I feel like I'm generally a pretty organized person.. I can't really function without a schedule or a to do list. (Like, actually.) Lists are my BFFL. This year, I decided to take my love for lists and planning another step further: With my first ever sewing project planner.

When keeping track of my daily, weekly, monthly schedule, I use a website called TeuxDeux. This website is open AT ALL TIMES when I am working, and I have the app on my phone as well.

This beauty of a site is literally incredible. It allows me to keep a daily to do list, but also has lists for projects or tasks that I need to get to later. Have you ever heard the phrase: "If I don't write it down, I'm not doing it"?

TeuxDeux allows me to keep track of projects that I know I need to get to later (like repairing the pockets in my Dad's jacket or sending out my Mom's birthday present) without completely forgetting about them. (As well as keeping track of my daily tasks, obvi.)

It's perfect for the OCD list obsessed gals out there like myself. I also recently just started using a Productivity Planner, to try and help map out how long individual tasks take me to do.

I have a bit of an issue with time management, and this little planner has been an enormous help with managing and timing out my daily tasks.

(Love sewing, but have no idea where to start? Building your own sewing kit is an excellent first step! Grab your free, printable worksheet below and start learning how to sew today.)And NO, I'm not getting paid to say this. I seriously just love TeuxDeux and my Productivity Planner.

They are some of the few tools that I will actually pay for on a yearly basis. The only drawback to TeuxDeux is that it isn't really ideal for keeping track of any creative work. Up until now, I have pretty much just used Google Docs and a sketchbook for keeping track of all my designs and scheduling.

So that's why I was SO excited when my husband got me a real life sewing project planner for Christmas this year. (He just knows me, you know?)

I have never used a sewing project planner before, I didn't even know that they were a thing. At FIDM, we were always assigned the type of project we were supposed to sew up (i.e. A raglan dress, a button down, etc.) and then we could tweak the design details from there.

But now. NOW. I have so many ideas for projects that I want to do this year with The Flora Modiste.

And I think that getting them all down on paper and in a sewing project planner is going to make life SO much easier.

Typically, I work on all of the posts for a particular month the month before. When I'm deciding what monthly sewing project I want to do, I usually just think about a design I have been wanting to make, and go for it.

But with The Flora Modiste's sewing project library growing, I wanted to make sure that we have a cohesive collection of designs and tutorials that will help YOU the most with your own sewing projects at home.

(Love sewing, but have no idea where to start? Building your own sewing kit is an excellent first step! Grab your free, printable worksheet below and start learning how to sew today.)In comes the sewing project planner. My husband purchased my sewing project planner from Colette, a pattern drafting company located in Portland, Oregon.

If you're looking for your own planner, and are serious about starting to make your own handmade wardrobe..

(Again, not getting paid to say this, it's just my opinion.)

The first section of the planner is about your own particular style. Answering these few beginning questions is fun and gets the creative juices flowing with garments that you have always loved or have been wanting to add to your wardrobe.

The questions get you to really THINK about what you love about your wardrobe, or what you are missing. It's so easy to just see something in a shop and buy it because it looks cute.. But you could have 5 more of the same dress already in your closet.

Answering these questions gets you to reexamine your closet, and to see what you actually want and need. And that's just to start!

The bulk of the sewing project planner is divided into two sections: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Each section starts with a few pages dedicated to your goals for the upcoming season.

Again: This gets you thinking even deeper about what you want and need, rather than just purchasing whatever you see on display at a shop.

There are also pages for seasonal inspiration & color palettes. I haven't really researched design inspiration or color palettes since I was in school at FIDM.. I don't really know why, I just haven't done it.

But I did it, starting with February's sewing project, and I had SO MUCH FUN.

(Love sewing, but have no idea where to start? Building your own sewing kit is an excellent first step! Grab your free, printable worksheet below and start learning how to sew today.)Doing the design and color research can give a designer so so many more ideas than before. (And it's always good to be a little bit on trend, right?) I did keep my design and color research notes to a minimum, since I plan on using this sewing project planner for multiple seasons and years, not just for 2018.

Following the inspiration & color pages are the individual project pages. The left page has everything you would need to think of for a project.. The name, description, supplies needed, fabric swatch, etc.

Again, the notes get you to think, rather than just doing the first thing that comes to your mind.

We would draw pages and pages of sketches before our teacher accepted even one. Doing this forced us to go deeper and to think harder. To be more creative. That's pretty much what this page does.. Again, SO helpful.

The planner's right page is used for the actual design sketch. You can either draw one big design sketch, or multiple ones until you come up with that perfect, final design.

I tend to go between the two options.. If it's a basic piece and there isn't really much that can be changed about it, then I draw a big main sketch. But if the design allows for a little more creative growth, then out come all of the different design options to ultimately choose from.

This sewing project planner also has a resource library in the back of the notebook. This resource guide would be invaluable to the new seamstress.. It's pretty much invaluable to me, and I've been sewing for 10+ years.

The resource library in Colette's sewing project planner is filled with all kinds of things: A needle guide, measurement conversions, a glossary, and even a croquis for sketching out your designs.

All in all, I am pretty excited to start planning out all of our designs with this sewing project planner. For someone that is a bit OCD with their lists and scheduling (raises hand slowly) this planner is the perfect sewing companion to help keep you sane and organized.

How do you keep your sewing projects organized? I'd love to hear about your own sewing project planner, and how you stay sane!

(Love sewing, but have no idea where to start? Building your own sewing kit is an excellent first step! Grab your free, printable worksheet below and start learning how to sew today.)