How to Plan Projects + Free Printable!!

Learn how to plan your projects so you get more of them done! This strategy will help you be more productive with your projects, which ensures that more projects get done. In addition, a free printable is included to help you with the process!

Over the past couple of years I have developed a strategy for planning all of my crochet projects. As a person who thrives off of a schedule, I like how this strategy ensures that I know what I am working on and when I am working on it!

In addition, I never not have a project going. We’ve all been there when we don’t have a project to work on – it is honestly one of the worst feelings! As soon as I finish a project, I always have another one ready to go, all because of this simple strategy!

This strategy is really great for designers because of its efficiency. But it is equally beneficial for the causal maker who just want to make more things!

Plan for the Next Season

The first step is to plan ahead for the next season. Let’s say I am planning projects for the fall, so I will typically sit down in July or August to plan out my projects. Planning before the season even arrives ensures that I know exactly what I’m making and I’m not blindly walking into the season and crocheting on a whim.

Write Down the Projects

The next step is to write down all of your ideas/patterns that you would like to make. As a designer, I gather all the inspiration I collected from Instagram, Pinterest, and personal notes to plan out my designs. For just a crocheter, go through the pins and posts you have saved to see what patterns you would like to make for the coming season.

Seeing everything laid out in front of you helps to know exactly what you want to make. In addition, you’re able to be reasonable with what you can actually accomplish that season. From all of your ideas, narrow down to what you are going to make.

Write Down the Supplies

Now that you know what projects you are going to make, I like to plan what yarns/supplies I am going to need for each project (and I narrow this down to the exact color I’m going to use). As a designer, I carefully select the yarns to fit the project, however if you are just a crocheter, you can use the yarn that suggested by the designer (or use what is in your stash!)

After this step, you should have the projects you are going to make as well as the supplies you will need for those projects written down.

Order the Projects

Figure out a loose order of when you would like to make each project. This is where I am a little more flexible because I typically don’t order the ideas down to the exact number. But instead I do it by month, and I figure out which ones I want to make each month.

Example: September = Sweater, hat, and socks, October = Shawl, blanket, cardigan

Again I am fairly flexible with this as things change (like my mood haha). But ordering the projects does help me to know what project to start once I finish the previous one.

Prep Supplies

Now it is time to prep the supplies! For each season I typically like to order all of the yarn for that season at once so then it is down and I have everything ready to go.

I also really like doing this because if I finish a project quicker than I anticipated then I know I always have the supplies to start the next project.

Make!

The last step (which is the best step!) is to make the project! Have fun being creative and doing what you love! 🙂

Project Planner Printable

This may seam like a daunting process, but it is actually really easy and and fun to do! To help you keep track of the projects, I have created a project planner to help you through the process!