Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

I love knitted socks—as I’ve said before, they feel softer and thinner.

Unfortunately, I don’t know anything about knitting socks.

When I was a kid, everything was different—Santa Claus brought the presents back then. We still believed in him back then.
Today, though, we don’t give each other gifts anymore.
Instead, we take a trip together or go out for a nice meal.
The kids have moved out; they have their own specific wishes, so I give them money so they can buy something for themselves, or I give them gas money when they find the time to come visit.

Everything’s gotten more expensive, unfortunately, but we don’t get any more money either :-(

Advent arrangement to make yourself

Crochet a tree skirt for the Christmas tree

Good to know. I don’t sew that often, but I didn’t realize the needle could get dull? Learned something new again.
Thanks for the info.

Sounds delicious, Inge. Do you use regular oats (crunchy whole oats) or the fine, tender ones?

I think Claudia ’s blanket is Tunisian crochet or Entrelac. Not sure if they’re the same thing. With that technique, you crochet the individual squares all at once, so they’re in one piece.
The border is interesting. Are those muffins?

Thanks, Petra —yes, there are post double crochets in there: vRStb and hRStb. Maybe I’ll crochet two stars at a time, sew them together, and hang them in the window. They’re just the right size as coasters, but a bit too big as ornaments—though I could use thin yarn for that. I’ll give that a try. I think they’d look cute. Once starched, they could be used as gift tags or tree ornaments.

Oh man, you guys were creative again. All I can say is WOW.

I just tried something out to pass the time.
Based on a video tutorial:

Christmas stars. The brown one looks like a cinnamon star with icing.
I’m sure there will be more. They’re quick to crochet.

For us, yesterday was a holiday, but today, November 1, is a normal workday. Many people have the day off to make a long weekend.
It’s been pretty quiet. We went out to eat today (pork knuckle with sauerkraut or schnitzel with mushrooms and croquettes/fries)
Otherwise, we’ve been doing crafts, crocheting, and relaxing.

Get well soon, Inge—from me, too. As long as you can manage some crafts, that’ll help take your mind off things a bit.

It was quiet here yesterday, too—the doorbell only rang once. Most people have a “long weekend” today.

The worst part was that my dad needed to see the doctor, but the office is closed today. Closed. A doctor who takes the day off. In the healthcare field, there’s no such thing as a long weekend :-(

I just read that too. A baby kitten, how cute. We'd love a photo, Anja.

Petra, the picnic blanket is really pretty.


Have a great weekend, everyone
It's pretty windy here

Julekake baking

(Norwegian: jul means Christmas, kake means cake)

Well, look at that. Learned something new again. I’ll have to try it out—otherwise, I always crochet “normally” too.
You’ll definitely have to concentrate at first, but the more you crochet this way, the more I think it’ll become second nature.
Thanks for the tip.

Thanks, Inge, yours too :-) g’night


P.S. I didn’t know how to delete the duplicate image.

You have some cute little turtles there.
I crocheted this one a while back. But I don’t remember which pattern it was or who it was by.

All our clocks change automatically, except for my wristwatch.

So once again, I’ll have to get used to the new time.

I sometimes like patch pockets on cardigans and jeans, and often those hidden pockets on the inside, where you can only see the slit from the outside (e.g., on coats, dresses, and dress pants...)
I always need pockets on my clothes.

What I really don’t like are those patch cargo pockets—or whatever they’re called. I used to like them.

Baking cinnamon star cookies

True, there are so many factors to consider. Besides, it would all be a bit last-minute for this time around.
Maybe next year.

That’s right, Ursulapetra. I agree with you there.

I know, I just wanted to share the idea with you.

How could we do a “Secret Santa” here in the forum? So that we actually have participants. They’re put into a “pot” with a number (e.g., 24 participants). One person acts as the judge.

So the participants are listed in the order they sign up. The slips are labeled with each person’s name, rolled up, and marked on the outside with a number (each number between 1 and 24), then placed in the drawing pot. The judge then draws, for example, the slip with the number 3.
So the first participant on the list is assigned number 3. Only the first participant receives an email with the name of the person for whom they’re to make a Secret Santa gift, and they send this gift personally to their Secret Santa partner (if they have the address).
The recipient doesn’t open their Secret Santa gift until December 24. Pictures will be posted in the forum afterward.

Or a craft swap or one with crocheted figures. I just don’t know how that would work.

Hanging bells on the tree

I read about an Advent calendar swap today in one of my subscription forums.

Have you guys ever heard of this? It didn’t sound too bad. It’s similar to our yarn swap.
Maybe we could do something like that sometime.

Here’s how I understood it: an Advent calendar has 24 little doors. I think there were 10 participants. Each participant is assigned a number from the calendar by drawing lots (e.g., 6), and that participant then has to put together 24 little packages labeled with the number 6. The next person does the same for number 13, and so on.
All the little packages are then sent to the “organizer” (who, in our case, was Ina), and this organizer distributes all the Advent packages (so each participant basically receives 24 different packages in their Advent package).
And to make sure no one gets their own package, the organizer also made 24 packages, which they then swap out. So they also have 24 different ones. If you know what I mean.

However, the participants did meet up to admire them. Otherwise, the organizer would have to send 10 packages back, which probably wouldn’t be the point of the whole thing.

Maybe someone has another idea or variation.

I don’t feel like counting them right now either.
I don’t have quite as many as you do. I still have a few from my mom, and the rest are mostly mini buttons for my amigurumi and clothes (a small sorting box full of them).

You can do a lot with buttons. I’ve also seen that you can crochet around them, or stack them on top of each other from largest to smallest—then it looks like a Christmas tree.
There are lots of ideas, but not enough time for everything.

Pictures speak louder than words, because I’m at a loss for them right now.
What a wonderful gesture of mourning. It looks so beautiful. Your beloved will always remain in your hearts.

Warmest regards from me

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working on a crochet commission called “Danish Hearts.”
Other than that, just little bits and pieces—pumpkin charms, crocheted smiley faces...

Oh look at that, dear Ina. I had no idea you named a pattern after me *laughs*.
I really missed that, since I usually look for crochet patterns. But thank you.

I’m what you might call an occasional knitter. Basic stitches come easily to me. I used to even knit little cable patterns, using a toothpick as a helper needle. Whether I could manage that again today is questionable. I’d have to ask Mr. Google first. Even with color changes (knitted pictures). No idea how I did that. These days I prefer crocheting, even though I like knitted items much better and they feel nicer, too.
Like I said, basic stitches are no problem, but with difficult lace and openwork patterns, I have to really dig in.
Otherwise, you can always get kind help here on the forum.

Warm regards from me

Your dolls turned out so pretty, with lots of details. How big are they?
Inge, did you knit them in one piece and then divide them or sew them together?

Thank you, Petra :-)

Another big thank you to everyone who sent belated birthday wishes. I had a wonderful day with good food and drinks.
And on Sunday, it’s off to the dance tea party again :-)

And a huge thank you for all your warm birthday wishes, flowers, and cakes…
I was so happy that you all thought of me.
I had a quiet, sunny day today.

Tomorrow I’ve invited my parents out for dinner at a Greek restaurant. My husband is coming along, of course :-).
In the afternoon, it’s coffee time with fruit tart and whipped cream, Prosecco, and then “the bowling alley” will open. That’s always a blast, and there’s even a small prize for the winner.
(Xbox game) It’s going to be fun.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone—stay healthy
Yours, Andrea

First up: muffins for everyone

Wow, Inge, you’ve been busy again. Great colorful items, and I think those cuddly ducks are totally funny with those feet. I might just take the white one home.
I think it’s great to make things for charitable causes. Keep it up, Inge.

We’re running the “Christmas in a Shoebox” campaign again here. I could do some good there, too.

Nah, Anja, don’t worry about it. :-) I have a nice, bright floor lamp.

I just meant that dark colors aren’t really my thing. I like working with bright colors (pastels, neon, bold bright colors, etc.)

I like to crochet in the spring and summer. Those are also my go-to bright colors, even though I really like the autumn trees with their colorful foliage—but they’re too dark for crocheting.
Christmas works well with green, white, and red, too.

Thank you all. It was a bit unusual, but I actually felt very comfortable in it.
Everyone at the dance said I looked chic.

Ina, you’re right—there aren’t that many opportunities like this here. Maybe again for Carnival :-)

Have a great weekend, everyone
I’m off to dance class again, and on Sunday to the tea dance

Dear Inge,

belated best wishes on your birthday from me—wishing you happiness, good health, and hoping that some of your dreams will still come true.
Stay just the way you are, and keep up the great work with your creative ideas, which always bring us so much joy.

Warmest regards from me
Andrea

Thank you for your comments and the great photos. You all have some very pretty dirndls there.

Back here in the lowlands, we didn’t used to have Oktoberfest either. It only came here over time.
But as a child, I had one—unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of it anymore. I remember black fabric with lots of red roses on it, paired with a white apron. I loved wearing it, along with white knee-high socks and black patent leather shoes with little straps.

Pretty doilies. Maybe crochet them all together into one big doily. Place a round one in the center and arrange all the others in a circle.
Or crochet each doily onto a wooden or metal ring for window decor or as a dreamcatcher. Those are some of my ideas.

Hey guys,

Oktoberfest is dirndl season.
I wore my very first dirndl dress on Sunday at Oktoberfest. I took first place in the women’s category, and my prize was this cute little heart.
It was a lot of fun.

Warm regards from me

Thanks, have a great weekend too.

We’re having a dance-and-tea Oktoberfest on Sunday. It’ll be my first time wearing a dirndl. I’ve already watched some videos on how to do a braided hairstyle. Hope I can pull it off. I’m really looking forward to it.
Today I went shopping again with another coworker—the weather was sunny, a bit windy, and 10 degrees. I was still warm, though.
I had some delicious white hot chocolate, bought some craft supplies and six skeins of yarn, and a pair of new dance shoes.
It was a wonderful day today. It really did me good.

For small doll bags or similar delicate items, I crochet the cords to use as handles. There are lots of beautiful and simple crochet tutorials out there. I then sew them on. They turn out nice and round and don’t look so bulky.

I wish all of you a peaceful holiday—for those who don’t have to work. Sleep in, relax, do some crafts while sitting comfortably on the sofa with a coffee or cappuccino, and forget all your stress for a while.

Warm regards from me

Yum, Inge. That smells great.

I have a small crochet commission right now—I’m working on Danish crochet hearts.
In between, I’m already crafting with beads for Halloween and Christmas: beaded angels, painting stones, and much more.

They look nice and fluffy, Anja. I like them.
I’d crochet flowers and leaves, too. Is there a time limit, or does it matter when they have to be finished? After all, people die all the time.

It’s a great way to use up leftover yarn.

Thanks for your feedback.

Thanks, Petra—I’ve already spotted those, too.

Here are some more ideas.
My brother is getting a little beetle as a birthday present.

What do you think?

Anja, your flowers look great. I like the smaller leaf best, too.
I think that’s a great idea.

How would that work, then? We’d each crochet a bunch of flowers (me too), and then send them all to you? You’d then hand everything over to the funeral home or florist?

I’m just picturing the whole scene right now, with tons of little packages arriving at Anja’s place and piling up there.

:-) Andrea

Mmm, that looks delicious, Inge. It’s making me hungry just looking at it. I’ll have to try this sometime.
I’ve never heard of baking malt before—where can I get it, or is there an alternative?

The weekend is almost over now. On Saturday, I went to my dance class (ballroom dancing—a mix of styles: waltz, samba, tango, merengue...)—I signed up for it. That was the second session. So it’s every 14 days.

And today was another afternoon dance class.

Very nice, Ina, and with a matching lining, too. I like it. How big is it, roughly?