Annette Petavy Design – Newsletter December 2011 – Let it snow!

Newsletter December 2011: Let it snowNews:Something new to crochet: Véronique Chermette’s lovely shawl Gwidel:Worked in two colours of laceweight bamboo, this shawl is light and pretty. It will work over an evening outfit this winter, and complement a summer dress next summer. More information in the shop!Something new to knit: my little buttoned cowl, Coline:Worked in worsted weight merino and an eyelet rib, this little cowl closes with three pretty buttons.More information in the shop!Let it snow!Hey, where did 2011 go? For me, it went by in a whirlwind of work and exciting projects. I had a look at last year’s December newsletter, where I proudly wrote that this newsletter had more than 1,000 subscribers. Well, now you are more than 2,500, spread all around the world.During 2011, I expanded my yarn range considerably. I have now 10 different yarns for sale, and there are definitely more to come. It has been a year of learning how to handle a yarn stock – both the logistics of yarn orders (what kind of yarn, in which colours, how much?), and the very concrete question of how to fit it all into my house!I also started to work with new designers. French knit and crochet blogger Véronique Chermette creates original designs in both knit and crochet for my shop, and I now also distribute French translations of knit designs by Stephen West and Carol Sunday. EclatDuSoleil continued to be the most prolific and popular crochet designer in the shop – her little Victoria shawl was the absolute hit design of the year.The year ahead will be a very interesting one – it is already filled with exciting new projects. I have, of course, been thinking about goals for this new year. I could make a long, long list. However, I know that things evolve, and that probably around March, life and work will have changed so much that the detailed goals I set now will have little or no relevance.So, I’m setting just one, single goal for 2012: Concentrate on the important things.Important things are friends and family. Work is a very important thing of course, but play is another important thing (and one that I need to concentrate on, if I’m going to fit it into my life). Health is important, as is spending time with my children.But right now, in the last few days of 2011 and the first ones of 2012, it feels very important to just sit and watch the snow. Having a few snowflakes falling slowly from the sky would be perfect, of course. If, like me, you live in a place where there is no snow (at least not today), I suggest you crochet a couple of snowflakes.  Let it snow!Snowflake:(Picot = ch 3, sl st in first ch).Ch 5, join in a circle with a sl st in first ch.

Round 1: Ch 8 (counts as 1 dc + 5 ch), 2 dc in the circle, (ch 5, 2 dc in the circle) four times, ch5, 1 dc in the circle, 1 sl st in 3rd ch at beg of round. There are six 5-ch spaces with 2 dc between each ch space.

Round 2: (4 sc in next ch space, 1 picot, ch 1, 1 picot, ch 1, 1 picot, 4 sc in same ch space) six times, 1 sl st in first sc at beg of round.You can let these snowflakes fall wherever you want. Perhaps work a few tightly in white thread and hang them on the Christmas tree. I worked 39 snowflakes and joined them as I went, replacing the 2nd ch in the center picot with a sl st at joins. I used a blend of my bamboo laceweight and mohair (it will be up for sale in the shop shortly) and a 5 mm (US H-8) hook. I plan to wear the result as a decorative scarf, but I might just as well end up using it as a runner on a table for a winter dinner party.I wish you all the best for 2012: health, love and creativity!See you soon!