I bought the Fashion Sketchpad to keep track of my seemingly endless to-sew list, along with jotting down the random garment ideas that pop into my head from time to time. I’d just been doodling in an old plain sketchbook, but thought it’d be useful to have the figures pre-drawn for me to dress up.

I’m really pleased with my purchase. The book has a gorgeous thick card cover with silver detailing, and I’m happy it has a spiral-top binding so you can sketch without your hand bumping into the binding (as a lefty I get this a lot). The first few pages have a wealth of information on technical terms, how to measure up, and how to use the book.

The book has pages and pages of croquis printed front and back in various poses. (Did you know that these exaggerated model-esque figure drawings are called croquis, by the way? Me neither until now.) Some show the back and front next to each other so you can sketch out both sides together. Mostly there are two to a page, but some 4 to a page as well.

This is how I’ll mostly use it – stick in a little selvedge swatch from my stashed fabrics and sketch out what I plan to make with it, along with some notes on the pattern, construction and details. I need to dig out my colouring pencils so I can properly shade them in and get a better idea of how the finished garment will look.

I’ll also jot down ideas for projects I don’t have fabrics for yet, such as this reversible colour-blocked dress vision I have in my head. It means I can try to be focused when fabric shopping and think about what I can buy to complete a planned project.

Does anyone else have a system for organising their sewing projects?