Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

Hi Ina,

that’s so nice that you’re sending another swap package on its way. Of course I’m joining in again—it’s so much fun, and I’m curious about new yarn.
I still have plenty left over from last time, and I’m currently working on some of it.

I’m now on the hunt for types of yarn for those knitted dishcloths that I admire so much. Every now and then, I get the knitting bug, and that’s when I need soft yarn.

I’m really looking forward to it

—have a great weekend, everyone!

Oops, I can’t even keep up with admiring all your amazing creations.
I’m always reading along diligently. But I don’t have anything to show yet myself. I’m still thinking about
what to crochet next.

Anja : How about the name “Schnurri” for your kitty?

Monika: You’re always incredibly fast with your stitches. Everything looks great.

How do you guys always get the edge on the knitted washcloths to turn out so nicely?
Do you knit the stitches at the end, or do you just slip them and knit them in the next row?

Have a nice evening!

Congratulations on the “new addition to the family.” Your Luna is so cute.
I can’t wait to see what you’ll whip up for her to wear.

I hope you have lots of fun with your baby.

Hi everyone,

I agree with everyone else—I also think you, Ina, are a natural. You did a great job on your shirt, and it looks absolutely perfect on you; you’re also very photogenic.

I still have some fabric lying around (it was originally meant for sewing for dolls). I don’t have the time right now either. But seeing your sewing successes really makes me want to get back to sewing. Maybe later. Yarn crafts are still taking up too much of my time.

Recently, I altered my dad’s new workout pants—they were too long. Simple projects like that are fine. But I’ll eventually work my way up to bigger projects too.

Have fun, everyone!

Get well soon from me too, Inge.

We spent Easter with the family. My son and my brother came to visit.
On Sunday, we had a barbecue at my parents’ house, and yesterday, Easter Monday afternoon, we went to the Easter dance.
The weather was nice and sunny.

Everyone made it home safely. Back to work today and tomorrow.
And enjoying the peace and quiet.

Thank you all. The bunnies were a huge hit.

Anja , you have such a cute kitty. She’ll take good care of you, and it’s nice to know that you’re doing well. A kitty like that has such a calming effect with her purring.
I’m more of a cat person myself—not so much a dog person. You really need to have time for a pet like that, and we just don’t have enough of that.
How old is your kitty?

Well, have a wonderful Easter holiday, everyone, whoever you’re spending it with. Take some time to relax.

The eggs are dyed, the decorations are up. Easter can come now.
I can’t hang my beaded eggs on a branch because they’re too heavy, so they’re in a basket. That’s all I need.
I can’t find my decorative Easter bunnies anymore.

Have a wonderful Easter!

I like pink.
I feel the same way as Veronika. It goes great with dark or blue jeans.
Or a pink scarf or shawl with a soft pink coat or black blazer.

While shopping yesterday, a short pink leather jacket caught my eye—unfortunately, they didn’t have my size. Such a shame. Otherwise, I would have bought it.
I need some color in my life.

Warm birthday wishes, good luck, and good health

Best regards
Andrea

Wow, Inge, you’ve really been busy. Such gorgeous colors.
I’ll get started on that tomorrow.
I’ve stocked up on white eggs now, since lately all you could get were brown ones.

I want to bake a cake too, but I can’t find flour anywhere.
Is that the case where you are too? What a bummer. I do still have a little left.

So I wish everyone a wonderful Easter—hopefully with plenty of sunshine for the little ones to hunt for Easter eggs in the garden. Stay healthy, everyone.

Hugs, Andrea

Thank you, Monika, I wish you a happy Easter too, and the same to everyone else here in the forum.
Have fun with your grandchildren, hunting eggs in the garden, and much more.

I have something to show again, too. My bunnies are now finally finished on time, and I can now focus on new projects—for myself.
But it’s always fun to work on this AL.

This morning I went into town again for a stroll. Right in front of me, the tram pulled away. But I sat on a bench and let the warm sun shine on me. Wonderful.

When I got home, it was time for coffee on the balcony. It was almost too hot to bear, but that’s just how I like it.
My husband and I had a cold alcoholic drink—a perfect afternoon.

Now it’s time to crochet.

We’re staying home, too. I have to work on Good Friday and Saturday anyway.
My kids let me know at the last minute that they’re coming to visit over Easter, and I’m especially looking forward to that.
My brother wants to come, too, but he’ll be staying overnight at our parents’ house.

I’ll grab some Easter decorations from the basement tomorrow and put together some Easter-themed decorations.

One of these days I’ll make my lasagna again, and on Easter Sunday we’re invited to my parents’ for a barbecue, weather permitting. (With an electric grill on the balcony.) I’ll bring a mixed salad.
It’s all very laid-back.
Maybe we’ll go to the Easter bonfire nearby, and on Easter Monday there’s an Easter dance.

Hi everyone,

it’s been a while since I checked in here, and just like that, so many great things have been created again.

Monika, your yarn bundle has such gorgeous colors again. That thicker yarn is perfect for potholders. I can’t wait to see it.
Your guest towel together with the washcloth is sure to go down really well with the recipient—I like it, anyway.

Ines, your yarn looks great and has such a beautiful sheen. I’m sure you’ll make something lovely with it.
I also wish you a relaxing wellness weekend. Enjoy it and unwind.

I’m now working on the last commissioned bunny. It’ll be finished just in time for Easter. I’ll post a picture later.
After that, I can finally crochet something for myself again. I’m really looking forward to that.
I still have 4 days of vacation left.
On Sunday, I went to afternoon dancing again. Today was all about shopping.
Tomorrow I’ll do a little more shopping; the kids are coming to visit over Easter. Wonderful.

Then I wish everyone a lovely Easter

best wishes from me

I have no idea, Josefa. Maybe because unicorns evoke something fairy-tale-like, a world where everything is still okay.
Horses are generally very beautiful animals, and they’re especially popular with girls.
I’m one of them too—I love unicorns and all the pastel and rainbow colors.
People simply need color in their lives—it lifts the mood and makes you happy, at least a little, in these difficult times with everything that’s happening around us.

Thanks, Josefa,
I wish the same for you, and for all the other craft-loving folks. Make the most of it and relax.
Exactly—armed with wool and yarn, the weather can’t do a thing to us. But it’s supposed to get better.

Best of all, I now have a full six days off, including four vacation days. I’ve earned it too, and I’m really looking forward to not having any hustle and bustle for a change, doing whatever I want, and getting up whenever I want.
Maybe I’ll go to the afternoon dance with my parents again on Sunday, or my husband and I will go somewhere (by train or bike)

Ina, get well soon with your cold
Monika, that looks absolutely lovely. The trees are slowly turning green here now too—great
Inge, it’s so nice that your friend is helping you out with fabrics so you can keep working on your KT projects. Best of luck

Best wishes

Oh, Ina, what lovely felt slippers you’ve made again for your grandson Oskar.
That really makes you happy when Grandma grants a wish like that. Great color.
Anyone would love to be a child again at your house (felt slippers, lots of little dolls with accessories, etc.)…
Simply fantastic.

So far, I’m doing fine, except right now—after the late shift—I’m totally wiped out. There were only two of us for over 25 residents, one qualified staff member for two floors (because of the meds).
My feet hurt, and I barely made it onto my bus. I had three minutes to spare.
Staff shortages, illness. It’s awful.

On Sunday, I went with my parents for afternoon coffee and dancing. It was a really nice afternoon. It did me good. I recharged my “batteries.”

I hope most of you are still healthy, and I wish those who are sick a speedy recovery.

Sleep well
Best regards, Andrea

My very best wishes for your birthday—wishing you good luck and good health.

Warm regards, Andrea

Thanks, and have a great weekend too, despite the time change.
I don’t need this change either. An extra hour is fine, but losing an hour is really tough until your body gets used to it again.

I have the weekend off and am enjoying it. On Sunday afternoon, we’re going with my parents to an afternoon coffee and dance. I’m really looking forward to it—it’s been ages since I’ve been. It’ll be great.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Hi everyone,

those are really great tips—thank you!

Inge’s idea is interesting. I’ll give that a try when I get the chance.
I sew so rarely that I wasn’t familiar with Vlisofix. It helped me a lot. Thanks

Best regards

hello Monika, I feel exactly the same, and I’ve already been thinking about the best way to do it (if I ever find the time).
Years ago I bought a pretty T-shirt on the Baltic Sea coast, black with an anchor motif, with little glued-on rhinestones that sparkle in the sunlight. Unfortunately it doesn’t fit anymore.

My idea is: to cut out this motif generously, and then sew it back onto a well-fitting black T-shirt with the sewing machine. Either round or oval.

Maybe someone has a tip on how to sew it on more or less wrinkle-free and straight in the center.
I don’t have such a large embroidery hoop to stretch it in.

It’s too nice for me to throw away, and as a small cushion cover, I already have so many. Maybe a small bag—far too nice for that.
So I’d rather use it as a shirt for summer.

Do you use a regular stitch or zigzag for sewing around it? I have no idea. I don’t have an embroidery machine.

I’m also looking forward to ideas and tips. Thanks in advance.

and I wish everyone a lovely weekend

So cute you just want to hug him. It looks great on him.

Good morning

Thank you for your feedback.

Exactly, Monika—I brought along the blue sky that I love sooooo much. It just looks gorgeous.

Wow, Ina, you always manage to pull this off so well. Great job. It looks fantastic, and the colors all go together perfectly.
I have a sewing machine too, but it’s mostly for personal use—I rarely sew anything because it acts up with the bobbin every now and then.

You’re going to become a sewing pro. Thanks for the tips—if I ever do sew something, I’ll know what to do.

Have fun, everyone!

Mmm, that looks delicious, Marlies . It makes you want to take a bite right away.

Thanks, and I wish you all a wonderful weekend—or the rest of a lovely Sunday.
I have the late shift again tomorrow, but I’m off on Monday. Then I’ll sit out on the balcony in the sunshine, enjoy some spaghetti ice cream, and do some crocheting.

Warm regards from me

Dear Monika,

I was working the late shift, so I’m just now sending my warmest birthday wishes for today. Wishing you good luck and good health—stay just the way you are.
We’re glad you had a wonderful day today, with delicious cake and coffee.
The weather was sunny, too, despite the wind.

Please keep joining us here on the forum—it’s always a pleasure to admire your creations, and everyone else’s, of course. We’re like one big family here.

Cheers—here’s to you



Best regards from Andrea

Spring is slowly arriving here, too.

My husband and I went on a lovely bike ride to Radewege today. I had the day off, and the weather was gorgeous. We took a break and enjoyed some delicious food.
Here are a few photos

 
 

hello Ina, congratulations on your grandchild. She looks so adorable. Thank you for showing us. The little one is now the center of the family and now has a little brother who looks after her..
Yes, time goes by far too quickly, and then they’re grown up. Enjoy this time, all the very best for your family happiness.
Your picture frame looks beautiful. A wonderful idea.

You all really do have a lot to do, with gardening, trees, hedges.
And yet you still find time for crafting. Hats off to you.

Monika, I really had to smile and can picture your husband sitting next to you and your “babies,” amazed at how quickly you dress them all. You really do whip up one pretty piece after another. I admire you for that again.
When you get a chance, please post a group photo of your “babies” with their outfits.

kind regards from me

Good morning, fellow craft lovers!

I hope you all have a lovely, sunny Sunday.
At least here, the sun is shining, though it’s a bit chilly for the balcony.

My parents invited us to go bowling yesterday with their group. First, we had a delicious meal, punch, beer, and schnapps, then some exercise.
Everything was arranged in advance, including the use of the bowling alley.
It was so much fun. I think the last time I went bowling was maybe 15 years ago.

The funniest part was that all three top spots—along with the certificates—stayed within the family.
My mom took first place, I took second place by just one point, and my dad took third place among the men. Crazy, and I hadn’t practiced beforehand—which everyone joked about.
They even crowned the “Rat King.” We’d missed having such a cozy get-together for a long time, and I was able to really unwind from my daily work routine.


It was a fun and successful evening

—now it’s back to crocheting.

Wow, it looks like you all have quite a lot planned for the weekend.

I’m taking it a bit easier—my job is exhausting enough as it is, and I’m also a bit laid up. So I’ll be staying on the couch or out on the balcony, working through my crochet orders (I’m just a little pressed for time there).
Maybe we’ll also go on a little bike ride. I’m really in the mood for that, and I’d love to stop at an ice cream shop along the way for some ice cream. Exactly.

You lovely people, I wish you all a wonderful, sunny weekend

Best wishes from me

Thank you, Inge, for sharing. The blossoms aren’t quite that far along here yet.
But the hedge is already showing little green leaves.
From our balcony, we can watch the birds. A pair of blackbirds and two turtle doves are constantly perched in the tree, making their calls.

There’s just a light breeze today, but the sun is already strong. It’s cold in the morning, and by the end of the workday, you’re sweltering in your thick jacket.

I have the weekend off now. If the weather’s nice, we’ll go for a bike ride. We’re not used to temperatures like this at this time of year anymore. But it’s lovely.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Marlene, if this is going to be a shawl, I’d leave the edge as is. The pattern and the jagged edge alone already make it look so great.

Thank you. Unfortunately, the bunny has already left me today and found a new home.

Petra: The idea of using socks as tights for the baby dolls is brilliant. I’ll have to remember that. Thanks for sharing. She looks so cute in them.

Monika: I feel the same way. There weren’t such pretty dolls in such a variety back in the day. Now we’re making up for all that. I used to love dressing up dolls, and I even hand-sewed clothes myself for a used “Art Barbie” doll I was given back then.

We’d play “mom, dad, and child” with the little dollhouse dolls and set up the dollhouse just the way we liked it as kids. My dollhouse even had a light (that flat battery with the metal contacts you had to bend and the wires attached).

How quickly time flies. Once a doll mom, always a doll mom—no matter how old you are.

Have fun with your little darlings!

Well, I like to use these colorful plastic stitch markers. They come in different sizes, though. I prefer the larger ones because the end is thinner and longer—better for my crochet stitches.

I need them when I’m crocheting in spiral rounds, or when I take a break from crocheting—I place the stitch marker in the last stitch.

For example, when I’m crocheting a garment and want to check the fit, I use the stitch marker to pin the two crocheted pieces together, or if I want to create sections, they’re really helpful.

I even use them for my little amigurumi.

That’s right—back in the days of the GDR, this was celebrated in a big way at work. Afternoon coffee and cake, and every time you’d get these little flowers to pin on your clothes. A different one every year. I used to save and collect them.
Unfortunately, those flowers got lost during all the moves.

Today is just a workday for me. I wouldn’t really consider it a holiday either.

But… the women residents at our care home each received a rose today, and everyone—including us caregivers—got a glass of punch. A buffet was set up for us, featuring cold cuts, salmon, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, fruit, meatballs, small sausages, something sweet with strawberries, and much more. I was absolutely stuffed.
So the nursing home really went all out. Hats off to them!

Oh Monika, it’s such a joy to watch your “family” grow.
They look so adorable, and the way you always dress them up is absolutely charming. And you get it done so quickly—it’s amazing.
That wicker cart looks great, and they all fit right in there. I’m sure you dress your little doll kids according to the season, right? Like summer or winter outfits.
You can’t even blink before the clothes are done.

We’re both so lucky to have such understanding husbands. Mine has his own hobbies, too, which I totally get because I like miniatures myself (with his model train set).

Today was such lovely spring weather with sunshine that we spontaneously moved our coffee break out onto the balcony. The sun was really strong—we even sat outside in short sleeves for a bit. Absolutely wonderful, and I had the day off. I really enjoyed it.

Naming your twins: my suggestion—Jan and Tini
(the names remind me of a former East German children’s show: “Jan and Tini on the Road”). I think they’d be a good fit.

Have a lovely afternoon, everyone!

Hi everyone,

I have something new to show you again. AL from the blog

Well then, get well soon, Inge.

Hi Marion,
warmest birthday wishes—may you have good luck and good health.
Let yourself be pampered today, and enjoy the time with your family.
Stay just the way you are, and keep up the great work with your shop—I love your patterns.

Cheers!

Warm regards from
Andrea

I have to work this weekend, but I have Monday off, and then it’s back to the early shift.
I’ll be crocheting every free minute I have—if I don’t fall asleep from exhaustion after work.

Otherwise, enjoy the weekend, everyone, and do whatever you feel like doing

Best regards

Hi everyone,

Anja, thanks for checking in. I’m healthy and back at work already. I’ve recovered from COVID—no lingering effects. Fingers crossed. I’m in the mood to crochet again, too.
I’m sure you’ll be able to get back into it with full enthusiasm at some point and finish your jacket. I’m certain of it.

Sandra, those dino bags look great. I’m sure you’ll find buyers for them.
My kids used to be crazy about dinosaurs, too. Maybe you could color the dinosaurs—then everyone would have their own unique dinosaur bag.
I like them.

Have a nice evening!

Inge, that’s a really lovely idea.
My personal favorite is the yellow one embroidered with dark blue. It really makes the dove stand out.

The recipients are going to be so happy. Great job.

Ina, we were all curious to see what would end up in your package. A very nice mix. My wool/yarn has also already found new homes along the way, which makes me happy.
I would have liked to try that Drops Safran myself. But that’s what this swap is for—to feel and test things you’d never otherwise buy in a store.

I’m sure you’ll show us some of your finished projects made from the swap yarn. We’re really looking forward to it.
It’ll still take me a little while, though. First up are my Easter bunnies and the blanket for Krümel.

I’d like to echo the sentiments of the previous commenters and thank you once again from the bottom of my heart, dear Ina, for starting this “Swap Package” event. I’ll definitely be joining in again next time.
Exactly, Monika—it’s like Christmas and Easter rolled into one. The element of surprise.

Warmest regards to everyone here

my doll is a full 52 cm tall and has sleep eyes. So when you lay her down, her eyes close.
This one has a hollow body made of lightweight material. The arms and legs (which are sturdier than the head) can only be moved up and down. You can comb her hair.

As a child, my dolls always had to have real hair so I could style it.
My mom also had a Käthe Kruse doll. I have no idea where it ended up.

Have fun with your precious little dolls!

Dear doll moms

Then I’ll show you my Susi too.
The little jacket is still from my children’s going-out set. The hat is from another crochet doll (it came with her). My mom knitted the sweater back then, and the knitted undies are still from my late great-grandmother.
Please don’t be surprised that my doll no longer has fingernails on her right hand. I cut them off when I was a kid, thinking they’d grow back. Fat chance.

Here she is



She’s 50 years old now

What a magnificent display of blooms. Unbelievable. Beautiful.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck with the orchid I was given. Well, it only had 4–6 blooms, and they’ve all fallen off. I like orchids—or is it too warm for it here? I have no idea.
My Christmas cactus had blooms; I thought they’d open up more, but no—they just dried up.

Maybe it’s because we have a west-facing window. Flowers tend to prefer south-facing windows.
In Norway, I had no problems with the south-facing window location.
I don’t even dare to buy plants anymore. It’s a shame, really.

Oh Monika, you’ve got some wonderful doll treasures there. I know they’ll be leaving you again.
Unfortunately, I can’t help you with that either. But this little boy pee-pee doll, I’d say, looks a lot like my Susi. She could really be from the late ’70s/’80s.
I still have my little doll from that time.
I’ve been meaning to show her to you for a long time, but unfortunately she still can’t present herself dressed.

Well, I hope your little treasures find a loving home.