In this post, I am sharing how you can make your own cross stitch planning pad to keep on your desk or table to jot down all those patterns you want to stitch. Plus I give you those planning sheets for FREE!
Or you buy the full Cross Stitch Project Planner and you will get notes pages, places to mind map project ideas, places to write out your monthly project goals, and more!
To Make a Cross Stitch Planning Pad You Will Need:
- PVA/Craft glue or Mod Podge
- Your FREE Cross Stitch Project Planning Sheets
- Board for the back. You can recylcle the backs off old sketchbooks/kids A4 paper books etc or search for thick coardboard.
- Binder clips (at least 3)
- Glue stick (optional)
How to Make a Cross Stitch Planning Pad in 7 Easy Steps
Step 1. Print your sheets
Either grab those free planning sheets or buy your full Cross Stitch Project Planner and print out the sheets you want to use in your planning pad.
You don’t have to use every sheet I include, for example, one sheet is a blank grid to design your own patterns but if you don’t want to design your own patterns then just leave that sheet off.
Then once you have decided what sheets you are using, print as many as you want off! I recommend having at least 20 sheets of paper to make this work properly, but you can go up to 100 (the number of pages in the planner).
Hint: Print your pages the same size as your board back. As I’m in the U.K. I’m working with A4 size.
Step 2. Decide on the order
If you have printed a few different sheets off you need to decide what order they are going in. Are you putting all the montly planning together, and all the pattern planning together? Or are you doing 1 sheet of monthly planning then 5 sheets of pattern planning (I give you space to plan out 5 projects a month so that order will work well)?
I also recommend putting a blank sheet on top to protect your planning sheets from the imprints or marks from the binder clips (I didn’t do this and you can see the marks below).
FYI, on the monthly planning sheet there is space for you to write in which month you’re on at the top, in case that wasn’t obvious.
Step 3. Level off the pages
Once your sheets are printed and in the order you want you need to grab your board for the back and start tapping the pages around the edges so they level off and all line up with that board back.
Step 4. Clip the pages together
Grab 2 binder clips and clip each top corner together; at the sides not at the top. We will be moving them soon but for now, they need to hold the pages together and be out of the way from that top edge.
Step 5. Glue the pages together
Hang the pad over the edge of your surface; this makes it easier to apply the glue and means you won’t get any on the surface you are using.
Use your PVA glue or Mod Podge (PVA worked fine for me) and using either a glue stick our your finger start slowly spreading the glue across the top edge of your pages.
Do this slowly and in stages and wipe off any that gets on the top page (another reason to use a blank sheet at the top).
Once you have run 1 layer of glue along you will probably need to come back and run another layer over and fill in any gaps. This time you may notice your pages start to curl. So once you have done the first part, move your binder clip to the top egdge, where you have just put glue on. This will keep your pages flat and help them stick together. Do the next part with a second layer and this time grab a spare binder clip and put that on the top edge. Once you get to the last part, move the binder clip at the side up to the top edge.
I used a couple of paper clips here too but if you have more than 3 binder clips they are much easier to use!
Step 6. Leave it to dry
This varies in time depending on how much glue you have used and how many pages your planning pad is.
I recommed trying to leave it overnight if you can but I started using mine 2 hours later. Just make sure all the glue is dry before you take the clips off.
Once it is dry and the clips are off, pull off that top blank page.
Step 7. Get planning!
Now your cross stitch planning pad is ready to use!
Once you have finished the month you were on and those patterns you planned out are completed, you can tear off those pages and start again.
And when your pad is empty you can keep the backboard, print off more pages, and make another. How fab is that?
Tag me on Instagram @hannahhandmakes and show me what you are planning and how you’re using your pad.
And don’t forget to download your FREE cross stitch project planning sheets before you get making.
Extra Cross Stitch Resources
- How to plan and organise your cross stitch projects
- 5 cross stitch project finishing ideas
- 5 ways to find more time to cross stitch
Pin for Later
wondering if this is still available? have been waiting for it to magicially appear in my email. I like to try before I buy kind of person. Before I spent 10.00, I would like to see if it is something I find really functional for me. All I see is that my download is on the way to my email but would I like to just buy the planner now? Thank you for such a splendid idea!
Thank you for the printable. It magically just appeared. I think google has been playing with imps again. I had like 5 susbscription confirmations arrive all at once. Thank you.
So glad it all came through to you. If you ever have any questions, you can email hannah@hannahhandmakes.com, it’s usually a quicker way to get a response from us. 🙂