Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

So when we were asked about our career aspirations in school, I wanted to become a porcelain painter. I’ve always loved drawing and painting. Somehow it didn’t work out—the training was too far away… and so on.
Then I trained as a clerical assistant (including shorthand), and later got my “secretary” certification.
Then I worked at a small service company, and later, from 1983 to 1985, as a secretary at the Ilmenau University of Technology (now TU). My boss was a professor. It was really cool, as a young woman, to work with the latest technological developments in the office and to type on a K1520 computer. The great thing was, I then had my “own” electronic typewriter with automatic page storage. Until then, I’d only known the “Erika” or the “Optima.”
Later, I helped out privately at my father-in-law’s scissors-sharpening shop (doing calculations, writing up invoices, and handling the receipt and dispatch of customer orders).
Then came the ABM program and periods of unemployment, dismantling control cabinets, working in landscaping, occasionally as a temporary waitress, driving painted wooden chairs into the wood shed for my former landlord in a small van, and an ABM job at the Kösener plush toy factory (sewing and finishing plush toys and dolls). I’ve had a sewing machine ever since. Later, I completed my training as a healthcare and nursing assistant. So it was never boring.

... your yarn stash keeps growing and space is getting tighter and tighter.

Well, the temperatures here are pleasant. They’re not going above 20 degrees right now. So crocheting outside is no problem, and you don’t break a sweat so quickly.
Although it could definitely be warmer. Especially since strawberry season has just started here in Norway—I tried the first ones today. Mmm, with some delicious cream.

Oh my gosh, darning socks with my mom’s darning mushroom—I hated that. I could never get it to look as even as my grandma did. These days, you can afford to just throw them away and buy new ones.

I can still remember that too. We called it needlework. I actually really enjoyed crocheting pot holders and practicing different stitches on Aida fabric. But once we had to sew a gym bag, and I didn’t like that very much—especially since the teacher (who was substituting) would immediately throw the project on the floor if it wasn’t sewn the way she wanted it. That really put me off. Otherwise, I enjoyed it. It just depended on the teacher.

I finally finished a few UFOs while on vacation. There was my crochet bag, which I added a lining to, and the other bag, which I added handles to. A triangular shawl that had been sitting around for a while finally got its crocheted border. Photos will come later—I still need to upload them.

Yes, exactly—I know those dolls with the foam rubber skirts, too. I didn’t have one myself, though; instead, I used to sew around those Cama margarine tubs using that foam rubber technique and made myself a little bowl that way. Unfortunately, I no longer have a photo of it.

But what I still have—and which is surely at least 40 years old—is my homemade pincushion. It was made from those yellow dust cloths, sewn together like a little book and embroidered, with the edge trimmed with zigzag scissors and sewn over with wool yarn. I’ll post a photo of it later in the gallery. I don’t know how to do that here. Those were the days.

When we were on vacation in Germany recently, I saw these things for the first time. We had to ask the saleswoman what you’re supposed to do with them.
Since my kids are already grown up and have left home, this trend is passing us by.
Back in the day, we used to have fun with elastic skipping and spinning tops. Sure, those were different times, but I don’t think you have to jump on every trend.

Belated best wishes to you, and keep up the great work with your fantastic shop. Good luck!

Hello Yvonne,
A warm welcome from me as well, here among all the wool and crochet addicts.
I wish you lots of fun, but watch out, your to-do list will keep getting longer
with all the great inspiration and new things.
Of course, we're also looking forward to your creations.

Best regards, Andrea

Elfriede

Don’t say everything you know, but always know what you’re saying

Her wish was immediately granted, and her daughter had such a lovely voice that even the prince and his squire were very taken with it, so he decided to marry this enchanting creature.

And just like that, I’ll gladly take one of those lucky clover leaves too—thank you.

To be honest, I haven’t gotten around to it yet today. But later I’ll crochet a few more rows on my soul warmer, because I had to do some housework first.
The weather was sleet—yuck—and it’s May!

Nadine

The fisherman’s wife gathered all her courage to voice her third and final wish.
However, she had to concentrate very hard on her choice of words, because one wrong word, and there was no turning back.
So… I wish that…

Hey Ina,
belated but heartfelt birthday wishes from me, too. Stay just the way you are, with all your crochet ideas—I love browsing through your shop. Keep up the great work.

I’ve never heard of that either, so I googled it. Sounds interesting.
Well, we’re curious to see what you’ll tell us—whether it’s worth it wool-wise.”

Otto

When the fisherman and his wife found out, they both thought to themselves...

She immediately sat down at the spinning wheel and began to spin.

And suddenly the poodle started talking and said she had been granted three wishes.

Svein (Norwegian male name)

I’ve had a few days off lately and was able to enjoy the beautiful weather and the sun out on the patio while crocheting, because I have to work again this weekend—but after that, I’ll have coffee outside if the weather stays like this. But rain is in the forecast, so we’ll see.

Then I’d take a boat so I could get away from there again.

What if you could fly like a bird?

*laughs* So I’m not the only one with these “symptoms.” This addiction is incurable, and that’s a good thing.
My husband laughs too, because my yarn stash somehow keeps getting bigger instead of smaller.

It’s true—every free minute is used to let creativity run wild or to try out those amazing, irresistible patterns. Household chores really have to wait, and you have to be careful that it doesn’t get out of hand, because sometimes housework has to come before crafts—with a heavy heart.
The great thing is, you can share your creations with everyone in the gallery, find inspiration all over again, and it all starts anew *chuckle*

4. *Increase 3 sc, 1 sc in the next 4 sts*, repeat three times, increase 3 sc, 1 sc in the next 3 sts.

So I would interpret it like this:

Increase 3 sc, i.e. work 2 sc in each of 3 sts = 6 sts, then 1 sc in each of the next 4 sts (= 10 sts total), repeat this 3 times = 40 sts total,
then work 2 sc in each of 3 sts (6 sts), 1 sc in each of the next 3 sts (= all sts in this round = 49 sts)

I hope I was able to help, too.

You can quickly make tiny mini pom-poms using a regular fork—I saw this online.
Simply place a strand of yarn across the middle tines (to tie it together later), and then wrap the ball of yarn around the fork several times (depending on how big or thick you want the pom-pom to be). Then tie it together with that crosswise strand and slide the whole thing off the fork. Next, cut open and shape the side loops as usual.
These look great on crocheted figures if you don’t have any store-bought ones on hand. You can also make them two-toned and use up leftover yarn at the same time. It also works with this fringed yarn (I tried it on my crocheted doll’s hat)

Hope this makes sense.

Reading through the posts here, it seems the weather is “mixed” everywhere. Here, Friday is supposed to be sunny with some clouds, but sleet is forecast for the weekend—yes, you read that right. It’s also chilly at 4 degrees.
We’re having guests over; let’s see if we can do a little something then.

Anyway, I wish everyone a happy Easter!

But now we were spoiled for choice. So we wandered through the whole village and asked people which colors were in style right now, so we could put them together for this extraordinary crochet project—that darn bicycle. After all, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself.

We all agreed, and went along with the suggestion. We didn’t want to end up with a fine after all.

Completely startled, everyone scrambled about looking for their things.

So now everyone was in the loop. Why not throw a yarn party, he thought to himself...

Well, that wouldn’t be my thing either. It looks like you’re “not properly dressed.” Totally lame.

and the guy started to wobble—oh dear, I thought...

I’m also into crocheting right now

Of course, make it yourself.

Glasses or contact lenses?

And suddenly my cat had disappeared too—what now...?

So I got up to take a look and opened the door.

Daisies

reading a real book or digital books

... and I made myself comfortable on my sofa, and my cat was lying purring in her basket, with a blanket I’d crocheted myself inside.

Two days ago here in Norway, it was a bit warmer (though never above 12 degrees Celsius), with sunshine, so we sat outside on the patio for the first time, drinking coffee in short sleeves.
We really soaked up the sun’s rays and the warmth on our faces. It was wonderful.

Unfortunately, it’s supposed to get unpleasant again tomorrow. Nothing’s green yet. Everything’s still so gray.
I’m really envious of all of you in Germany right now.

I want sun, warmth, ice cream, and bike rides...

Wishing all birthday boys and girls a very, very happy birthday — have a lovely celebration and let yourselves be truly pampered.

I think my stamina when it comes to amigurumi crocheting is amazing—which is more than I can say for some other things. Anything I don’t like gets “put on the back burner” for now, unfortunately.
As the saying goes, “put off is not forgotten.” *grin*

I’m also really, really good at sleeping for a very long time. I can’t bring myself to get up in the morning, and in the evening I craft/crochet/surf the internet late into the night… I’m not a morning person, except on vacation—then I’m well-rested and up and about early.
I absolutely love baking fruit tarts and muffins—we just love eating them.

My scream suddenly startled my cat, who jumped up, looked out the window, and began to hiss furiously.

Snail shell

News channel

... and think, surely he doesn’t want to disturb the night bird’s beautiful song now.

Ludo (doesn’t take as long as Monopoly)

When crocheting: do you prefer making amigurumi dolls or crocheting animals?