Latest Forum Posts by: mowi 19

Kids are always happy to get toys for Christmas. And these can actually be crocheted easily, too. My granddaughter was absolutely delighted when she got this food for her play kitchen. That way, the dolls and teddy bears could eat the same things she did. She enjoyed serving them noodles and vegetables, or toast with butter and a fried egg for breakfast.

Absolutely beginner-friendly and a great gift, even for a St. Nicholas boot.

Go to the crochet pattern

Sock yarn is wonderful for knitting children’s clothing. These pants for toddlers from age 1 have suspenders and can grow with the child. This way they’re always dressed nice and warm, without anything slipping out of place. A cable pattern is knitted into the sides, a pretty eye-catcher.

Go to the knitting pattern




This short poncho is one of my favorite garments. It’s not only quick and easy to knit, but also incredibly practical. Just slip it on and your upper body is immediately comfortably warm, without making you sweat. Your arms still keep their wonderful freedom of movement.

Next, I’m going to give a poncho like this as a gift.

Go to the knitting pattern

Dolls like to wear a warm sweater now, too. With this pattern, you can dress several dolls or teddy bears at once—in different sizes. A great project for leftover yarn. There are sure to be big or little doll moms who would be absolutely delighted by it.

The sweater is knit as a top-down raglan. Everything is explained very clearly.

Go to the knitting pattern




Of course, the doll or stuffed animal also needs a warm sleeping bag in winter. This one also fits newborns.

Small note: You can also reduce the number of buttons to suit your preference. Just leave out a buttonhole in between.

Go to the knitting pattern

Steffi, I feel exactly the same way as you do. I can manage up to needle size 4, though—but I don’t really like it.

Wow, Steffi, both look great—especially the wrist warmers. Are they knitted with sock yarn?

When I read Marita’s post, I got goosebumps. I completely agree with her.

Christmas begins in the heart and quietly. There’s no need for an artificially created Christmas atmosphere, which, unfortunately, is becoming more and more common at Christmas markets. Coziness in your own home, candles, eating cookies together in the afternoon, a few festive decorations—and, of course, my knitting needles and yarn. 

I only love Christmas markets when they have stalls with handmade goods—handicrafts, yarn of course, wooden items, baskets, jars, candles, Christmas decorations, wreaths, and much more. One place I really like, for example, is the Christmas market at Gut Aiderbichl near Salzburg. You can always find something there, and they serve vegetarian food. The animals there are, of course, another highlight. We might very well stop by there this year.

The Christmas market in Salzburg was also a wonderful experience many years ago. I can’t say what it’s like there now, though. I still have a handmade candle from there, shaped like a red rose. A very lovely memory.

What a wonderful and special experience the swap package was once again. I’m still enjoying all your posts here, even the ones that are coming in now after the fact.

This time, I was almost the last one in line. It was definitely different than usual. A little piece of home from each of you arrived here, and I imagined how you’d chosen the yarn and packed it into the package. 

Our shared project—that’s how I see it—has now completed its journey and arrived “home” again. Now it’s time for Ina to enjoy it. And who knows, maybe a few skeins will get to come along next time.

In any case, I’m already looking forward to the next round.

Have a wonderful, woolly week, everyone!

Warm regards from Monika

This pretty sleeve scarf/bolero was my granddaughter’s favorite piece for several years. She received it when she was 3 years old, and now her younger sister wears it with just as much joy.

It keeps the arms, neck, and back wonderfully warm. Since my granddaughters sleep in sleeping bags without a blanket at night, the sleeve scarf is an ideal addition.

It’s easy to make for experienced knitters.

To the knitting pattern

A bolero for toddlers ages 3 and up—that’s what some of my customers have been asking for. My oldest granddaughter absolutely loved it and has now passed it down to her younger sister. It grew with her for a very long time. She still wouldn’t part with it, even at age 6.

The sleeved scarf is easy to knit using this knitting pattern, provided you have the knitting skills mentioned.

Go to the knitting pattern

Dear Ina,

here I am sitting… completely absorbed in your treasure chest… all those wonderful gifts… and I’m deeply moved.

Yes, I saw that treasure chest too, and I was absolutely thrilled by the appreciation shown by the swap participants. That idea had actually been buzzing around in my head as well, but this time I was last in line. Apparently, someone was able to read my mind and put the idea into action. How wonderful is that! It also shows how close we are—what a joy.

I can really relate to your excitement. You simply deserve this appreciation, because organizing and launching our wool surprise packages is entirely up to you. That takes a lot of time and, of course, money.

I’m also really glad, of course, that you were able to use some of the yarn I included.

Now I hope you have lots of fun working with it—and, of course, that you find the right ideas for your projects. Enjoy these beautiful gifts and take pleasure in them every day. They’ll remind you of a very special swap… and of how much we all appreciate you.

Warm thanks from Monika

Wash mitts are always a useful gift, especially when they’re hand-knitted. These are something special because the different patterns all have an exfoliating effect. This is very popular and often sought after.

On your needles—get set—go! You can make quite a few of these over the weekend and use up lots of colorful leftover yarn.

Go to the knitting pattern




You can also knit doll clothes quickly and easily from leftover yarn. With this pattern, you can dress up a small doll (35–40 cm) in cute outfits and bring great joy to a doll mom for Christmas or just because.

The sweater is knitted top-down with raglan shaping. My granddaughter even dressed her teddy bear in this set.

Go to the knitting pattern

Oh Marita, thank you so much for the tip. So this yarn cake is 100% cotton with 200 m per 50 g. Was your yarn that same weight? Now I’m on the hunt for some yarn like that in white—for a few stripes. I think the dark blue is a bit too dark for little girls. She also likes blue-and-white stripes.

Your husband is retiring, Marita? Well, I suppose that’ll change your daily routine quite a bit. The nice thing is having plenty of time for breakfast in the morning. We both love that.

Katharina, I agree with Marita. I’ve started many yarn cakes from the outside, and that’s always worked out well. However, it can be a bit awkward at times. It’s much easier with a ball of yarn.

Thank you for your kind wishes, which I’m happy to pass on to everyone here.

It’s getting noticeably cooler here—rain today, sun tomorrow. We’ll finally be pruning the raspberry bushes then. We’ll leave just a few standing that are still bearing raspberries, which we’ll let ripen a bit more. They just aren’t ready to accept winter yet.

Now I finally have the time and leisure to write patterns again. I’m hard at work on them.

As a child, I also started with a doll’s scarf knitted in garter stitch. One of my little bears is wearing it around its neck now.

Assuming you’ve already practiced knit and purl stitches, a dishcloth or washcloth is actually a great place to start. Other solid-color projects are also great for beginners.

Once you’ve learned how to knit two stitches together, I’d recommend moving on to a hat.

Susanne, machine knitting is certainly interesting—it’s much faster to finish a project that way. I do love sitting comfortably on the couch with my knitting needles, though. Otherwise, I’d feel like something was missing.

Katharina, I completely forgot to wish you a speedy recovery.

And now we’re all eagerly awaiting the next update from Ina now that the yarn package has arrived at her place.

Best wishes again from Monika

Dear Katharina,

How lovely that you’re writing again. :)) 
The blue cotton gradient cake—I’m actually toying with the idea of knitting a dress for Linja from it. But I’m not entirely sure, because I don’t know whether I’ll have enough. Unfortunately, I don’t have the same yardage and quality in my stash. It might be enough for a tunic. I’m already designing it in my head. Since it’s cotton, it’s ideal for summer and winter. I’ll probably need a little while yet before it really comes together.

I’m very excited to see the dress for your daughter. You’ll surely show it to us, right?

A reminder for everyone: We have a separate thread where the projects made from the swapped yarn can be presented. Here is the link:
Swap package - these creations came from it, Part 2

Now I wish you all a lovely weekend. Ina can actually look forward to her package today already! We can all be excited.

Best wishes to everyone from Monika

Veronika, that’s not always the case. We’ve now seen that it took some time to travel from the north to the south—it took longer than expected. I’m experiencing the same thing right now with other packages. At least it isn’t making multiple stops along the way, so it won’t necessarily spend that much time in a single vehicle.

Dear swap friends,

I have an idea for the next swap package.
Looking at the list of participants, I see that our package is traveling quite far in some cases—namely, from the north to the south and back to the north, and so on.

How about making it a round trip next time?

So, from the starting point, simply head to the next stop in the upper eastern third of Germany. Then further down into the east—all the way to the southeast. From there, on to the southwest and back up through the west. Of course, we could also do it the other way around.

The package would travel even faster, it wouldn’t have as many stops at the post office, and maybe the box would suffer less wear and tear. At the very least, it would be much more sustainable thanks to the shorter distances.

What do you think?

Warm regards from Monika

Steffi, your knitting mistake is annoying, but not too bad for a loop scarf. You might even think that’s how the pattern is supposed to be.

I just made a pretty bad knitting mistake myself—on Karlos’s patch jacket. I’d worn it several times already, but only now did I notice that a center seam had come undone on one of the patches—luckily under the arm. This has happened to me before, but back then I was still able to rip it out. This time, that wasn’t an option at all, so I had to sew the hole shut somehow, using Kitchener stitch. It was a real fiddly job, and I hope the seam doesn’t come apart again. Ever since then, I’ve been super careful to make sure all the stitches are actually connected before I finish a patch,

Thanks, dear Andrea! :)) I’m sure I’ll have a lot of fun.

Yes, I often do that too—saving the “good” yarn for later until an idea strikes. But sometimes that yarn requires a lot of patience...

You must be especially happy when you have days off. Your mosaic projects are a feast for the eyes every time. I’ll probably get around to trying that myself someday. But right now, I just don’t have the time. Next up is a cardigan for Juna—she really needs it.

Oh man, I really could use at least six hands.

Warm evening greetings from me to everyone
Monika

Dear Leo,

I’d also like to congratulate you on your 4th birthday. That makes you exactly the same age as my youngest granddaughter. I’m sure you had a lot of fun with your guests and played some great games.



Maybe you’ve already gone for a walk with your lantern. If not, ask your mom if she’ll do that with you.

Best wishes
Monika

Thanks, Susanne! :)

Yes, dear Ina, you’ll be able to pass the box around just fine. It’s super sturdy and big enough for the yarn to fit inside. That large plastic bag you can squeeze the air out of is also really great and helpful. It can come in handy for us next time, too.

The blue yarn isn’t hand-dyed, as far as I can tell. It’s pure cotton yarn. Let’s see what I end up knitting with it.

As for the soft lilac-colored one, yesterday I thought of a cowl or neck warmer. I could really use one in that color. So the final decision hasn’t been made yet. I’m still spoiled for choice...

Now I wish you all a wonderful day. It’s a holiday here, with beautiful sunshine and temperatures up to 16 degrees. Time for a walk!

Warm regards from Monika

Thank you, Susanne, Ruth, Marlies, and Steffi, for your feedback.

Yes, Marlies, that’s exactly what I pictured—that huge package on the walker! My goodness, people must have been staring and thinking you were moving. You don’t just take a bread machine for a walk on a whim. :))

How nice, Steffi, that some of your yarn got to stay with me, too. I’m really happy about that. It wasn’t a long trip for any of you.

I can totally picture that beautiful, soft yarn as a sweater. It feels absolutely wonderful. The fiber content really inspired me to knit something with it. I’ll definitely let you know when I come up with the right idea.

Ruth, I’m not sure yet if I’ll knit doll clothes from these skeins. It’s actually too nice for that.

Knitting these washcloths will be a joy, because you’ll learn several new patterns that are suitable for many other projects.

Of course, washcloths aren’t the only option; dishcloths or potholders with a pretty pattern also make popular gifts.

It’s best to get started right away and think about who you could make happy with them. Just because.

To the knitting pattern




Dressing little dolls (35–40 cm) up nicely only takes a few bits of leftover yarn, and it’s so much fun. While you’re knitting, you can already imagine the doll mom’s eyes lighting up. Maybe you’re one yourself? Then even trying it on while you knit is lots of fun.

So it’s best to start right away and have fun.

To the knitting pattern

Oh Marlies, I’m so glad some of it is coming from you. I always need solid-color sock yarn for my patchwork projects, so I’ll use that in those kinds of projects.

I loved the blue bobble right away. I’m thinking of either knitting something with it for my girlfriend—or for Linja, who’s been into blue for a while now. I just don’t know what it’ll be yet. I’m sure I’ll come up with a brilliant idea.

For now, I’ve added the Drops Flora to my existing Flora collection. These are all single skeins. I’m sure I’ll find the perfect match for them too.

And I’m thinking of making a hat or wrist warmers out of the very soft yarn at the bottom.

Oh Margitta, that sounds great. I wish you lots of success at the market and lots of fun getting ready.

Soooo..... ta-daaaa... the package is heeeere!!!
When it was sitting downstairs in front of the front door, I thought: I didn’t order an oven, did I? Hmm...

Then I saw through a small side opening.... WOOL! And I knew: It’s finally here! Yippee—I’m so happy!
I’ve been rooting for you all and waiting for this for sooo long. Now it’s my turn, too.

Of course, I opened it right away and… my goodness, that’s a lot of yarn. I immediately started taking out bag after bag… and it just kept going on and on. At first I thought, well, there isn’t necessarily much in here for me. Yarn too thick—not my color—not my quality—not enough for bigger projects—or… without a label.

But lo and behold, once I’d unpacked the whole package (a huge mountain of yarn) and looked at the pre-selected stack, I realized that, compared to the entire package, there were actually quite a few skeins that wanted to stay.

  Then I went through my yarn stash (which—to my amazement—is actually about 4 to 5 times the size of the package), and I discovered that quite a bit of it was actually ready to move on. And so today I can present my new treasures to you.

This is how the package arrived—thanks, Marlies, for the super sturdy box you provided!



And this is what it looked like at first glance after opening it—ooh :)



And this is my selection—these get to stay. I don’t have any specific ideas yet, but they’ll come to me eventually,




Dear Ina... the anticipation is building for you now. The package will be on its way to you on Thursday. Tomorrow is a holiday here. You’ll most likely have it by Saturday, and you’re in for a huge treat. :))

Thanks again for this experience, which is always so special and wonderful!

Warm regards from Monika

Oh, it’s always so nice to read the posts here. We just got back from a lovely get-together with friends, and my excitement is really building. The giant yarn package might even arrive tomorrow. I’ll be out of the house then, but the mail carrier will leave it safely at our place. Then I’ll be looking forward to it when I get back.

Knowing myself, I definitely won’t be able to sleep without inspecting the package. If it isn’t there tomorrow, the joyful anticipation for Tuesday will be all the greater.

Ina, you really had a wonderful idea with the swap package. My heartfelt thanks to you for that. With this, you’re not just sharing yarn… but also so much joy that will linger with us for a long time.

That way, we get to feel like it’s Christmas a few times a year...

Wishing you all a wonderful week and lots of fun with your crafts.

Warm regards
Monika

That’s great, I hadn’t even thought about freezing them. I’m sure that will work well with the fresh ones. I’ll give a few to our birds.

Thanks, Steffi—great idea!

Oh, how cute, Steffi! :-)
Yeah, it’s been crazy this year. I didn’t even know that birds eat rose hips in the winter, too. I’ve collected and dried some myself. I can definitely use those to feed them. Do you break them apart somehow, or do you crush them? Or do you just leave them whole for the birds?

Yes, Petra, that’s exactly how I feel too. You’ve really captured this special “Yarn Swap Package” experience wonderfully in words.

Tell me, wouldn’t you like to join in next time? Then you can experience this “yarn bath” up close and feel the excitement and joy even more intensely for yourself. It’s truly unique and very woolly. :)

Well then, I’ll go ahead and pick out what’s next in line. It’s not an easy choice at all...

Marlies, by the way, I had to laugh out loud at how you described the delivery. :) :) :)

Oh wowww, Marlies! That went by in a flash this time. And it’s already on its way to me?!! So excited!!!
I wasn’t expecting this at all—what a super-awesome surprise for the weekend. I’m soooo excited.

You’ve picked out a really beautiful, colorful mix. I know that feeling, by the way—that’s exactly how I choose the yarn for my swap package, too. And switching up the different spots—how fun! I’ll definitely do that this time, too.

Hopefully I’ll be able to sleep with all this anticipation! I’ve had to be so patient for so long… and now it’s almost here! How wonderful!

Dressing dolls for Christmas and winter is always the most fun for me. This Christmas winter poncho instantly makes you want to knit it, ideally for the whole doll family.

The pattern includes different sizes from 35-46 cm. You'll be delighted—and of course so will the doll mom, whether big or small.

Go to the knitting pattern

The doll looks absolutely adorable in this cute winter jumpsuit. A huge delight for any doll mom—it’s guaranteed to make her eyes light up.

The jumpsuit is knitted from the top down with raglan shaping. The pattern includes instructions for several sizes.

View the knitting pattern




A colorful patchwork skirt like this would definitely make a great gift for a doll mom. The more colorful it is, the cheerier it looks. It’s very easy to knit—patch by patch. It’s fun and is guaranteed to turn out beautifully.

The measurements in the pattern are suitable for sizes 104 to 116.

View the knitting pattern




A very quick and easy gift that only requires a few bits of leftover yarn in your favorite colors is this colorful patterned wash mitt. You’re sure to enjoy making it.

The wash mitts can be knitted in various sizes, just as you like.

View the knitting pattern

I also wish you all a lovely, cozy weekend in a warm, snug spot—preferably while enjoying your favorite hobby.

I’d also be in favor of getting rid of daylight saving time. It’s anything but good for your circadian rhythm.

Above all, babies need something warm right now that they can snuggle into. A beautiful, soft sleeping bag made from merino wool is just the thing. It fits from about 3 months up to one year.

Very easy to knit. Every mother will be delighted with such a cozy gift—and the baby even more so.

Go to the knitting pattern




Toddlers need a hat that keeps their neck and head equally warm. This hat made from soft merino wool has proven itself with my grandchildren. They really liked that the hat can be buttoned at the front.

Go to the knitting pattern




And here’s something else for baby—a warm pair of leggings made from sock yarn. They are very comfortable, and even the thickest cloth diaper fits inside. They will still fit my granddaughter for a while as a toddler.

Easy to knit—a real favorite piece.

Go to the knitting pattern

Susanne, let’s see if regular packing tape holds up. I hope so, because I don’t think I have a box that big on hand. In any case, I’m already really excited and looking forward to it.

Oh Susanne, that was quick again. I could really share in your excitement and I’m happy for you. I have to say, the package is already looking very “special.” Unfortunately, I don’t have that kind of heavy-duty tape, so I hope it stays together on its way from me to Ina.

I’m starting to feel like it’s right before Christmas, with the last few doors on the Advent calendar. The excitement is building… and so is the anticipation.

I’ll probably be able to look forward to it as early as next week. I’m soooo curious to see what wonderful treasures are waiting for me.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Warm regards
Monika

Raglan designs can also be knitted wonderfully for doll clothes. For example, this sweet overall for dolls measuring 43-50 cm. It can also be put on teddy bears, by the way.

With it, you’ll definitely have a wonderful Christmas gift ready that will make children’s eyes light up.

Go to the knitting pattern




This cute Schlüttli also fits dolls measuring 40-50 cm—and also small newborns. It can be knitted quickly and easily from leftover yarn and will make any doll mommy happy.

Go to the knitting pattern




Of course, I also have designs for the doll mommy in my pattern shop. For example, this colorful little raglan dress, which fits from size 92 and can be worn for a very long time—later simply as a tunic.

Toddlers like things colorful. A great opportunity to work in colorful leftovers here.

Go to the knitting pattern

I wish you all the best and everything wonderful for your birthday. Have a wonderful day with lovely guests, great gifts, and treats.

I’m a huge fan of your baby dolls. They’re just too cute. I’m sure there are plenty more sweet little ones on the way, I imagine. I hope you enjoy making them, and I hope everyone who crochets them has fun too.



Warm regards
Monika

A cardigan for toddlers (size 86-92) can also be wonderfully knitted with gradient yarn cakes. My granddaughter loved it and wore it for a long time. There is a matching hat to go with it. Ideal for every season, because cardigans are always useful.

To the knitting pattern




The larger, thicker teddy bears also like to have a warm sweater, for example this one. It is knitted with raglan from the top down and even fits babies or larger dolls.

The sweater needs only a little yarn and is sure to bring joy.

To the knitting pattern

Whether it’s a washcloth, dishcloth, or pot holder—a dove of peace is always well received and makes a beautiful symbolic gift at this time.

The cloth is easy to knit; it consists only of knit and purl stitches. You’ll have a lot of fun making it.

To the knitting pattern




Many users have enthusiastically knitted this colorful little doll dress (for dolls 45–55 cm tall) in many different color combinations. It always looks especially pretty and delights every doll mother’s heart.

The little dress is worked in one piece with raglan from the top down. This is a great way to creatively use lots of colorful yarn scraps. Pure knitting fun!

To the knitting pattern

That looks really cozy, Inge. I like comfortable clothes like that, too.

Oh Robine, you told that story sooo well—it was like an exciting adventure. It was almost like we were right there with you, watching you dive right into the yarn package and, above all, seeing how happy you were. Yes, that’s true—spreading joy is incredibly fun. I completely agree with you. It’s one of my favorite things to do, too. ;-)

You’ve picked out some lovely things, as far as I can tell. The pictures are showing up very small on my end. The main thing is that you like them and you already have an idea of what you’ll make with them. You’ll definitely show us, won’t you?

Steffi, that’s great that everything stayed dry where you are. We have relatives up near Kiel. Luckily, they were spared too. It was really intense this time.

Well, I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and I’m already excited to see what happens next. My anticipation is building too, because it won’t be long before that huge box of yarn arrives at my place. What a feeling!! I can almost feel it already...

Warm regards
Monika

Christmas is coming soon, and doll moms big and small will be especially happy about new clothes for their “children.” You can knit this colorful little dress from leftover yarn—and in several sizes from 35 to 46 cm.

The pattern is really addictive; it’s a lot of fun to knit. The best time to start is this weekend.

To the knitting pattern




Knitting washcloths / dishcloths in different patterns and colors is sure to awaken your creative side. After all, these patterns can be used to knit other projects too. You’re sure to come up with some great ideas.

The washcloths are very popular and make wonderful gifts—just as a little surprise or as an extra for Christmas.

To the knitting pattern

Warmest congratulations from me as well, and I hope you have lots of joy in this new year of your life.

All the best
Monika

Thanks, Josefa—I wish the same for you and all the other visitors here.

Since the weather here is autumnal but still quite warm, it’s time to work in the garden. There’s still quite a bit to do there. And a walk in the woods is also on the agenda.

Of course, I’ll be knitting, too. I’m going to come up with a new design for my little granddaughter. She needs a cardigan.

Warm regards to everyone
Monika