Here are the 2009 Xmas gifts, there wasn’t much handmade this year. At least not by me, though I did buy a lot of things on Etsy. Next year should be different as I’ve already completed one present for next Christmas and cast on for the next one. (Admit it, you’re impressed.)
Anyway, there was a Knotty but Nice hat for the husband and a pair of socks for each kid, that’s it.
J’ai participé à mon premier swap couture. Je suis soulagée, le résultat semble plaire : Les swaps des Citrocopines.
Il s’agit du modèle Donald de Citronille en taille 6 ans et une robe trapèze un peu modifié en taille 2 ans. Quelques photos supplémentaires :
All designs published in 2009 can be found in this Flickr set. My favorites in this category:
Samira from Inside Crochet issue 5
I am planning on making one for myself, possibly a cardigan version in 2010 and release the pattern myself as well.
The one that’s getting the most wear is definitely the Omaha Beach Sweater.
I am making another one right now, working out the pattern which will hopefully be published early next year.
2010 will probably bring a little less in terms of new designs, although you never know when inspiration strikes. But I do want to fill up my wardrobe and that of my family a little bit, and working from existing patterns does get the job done a lot faster. Plus there are so many lovely patterns out there, especially in knitting I might say, I’ll probably still end up designing some crochet ones. But I am not setting any specific goals for next year. I’ll just see what comes along. I am not submitting as much as before because I really don’t want to be too stressed out about working towards deadlines, parcels to be send oversees, pattern errors etc etc, not unless I’ve really adjusted to the 3kids thing (how come 3 are so much more work than 2, by the way?).
Oh, one thing I’d like to do though is finally learn to write my patterns in German and French, too. Or at least find someone to help me.
If you remember, one of my 2009 goals was to learn how to sew. I got my machine in January and went from there. I did sew a couple of things, some good, some not so much. I did learn some of the basic techniques, but there are still many more to explore. I still consider myself a total beginner. I would love to feel a bit more comfortable with what I am doing by the end of 2010. So here’s my 2010 sewing challenge: Sew something EVERY week, as in sew 52 projects. Most of them will be smaller things, but hopefully once I will have completed 52 projects, I’ll be better at it than before.
Let’s mention some of the highlights (you can see all 2009 sewing in my Flickr Set) :
One of the very first projects was the Pin Cushion Caddy from Ann Maria Horner’s Book “Seams to me” and although a bit wonky I can’t live without it any more. It’s not only holding everything I need (pins, thread, scissors, etc) nearby, it also serves well as a weight when tracing and cutting patterns. It is in constant use.
Then there was a whole series of little dresses, easy and cute, that were very well received. Here are 2 of her (my) favorites:
I absolutely adore the 2 clothkits items I made, they are cute and the fabric holds up great to numerous washings. I have more of them queued.
Is it time to start writing those end of year posts yet? I might as well as I have a couple of them planned. Let’s start with the Book challenge.
Well, I didn’t make it, but I am happy nevertheless. I am absolutely positive that without the challenge in mind I would have read way less. And 26 is not that bad, all things considered.
Also, I didn’t allow audio books into the game until the very last month. It was important to me to actually READ because just listening isn’t doing as much for my writing skills.
So, here’s the list for the last 2 months:
22. Hermann Hesse Unterm Rad: *****
23. Hermann Heesse Die Nürnberger Reise: ****
24. Martin Suter Lila Lila *****
25. David Sedaris Me talk pretty one day (audio book) *****
26. Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (audio book) *****
As for the audio books, the David Sedaris is read by the author, and for Pride and Prejudice I got this one (for audio a good narrator is very important, so I thought I’d mention it).
I am now reading “J’étais derrière” by Nicolas Fargues, but I am not sure I’ll be done before the 31st.
I’ll try and keep reading (and listening) next year, but I am not going to keep track and post about it in 2010. I have other ‘bloggable’ challenges planned.
The Interweave Crochet Preview is up and has some amazing sweaters in it. Myself, I only have a pair of mittens in it. But I might have to add one or two of those sweaters to my queue.
Le Interweave Crochet Preview est là. Moi, je n’ai qu’une petite paire de mittaines dedans, mais il y a des pulls magnifiques je trouve. Il y en a que j’ai bien envie de faire pour moi-même.
Die Interweave Crochet Vorschau ist da. Ich habe nur ein paar kleine Handschuhe drin, aber mir gefallen diesmal ganz besonders die Pullis. Davon kommen bestimme ein oder zwei auf meine Wunschliste.
I’ve decided to give it a try after all, this National Knit a Sweater a Month Dodecathon thing. I am already having quite some fun planning.
But in the meantime I am making small things (like those simple mittens for my son) and Xmas ornaments.
Ok, ich mache da jetzt einfach mal mit: National Knit a Sweater a Month Dodecathon. Warum eigentlich nicht. Ziele braucht der Mensch, auch wenn’s eher… ulkige sind. Das planen macht jedenfalls schon mal ziemlich viel Spaß.
Im Dezember stricke ich dann hauptsächlich Weihnachtsschmuck und Kleinteile (wie diese einfachen Handschuhe für meinen Sohn).
Bon, j’ai decidé de participer: National Knit a Sweater a Month Dodecathon. Eh ben, pourquoi pas? En tout cas je m’amuse déjà beaucoup à imaginer tout ce que je pourrai faire.
Et le mois de décembre sera dédié à des petits trucs comme des décorations de noël et des petits accessoires (comme cette paire de moufles toute simple pour mon fils).
I’ve just put up errata for my Apple Cider Mittens. There’s an increase missing in round 8 which is the most important problem. The rest wouldn’t keep you from getting it right, they are fairly obvious mistakes.
Cuff
Rnd 10: ….. 5 groups of 5dc, 1 sc. (Not 5 sc).
Hand
Rnd 1: … ch 1, sc around bottom edge of foundation round (NOT: sc blo around, there are no back loops there)
Rnd 8 is missing an increase: …. Ending with 1 sc blo in next sc and 2 sc in last st. – 47 sts.
Consequently there’s the same problem in rnd 12 which repeats rnd 8.
