Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

https://www.crazypatterns.net/de/blog/2674/lustige-kakerlake

—is this the one you mean, Karin? You can find it here on the “blog page.”

Hi Sabine,

you’ve picked out some great yarn treasures again. Those light shades are my colors, too. That pink crochet yarn is really catching my eye right now. Now it’s found its way to you.
Have fun working with it.

I’m curious to see what yarn treasures the others get to add to their collections. Every ball of yarn finds a new home, and we get to watch it happen. It’s just wonderful.

Have a great week, everyone!

I just found a free pattern here for sewing fabric bags. As a beginner, I’d also like to try using colored bedding—plain pieces in different colors (not brightly patterned). I like fabric bags in different colors.

Or the white one from Ina. For tablecloths, or also for experimenting with tie-dyeing.

You can find so much online. I have to try everything.

I can still remember my needlework classes in school very clearly. At first, I really enjoyed it. We learned to embroider on soft, loosely woven canvas, tried out different stitches and patterns with that school thread, and crocheted pot holders. I can still picture them (yellow with red stripes).
Later on, though, I didn’t like it anymore—the teacher was a jerk. We had to sew a skirt, and we were still in the “learning phase.” She’d look at our practice pieces, and if they weren’t right, she’d drop them on the floor—from then on, needlework class was a nightmare for me.
Later, my mom taught me how to knit. First, a little doll’s scarf using knit and purl stitches, then bigger pieces. I also made cords with a knitting dolly.
After my apprenticeship, I started knitting sweaters for myself—even ones with color changes and little cable patterns. There was this great glittery yarn back then—fluffy and fringed—it was all “in” at the time. When my kids were little, I knitted them sweaters with Pumuckl on them (my youngest loved that little goblin). My doll got a hooded cardigan with wooden buttons.
I often wonder why I can’t do that anymore. I mostly crochet these days.

At some point, I Googled what amigurumi were, and that’s when I discovered a whole selection—I was overwhelmed and wanted to try it too. It all started with a little Hello Kitty (it’s still in the glass cabinet). Today, the cabinet is full.

My mom used to work at the worsted spinning mill, so there was always wool in the house—that’s why I’m a bit predisposed.
Then I remember a blue crocheted bag. It was thicker yarn that hadn’t quite been spun yet; I used it to crochet myself a shoulder bag (A4 size) with braided handles and even a zipper, with fringe at the bottom (my classmate at the time also crocheted one just like it—using my mom’s yarn). I was as proud as can be.

I’ve also done some embroidery, though these days only now and then. I’ve even done bead embroidery on canvas.
I’ve made crafts with Suralin—similar to Fimo—woven on a children’s loom, then braided containers with leather and ribbons, cast and painted figures with Keramofix, done paint-by-numbers, used Window Color, made clay pot figures, etc.

But I’ve stayed true to wool😉🧶

Hi there, Monika,

I’m cheering you on from my screen. You’ve got some gorgeous colors and types of yarn. I would’ve picked the yellow and red cotton yarn too.
You knit pretty fast, so I’m sure you’ll be sharing pictures of your finished projects with us soon. I can’t wait to see them.

Have fun browsing through the yarn!

I was just about to say that, too.
Such a cute teddy—just made for cuddling. Great job, Inge.

Thank you very much, Ina.

Hello everyone,

Inge, the things you sew! I personally especially like the top blanket. Are there ruffles sewn into it? I imagine that would be complicated, with all those squares—they have to be sewn together exactly. I have enough hobbies. But you did a great job. You really are a true sewing fairy.

Ina, that kind of cotton fabric from bedding (does it have a textured pattern or is it just plain, without a pattern?) could be used to sew a tablecloth or fabric bags, if it’s patterned.
I would sew towels from linen. I can still manage straight seams like that—something simple. I’d gladly take 1–2 pieces off your hands.
I like recycling.

Thanks, Mel. I’ve done some research in the meantime—I’ve also read about killing them in the microwave or in the oven.
I won’t use coffee grounds, though—you’re right, they can get moldy, and then even more flies/fungus gnats will show up.
I just picked up these yellow sticky traps at dm. We’ll see how it goes. Two of those little beasts are already stuck to them. (Within just one day so far.)

I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again to all of you.
I thought the design was so perfect for my mom. It would also make a great Mother’s Day gift.
I happened to find the perfect frame at Woolworth. It’s a 3-D frame. I just took out the little pom-poms that were inside.
My mom was so happy.

My latest purchase is a set of diamond painting coasters (10 pieces).
I ordered them online. It said “cork” on the listing, but I think they’re actually round wooden discs with various mandala-style designs on them that you can apply the diamonds to. The design templates already look amazing. As soon as I finish them, I’ll post the pictures. I just love those little rhinestones.
These coasters are for my mom for her 80th birthday this year. Of course, I’ll be adding something else to the gift.
So I never get bored.

Wow, Marion, what a result! Awesome. Did you come up with the patterns yourself, or are they based on a pattern?
It looks really interesting already.👏😉🧡

Hey Ina,
it’s always a blast to admire your amazing sewing projects. That T-shirt is awesome. The front design alone brings a smile to my face. I even like the dinosaur.

Well, I only sew every now and then, but I would’ve sewn the simple cuffs that way too, because as a beginner, attaching a separate cuff would probably be too fiddly for me.

I’m not sewing right now, but I still have a question about sewing cuffs.
Some sewing machines even let you fit two needles and sew with a double stitch, so to speak.
Is that what you use for sewing cuffs? I don’t have a serger.

Thank you so much for your feedback. It was really fun.
The painting measures 24 x 24 cm. The frame is 25 x 25 cm.

No, I don’t have a sore neck afterward because I finished gluing it in stages, so to speak. Always a little bit at a time, take a break, wait a few days, then continue. In between, I’d do some crocheting, then some paper crafts, then go back to gluing the painting.
You can’t finish a picture like this in one go—you’re guaranteed to end up with a sore neck. But thanks for asking—everything’s fine.

I actually have another big picture lying around—almost 1.0 meter long and, I think, 0.70 cm high. That’ll go above the bed later. But I don’t have a photo of it right now.
Yeah, you’d need a zillion hands to finish it all.

I finally finished it today.
It was a birthday gift for my mom, and I finished it for her by gluing on these little stones.

I even framed it to match. All done. But see for yourselves.

A change of look is great—you’re right.
Your little doll looks really cute with her new curly wig.
You did a great job, Monika.👍

Maybe some new “doll patients” will be moving in with you soon.
You could try that filet crochet yarn—it’s so soft. I can just picture how cute it would look braided into pigtails on a little doll like that.
The strands would probably be too smooth to tie in, though—I’m not sure.

It smells so good in here.
I finally got around to baking again after a long time.
Since there wasn’t any cake in the house, I made my muffins today. Half of them are already gone.
I also baked some rolls for tomorrow. 

  
The whole house smells wonderful

wow Ines, what gorgeous colors. Your haul is fantastic. I was already curious too, wondering when you’d show us your treasures, and taaaadaaa.

The yellow, mint, and pink as well as the white would have been my colors too, the ones I would have picked.
I’m curious to see what you’ll make from the rest (besides a hat and scarf).

That’s true, a yarn-bathing package like this is like Christmas, something you look forward to like a child.

have a lovely Sunday, everyone
best wishes, Andrea

Exactly.
Ina sums it up perfectly. You couldn’t have put it better. That’s why I love being here on the CP Forum so much. There’s still mutual respect, friendliness, and fun here… things that, unfortunately, are increasingly “getting lost” in real life.

All of us here have managed to hold onto that, and that’s a good thing.😉👍

Thank you so much for your tips.👏

I’ve heard about the matches before—I’ve already tried that. Let’s see what happens.
Okay, then I’ll just wait until the blooming period is over. I’ll try coffee grounds, too.

To all plant lovers,

who can help me?

My beautiful cactus is blooming again—what a joy! That makes these little flies all the more annoying.
I’ve already had to throw away one plant because it got really bad.
A colleague of mine said they’re so-called... gnats. I don’t remember the name, but they lay their eggs in the potting soil, and now the little critters are buzzing all over the living room.

What can I do about this? Especially now that it’s blooming.
Thanks

It was cold here, but the sun peeked out every now and then. No snow at all. Everything’s white where my kids are.
Maybe it’ll reach us tomorrow. I don’t have to go out anyway—I’m on sick leave (had a minor outpatient surgery).

I once got a tip from someone to insert a dowel into the figure’s neck for stability, or I like to use old felt-tip pen caps—that works too.

For smaller figures, I use 3–4 cotton swabs.

Wow, you did a really great job, and it looks fantastic on the little one.
Back in the day, that “shaggy” hairstyle was all the rage. I had it, too.

With my long hair, I trim the ends myself—head upside down and off I go.
Maybe once a year I go to the hairdresser if I need to have a longer section cut off. That’s a job for the pro. It’s nice to treat yourself every once in a while—if only for that reason.

Back when my kids were little, I used to do it with a hair clipper, too; it worked great, even though I’m pretty careful not to cut any bald spots.

Today I didn’t do any crocheting—I worked with paper instead. I dug out my die-cutting and embossing machine again, and this is what I made:
little cards, die-cut pieces for greeting cards, and tiny mini chocolate boxes.

Have fun, everyone! I’ll still be cheering you on from my screen as I admire the yarn treasures you pick out. This is going to be fun.😉🧶

During the big lockdown, we were still living in Norway, where everything is spread out and far apart. I was on short-time work at the time, so I was at home and had plenty of time for crafts and DIY projects. That was nice.
Since I’ve been back at work here in Germany (working shifts), time has been tight, so I use every free minute for crafts.
Today, for example, I did some paper crafts and dug out my die-cutting and embossing machine again. It was a lot of fun.

So I’d say, yes, I’ve been doing more crafts and DIY projects since the pandemic.

Thanks, Josefa. I also wish everyone else a relaxing, peaceful weekend.
Rain is in the forecast here too—it hasn’t shown up yet, and it’s still calm, though yesterday was stormy.

I’m working the late shift again, but at least I got to sleep in.
On the bright side, I’ll be relaxing with some crochet yarn on Monday and Tuesday, since I have those days off. I’ll be using up my leftover cotton yarn.

Hugs, Andrea😉

Honey yellow is always a good choice, but I’ll have to pass on indigo. I don’t like dark shades of blue or green (except for dark blue in jeans or jackets—that’s the exception)

Otherwise, I prefer bright, vibrant colors—both for myself and when crocheting.

Wow Steffi, your pillow looks really great.
I just couldn’t resist, so I went ahead and bought this pattern too. Now I just need plenty of time to recreate that pretty mosaic pattern, and the right yarn.

Sleep well

Dear Anja,

I’m so glad it’s your birthday today, and I’d like to offer you my best wishes—good luck, and of course good health, because without that, nothing’s any fun.
Have a wonderful celebration with your loved ones, let yourself be pampered today—coffee and cake are a must, of course.
Keep having fun here—you always make us laugh with your posts, and you’re not afraid to speak your mind, which is great. Stay just the way you are.
I love being here.

Cheers to you! 🐞☘🥂☕🍰🎂🎈🌸

Warm regards from me
Andrea

funnyhooksandhappycrochets, I’d also like to warmly welcome you here to the forum. Your mosaic blanket looks amazing. Simple pattern, big impact. With this gradient yarn, it’s a real eye-catcher. It’s truly addictive. I also enjoy crocheting mosaic.
So have lots of fun here

ines, yes, we were writing at the same time, and when the text just flows from your fingers onto the keyboard, you sometimes overlook things, but it’s no big deal. Happens to me too.
Your Henry is really a hit. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are fun, and if the kids like it, then you’ve done everything right.

The Black Forest girl looks so great. Brilliant idea.

I’ve also already admired the carnival jester among the new items. Really funny. Great

You all are so quick with new creations, it’s hard to keep up. The list keeps getting longer, and hopefully my leftover yarn is getting smaller, so I can buy/swap for new yarn again for new projects.

Marion and Steffi, your mosaic and tapestry pieces turned out beautifully, of course, and that knitted border on the mosaic is a great idea, it fits. I’ll have to try that too.

wishing everyone a lovely evening

Tomorrow I’m on the early shift again, i.e., getting up at 4:00 a.m. (I need my own time in the morning).

Hello my dear sweeties,

I admire your wonderful creations and your perseverance. You have been super busy.
At the moment, I’m mostly making smaller projects. I have so much leftover yarn. But see for yourselves.
The hearts are the patterns for the heart boxes.

  

Hey Josefa,
yeah, those dear UFOs—there it is again, that unpleasant topic. For me, UFOs are always a sign of a lack of discipline or taking on too many projects at once, because you take on too much and then can’t manage it.
I haven’t added any new ones, but the number hasn’t gone down either.

With some of them, I’m still debating whether to unravel them or finish them—or repurpose them and turn them into something else. I’m still undecided.

Hey, I just read this here with delight, and I always find it exciting. New year—new yarn.
It’s just a shame that I can’t participate this time either, because right now I don’t have any yarn to swap, so I’ll have to sit this one out. I’m a little sad about it, but I’ll definitely join next time.

In any case, I’ll be following your yarn swap. Have fun, everyone!

To be honest, Veronika, I had so much fun looking at your LaCritza figures. It’s amazing what was all in there (your full photo).
All these figures look so cute, and they make me want to try making them myself.

Thank you so much for sharing. It was really fun.

Hugs, Andrea

Thank you, Josefa,
and I wish everyone else a harmonious, peaceful 2023 as well.

There was a huge, loud fireworks display here, as if there were no tomorrow. The fireworks started as early as the afternoon, and we were able to watch it all from the sofa.

My husband and I celebrated the New Year pretty quietly; since I’m still dealing with health issues, I wasn’t really in the mood to party. We toasted with two glasses of Piccolo sparkling wine, and then I went to bed since I’d barely slept beforehand. My legs were tingling.

In the early afternoon, we took a little New Year’s walk along the Silokanal. It was a bit windy with spring-like temperatures.
And of course, the streets looked like a mess.

Stay healthy, everyone.

Anja, I’ve been struggling with a bad cold for two weeks now. I’m feeling a little better, but that stupid cough and lack of appetite are killing me—especially since I’m super hungry when my husband whips up all that delicious food.

Your pot holders look amazing. Have you caught the mosaic crochet fever too? I’d tried that pattern before, too. You did a great job, and you stuck with it.

Well, fireworks are going off all over the place outside—have a great New Year’s Eve

, and see you next year....🎈✨🎇⏲🗓🥳☘🍄🐞

Thank you, Monika. I’ll definitely need a little more time—I’m still not quite back to my usual self.
My little Puppi will get the bags. Even crocheting is tiring. Anyway, I was able to finish them.

Finished another little project. It was fun.

No, I didn’t see the Christ Child—since my husband and I don’t exchange gifts, it didn’t show up.
The holidays are all well and good, but I’m still battling a bad case of the flu. On top of that, I had a fever of 39 and diarrhea. I spent most of my time sleeping.
So my husband cooked our Christmas dinner—he put so much effort into it—but I was full after just a few bites, even though it was so delicious (smoked pork loin with sauerkraut and mashed potatoes). I just had no appetite.
My fever has gone down a little, but I’m still dizzy and weak.

It’s no fun. I hope I’ll be back on my feet by New Year’s Eve. I’m on sick leave until January 6.

I’d like to wish everyone who’s sick a speedy recovery, and hope the new year will be a little calmer.

I’m stressed at work, so I don’t need that at home too. Nope
The kids are out of the house, my parents are on vacation—it’s just my husband and me. We’re making ourselves cozy on the sofa with Christmas music and a fairy-tale or Christmas movie, delicious food, and mulled wine—that’s all we need.
No tree, no presents.

Since I have to work this weekend anyway, we’ll make up for it all on the second day of Christmas.

So have a peaceful and reflective Christmas season, everyone, and stay healthy

Hi Ines,🎈🎁🧶🎂☘🌸🍄
Even though it’s late, I’d like to extend my warmest congratulations on your special day—wishing you good luck and good health. Take good care of yourself, and keep enchanting us with your craft ideas.
I wish you all the best and a peaceful Christmas with all your loved ones.

Warm regards
Andrea

Thanks, Monika, for this info. It’ll take a little while, though.
You know, I have to take it slow—my hand doesn’t want to do what I want it to.

What wonderful photos you have for us; they look really great. Thank you for sharing

Just like for Monika, it’s getting warmer here this week too. It’s supposed to rain today, and there’s a weather warning for black ice. That could be interesting, and I still have to go out to work today.

Everyone, please be careful on the roads

Lots of love, Andrea

To all experienced knitters:

Since my hands have been getting cold lately whenever I’m at the computer, I’d like to try my hand at knitting wrist warmers—the kind with little thumb holes. I already have an idea of how to knit them (just a straight piece of knit and purl stitches) and how to “set aside” stitches for the thumb.

Now for the actual question about size. How do I figure that out? Do you measure the circumference of your flat hand, or how do you handle it?
Thanks in advance for your tips.

Thank you so much, Josefa and Inge. Of course, I wish the same for you, and for everyone here on the forum.
Have a peaceful Fourth Sunday of Advent, with some crafts, a hot drink, Christmas music, and some delicious cookies.
I’m going to enjoy this weekend to the fullest, because then my vacation ends, and on Monday I’ll be back at it, refreshed and ready to go. I’m sure the residents are already missing me.

Hugs, Andrea

We’re just like Veronika . We don’t have a tree either. An artificial Advent wreath with decorations, colorful lights everywhere—that’s it.

Okay, in Norway we had a small artificial tree, and once a real one—back then I had a big Fröbel star on top, or sometimes just a simple red Christmas ornament on a ribbon. It varies for me.

Back when I was at my parents’ house, there was that obligatory white Christmas tree topper with silver glitter on top—the kind they used to have back then. I thought it was beautiful as a kid; it was the icing on the cake for the tree.

Veronika: I’ve already admired your little grinning bear. I love all the grinning little animals. They’re so cute—they put a smile on your face just from admiring them.
I think I’ll have to give the calendar idea some more thought for next year.
A group order sounds good 😀

Steffi: That’s a great find. See? And were they “real”?
The Norwegian kroner aren’t much different either. I’ve actually held a 500 NOK bill in my hand before. It’s quite something. It looks like a lot, but it would be about 50 euros (at the current exchange rate)
So, what does that tell us? Never throw books away.

OK, thanks, Josefa. It’s fine. I’m sorry.

Today I have a few little things to show you again.
More hearts, and a muffin from my new book