The past week I was working on my knitted Xmas gifts. I am not doing much this year, a pair of socks for each kid and that’s it. If I still feel like it I might add to a present, but generally I am almost done (shopping included). I will be able to enjoy December without panicking at all. What a change that’ll make!

Next week will probably be all about sewing, something for a swap, some other things I want to try out.

The other day, I made a very quick cowl. I am actually wearing it. It’s quite practical when it’s not that cold outside, especially when you’re wearing a baby björn (baby’s always getting those scarf ends in the face otherwise).

And I am already planning for 2010, looking for another challenge. I’ve come across a group over on Ravelry, the National Knit a Sweater a Month Dodecathon that’s really tempting me. It will officially include crochet next year, too. I am so not sure I’d be up to that or should even consider trying, but I admit I am dreaming about it.

I started out this post all determined to write in German and French as well today, but now… I am just too tired. Sorry. Maybe next time.

Der Abwechslung halber mal wieder auf Deutsch. Sagt mal, wie viele lesen hier eigentlich mit, die’s lieber auf Deutsch hätten? Ich bin da vielleicht ein wenig faul und denke mir „die Deutschen können ja eh alle Englisch“ (was bei den Franzosen eher nicht so der Fall ist). Aber sagt doch mal, wem ist’s lieber auf Deutsch? Hand hoch!

Damson ist nun auch fertig. Reine Strickzeit 11 Stunden 45 Minuten. Ganz schön viel, wenn man bedenkt, dass das „nur“ so ein kleiner Schal ist.
Mehr dazu auf der entsprechenden Ravelry Seite. Oder gibt’s auch noch Leute, die das hier lesen, die NICHT auf Ravelry sind? Nochmal Hände hoch. Hihi.

I was playing Project Runway this week. The challenge: to make an Indian (native American) outfit for my son with stuff I had already in the house. And I made it, he’s happy, therefore I am, too.
The pants are from week-end sewing and the top is Donald from Citronille. The fabric is a linen blend and I cut up old T-shirts for the fringe.

J’ai joué au “Project Runway” cette semaine. Il fallait faire un costume d’Indien en 5 jours avec ce que j’avais déjà à la maison. Et j’ai réussi, mon fils est content et donc moi aussi.
Le pantalon est dans le livre « week-end sewing » et le haut est Donald de Citronille. Le tissu est un mélange de lin et les franges sont faites avec des vieux T-shirts.

I haven’t had much to say about new designs recently, have I? So, I am especially happy that Inside Crochet has just put up preview pictures of their next issue on Flickr. I designed a cabled sweater, which by the way I am really proud of. I should make one for myself.

Here’s another quick sewing project. This cute skirt from Clothkits was easy to make. I love the print and the shape, it’s bigger in the back than in the front, so the skirt looks kind of narrow but still leaves plenty of room to run and climb (I had it thoroughly tested).

I am usually not one to rant easily about the knit/crochet divide and don’t mind if people don’t get what I am doing. Neither do I feel the attitude that crochet is being put down. Where I live, people do not make a difference between knit and crochet. Most of them don’t know one from the other and put the whole thing down as something for old ladies or housewives with way too much time on their hand.

But today I got this book in the mail. It sounded like a fun book to expand my sewing skills, and I know everybody is crazy about Japanese sewing books. So…. Apart from the fact that I am a little disappointed seeing so many unfinished and fraying edges (it’s a certain style, but I am more about learning better finishing techniques right now), I came upon a project that incorporated a “knit” scarf into a jacket.

This is the scarf in question:

This is obviously NOT a knit scarf, but made from single crochet. Ok, before you say the Japanese only have one word for knit and crochet, blabla, let me tell you that I immediately checked out the instructions page. And guess what? Yes, they tell you to use knitting needles, cast on, and work a garter stitch scarf!

So there’s obviously more than just a translation problem. If you publish a craft book, you should know about stuff like that, don’t you?
Anyway, rant over. I just felt like saying it.

Le pantalon à taille élastique des « Intemporels pour enfants ».
Taille 4 ans.
Tissu acheté chez www.frautulpe.de

Well, well, how’s the book challenge going? I am behind, way behind; I only finished 1 book in October. And there are only 2 months left. Instead of having read the 3 books/months originally planned, I only read like 2/month. To match my goal I’d have to read another 13 ½ books before the end of the year. Don’t think that’s going to happen.

I am already thinking about another “stupid” challenge for next year, like cooking from a totally new recipe once a week or finish a sewing project once a week or … Any ideas?

22. Hermann Hesse Unterm Rad: *****

Une autre petite bricole, utilisable pour la déco du sapin de noël ou bien comme pelote à épingles. J’ai utilisé ce tutorial.

This little patchwork star can either be used on your Christmas tree or as a pin cushion. I used this tutorial.

Noch eine genähte Kleinigkeit, entweder als Weihnachtsdekoration oder als Nadelkissen zu gebrauchen. Ich habe diese Anleitung benützt.

On est en train de réorganiser tout le bureau, voici mon petit coin couture pour lequel j’ai cousu ce rangement à poches.

We’re in the middle of reorganizing the whole office and this is my little sewing space for which I sewed this wall organizer with Kokka Paris fabric.

Bei uns wird gerade das Büro umgebaut, hier ist mein Näheckchen. Dafür habe ich mir diesen Wandbehang mit Taschen genäht (der Stoff heisst passenderweise Paris von Kokka).