to log the bare bones of the various patterns I tested but since organizing my yarn stash in Ravelry I'm using it more as an online project journal for notes & pictures for my WIPs. Speaking of pictures, I keep it real simple - it's just me on the terrace at 7.30 am when the light is decent and it's not too hot. And I go quick cos within 15 - 20 minutes I'm sweating LOL
I add a new project to Ravelry on the same day that I start working on it. I have ADHD, and chances are that I'll be working on a project for a year or more if I just don't feel like finishing it, and I would definitely forget everything about needle size etc. in the meantime. I totally understand your photo conundrum - I also planned my photoshoots for the longest time but never actually got to execute any of them, so now I just choose a nice background, lay the WIP/FO on it, take a photo with my phone on portrait mode and onto Ravelry it goes. Takes me a minute - anything else would be too time consuming for me and I'd never do it!
I use Anytype to track everything. It`s similar to Notion, but I like that it stores data locally, so I won`t lose anything if internet connection or a server dies. I made myself some templates and store all the info about the yarns and ideas/wips/fws. In the end, I think it`s important to find something that works for you personally. Pen and paper never worked for me, but this does, because a) I spend A LOT of time in my computer anyway, even while knitting, so updating the info on the project is easy and quick; b) no need to use any other tools, wait for something to load, to log in, ect, everything is stored locally on my PC; c) no chances of getting distracted while taking project notes.
There is no need to feel bad about not focusing on Insta and protecting your peace. I have enjoyed seeing the projects as you have posted them on Insta. I personally really am enjoying Ravelry, I'm not really a journal person so having a place to track my projects is really helpful
I have tried several times to use Ravelry to track my projects, but I am definitely not consistent enough for it to be useful. I haven't been on Pinterest in years! I kind of forget about that one.
I make it easy for myself. I put up my projects if I remember. The most important information is needle size and yarn/weight/(m/100g) and if I have any thoughts/modifications on the pattern/result. Pictures taken with my phone, preferably in daylight but if I'm in a pinch 🤷. There are so many projects I've forgotten to add but I like having the information for the future when I'm wondering what I actually did. My ravelry is mostly for me though, so less stress is the best! 😊
I have a love-hate relationship with Ravelry. I love the organization, but I dislike the interface. Recently, I added my entire yarn stash to Ravelry as part of my stash busting goals for 2025. I think it would have been less of a chore if I could have used a bulk photo upload and then assigned the photos to a project or yarn. Just like you, I also struggled with adding information to my projects. I thought that since I was selecting an existing project, it would automatically fill in the basic information before I went in to edit it.
It’s interesting cause I definitely have a different relationship to photos of projects on Ravelry and photos on Instagram. Ravelry is about doccumenting the process for me rather than the end process so it’s blot of pictures of the project in my lap and I use it so much more than insta cause it lacks the performance anxiety
I would LOVE to have your projects on pinterest! I dont use ravelry and i dont have insta but i looove the look of yours! Normaly i just do notes in my journal for my projects 😂
You're just such a rebel Bella! If even you tell yourself you HAVE to do something like set up a project page on Ravelry you will procrastinate doing it. But if you could just make it a thoughtless habit and keep it bare bones with only the info you truly care about I think you would really appreciate knowing the info was right there when you need it. It's so hard being a rebel 😂. I love your journals by the way! ❤🧶
I love ravelry. I haven't taken pictures of any of my projects in a while but I still track all of them! personally I always track what size I knit, for reference if I want to make another in the future. and I enter project type and starting/finishing dates so that I can filter and search my own projects better - just in case I want to know how many dk sweaters I knit between 2020 and 2023 or whatever lmao 😅
Im most interested in the alternative yarns others have chosen and the amount used. I wish you could just get a list of used yarns for a project without clicking through the projectpages for a pattern.
Great solutions! You have to do you, and suit yourself. Thank you for sharing 🥰. I just came across a new channel I thought you might like, Eydis Knitting. Beautiful videography, beautiful messages, husband & wife who are both extremely talented knitter/artists, living with some serious neurological illness (you wouldn’t know it from their videos). They are just new to TH-cam, both of their videos are great, start with the first one!
Why wouldn't you use your phone and upload directly to the ravelry website? I also feel like you overcomplicated your project entry. If you go to the pattern page in Ravelry and then click Cast on Project, it will automatically fill in the pattern and category .... you just need to name the project, add the yarn and needles, and then set to completed.
Nice! I didn’t know you could start a project from a pattern page. Definitely going to use that option when I am following a pattern. As far as uploading straight from my phone, that’s just a personal preference thing, I like working from my pc.
I have some of my things on ravelry but mostly it is test knits I have done. If I were more organized I would go back and add things except socks (I have way too many). I have no clue about needle sizes and only a little clue about yarn lol. Maybe future me will be better 😂
I wouldn't worry about being super detailed about old projects like needle sizes and exact dates. If you know the yarn, that is nice, plus size you knit
Wow. So much to talk about. Respectfully texting, there is one obvious standout misguided error in your podcasts. LIGHTING. Have you heard of the color ECRU? Your living room screams of it. Dull no vibrancy or punch color awash unappealing drab. My comment has absolutely nothing to do with personality voice sweater choices camera angles patterns editing or all around style. Your living room is lit like an old world 19th century Venetian cobblestone row house. 😮
Wow. So much to talk about. Have you heard about the word polite? You should look it up. I watch her videos in a big part for how they look. I hope you get stuck in an ecru room, with a manners teacher maybe. 🙂
I'm so glad you agree with me. Perhaps our comment will make beautiful changes within her podcast. You and I think alike. And that's a wonderful concept. I like you. ❤
I use Ravelry to see the pictures people post of their projects. The different stages of them. It helps me to see how it's constructed and if I'm doing it right.
As a big ravelry person (like, multiple times a day, i promise i dont have a problem level), I would encourage you to track WIPS. Its a nice part of the cast on ritual for me to set up the ravelry project page, and that makes it super simple to put in things like needles, gauge, yarn, start date etc when they are still front of mind. I've also started logging all the new yarn i buy in the ravelry stash page as its really easy to see what yarns you have that could work for a given pattern, or to find patterns based on the yarn you have.
Edit- just want to be clear that im not saying you should or have to do these things, just they have been a really great addition to my crafting practice and doing it as you go is so much quicker than catching up later. You dont need good (or even any) photos to make a helpful project page
You’re so right. For the first time ever, I have a lot of active WIPs and have been stressing tracking them all with their yarn and needle size. Sticking my WIPs in Ravelry would really help!
I couldn't agree more! After my very first project, I realized that I needed to keep track of needle size, start/end dates, what size I was making etc. What a great tool! That being said. I can't say that I'd go full out like Bella did if I hadn't just been keeping track. It's such a big task. It's incredible.
I like to look at other people's projects on Ravelry to give me an idea of how something might look on a body like mine, and different yarn ideas. I really appreciate it when someone notes how much ease their garment has. And I love to see how creative people are -- so many interpretations from one pattern!
Was it fun to look through your old journals?
It was definitely fun (and a tiny bit cringy) to read through my old journals 😂
Ravelry has changed the game for crafting to me - given i have ADHD, it kind of acts as an accountability tool, last year after "properly" joining Ravelry (had an account but wasn't using it) i have knitted more last year than i had in AGES. It helps me keep track of wips even when ive got them on pause, so i dont completely forget their existence, as well as the stash feature helping me visualise my yarn when visible storage solutions just feel cluttered and overwhelm me. I also have enjoyed being in communities over there and seeing others projects, i sometimes wish people were more active on commenting on others projects as well as forums because that discussion feature i really enjoy !
I don't consistently document my projects, but when I do, I like to add notes and information that is useful for other people doing the same project. I like going through the projects other people did of a pattern to check if they have made modifications or anything else that might help me make the project or overcome a hurdle I have while knitting. Also for showing off what I did because I'm proud of the end result :D But the most photoshoot-y it gets is me arranging the project nicely somewhere in my flat and standing in front of my mirror with it on (if I'm extra fancy I wait for nice daylight). So yeah, no pressure. I see it as adding to the community.
I really like using Ravelry to track my wips (I'm the opposite of a monogamous knitter/crocheter, I usually have 10-20 projects going at any given time). That's especially helpful for remembering any pattern changes and hook/needle size if I took a long break and/or borrowed the hook/needles for another project. And then I use Instagram to document finished objects. Since they changed their algorithm to favor reels, my followers don't ever see my posts, so there's no "social" aspect anymore (but I only have around 100 followers, so I'm sure that is different for people with bigger followings).
I also think Ravelry would be super useful as a way to track my yarn stash, but I have such a big stash (stored in 3 different rooms of my house) so I have felt too intimidated to start! Your video has inspired me though to just start, even if it's "imperfect"
10-20 WIPs!?!? You’re awesome 👏🏻 I have 5 right now and my brain is about to collapse
Thank you for another fun episode! I use Ravelry as my knitting journal (now). I never used to track what I made at all and now I really enjoy having a record. After years, it occurred to me to take a picture of my yarn labels so I have all the info when my future self encounters this mystery yarn where I know what I made but remember nothing else. So, I start a project in Ravelry using the pattern as a kickoff point when I start it, so it records the date for me. At that time, I upload pictures of the yarn with the labels. Then as soon as I’ve finished I update my project. Sometimes I add notes in later.
What really helped me is reminding myself that I don't need to be consistent to keep going. I started tracking from the moment I decided to start tracking (so not everything before that), and I don't always get around to making pictures. Or to making pictures with me wearing something. But because I'm not too hard on myself I do keep up with making project pages for every project, even if it's not always with extensive pictures. Because as you noticed, those pictures can take up quite some time!
Using Ravelry improved my sock knitting, or rather the fit of my socks. Writing down what I did with which yarn on what needle size etc helped me a lot. I started out with writing notes in a journal, but I kinda got too lazy to use that journal (apparently getting the journal and a pen out was too much for me). I use Raverly on desktop and as the app version. And since I knit a lot while commute, I can easily access my notes on my phone. + using the forum feature also helped me a lot (there are SO many people with so much knowledge out there who are willing to help beginners!)
I mentioned this before but you really inspired me to knit. I am currently working on the petitknit novice slipover :) this is my first big knit project
That’s so exciting! Good luck 🥰
Your honestly one of the best TH-camrs I’ve ever watched 😅ik it’s basic stament but your one of the most inspirational and calming person ever. I mean I don’t even knit or have ever been interested in it even now but your content is idek I just love it??
Aw that's so sweet! Thank you!😊
I did not realize how much I needed to hear someone else say Canon's app stinks! I have been using a Canon for years, struggling with it FOR YEARS, and I'm so inept with technology that I've just kinda assumed it's my own fault. XD
It SUCKS! I fully thought I was the problem for the longest time 😩
@ We need a support group of self-portrait-takers-with-canons
My favorite thing with tracking WIPS on ravelry is I can make extensive notes so by the time I get to a second sock or second sleeve I remember what I did. There's also a few patterns I've made multiples of and it's nice to remember changes that I did and if I liked them or not
I have used Ravelry for 15 years now. On and off, as my fibercrafting has fluctuated as well.
It's my primary way of taking notes, and i upload picures directly from my phone. Unedited, messy, real time. I do like adding a slightly more thoughtful picture(s) once the project is done and I have the opportunity to take a good pic highlighting the FO.
I have added my stash as well, both fiber and yarn, which is very handy for me as I dont have the proper space in my house to have a good visual overview of all my materials.
I add notes, and fill in details I find relevant for myself. I also want my projects to be potentially useful for others making the same pattern, as I myself love browsing projects before or while knitting a pattern.
I think part of it is also that i dont have a lot of people that i feel I can truly spam with every little thing about my projects. So I just automatically open Ravelry and add an update.
As always, I had a lovely chill time watching!! Thanks for accompanying me as I knit leg warmers this morning :)
The rating is meant for the pattern itself, how good you think the pattern was (clear, well written, well formatted, size inclusive, etc), you can track how happy you’re with your project above on the right, where you input the started and completed dates.
Personally since I don’t keep a journal, Ravelry is really useful for tracking as I knit. I create the Ravelry project when I start knitting and I input my gauge, needles and yarn, that way if I don’t work on that project for some time I can always know which needles I was using (this happens to me all the time 😂). I also make a short entry on the description each time I feel I've hit a milestone, so later on I can have an idea of how long it took me to knit a certain portion of the project. I'm usually too lazy to take pictures right away so I include a photo of the yarn until I've had time to take photos of the finished item.
Ravelry is just a relational database, so you (the colloquial you) should definitely use it in the ways that you think you'll want to search, or categorize, or summarize your projects. I've been on Ravelry since 2008, and I'd be lost without it. My entire knitting life is documented on Ravelry, and my yarn stash is hosted there as well. I calculate yardage for my finished objects through my project/stash tracking, and I make notes and updates to my WIPs as I work on them - it's fun for me to see the progress over time through both photos and notes. (I agree with others that have commented about starting your Ravelry project page at the beginning; it really makes managing WIPs much easier, I think!). I also only buy patterns on Ravelry, because then I know where they all are when I want to start working on something new. I love the site and would be devastated if it changed in any way. It's very nearly a perfect web application, in my opinion.
my gateway to ravelry was looking at yarn that i wanted to buy. it's a great resource for seeing examples of different yarns in action!! i'm mostly a lurker on ravelry but i'm very thankful for everyone who takes the time to post pics and info about their projects
solidarity.. also gonna have a chocolate croissant
😍 Your project page is sooo satisfying! It would almost make me want to re-take the photos of all my projects just to have the same harmony you have 😁
I'm all for organisation so I track all of my projects from start to finish and it's a step I really like, it adds to the satisfaction of the making of the item 😊 Ravelry can be really powerful and useful if we use it to its full potential, which I'm doing more and more!
(also: you don't have to fill the category of your project if you have a pattern linked to it because it takes automatically the category of the pattern I think!)
Thanks for this video!!
Even your unedited project snaps are better than 99% of what's there on ravelry. Made me want to start my 14 yo rav project database all over again. :-) Personally I've swung the other way lately and have had that weird 'stationary excitement' feeling with a paper textiles project journal (I use the 'creators friend' bundle with their fast brain ADHD planner), I LOVED looking at those pages in yours, I'm so nosy. My Rav input is extremely sparse these days but there were many years when I thought it would be anathema NOT to put a project on ravelry, over the years I've let it slide which originally was very liberating. But since I started a you tube channel it's sparked my organisation/documentation fire again. If I have a project that I love or worked really well I like to add it to my projects on Rav, or if I do big mods I'll put it in as well. But if it's just 'I made this to the pattern, it worked' I'm not sure how much it contributes to that oversaturated uncurated shambles of a database that we love.hate in Ravelry. What's my point? I dunno, maybe that the desire to document our makes swings in roundabouts, and that life is long. Love you and your channel - Ailsa.
This video couldn't come up at such a perfect time. I'm decluttering my overall social media presence and with that comes a question of how to put web content out there without it. With some basic front-end skills, I'm upkeeping a website showcasing my craft projects. I considered going from oldest to newest but I was overwhelmed with all the data I had to collect and just decided to wing it and add my current WIPs. Naturally, I haven't added the pictures of the finished products, haha. But this is just for me, so I'm giving myself permission to leave it off until inspiration strikes, and it eventually does.
l also enjoy using a good ol' notebook. I think the most important question to track craft projects is, "what do I keep track of?" As a PKM nerd, my honest answer is "whatever you feel is most important." I can't stress this enough. If a piece of information is not important to you, then don't record it.
The metadata I record for my projects are start and end dates, yarn information (brand, collection, and color), needle sizes, patterns, other misc. materials, and notes. I want to add a scan of my journal entry onto the site as well but I need to be in a particular mood to take pictures and upload them to the internet.
Loved the video!
3 simple words. I LOVE IT
Rating with stars is for the pattern and happiness is for your execution of the pattern!
Big kudos on undertaking such a big project! The only project no documented on my Ravelry was my first. For whatever reason, I just started right away. I think really quickly I wanted to keep track of how long it took, and what size I was making. But I'm not usually this organized. I love your perspective on it.
I love the photos you added to your journals of all your projects! Did you just print out your pictures and glue them in or did you turn them into stickers?
Printed them onto label paper and cut them out ☺️
I've started using ravelry projects as like a journal of sorts, or even a stream of consciousness almost - my entry on the field cardigan was somewhat unhinged 😂
Also it's a great resource for seeing how certain yarns behave with certain projects
I love Ravelry, I’ve been on for 17 years and have over 1100 projects. Some are really wacky because I do objects especially for craft
Exhibitions so they one offs. I love to look back on things I’ve done over the years.
I enjoy tracking my projects on Ravelry. More or less detailed. Seeing the amount of yarn I used, all the projects I made and already have forgotten about.
And in particular if a project is on a longer break, I can check which hook I used.
Though I am slightly annoyed when a pattern isn't on Ravelry and I can't quickly checking out, someone else's project.
I was initially using Ravelry just to log the bare bones of the various patterns I tested but since organizing my yarn stash in Ravelry I'm using it more as an online project journal for notes & pictures for my WIPs. Speaking of pictures, I keep it real simple - it's just me on the terrace at 7.30 am when the light is decent and it's not too hot. And I go quick cos within 15 - 20 minutes I'm sweating LOL
I add a new project to Ravelry on the same day that I start working on it. I have ADHD, and chances are that I'll be working on a project for a year or more if I just don't feel like finishing it, and I would definitely forget everything about needle size etc. in the meantime. I totally understand your photo conundrum - I also planned my photoshoots for the longest time but never actually got to execute any of them, so now I just choose a nice background, lay the WIP/FO on it, take a photo with my phone on portrait mode and onto Ravelry it goes. Takes me a minute - anything else would be too time consuming for me and I'd never do it!
I use Anytype to track everything. It`s similar to Notion, but I like that it stores data locally, so I won`t lose anything if internet connection or a server dies. I made myself some templates and store all the info about the yarns and ideas/wips/fws. In the end, I think it`s important to find something that works for you personally. Pen and paper never worked for me, but this does, because a) I spend A LOT of time in my computer anyway, even while knitting, so updating the info on the project is easy and quick; b) no need to use any other tools, wait for something to load, to log in, ect, everything is stored locally on my PC; c) no chances of getting distracted while taking project notes.
There is no need to feel bad about not focusing on Insta and protecting your peace. I have enjoyed seeing the projects as you have posted them on Insta. I personally really am enjoying Ravelry, I'm not really a journal person so having a place to track my projects is really helpful
Thanks for the reminder- now my ravelry is a bit more updated 😂❤
I have tried several times to use Ravelry to track my projects, but I am definitely not consistent enough for it to be useful. I haven't been on Pinterest in years! I kind of forget about that one.
The overall rating is what shows as the pattern rating on the main pattern page. So please rate according to the pattern!
I thankfully held off on rating until after I knew what I was rating and I’m glad to have that clarified now! ☺️ I would’ve felt awful.
I make it easy for myself. I put up my projects if I remember. The most important information is needle size and yarn/weight/(m/100g) and if I have any thoughts/modifications on the pattern/result. Pictures taken with my phone, preferably in daylight but if I'm in a pinch 🤷. There are so many projects I've forgotten to add but I like having the information for the future when I'm wondering what I actually did. My ravelry is mostly for me though, so less stress is the best! 😊
I have a love-hate relationship with Ravelry. I love the organization, but I dislike the interface. Recently, I added my entire yarn stash to Ravelry as part of my stash busting goals for 2025. I think it would have been less of a chore if I could have used a bulk photo upload and then assigned the photos to a project or yarn. Just like you, I also struggled with adding information to my projects. I thought that since I was selecting an existing project, it would automatically fill in the basic information before I went in to edit it.
It’s interesting cause I definitely have a different relationship to photos of projects on Ravelry and photos on Instagram. Ravelry is about doccumenting the process for me rather than the end process so it’s blot of pictures of the project in my lap and I use it so much more than insta cause it lacks the performance anxiety
Love your candid video taking!
I would LOVE to have your projects on pinterest!
I dont use ravelry and i dont have insta but i looove the look of yours!
Normaly i just do notes in my journal for my projects 😂
YES!! (I might come back to edit after watching).
You're just such a rebel Bella! If even you tell yourself you HAVE to do something like set up a project page on Ravelry you will procrastinate doing it. But if you could just make it a thoughtless habit and keep it bare bones with only the info you truly care about I think you would really appreciate knowing the info was right there when you need it. It's so hard being a rebel 😂. I love your journals by the way! ❤🧶
I love ravelry. I haven't taken pictures of any of my projects in a while but I still track all of them! personally I always track what size I knit, for reference if I want to make another in the future. and I enter project type and starting/finishing dates so that I can filter and search my own projects better - just in case I want to know how many dk sweaters I knit between 2020 and 2023 or whatever lmao 😅
So calming 🧘😌
Im most interested in the alternative yarns others have chosen and the amount used. I wish you could just get a list of used yarns for a project without clicking through the projectpages for a pattern.
Great solutions! You have to do you, and suit yourself. Thank you for sharing 🥰. I just came across a new channel I thought you might like, Eydis Knitting. Beautiful videography, beautiful messages, husband & wife who are both extremely talented knitter/artists, living with some serious neurological illness (you wouldn’t know it from their videos). They are just new to TH-cam, both of their videos are great, start with the first one!
Thank you for the recommendation! I'll definitely check them out. 🥰
I saw all your pics go up on IG! Very nice. I don’t use Ravelry really other than to find and buy patterns.
Why wouldn't you use your phone and upload directly to the ravelry website?
I also feel like you overcomplicated your project entry. If you go to the pattern page in Ravelry and then click Cast on Project, it will automatically fill in the pattern and category .... you just need to name the project, add the yarn and needles, and then set to completed.
Nice! I didn’t know you could start a project from a pattern page. Definitely going to use that option when I am following a pattern.
As far as uploading straight from my phone, that’s just a personal preference thing, I like working from my pc.
I love you more each episode. I am on the same path with ravelry. I am just 5 miles behind. 😂
100% about just snapping a picture on a hanger for ravelry. I just do the basics. I keep it very simple.
I thought about doing it, but o already add all of that info to an app on my phone and I’m not organized enough to do it twice 😂
I have some of my things on ravelry but mostly it is test knits I have done. If I were more organized I would go back and add things except socks (I have way too many). I have no clue about needle sizes and only a little clue about yarn lol. Maybe future me will be better 😂
15:49 Disagree 😊 on first project picture on Ravelry. Everyone posts sweater flat while I would prefer seeing things on people. Or is it just me?
I hope you'll post pics of you wearing FOs. It's helpful to see them on an actual person.
As I typed that, you started talking about this!
I wouldn't worry about being super detailed about old projects like needle sizes and exact dates. If you know the yarn, that is nice, plus size you knit
I deleted my Instagram and Pinterest.
That’s awesome! 👏🏻
I was like 400!
Wow. So much to talk about. Respectfully texting, there is one obvious standout misguided error in your podcasts. LIGHTING. Have you heard of the color ECRU? Your living room screams of it. Dull no vibrancy or punch color awash unappealing drab. My comment has absolutely nothing to do with personality voice sweater choices camera angles patterns editing or all around style. Your living room is lit like an old world 19th century Venetian cobblestone row house. 😮
Wow. So much to talk about. Have you heard about the word polite? You should look it up. I watch her videos in a big part for how they look.
I hope you get stuck in an ecru room, with a manners teacher maybe. 🙂
I'm so glad you agree with me. Perhaps our comment will make beautiful changes within her podcast. You and I think alike. And that's a wonderful concept. I like you. ❤
@@kendenta2207 lol
So nice to laugh isn't it. I wish I knew you. 😂
@@kendenta2207 ew no