Latest Forum Posts by: iglinz

Oh dear, this is difficult.

City: Zagreb
Country: Zaire
River: Zihl
Name: Zlatan
Animal: Zebra
Occupation: Dentist
Plant: Cypress
Musician: ZZ Top
Movie title: Back to the Future
Material: Cellophane
Technique: Tin pouring
Model: Pointed cap

I thought long and hard about whether I should tell this one. It only has a passing connection to crafts, and besides, it’s a little, um, politically incorrect. It’s a blonde joke. So, blondes, maybe look away for a second?

A blonde goes to the hairdresser and has her hair dyed red because she can’t stand having to listen to blonde jokes all the time.
Then she goes for a walk and passes a pasture with sheep. She’s delighted by all the little sheep, chats a bit with the shepherd, and then asks him, “If I guess how many sheep there are, can I pick one?” The shepherd thinks to himself, “She’ll never figure that out,” and agrees. The blonde takes a quick look at the sheep and then says, “328.” The shepherd is stunned, but well, a man’s word is his bond—the blonde gets to pick one and chooses the cutest one.
Then the shepherd says, “If I guess what your real hair color is, can I have my dog back?”

A lightweight shawl that can also be worn as a poncho:

Nite Flite.



Basically, this is a long, rectangular stole. It’s knitted lengthwise and features a charming lace pattern along the bottom edge. The best part is that it has a lace edging at the top through which you can thread a ribbon. Then you can also use the whole thing as a cape.
It’s knitted with sock yarn on a 4mm circular needle, so it’s truly lightweight. Yarn usage depends on the desired width. There’s a knitting chart for the lace pattern.

Little first-graders need a bookmark so they can find the right place in their schoolbook again.

Here is the pattern for it.



A bookmark like this is quick to knit. It has a pretty lace pattern, which is written out in full and also shown in a knitting chart. All you need is a small scrap of cotton yarn and two double-pointed needles in a size suitable for the yarn.

Lego—because I grew up with it :-)

Hot or cold? (Weather...)

Adonis

I don’t really go on vacations in the sense of traveling either. But actually, I live where others go on vacation. I’m surrounded by forests, mountains, streams, and meadows, and I take full advantage of that. Since I’ve been a full-time freelancer for two months now, I can manage my time however I want and spend a lot of time outdoors. As a side effect, that means I haven’t made much progress on my UFOs :-)

Happy birthday!

Wishing you a speedy recovery and a very happy birthday from me, too!

On the weekend, when you have time and leisure, you can also dare to try knitting patterns that require a little concentration. How about a potholder in double knitting technique?

You can find the pattern here.



What’s special about this technique is that the front and back are practically mirror images. This potholder has little hearts knitted in, which are shown in a knitting chart.
You’ll need cotton in two different colors for it, 1 skein of each color. The yarn weight isn’t that important, but for double knitting I recommend going down a little in needle size, so a bit thinner than the manufacturer recommends.

On hot days, people like to retreat into the shade and take a little nap—if they have time for it. For that, you need a pillow to rest your head.

Here’s the pattern.



This pillow cover is knitted in two colors of fine cotton. The intricate, interwoven pattern is created with slipped stitches. They’re not difficult, but they’re very effective.
The pattern is written out row by row and also includes a knitting chart.

Playful and summery, this cotton scarf is both knitted and crocheted.

You can find the pattern here.



The knitted section is worked lengthwise in a dropped-stitch pattern. That gives it this light, airy look. Then the ends are crocheted on, with fun fringes.

Well, somehow this seems to be a widespread phenomenon—partners who buy yarn. For those of you who aren’t quite satisfied with what he’s bringing home yet, just wait and see—with a little guidance, it’ll all work out :-)
I’m also very familiar with the technical discussions—“it’s not long enough,” “that doesn’t fit,” “pick a different color,” and so on. But those turned handles for the crochet hooks—I just think that’s so cute!

I mean, their significant others, so to speak—whether they’re men or women?
Mine has been putting up with this into the second decade now. At first, he just smiled indulgently and thought it would blow over, but it didn’t.
By now, he can tell the difference between knitting and crocheting at a glance (in return, I learned the offside rule), occasionally makes suggestions on how to design something, and is definitely developing some expertise.
But the most telling sign that he’s the partner of a yarn addict, in my opinion, is that he’s even started buying yarn himself.
How about you all?

I received them as a gift once.



One weighs 10 grams and has 16 meters. I spent a long time wondering what they could be used for. Recently, I saw something similar at a craft store—they were little balls of cotton yarn the same size, and they were advertised as amigurumi yarn.

Hmm, interesting—I just Googled it. Could it be some kind of fabric? Maybe something that looks like it’s knitted, but is thin and light, making it suitable for summer?

Am I understanding this correctly—do your yarn purchases have anything to do with the weather? For me, it doesn’t matter at all—sunshine or rain, I don’t care—as long as it’s yarn :-)

Happy Birthday!

You picked a hot day for your birthday :-) I wish you all the best!

This lightweight shawl is as gentle as a summer night breeze.

You can find the pattern here.



It’s knitted lengthwise using sock yarn and features a charming lace pattern along the bottom edge (knitting chart included). Perfect for summer night owls!

I’d guess that “summer knitting” refers to the activity itself—that is, knitting in the summer—and how to do it best without breaking out in a sweat right away. That probably has a lot to do with the materials used or the size of the knitting projects.
So it’s not necessarily something you use to make something else, but rather something you do.
For example, I wouldn’t necessarily knit a thick, warm blanket in the summer :-) But maybe little pot holders or other small items. I’m currently knitting a cotton belt—that’s what I came up with over the last few days when it was so hot.

A lovely knitting project that you can start over the weekend and make great progress on is this triangular shawl.

You can find the pattern here.



You’ll need 1 skein of sock yarn and a 4mm circular needle. The shawl is simple and very relaxing to knit—mostly knit and purl stitches, with a few simple lace rows in between.

The weekend is here—time to get cozy on the sofa and put your feet up. That’s perfect when you have a lovely knitting project.

An elegant stole, for example.



This shawl is knitted lengthwise from lightweight sock yarn. That means you’ll have a lot of stitches on the needles, but you can also adjust the width of the stole to suit your needs. Once you’ve reached the desired width, you simply stop.
You start at the lower edge with a pretty lace pattern that personally reminds me a little of pansies. This lace pattern gets smaller toward the top until it finally disappears completely into the wide ribs. There is a knitting chart, but everything is also provided in written form, written out row by row.
Yarn usage depends on the desired width, but you should plan for at least 550–600 m. It is knitted on a 4 mm circular needle.

Fancy some snow?




A scarf with cables, ribbing, texture, and lace—it’s got it all. It’s knitted with sock yarn on 3.5mm needles and looks harder than it is.

My dream job as a child actually has absolutely nothing to do with what I do now, and when I really think about it, that job probably wouldn’t be what I consider a great career today either.
So, as a child, I absolutely wanted to be a train conductor. This desire came on quite suddenly when I was allowed to spend the summer at my grandma’s and took the train there with her. Then the conductor came into the compartment and asked to see our tickets. My grandma fumbled around in her purse and couldn’t find them right away, and meanwhile, the conductor stood there completely calm, as if he had all the time in the world, and spoke reassuringly to my grandma, who was very embarrassed that he had to wait so long because of her. When the tickets finally turned up, he punched a big hole in them. It looked very dignified, the way he punched that hole there in his uniform with his cap on his head. I wanted to do something like that, too.
But when I ride the train now and then, I don’t imagine it to be quite so nice anymore. Somehow, they all seem very stressed, and on some trains there aren’t even any conductors anymore.

My latest knitting pattern is this scarf.

Click here for the pattern.



The scarf is very easy to knit; it has ribs and a simple lace pattern. You’ll need 2 skeins of sock yarn and 3.5 mm knitting needles.

I have a new pattern available:

Karawanserei, a scarf with ribbing and a lace pattern



It is knitted with sock yarn on 3.5 mm needles and is simple and relaxing to knit. Not quite a beginner pattern, but anyone who knows yarn overs and decreases will be able to follow the pattern.

Today I was very brave and walked past the yarn store without even flinching.

... the first thing you do in every store is check whether they happen to have yarn anywhere.

A small amount of leftover sock yarn (approx. 90m) is enough for these wrist warmers. Just wait and see—the time will come when you’ll need them!

Pattern for wrist warmers



What makes these special is that they’re knitted in rows. No hassle with double-pointed needles, knitting in the round, or a thumb hole. They also feature a pretty lace pattern that’s a bit unconventional and is explained in a photo tutorial.

Cotton is pleasant to knit with in summer, and to go with that, I’d like to suggest this shopping bag to you.

You can find the pattern here.



It is knitted in the round from the bottom up. The pattern is a pretty onion pattern, and there is a knitting chart for it. You can knit the bag in two colors or just one color, and you can use thick or thin cotton—whatever you like. Then you’ll have a lovely bag for carrying summer treats home from the market.

I have a few sweaters made of 100% cotton, which I mainly wear in the winter. I’ve never been too cold in them, not even in the dead of winter. I just find cotton very comfortable to wear—it feels good against the skin. With temperatures like we’re having now,
to be honest, I don’t wear anything knitted :-)

A little handbag brings great joy to most little girls. And if it also features adorable little goldfish, happiness is complete.

You can find the pattern here.



The bag is knitted from cotton yarn, 125 m per 50 g. You’ll need one skein of each color. There’s a knitting chart for the fish; everything else is written out in full.

This beautiful lace shawl is the color of raspberries with plenty of cream.

You can find the pattern here.



The shawl is knitted with 4-ply yarn on a 4mm circular needle. You can adjust the size as you like; the amount of yarn needed depends on the size.
Two different lace patterns are used here—one for the creamy white and another for the raspberry stripe. The pattern is written out row by row and also presented in knitting charts.

Here’s another hat with a stylized winter landscape. This one takes us into the snow-covered mountains. This one, as well as the pattern above, was created for a contest on the theme of winter landscapes.

Pattern for the hat "Montagna"



Three different colors are used here. The yarn is the same as in the previous pattern, 1 ball of each color.
This pattern is available in 4 different sizes.

If you’re longing for a bit of a cool-down, you can at least visually immerse yourself in a winter landscape with this hat. Snow-covered trees, snow clouds, and snowflakes are featured here.

You can find the pattern here.



You’ll need blue and white yarn (150 m per 50 g) and 3.5 mm needles—either a set of double-pointed needles or a circular needle. One skein of each color is enough.
The hat comes in 3 different sizes.

You can knit a bookmark from it.

Click here for the pattern.



A small amount of cotton yarn, about 20 m, is enough. The bookmark has a charming lace pattern, which is explained in writing and also with a large knitting chart. It’s not strictly a beginner’s project, but it’s not particularly difficult either.

A knitted bag with fish, reminiscent of the cool sea.

You can find the pattern here.



The bag is knitted in cotton and in the round. The only challenge is knitting the fish into the fabric, but that only takes a few rounds. They’re shown in a knitting chart.

When the temperatures drop a little again and there are cool summer nights again...

Pattern for a summer scarf.



Knitted from a cotton-viscose-silk blend yarn, it feels pleasant against the skin, and it is also very quick to finish with size 6 needles. You will get the hang of the pattern very quickly - it is mostly holes, but they are easy to work.

A “basic supply” is kind of funny :-) I’m in a very similar situation to Marlies. The problem is that you can find yarn not just in specialty yarn shops, but almost everywhere. Supermarkets, drugstores, craft stores, stationery shops, bookstores—I’ve stumbled across yarn in all sorts of places! I’m just glad I live a little out of town and don’t go into town that often—otherwise, it would be disastrous.
Having a stash is a good thing in itself; that way, you always have something on hand when you get the urge to make something.

A Porsche costs more :-)
Actually, I don’t think crafts are expensive. Sometimes it’s a bit of a blow when a particularly beautiful type of yarn costs a lot, but after all, you get to enjoy it for longer.
Of course, there are also hobbies that cost nothing at all. When I head out into nature somewhere behind the house, it doesn’t cost me a cent. But I think that for most hobbies, you just have to pay a little something.

Well, I’m totally sluggish and unmotivated right now. Everything’s going very slowly. Every now and then, I slip away to the woods or the lake without my knitting. I manage to get a little bit done, but usually not until the evening.

In elementary school, needlework was my favorite subject. Along with choir singing—I’d volunteered for that. But I was better at needlework than singing.
The teacher was very nice and went out of her way to explain everything clearly. The first thing we knitted was a scarf. We started it at school, and I remember being very disappointed because I’d voluntarily knitted it almost to completion at home before the next needlework class, and the teacher then said I shouldn’t work so fast. We also sewed, embroidered, and crocheted, but knitting was definitely my favorite. Apparently, that’s stayed with me.

I know how to do it, but I actually never do it. I’d rather knit a new pair :-)

I found this one—is this the one you’re looking for? Based on the pattern description, it seems to use American crochet terms.

I Googled it just to make sure I didn’t get it wrong :-)

Sometimes, hotels host fancy dance events during vacation. That’s when it’s nice to have elegant accessories with you.

The stole for the dance floor.



This shawl is very light—just a sheer touch to cover your shoulders. It’ll easily fit in your suitcase. It’s knitted lengthwise from sock yarn, with a delicate lace pattern along the bottom edge.
The pattern is written out in full, and there’s also a knitting chart for the lace pattern.

Some people also go on vacation in the mountains. If you go hiking there, you absolutely need socks for your hiking boots. You can believe me, I know what I’m talking about when it comes to things like that.

Here you’ll find a pattern for them.




They’re almost too nice for hiking boots, but after all, you want to look good up on the summit too. If your tongue is hanging out, at least you’ll be wearing beautiful socks.
These socks are knitted from 5-ply sock yarn in two colors. I would recommend the pattern more for experienced knitters; you should have basic knowledge of sock construction, and two-color knitting isn’t exactly easy either. Detailed knitting charts are included in the pattern.

At the beach, you need a bag—for your bikini, towel, sunscreen, and change for ice cream.

How about this one?



Knitted in thick cotton, it’s finished quickly; in bright colors, it gives off vacation vibes.

If your own mother asks you for advice, that’s probably a very nice compliment.