Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

Oh Anja, that doesn’t sound good at all. Sad for the little hedgehog, but you did your best.
Wishing you a speedy recovery too, of course.

Monika, you’ve already made great progress again on your tunic. It already looks wonderful.
So snuggle up nicely on the sofa and get some rest.

We’re going away to the Harz Mountains for a few days today. My cough is bothering me again, and I have a sore throat. It had already eased off, but now it’s come back. I really don’t need this right now. Maybe a change of air will work wonders.

everyone have a lovely, cozy Sunday

I also wish you all a relaxing weekend, despite the chilly weather.
As long as we all have yarn for our crafts, nothing can rattle us.
Grab a hot cappuccino, tea, or hot chocolate, curl up on the couch, and let the relaxation begin.

We’re planning to get away for a few days on Sunday—using up the rest of our vacation time. We’re heading to Wernigerode. I’ve heard there’s a miniature park there that I’d love to check out.
Otherwise, we’ll pop into a café and work our way through all the different kinds of cake ☕🍰👩
Then we’ll take the little tourist train to Schierke. I’m really looking forward to it.
Still need to pack my suitcase.

Best wishes from me

Hey hey Mel,

you’ve picked out a lovely, colorful mix. Gorgeous colors. I would’ve liked the light blue yarn, too.
Let’s see what interesting things you’ll create with it. Have fun with it.

Thanks also to Ina for the little surprise notes. You always keep us in suspense, but the “reveal” is coming soon.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend

Starting Sunday, we’re going away for a few days, on vacation. I’m really looking forward to it, despite the chilly weather. Finally, some downtime and some crafting *joy*

Lots of love from me
Andrea

Before I got into crocheting, I used to work a lot with Ceramofix (casting powder) and then paint the pieces. That was fun.
I had various molds made specifically for this purpose (motifs, picture frames, masks).
This mixture was similar to plaster, but with fewer air bubbles. Eventually, I didn’t have enough time to keep up with all my hobbies.

I also did crafts with this air-drying papier-mâché mixture. It was so light, easy to shape, and easy to paint. I used it to decorate my chipboard boxes.
I’ll take some photos when I get the chance.

Thank you, Josefa.💛

👌😍 Hey, thanks—it worked great. You really do keep learning something new.

So here, the weather was dry, cloudy, then sunny. I’d just gotten off my late shift, and it was really warm outside.

Have fun with your swap yarn 🧶

I still have so many of those old, thin metal crochet hooks, but I just can’t use them anymore. They make my fingers hurt so much. But as a fan of “Ostalgie,” I’ve kept them anyway.

I now have a crochet hook set with handles (my hands thank me for it), and I’m very happy with it. Sizes 2.0 to 6.0. I also have a plastic crochet hook set, ranging from 2.0 to 8.0. I hardly ever use the thicker ones, but the colors are so beautifully translucent.

For my filet crochet yarn, I bought a special, high-quality, expensive size 1.75 hook with a protective cap. I love it because it fits so well in my hand.

Hi there, you little woolly mice.

Hooray, I’ve finished another UFO.
Only half a heart was missing. Crocheted it together—done.
So happy.



Have a great midweek, everyone!

Wow, that looks great. This combination works really well.

Cowboy boots are back in style? Oh, I see. Of course I like them. Unfortunately, they’re crazy expensive—at least the ones made of real leather.
I only have these “fake” cowboy ankle boots; I’m going to wear them now that it’s late fall. They’re still in their original packaging. I’ll take a picture of them soon.
I really like those heels, and that pointy toe. Cool.

I’d love to try line dancing, too, but unfortunately there’s nothing around here. I love the cowboy look—boots, hat, plaid shirt—totally my style.

Good evening,

I’m always following along closely. @Ines, you’ve picked out some lovely yarn. Have fun working with it.
It’s always really interesting to see what kinds of yarn end up in the package.

Hugs from me

Hi Sonja,

I just read here that it was your birthday. Of course, belated congratulations from me on your special day. Wishing you good luck and good health.
I hope your girls’ night out was a success.

Stay just the way you are. This forum is truly enriched by all the lovely creations you share with us. I wish you continued success with your shop, and may you never run out of ideas.

Warmest regards from me

Oh my, Margitta, we wrote at the same time :-)

I, too, have been reading along with great excitement and following where all the wool treasures end up.

Dear Margitta, you’ve picked out some gorgeous skeins. Those could have “moved in” with me, too. I’d say those are subtle fall colors. A shawl made from them will definitely look great. I can’t wait to see it.

Ina always gets right to the point. Of course you want to try out your newly acquired yarn right away—a little here and a little there—and before you know it, you’ve finished crocheting the piece, and the other UFOs automatically get put aside. That happens to me a lot.
Eventually, I pull myself together and finish those UFOs or keep crocheting on them.
But I also have to be in the mood for it; then it’s easier to finish them.

Have a lovely evening

Best regards

Thank you, Ines. Once you’ve tried the mosaic technique, you’ll be hooked. There are sooooo many pattern examples where you can really let your creativity run wild. You can do it too, I’m sure of it.
With this acrylic yarn, the mosaics are as light as a feather. Cotton is heavier.

ruthk, your door wreath looks beautiful. The bright green in the scrubby yarn looks really great. Thanks for the idea to use this yarn for more than just sponges.

Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Hello, everyone.

Here’s another mosaic crocheted from the latest swap yarn.
However, the pink doesn’t really stand out. 

It’s pretty cloudy here today—the temperature is pleasant, but it’s cardigan weather.
My wish list is doing well, too; it’s getting longer and longer. Lots of projects are still waiting to be crocheted.

Sometimes the mail is really fast. All the better for you, Margitta. Now you have time to browse. Have fun with it.

When crocheting amigurumi or dolls, I prefer to crochet the arms and legs right into the body instead of sewing them on.
To do this, I crochet the arms and legs first, join them with stitches, and create the body by decreasing as I work upward. Then I crochet the arms into the body and continue crocheting the head right away. This saves you the hassle of sewing and makes the figure more sturdy.
By stuffing and shaping them evenly, you’ll end up with nice-looking arms and legs. Over time, you’ll get a feel for how much stuffing to use without making them bulge. Practice makes perfect.

Here’s another tip: try working on both legs or both arms at the same time and finish them in one day.
I once had the problem that if I crocheted one leg today and the other tomorrow, they ended up looking different. After all, not every day is the same.

Hey Josefa,
are you talking about these diamond painting pictures? You know, sticking little stones onto a canvas to create a picture.
If so, I’ve already tried them—in fact, I’m in the middle of finishing one right now (30 x 30 cm).
With a kit like that, everything is usually included (the stones, the pen for picking up the beads, and that adhesive paste—that’s what I call it).
It’s really fun and relaxing. You also need some patience for it. I like to do this kind of thing in between, when I’m taking a break from crocheting.

I haven’t tried that other way of sticking stones onto canvas yet, unfortunately. But it does appeal to me, too.

Good morning,

Thank you all—things are slowly looking up.

It’s a pleasant 21 degrees here. It’s comfortable enough to spend time on the sunny balcony again. Of course, it cools down again in the evening, so you can breathe deeply and air out the place.

Relax and stay healthy

Thank you so much—I wish the same for all of you.
I’m not really in the fall mood yet with this warm weather. For me, it’s still summer.

But first, I need to get over this cold. In between, when I’m feeling well, I’ll do a little crocheting; otherwise, I’ll just sleep.

It’s great that you’re showing us your treasures. I’ve never heard of this “paper yarn” either. I’m curious to see what you’ll “conjure up” with it.
These little skeins go great with your others. It’s interesting that you want to weave belts out of them.
Have fun working with them.

Thank you so much for the great photos. It’s amazing what you can make out of pumpkins. Really impressive.
It reminds me of the pumpkin exhibition that will be taking place here again soon. It can’t be long now.

Exactly—sleeping in when you have the day off. I can finally catch up on that now.
Because for the past few days, I’ve been struggling with a cold that I need to let run its course first.
Have breakfast in peace, and see how I feel before doing some crocheting.
Or I’ll just sit out on the balcony in the sun.

Then relax thoroughly

Monika, you’re doing exactly the right thing, and your cake looks absolutely delicious.
We could use days like this more often.

For me, it would look pretty similar. In any case, something sweet is a must—whether it’s a piece of chocolate or cake, maybe a cappuccino, and definitely some music. Maybe even a little neck or foot massage to relieve the stress of the workday. That would do me—and my soul—a world of good.

Since we still have a bathtub, I’d also take a relaxing bath.

That looks really great with those rhinestone stickers—especially the colorful ones.
Every grandma would be happy to receive a homemade card or, like here, a framed photo.
Great

Kind regards

Good morning

Hi Steffi, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for you that today will be a really great day.
I’m also excited to see what kind of wool treasures will be coming your way.

Have a wonderful day, everyone

That went by fast again. You picked out some beautiful yarn. The glittery yarn is from me. I’m curious to see what you’ll crochet with it. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any ideas for it. Have fun working with it.

My husband is usually very accommodating, but when it comes to the swap package, he says, “Is this what I think it is? You don’t have enough yarn yet,” and laughs.
The annoying thing is that my husband has to run to the package station every time because I’m usually at work. I kind of feel bad for him.
That’s just how it is with hobbies.

I’m going to bed now—I’m exhausted.
Have a relaxing Sunday, everyone.

Good evening—

it’s always nice to be able to bring a little joy to others, and it makes me feel good too.

You’ve picked out some really lovely yarn treasures, Monika. I recognize my yarns. I’m glad they found their way to you.
I figured the mottled yarn would catch your eye for your little dolls.
Thank you so much for sharing these in such detail.

Thank you so much, dear Petra, for these wonderful photos. It looks great.
No, I haven’t been there yet, but from what I can see, it’s definitely worth a visit.
The cheetahs are so cute.

Hey Monika, we wrote at the same time.
That’s nice. Yes, enjoy it.

Hi there,

thank you so much. Sometimes I put my ideas into action right away and use every free minute. Right now, though, I don’t get much time to crochet.

Pssst, I think Moni already has her package. That really went fast.

Best regards

Hey, that embroidery of Germany is amazing. You actually finished it. Kudos.
I have something similar—an embroidery of all of Norway—that I’d been meaning to stitch to have a memento of the wonderful time I had there. Unfortunately, I don’t have the time for it right now.

In the meantime, I’m still working on a diamond painting for my mom, which I gave her as a birthday present (she can’t do it herself—it’s too fiddly). It still needs to be framed.

As I mentioned above, I print out important, beautiful patterns; I have some on my computer. I really should back them up to an external hard drive. Some of my old craft patterns are gone (my computer broke, and everything was lost).

As a former secretary, I, too, prefer the tried-and-true paper format. What you have in black and white…
I have 4–5 small A5 diaries full of handwritten patterns (crochet and beadwork) that I find online and like. I’ve also bookmarked them on my computer, but sometimes I can’t find them anymore. Then I look in my trusty notebooks, and… there they are.
I jot down patterns on scraps of paper while watching videos, then neatly copy everything in my notebooks in my best handwriting. I’ve always enjoyed writing by hand, even back in school. No problem with that. I even paste in little drawings, crochet charts, or crochet swatches.
That way, I can quickly grab a little notebook to take on vacation instead of my whole computer.

As I mentioned before, Tunisian crochet is better for bag handles or belts because it’s sturdier and doesn’t stretch as much.
However, this type of crochet takes longer than regular crochet. I prefer making small items, like coasters or a TaTü case. That’s still manageable. Otherwise, I don’t have the patience for larger projects.
That’s true—Tunisian pieces always need to be crocheted around the edges because they tend to curl up. But the stitch pattern is interesting. You could even crochet around the outside with contrasting yarn.

Those are such pretty books, shaped like “school cones.” I would have loved something like that as a child too. I haven’t seen anything like that before. She’ll definitely be delighted.

The knitted dishcloth looks very pretty.

Anja, I use buttons or a zipper.

The swap package is on its way to you, Monika.
The box got a bit battered, but it still held up.
I hope you enjoy browsing through it. I’m curious to see what you choose.

Have a pleasant week, everyone

Best regards
Andrea

Thank you. My pleasure.
These colors work great for Christmas, too. Add a bit of glittery yarn around the edges, and you’ve got a festive mosaic doily.

Happy birthday today—wishing you good health. Have a wonderful day.
The sun is shining here today.

Happy Sunday

Made from yesterday’s swap yarn. I just had to try it out right away.

I also found these two pink skeins.



Exactly, Ina. You were right. I need the black as a contrast to the pink for my mosaics; it works better that way. Otherwise, I tend to prefer lighter colors.
The white fluffy yarn goes with the other fluffy yarns from the last package. But I’m going to knit with it (crocheting doesn’t work so well with it).

Thanks, I wish the same for you and everyone else, too. We had a bit of drizzle in between, but otherwise the atmosphere was great. I enjoy these little breaks from work. Oh yes, and a fish sandwich is a must at the fishermen’s festival.

So, everyone, enjoy your crafting.

Monika is next and can look forward to it. I think I’ll be able to send the package on its way to you on Monday.

Best regards

Exactly, Ina—we had cappuccino, strawberry sundaes, and Schnäpperkin along the way. We went to the Fishermen’s Festival in Ketzin.

Well then, I won’t keep you waiting any longer.
Here’s what I got. It wasn’t easy to decide.

Hi everyone,

The swap package has already arrived. I’m so happy!
Of course, I had to take a peek right away—my curiosity was just too strong.
I’ll post a photo later, since we’re about to head out.

Have a wonderful Saturday, everyone.

See you later

I’m already next in line—oh my gosh, that went fast!
Your haul would’ve been right up my alley, too. Well, I’m a big fan of yarn cakes. This one made its way to you.
Now I’m curious to see what’ll arrive for me. *excited*

Have a great weekend, everyone. I’m off work, too.

Lots of love from me

Now I can see the picture too—yay! You’ve picked out some really great colors.
I like the mint color, too. Have fun working with them.

Hi everyone,

I’m excited too, but unfortunately I can’t see any photos either. Too bad.

My very best congratulations from me too, and many more years together.
I think it’s wonderful that your husband shares in your hobby, and he makes a great model.

The photo is amazing. You can really see the joy in both of you. Here’s to many more woolly times.

Warm regards
Andrea

We wish you the same. Ina, a huge thank you for sending another yarn package on its way and filling us all with joyful anticipation for what’s to come. Great idea with the draw lots. We’re excited. Now I’m really curious.

Ina, the things you’re always making. So beautifully colorful—children really love that.
I’d love to be a child again at your place. Playing in a shady spot like that is twice as nice. Great job.

Exactly, Petra—or for a little amigurumi. We’ll see, or just as a decoration