Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

Wow, you have a wonderfully large button collection. And there are some really great ones in there. It’s great when they’re gifts.

There’s so much you can do with them. As Ursula already mentioned, things like button art. I’ve also seen them crocheted around. You can make little figures out of them using wire, or use them as Christmas decorations (string them all in green from largest to smallest, like a little Christmas tree), make bracelets, necklaces, and cool earrings...Use them as eyes for crocheted figures... as wheels for cars... and so much more

Personally, I really like those vintage glass buttons—they shimmer so beautifully. They come in such gorgeous colors, too. Actually, I’ve always liked glass buttons—ever since I was a kid. My grandma and my mom kept them in a box in their sewing boxes, and I used to love playing with them as a child.

U – Rearranging and decluttering

Well, I’m also saying “no” to perms. They were “in” back then, but never again. Too many chemicals, and my scalp itched, or I even lost some of my hair because the stylist left the stuff on too long.

Now my hair is nice and soft and shiny (thanks to the clear water here—no limescale).

Diana , I know that too—with long hair and dyeing or tinting it, hairdressers throw their hands up in horror, and you end up paying a fortune.

If I want curls, I just use my curling iron or my rollers.

Bead crafting (flowers, trees, earrings)

I hope you all have a great weekend.

The weather here is so-so—just windy and cloudy.

We’ll keep packing and head to the dump (to get rid of old furniture and more).
We still need to buy some more moving boxes—it’s the home stretch now. The moving company is coming in two weeks to pick everything up.

F – colorful leaves falling from the trees—you can even crochet them

Petra, the pattern is only available in English. If you’re familiar with English crochet abbreviations, that’s no problem. The pattern includes both written instructions and a diagram.
You’ll mainly be crocheting single crochet, double crochet, and chain stitches, with slip stitches at the end of each row.

I’m glad you like the blanket. At this size, it would also make a perfect baby blanket.

I’m glad to hear that, Petra—yes, this pattern fascinated me right away, too.

I’m also imagining the blanket in just two colors (black and white, for example) with a red border or something like that.

Hihi Steffi, there aren’t many left, though. They were just too delicious :-)

Have a nice afternoon

I didn’t bake anything, but we’re about to have pancakes with jam, powdered sugar on top, and whipped cream. Mmm, delicious!

Hey there!

I’ve crocheted my squares together into a little blanket.
Maybe I’ll make it bigger, or maybe I’ll leave it like this for now.

Here’s my little masterpiece

Also, happy belated birthday from me.
I hope you had a wonderful day.

Marion, I’m sure you’ll find time for this eventually, and once you start, you won’t be able to stop—it’ll be so much fun, believe me.

There’s just something about this mosaic “bug.”

We all inspire each other here. Everyone has their own creative side—that’s what I love so much about this place.

So have fun experimenting and tinkering, everyone :-)

Sure, I absolutely love the mosaic technique. If there are others who also love this technique and want to give it a try, it’s great to be able to admire different color variations here. You can really let your creativity run wild.

Once you’ve learned this technique and know how it works, you can even come up with your own patterns using a sheet of graph paper.

The mosaic technique is actually just regular crochet, but worked into the back loops. You can use as many colors as you want, since each row is worked in a single color.
At the end of each row, you change color, and the alternating double crochets worked into the front loops of the previous round create this wonderful pattern.

You don’t have to carry the yarn across the entire row, as you do with tapestry crochet, so it’s quick to crochet.

If you crochet this mosaic technique in rows, you cut the yarn after each row, which leaves you with beautiful fringes at the end that you can then tie together.

You can even crochet wall hangings with this technique. I’m totally hooked on this technique, and I have so many ideas.

Yarn Diet. What now?

Hi Bettina, welcome to the forum.

If you’re crocheting in spiral rounds, yes, the seam will run diagonally.

To make it straight, you can work a slip stitch and 1 chain stitch at the end of each round, then work 1 single crochet into that same stitch, and continue crocheting as usual.

Give it a try.

Ruth, my granny squares made using the mosaic technique are about 24 x 24 cm, crocheted with a 2.5 mm hook and Catania yarn. If you sew two of them together, you’ll have a nice, thick potholder. To make sure you don’t burn your fingers in case it does turn out too thin, you can always sew something in between.

Since the squares are so nice and big—and a breeze to crochet—they’re perfect for a blanket or even a decorative cushion cover.

I’ve finished 9 squares so far, which I’ll be crocheting together soon. Then I’ll have a small blanket to start with. Maybe I’ll make it bigger, or maybe I’ll leave it as is. We’ll see.

To all the night owls out there, sleep well. See you tomorrow

Hey Steffi, that looks great for your first try.

My round start is pretty much in the middle, so it’s hardly noticeable. Once I finish the first round, I make a slip stitch with the new yarn and start the single crochet right there. Give it a try.

Here’s the front and back

we ran out of yarn. Oh no, what now...

a wonderful good morning to everyone

thank you Ines, good to know. I'll have to see where I can get a crochet hook with a cable like that.

You all are putting a smile on my face again because I was able to get you excited about mosaic crochet, and because you're not alone with this crochet passion.
So 27 rows are crocheted up quickly, and you only have to weave in the starting and ending yarn tails.

It feels really good to be here in the forum; you always learn something here and there from others, new techniques, get newly inspired... so it never gets boring here.

But over the next few days I'll have to take it a bit easier again. Final sprint with packing, and getting the apartment a little spruced up, because the landlords want to take pictures tomorrow for the listing page (for re-renting it after we move out).
And the weeds still need to be taken care of too :-(

If I can't show as much anymore, I'll still be a "silent" reader here. I wouldn't want to miss out on this.

have a pleasant week, everyone, don't stress yourselves out. But if you have enough yarn on hand, stress doesn't come up in the first place. :-)   :-) At most, you have sooooo many projects in your head, but there just isn't enough time in the day for them

best wishes
Andrea

I just can’t stop

Hello at this late hour

I’m always amazed by your new creations. This forum is my nightly reading material.

Sandra, the birthday card looks great. Even I like Fireman Sam. Great drawing.
It’s nice that you get to test-crochet, and the crocheted loop looks fantastic, as does the motif.

Steffi, wow, I’m thrilled. Your mosaic granny looks fantastic. See, it’s not hard at all. It’s addictive, isn’t it? The pattern really pops with those colors. You’re giving me a run for my money :-)

Ines, your sweater looks very pretty. I always wonder how you crochet large areas in Tunisian crochet?

Of course it was delicious. We’ve already tried it. But the rest is for the weekend.

Exactly, Inge—whipped cream on the side. Mmm, delicious

Having it on the right is of course awkward; I hope you get well soon.
Your swatch already looks great.

Hi everyone,

Wow, Marion and Monika, look at all the things you make with your fruit!
We don’t have a garden,

but instead, I baked a sheet pan apple crumble cake today with chocolate pudding underneath, and sprinkled cinnamon on top of the apples.
It just came out of the oven. The whole apartment smells like it.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Monika, your nest looks really pretty, colorful on the inside and solid-colored on the outside. I like it. For my purposes, I could easily imagine a small potted plant in it.
You’ll definitely manage the mosaic crochet.

I’ll come by for breakfast too. Looks delicious. I’d add some oatmeal to mine.

I’ve already “infected” Steffi too. Nice. I hope you have lots of fun and that it turns out well. I’m already curious to see how yours looks when it’s finished.
That pattern really appealed to me too—simple, with a big impact.

This pattern only really comes into its own when you use just 2 colors. I tried it in multicolor today, and you can’t really make out the pretty pattern.

yes Ina, that’s right. But due to time constraints, this dollhouse has been put “on ice” for now. I do hope I’ll be able to finish it in Germany.

Your dollhouses are wonderful. That really makes a doll mom’s heart beat faster.

Steffi, I’m really impressed by this technique. It looks great and interesting.

I also sent you a private message (Mosaic)

Good morning, everyone—have a wonderful day!

I’d like to introduce you to No. 4. It crochets up so quickly, and the squares are a nice, large size—about 24×24 cm. Just right for a blanket. Of course, they’re also great for pot holders if you sew two together.

I used leftover Catania yarn and a size 2.5 hook.

Your bunny is so cute. You’ve created some really pretty decorations using this technique. I like it

Exactly—I’ve been wanting to try these African flower granny squares to make animals out of them, too. I have the patterns and templates, but I just haven’t found the time yet. It’s really interesting.

Really, it smells so good in here. Everything looks so delicious.

Steffi, your oatmeal cookies look soooo delicious. Thank you for the recipe. I’ll definitely try it out sometime, either when I can get all the ingredients here or I’ll save it for Germany, when I can try out my new oven.

Petra, mmm, your broccoli quiche looks really delicious, too.
I once made a cauliflower-broccoli casserole topped with cheese. I love casseroles with loooooads of cheese.

It’s amazing what you can cook and bake.

Wow, Ina, who wouldn’t want to be a “kid” again? After all, deep down, we all still are.
Finally, I’ve gotten a glimpse of your doll collection. It’s wonderful, and it’s such a joy to look at your pictures and play along in my imagination.

Now we also know how you set up your “doll’s house” with the walls. Everything should be practical, after all, and kids want to be able to take everything apart and put it back together anyway.

schnatter_design, your homemade doll’s house looks fascinating. Wonderful. Especially because it’s so big and versatile, and so lovingly furnished. I just love things like that—doll’s houses in general.

Thanks to both of you for showing us.

I’m sneaking back into the forum.

Wow, Ina. What a wonderful place to spend time. Enjoy it while you can, before the cold fall sets in.
You’ve got plenty to do in the garden, too—how do you manage it all?

Marion and Sonja, thank you for your feedback and for keeping your fingers crossed for me. Most of it’s already packed, so there isn’t that much left—which means I still have time to crochet.

Monika, yes, I pack during the day, and at night I work on my crochet projects, and just like that, Part 2 is done


Above all, I’ve figured out that balls of yarn take up more space in the box than finished crocheted pieces *hihi*

Part 3 is in the works. 😍

Thank you for your feedback.

Monika, thank you for making us smile with your funny snapshot.

Just finished—it hopped right off the needle. Mosaic technique (store-bought AL)

Oh, Ina, your words sound like a warm hug offering comfort.
Reading them is even bringing tears to my eyes.

We still have a full four weeks left to pack up the rest. Then we’ll hope everything goes smoothly,


except for the signed lease agreement from the board that’s still missing—which we’re eagerly awaiting. We signed it, sent it back, the letter was returned to us by German customs, we sent it again, and now we’re waiting—waiting—waiting. Nothing has happened since then.

That’s our only concern right now; without the signed contract, we can’t get our household goods into Germany duty-free.

So it really helps to read your kind, comforting words. Thanks again to everyone here.

Interesting, Steffi, all the things you’re trying out.

I first had to Google “nalbinding”. I’d never heard of it before. There really is such a thing as everything.

Mmm, that looks delicious. Enjoy!

Inge, I hope you enjoyed it. Something fresh like that is good for you and healthy.

We eat a lot of salad, too

You're very welcome, Monika.
You can vary it so nicely according to your preferences and taste.
Hope it turns out well. I get about 18 out of this (standard silicone muffin cups)

With this recipe, the muffins always turn out well. I wrote it down back when I was working at a nursing home in Germany. We often baked these for the residents to enjoy with their coffee.

I made two little things again today. (Pattern from here, blog page)
Coasters and a little birdie

It was so much fun—thank you so much for the pattern


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Oh, you’re all so kind.
Goodbyes are always sad, but it was also a wonderful time.

- learned a new language
- got to know other people and cultures
- the scenery was amazing

In life, there are always pros and cons here and there, and we’re richer for the experiences.
If you’re no longer happy somewhere, you should pack up and move on.

Thank you so much for your touching words

Here you go, Inge. Maybe you can bake with your granddaughter, too—that’s sure to be fun, and homemade muffins taste even better that way.

Have a great weekend, and good luck


P.S. If you stir some cocoa powder into the batter, you’ll have chocolate muffins—top them with white frosting or color the frosting with food coloring.

*smile*. I took these photos early on my way to work—the Norwegians are still asleep then, shortly after 7:00 a.m.
By the time I leave work, it’s bustling there.

That’s true, Monika. But we live on a busy road, plus there are the trains passing by and stopping (the train station is 5 minutes from the house), and the parking lot. So a little peace and quiet like this works wonders, even if only for a short time.

Above all, I’ll miss the clear air and the gorgeous blue sky here when we move, and the fact that there are no mosquitoes to bother us.

I forgot to mention something.

For the mashed banana, I needed a little more flour than indicated. Just give it a try.

Good luck!

Thanks, Monika.

The muffins really are quick to make, and you have something for coffee in no time.
This time I also added 1/2 mashed banana and some chocolate sprinkles right into the batter. My husband said they were really fluffy.

I experiment with baking every now and then.

Here’s the muffin recipe again, if anyone would like it:

150 g soft margarine
150 g sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
1 egg
250 g plain yogurt or quark
220 g flour
1–2 tsp baking powder

Bake at 180 degrees for about 20–30 min on convection (depending on how brown they get)

You can also stir apple pieces or other fruit of your choice right into the batter.
Or put it on top and then sprinkle with cinnamon, or serve with whipped cream/vanilla sauce and ice cream.

Want more?

Thank you both so much.

I’m also really looking forward to returning to my old home and having my family around me.

I had no issues, except that my arm hurt at the injection site and it was impossible to sleep on that side, plus a slight headache. Otherwise everything was fine.

Warm birthday wishes from me, too. Enjoy some delicious cake, coffee, and time with your family—have a wonderful day!

It smells wonderful in here. That plum cake looks delicious.

I baked my beloved muffins again today. They’ll be ready to go with coffee in a moment.