Review of the Year

This was another busy year! My work hours increased on a regular basis to 24 hours a week, and I have another little freelance gig on the side. The marks in my Uni classes now count towards my final degree classification, so I'm also taking them a little more seriously. Fortunately, I didn't have a major MS flare or other spell of illness, so all in all, I seem to be managing!

I'm still entranced more by knitting than stitching at the moment, and I appear to have discovered that designing cross stitch is as much fun as stitching it - and an awful lot easier to 'frog'!

Anyway, so I can wipe the lists from the sidebars and start with my "Year of the UFO" project, here is what I completed in 2009:

Stitching Finishes

• 30. B is for Blackbird - Prairie Schooler - 28/12
• 29. C is for Cow - Prairie Schooler - 24/12
• 28. Purple Penguin - Casey Buonaugurio - 06/12
• 27. Sew Dry, Set Wet - Prairie Schooler - 04/12
• 26. Autumn Leaves Fob - Heart in Hand 22/09
• 25. Fall Needleroll - Heart in Hand 22/09
• 24. Sew and Sew - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin 10/09
• 23. Derbyshire - Heritage Stitchcraft 27/08
• 22. E is for Embroidery - Prairie Schooler 23/08
• 21. Neat Country Stuff - Homespun Elegance 22/08
• 20. A Little Sea Bathing - The Sampler Girl 21/08
• 19. Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate 29/07
• 18. Antique Hearts Needleroll - Shepherd's Bush 13/07
• 17. Quaker Strawberry - Blackbird Designs 30/06
• 16. Petites Lettres Rouges - Blackbird Designs 26/04
• 15. Holly Berry Sampler - Bent Creek 13/04
• 14. The Squirrel - Full Circle Designs 13/04
• 13. Sheep in the Meadow - Shepherd's Bush 13/04
• 12. Spring Keeper 2 - The Drawn Thread 26/03
• 11. Spring Keeper 1 - The Drawn Thread 22/03
• 10. Quaker Bird - With My Needle 15/03
• 9. Quaker Swan - With My Needle14/03
• 8. Spring - Prairie Schooler 15/02
• 7. Valentine Flip It - Lizzie*Kate 09/02
• 6. Bloom Where You Are Planted - The Victoria Sampler 08/02
• 5. Fredde's Bookmark 07/02
• 4. Oh Christmas Tree - Prairie Schooler 29/01
• 3. All You Need Is Love - The Drawn Thread 25/01
• 2. Heart Throb - The Drawn Thread 20/01
• 1. How Does Your Garden Grow? - Lizzie*Kate 20/01

I would be hard pressed to name a favourite amongst these, but I think it would be a Prairie Schooler. I have a new obsession!

Finishing Finishes

• 37. Purple Penguin - Casey Buonaugurio - Ornament - 06/12
• 36. Sow Dry, Set Wet - Prairie Schooler - Floss Tag - 4/12
• 35. Trick or Treat - Lizzie*Kate - Mini Pillow 16/10
• 34. Autumn Leaves Fob - Heart in Hand - Floss Tag 22/09
• 33. Fall Needleroll - Heart in Hand - Needleroll 22/09
• 32. Sew and Sew - Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin - Needlebook 16/09
• 31. Happy Stitching - Elizabeth's Designs - Pinkeep 02/08
• 30. E is for Embroidery - Prairie Schooler - Pincushion 23/08
• 29. A Little Sea Bathing - The Sampler Girl - Pinkeep 21/08
• 28. Hardanger Motif - Mary Hickmott - MP3 Cosy 20/08
• 27. Amethyst - Classic Embroidery - Scissor Pouch 01/05
• 26.French Country IV Pumpkin - JBW Designs - Framed 02/08
• 25. Easter Cracker Sampler - Bent Creek - Framed 02/08
• 24. Bird in Tree - Historic Needlework Guild 02/08
• 23. Alphabet Ribbon Sampler - Historic Needlework Guild 02/08
• 22. Winter - Trail Creek Farm - Scissor Fob 02/08
• 21. Miniature Sampler - Cathy Bussi - Pinkeep 02/08
• 20. Hardanger Square - Mary Hickmott - Pinkeep 02/08
• 19. A Merry Tree for Thee - Full Circle Designs - Pinkeep 02/08
• 18. Home is Best - Lizzie*Kate - Pinkeep 31/07
• 17. Antique Hearts Needleroll - Shepherd's Bush - Needleroll 13/07
• 16. Quaker Strawberry - Blackbird Designs - Strawberry 06/07
• 15. The Squirrel - Full Circle Designs - Bourse 19/04
• 14. Sheep in the Meadow - Shepherd's Bush - Bookmark 13/04
• 13. Spring Keeper - The Drawn Thread - Floss Tag 26/03
• 12. Spring Keeper - The Drawn Thread - Scissor Fob 26/03
• 11. Quaker Bird - With My Needle - Scissor Fob 15/03
• 10. Quaker Swan - With My Needle - Pincushion 15/03
• 9. Spring - Prairie Schooler - 28/02
• 8. Bloom Where You Are Planted - The Victoria Sampler - Biscornu 09/02
• 7. September Sampler Accent - Periwinkle Promises - Mini Pillow 08/02
• 6. Flower Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 5. Rose Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 4. A Maze Garden - Pincushion 08/02
• 3. All You Need is Love - The Drawn Thread - Mattress Pincushion
• 2. Heart Throb - The Drawn Thread - Scissor Fob
• 1. How Does Your Garden Grow? - Lizzie*Kate - Pillow

 New-to-me finishes this year were floss tags and bourses. I love how reading blogs gives so much information and inspiration!

• 42. Pink Sparkly Legwarmers - 19/12
• 41. Kaffe Fassett Socks - 13/12
• 40. Mini Cable Rib Hot Water Bottle Cover - 13/12
• 39. Garter Rib Hot Water Bottle Cover - 12/12
• 38. Tardis Dishcloth - 11/12
• 37. Mum's Christmas Socks - 26/11
• 36. Narvik Beret - 22/11
• 35. Cable Hot Water Bottle Cover - 15/11
• 34. Cortina Socks - 14/11
• 33. Chunky Wristwarmers 3 - 14/11
• 32. Chunky Beret - 13/11
• 31. Chunky Wristwarmers 2 - 12/11
• 30. Waterfall Scarf 2 - 10/11
• 29. Simple Man Slippers - 31/10
• 28. Chunky Wristwarmers - 24/10
• 27. Waterfall Scarf - 24/10
• 26. Tonks Socks - 17/10
• 25. Innocent Smoothie Hats x 74
• 24. Mini Cable Socks - 02/10
• 23. Blanket Buddy 2 - Lion Brand - 19/09
• 22. Blanket Buddy 1 - Lion Brand - 18/09
• 21. New England Stole - 17/09
• 20. Striped Baby Mitts - Sirdar - 30/08
• 19. Striped Baby Bootees - Sirdar - 29/08
• 18. Poetry Society Letter - 29/08
• 17. Striped Baby Hat - Sirdar - 26/08
• 16. Striped Baby Sweater - Sirdar 11/08
• 15. Clapotis - Kate Gilbert 07/08
• 14. Elongated Corded Rib Socks 29/07
• 13. Hourglass Dishcloth 13/07
• 12. Feather and Fan Scarf 25/06
• 11. Welt Fantastic Socks 20/05
• 10. Bubby Rabbit 10/05
• 9. Garter Rib Socks 25/04
• 8. Corded Rib Socks 08/04
• 7. Regia Stretch Wool Socks 26/03
• 6. Golden Luna Moth Shawl 22/03
• 5. Wool Cotton Socks 28/02
• 4. Speedy Cable Beret - Pink 07/02
• 3. Kiri Shawl 07/02
• 2. Luna Moth Shawl 15/01
• 1. Opal Plain Socks 13/01

I think 2009 can be called "The Year of the Sock". In 2008, I knit my very first pair, and now I have a basketful - and my friends and family are beginning to get them as gifts too. I also knit a number of accessories, which I am wearing with pride now the weather is chilly!

So, how does 2009 compare to other years?

2009 - stitching finishes 30, finishing finishes 37, knitting finishes 42. Total = 109
2008 - stitching finishes 65, finishing finishes 59, knitting finishes 25. Total = 149
2007 - stitching finishes 58, finishing finishes 55, knitting finishes 0. Total = 113

Okay, so it's down, but this year, I've finished some big projects, I've started having my pieces professionally framed, and I've blogged more - a lot more. So I'm happy.


Now to tackle the project for 2010 - The Year of the UFO!