Hi,

Again I want to start by thanking everyone who has sent and email or commented on a post lately - I have read them all but I am utterly behind on replying, I hope to catch up soon. But please know they are all very much appreciated.

It's been a not unexpectedly emotional experience winding the business down. I've been reflecting a lot on what we achieved and I thought it would be nice this week to share with you some of my personal favourite designs. I've no idea how many items I have designed in my 12 year designing career. The Crochet Project has over 100 designs split between Kat and I with slightly more designed by me. I probably did twice as much designing for yarn companies and magazines most of which don't bear my name. I think probably 100 or more designs in that time but it could be more. All of my favourites though have been for The Crochet Project as that was where I was allowed full creative freedom.

So, having argued with myself for way too long about the order, here are numbers 10-6 of my top ten:

10/Ettinsmoor Sweater from Everyday Wearables. I love everything about this casual relaxed sweater, the unusual construction and the way the fabric drapes. If I could change one thing I think I would have instructed a slip stitch/line of surface crochet at the neckline to stabilise it further which I have since added to my own - but this is just a dream to wear.

9/Kelpie Hat - so quick to make and the really simple stitch just shows off a hand-dyed yarn to perfection. Quite a few of my DK single skeins in stash are destined to become Kelpie Hats I think.

8/Aberfoyle Cardigan from Three from the Top - The fit on this top down circular yoke is just right, it fits and suits almost everybody who has made it. It just sits so nicely on the shoulders. I wore this cardigan so much around the release of the book, it's not quite my colours now so I'd definitely consider making another one perhaps in a darker yarn and using a skein of hand-dyed for the stripes.

7/Tattingstone Sweater from Easy Everyday Wearables - this top down circular yoke sweater uses the same perfect fit ratio as the Aberfoyle Cardigan. I just love how it plays with colour and is so achievable for even novice crocheters - a very good first garment using very few stitches and simple skills only. Because it's so simple I made it one of the patterns in Sweater School so that the emphasis was on fit not on techniques. But that alone doesn't make it a top ten - it's here because I absolutely love wearing it.

6/Transposition Shawl from The Shawl Project Book One. The first shawl project book has a very special place in my heart as it really turned everything around for us. Transposition was, I think, the first pattern that I made for the book and it just encompasses everything I really love in a design. I adore shawls that take a simple stitch and gradually open it up into a beautiful lace. I've taken that idea in other designs (Stash of Shells and Love Triangle from The Shawl Project Book Five being two other examples) but Transposition was the first I created and I don't feel I ever bettered it.

So thanks for indulging me, I hope you appreciate that I resisted the urge to add the usual DJ countdown phrases in a top of the pops/hit parade style!

To be continued.... I'll be back next week with my top five favourite designs.

Until then, much love

Joanne