Free Printable Sewing Project Planner (10 Pages)

I used to keep my sewing plans on the back of receipts. Then I bought the same blue gingham twice because I forgot I already owned a yard of it, and I decided it was time to get organized. This planner is what I wish I had started with: ten printable pages that follow a project from idea to finished item.

What is inside

Quick reference. A one page cheat sheet with yardage converted to inches, fat quarter and precut sizes, common quilt sizes and a few rules I look up constantly, like how many binding strips you need.

Two project sheets. Name, pattern, dates, finished size, a fabric table with yardage needed versus yardage on hand, a notions checklist, a cutting list and a progress row (pre-wash, cut, piece, quilt, bind). There is room at the bottom for notes about changes you made, which is how you remember in a year what you did.

Measurements. One side for bodies if you sew clothes, and one for windows, tables, beds and baby gear, so the numbers are in one place when you shop.

Cutting plan grid. One inch squares with quarter inch guide lines, good for planning how pieces fit on a fat quarter before you cut.

Fabric stash inventory. Two pages with 25 lines each: fabric, fiber, width, yards, color and where you bought it. This is the page that stopped me from buying fabric I already had.

Shopping list and notions inventory. Check boxes for what to buy and a column for what you have, plus a spot for your thread colors and needle sizes.

Project log. Date, project, hours, cost and who got it. Seeing how long things really take makes you a kinder planner.

How I use it

I print two project sheets for every new project and clip them into a binder with the pattern. Before I shop, I check the stash pages, fill in the fabric table and take the sheet to the store. When I finish, I log the hours and write one thing I would change next time.

Tips for printing

Print on letter paper at 100 percent. Standard paper is fine; for the stash pages and the project sheets I like a slightly heavier 24 pound paper so pen does not bleed. Use a three hole punch and keep it in a binder with divider tabs.

Get your free copy

Enter your email below and I will send the PDF. You can print as many copies as you want for your own use. It is also included free with every pattern purchase over $5, so if you pick up a pattern below you will get it automatically.

Pair it with a first project

The planner works best with a real project in it. The Beginner Bundle has three patterns in the order I would make them, and every one has a cutting chart that fits straight into the project sheet.