Latest Forum Posts by: mowi 19

Petra, that spot in your garden would be right up my alley. It looks really romantic in the photo somehow. Zucchini are growing like crazy over here. I’ve already harvested 15 of them.

Steffi, your jacket looks like a work of art. But I can’t quite picture it yet.

I’ve almost finished both sets for the teddy bears. I’ll post a photo in the next few days.
It’s berry-picking season here. Yesterday I picked over 2 kg of gooseberries, some of which I baked into a cake. I also picked jostaberries and the last of the currants. And the first raspberries are already waiting to be picked. I love this kind of gardening. But with the heat we’re having right now, I can only do it in the evening or very early in the morning.

Hope you all get through this hot day just fine!

Veronika, I’m amazed that Winkys still exist and that they cost a fortune now. I don’t even think they’re that great anymore. I had a rare one in green and, of course, I dressed it up. I loved doing that even as a kid.

When I first started driving at 33, I also had an R4, and I absolutely loved driving it—even on long trips.

I’m familiar with the Isetta, too, as well as the Beetle. It was sometimes a real space miracle. But even back then, it felt a bit too cramped for me.

Yeah, it’s great that little girls can still play with them today.

I can think of something else. Back in the day, there used to be dolls at the fair—mostly black, inflatable ones that looked like babies. Some of them even squeaked. Their mouths were round or oval, and they had big, round eyes. My dad once brought me one—it was green with a bow on its head. I had it for a long time and loved playing with it so much. At some point, it even had to be glued back together at the seams. I think they were called “Winkie.”

Hi girls,

tell me—do you guys remember those paper or cardboard dress-up dolls? They were dolls—some of which you had to cut out—that came with lots of outfits that you either had to cut out yourself or were pre-cut so you could easily detach them.

I used to love playing with those. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen anything like that these days.

Summery greetings from Monika

Andrea, your blanket is truly a masterpiece. I’ve already admired it in the gallery. You’ve put an incredible amount of work into it, and it was definitely worth it. So beautifully colorful and versatile—a real eye-catcher.

This cute little summer hat for dolls is a quick and easy crochet project. It’s an ideal little project for using up leftover yarn and is absolutely perfect for beginners.

You can adjust the size of the hat yourself to fit your doll.

To the crochet pattern

These washcloths are a great project that can be knitted even on warm days. All six have a different pattern. That way, it doesn’t get boring, and you’ll learn new patterns along the way that you can also use for other projects.

Each washcloth can be knitted from less than one skein of cotton.

To the knitting pattern

These little doll leggings are perfect for knitting from leftover yarn. They fit dolls measuring 43 to 50 cm and are very easy to make. A great little project for in between.

Go to the knitting pattern




This little mini sleeping bag for dolls or a favorite cuddly toy up to 20 cm in size is also perfect for knitting from leftover yarn. The pattern describes two versions.

Go to the knitting pattern

This cute doll jacket with a matching hat is an ideal weekend project for anyone who loves dolls or knows a doll mom. The set even fits newborns—and dolls measuring 45–50 cm.

The jacket is knitted using the RVO method. This is a wonderful and creative way to use up lots of colorful cotton scraps.

To the knitting pattern

Oh yeah, the good old milk jug—I guess nobody needs that anymore either. I used to buy milk with it at the store around the corner when I was a kid.

Yeah, I used to have a pressure cooker like that, too. I loved cooking in it. Those were the days...

I still have my children’s cutlery—it’s almost 70 years old now. Someday, my great-grandchildren will get it. My granddaughters use them when they come to visit us. That’s how I learned to eat with a knife and fork. I’ve already passed on my son’s children’s cutlery set.

Do you remember those hand mixers with a rotating mechanism? My mom used to have one. It was great for whipping egg whites or cream. 

Once upon a time, long ago, there was a woman who had a beautiful garden full of colorful flowers.
One day, she went into the garden to check on her lovely little pink flowers, just as she did every day.
That’s when she heard a soft little voice singing a beautiful little song.

The woman paused to listen and try to make out the words.
She was enchanted and felt transported back to her own childhood.

For me today, it was all-natural—homemade olive soap and mugwort ointment. I’d think that was really great.

By the way, our stereo also has a cassette player. In the bathroom, I always listen to cassettes in the morning, and they all play perfectly.

Are there actually still clothes presses around? Back in the day, we used to put a lot of things through the press. I don’t see any of those anymore. To be honest, I could really use one every now and then.

Yes, I have a lot of VHS tapes, too. They have recordings of our children and our wedding on them.

There used to be special milk cartons for school. I don’t think they exist like that anymore. They were handed out there.

Andrea, I still have those little bottle caps and all kinds of utensils, some from Tupperware.

Ina, I can’t really confirm what you said about the CDs. We play CDs very often, some even again after years. But they’re all still fully functional. There are many among them that we’ve had for well over 20 years.

Back then, I used to write contracts on carbon paper at the office. They’d then be duplicated using that carbon paper. Copiers didn’t exist yet.

Whistling kettles are probably almost nonexistent now, except maybe when camping. We always had one of those sitting on the stove. And there was also a heavy iron there. It would get hot from the stove, and then my mom would use it to iron.

Cassette recorders are probably completely out of style now. We still have a cassette radio like that in our 30-year-old car and our RV (which we just sold). I also had a Walkman, and I actually still have it.

Once upon a time, long ago, there was a woman who had a beautiful garden full of colorful flowers.
One day, she went into the garden to check on her beautiful little pink flowers, just as she did every day.
Then she heard a soft little voice singing a beautiful little song.
The little fairy was enchanted by the sounds... 

Katrin, I also prefer to knit with thin yarns using size 2.5 or 3 needles. Sock yarn, for example. :)

So, now I’ve finished the little jacket for the teddy bear, too. I just need to sew on the buttons. Then I’ll knit the second set, because now the second teddy bear wants a pair of pants and a jacket, too. Tsk, tsk… I just can’t resist. :)) Right now, I’m just in the mood for little things like this.

I’ll post a photo of it all put together tomorrow.

Inge, I hope you have a wonderful time with your sister, too. What a lovely gift!

Dishcloths, potholders, or washcloths with a heart pattern are not only useful, but decorative too. When given as gifts, they show that they were made with lots of love. And that always goes over wonderfully.

The cloths are easy to knit from the pattern. It’s so much fun that you won’t stop at just one. After all, there are always plenty of occasions to give them as gifts.

Go to the knitting pattern

This beautiful clothing set for dolls (45–50 cm) can be quickly knitted from colorful scraps. It’s sure to make every doll mom’s heart smile, whether big or small. And you’re sure to have fun knitting it, too.

To the knitting pattern

You can easily knit a cozy, soft collar scarf like this from leftover sock yarn. It’s versatile—it can be buttoned in the front or turned up as a collar. A practical gift that’s sure to bring joy.

To the knitting pattern

Dear Ingrid,

I’d like to extend my warmest birthday wishes to you. Enjoy this day and let everyone celebrate you and shower you with gifts. For the coming year, I wish you above all good health, lots of joy, great ideas, and everything your heart desires. It’s wonderful to have you here!



Warm regards
Monika

Yes, Ruth, I know. However, I already have so many projects in the works that I don’t have time for this right now. But it’s on my mental to-do list.

I have another idea for saving water—I just noticed it in our household. We have these attachments on our faucets—I think they’re called aerators (?). They mix water with air and let much less water through. I highly recommend them, especially in the kitchen, since otherwise way too much water flows just from a quick rinse. 

Warmest congratulations from me as well, and here’s to a particularly happy new year of life.



All my love
Monika

Wow, Claudia, a fabric market—that’s really great. If only I could get motivated to finally work on the fabrics I have lying around...

I like the idea of the reading pillow; I could use one of those, too. 

Yes, dear Ina, I agree with you. Letting the warm (initial) water run into a bucket or a watering can first really saves a huge amount of water! We’ve been doing it this way for a long time. When you consider that 5–10 liters of water are used for each dish cycle, it’s definitely worth it. Alternatively, you can use it to water plants in the summer. Bathwater is another good idea. However, we rarely take baths.

This is an “Energy Bear,” the old version. Without ears, it’s 35 cm; with ears, it’s listed as 40 cm. I wanted to give her this exact one as a gift, because she’s had it since she was a baby. Naturally, it looks well-loved. She’s turning 26 now and still loves teddy bears. Now she’s getting a new little brother to go with hers. :-)

Yes, dear Ina, there are also lots of little pictures with glitter in them. I grew up in Fulda, a so-called “bishop’s city.” Today I see many things differently, but I still have faith in God. For me, God doesn’t live in any church.

Warm regards, Monika

This doll jacket with a hat is perfect for knitting over a weekend—using leftover yarn. Every doll mom, big or small, will be delighted to dress her child in something new.

The jacket is knitted with raglan shaping from the top down. The set fits dolls measuring 35–40 cm.

Go to the knitting pattern

Now I can show you my friendship album, too. It starts in 1963, three years after I started school. These are very precious memories for me. Some of the pages even have drawings in them. And I absolutely loved these little pictures. We used to trade them.

It started with my own introductory saying:



And then came my parents. I can still read this handwriting:





One of my teachers:



A nice saying:



And this page was also beautifully decorated and drawn on:



This is my absolute favorite saying, one I’ve never forgotten:



And here’s another one with drawings:



Now you have a glimpse into the ’60s. My son also had a friendship album like this in the ’80s, though it was called a “Friends Book.”

Later on, my aunts, cousins, and the pastor also wrote in my album. It still accompanied me after I moved to Bremen.

Thanks, Ruth—now I’m a little wiser. :)

The pants for the teddy bear—which is also going to be a gift—are now finished. He’s getting a jacket to go with them. I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with this little guy myself. He looks so cute in his pants.



And his little tail is peeking out from the back.

I hope you all have a great weekend here with nice weather. It’s just a little over 20 degrees and cloudy here today. Tomorrow looks like it’ll be a bit warmer with a few drops of rain. The garden really needs it—our rain barrel is empty, too.

Today I picked some berries that still need to be processed. Tomorrow we’re meeting up with friends.

Claudia, the sewn pouches look fantastic! Here’s a silly question: What’s a reading pillow for? I also wish your sister a speedy recovery.

Steffi, I’ve heard of dog wool, too. It’s supposed to be very soft. Are you knitting with it yet?

I’ve now finished the pants for the teddy bear. I’ll post a photo tomorrow. But he’s still going to get a jacket to go with them.

Dear Mel,

I’d also like to join in the birthday wishes and hope you have a magical day filled with lots of surprises—big and small—that bring you joy. Enjoy being pampered and let everyone celebrate you.



Warm regards from Monika

Katrin, I had no idea until now that this was a Turkish cast-on. I use it too when I want to knit in different directions or for the “mouse teeth” pattern. Your sweater is sure to turn out beautiful. That’s super-fine yarn, right?

Anja, your turtle is so cuddly and cute. I can’t work with yarn like that at all—I’m lucky if I even catch the stitches. Even though it looks absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on sticking with it!

Ruth, Karlos is getting sleeves too—pretty wide ones, actually. Right now, it’s too warm for me to knit him. I’d rather knit teddy bear clothes out of cotton. I’m making good progress on that.
Your little whale is absolutely adorable again. Crocheting ice cream scoops is also a great idea. Grandkids often inspire you to do things you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.

Dear Iris,

I’d also like to join in with the belated birthday wishes. May this new year bring you complete happiness and many wonderful experiences.



Warm regards
Monika

Dear Steffi,

I, too, would like to wish you belatedly all the best and happiness for your new year of life. May it bring you much joy and happy moments.

At least one of your wishes has come true—and with a special touch, no less. How lovely!



Warm regards from Monika

Claudia, that’s a lovely photo of you. The shirt looks great with the appliqué. And the cheese is absolutely amazing—just like the real thing! You’re so talented....

Yeah, Marlies, I think that blanket is the prettiest one, too. If I could clone myself, I’d be working on that one as well.

Steffi, I’m really excited to see your sweater. At least now I can picture it. The sleeves do look a little tight to me, though. That’s probably just an optical illusion.

Have a relaxing day, everyone!

My poetry album is from the ’60s. I started school in 1960. I’ll look for it and share some photos too. It’s such a lovely memory for me—one I love to revisit every now and then.

I also learned Old German script in school back then. My mom always wrote a mix of German and Latin. I even still have old letters from my grandpa, who wrote in Old German. It really takes some getting used to when you read it.

Marlies, thank you for your feedback on the Karlos. That’s the first Karlos (jacket). I’ve knitted a total of three Karls. I wear two of them regularly, and I gave one away. There will be a second Karlos as well, but sometime in the fall or winter. I have other things to work on first.

I have a tip for casting on with Trio. I always cast on entirely on a circular needle and then knit the first round as a row. Then I distribute the stitches across two Trio needles and only then join them into the round. It’s less fiddly, and you can’t even tell when the first round is joined while weaving in the thread end.

Are you making a wedding cake? I hadn’t realized that. What kind of blanket are you knitting?

Thanks, Katrin, for your feedback on the Karlos. The sock yarn is already quite warm, so I’m only knitting it in the evenings right now.

Buuut… I’m actually starting my fourth project right now. A dear friend’s daughter has a birthday coming up soon and her teddy bear really needs some new clothes. On the spur of the moment, I had the idea to design something for her and give it to her as a birthday present. She’ll be so happy! When I finish something, I’ll send a photo.

In the morning in the bathroom, we catch the first warm water in a bucket and use that “batch” to flush the toilet. You can also use it to water plants. This saves a huge amount of water over the course of a year. It actually takes a while for really warm water to come out of the faucet, and that water usually just goes down the drain. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Saving gasoline/diesel:
A car uses the most fuel when starting up. That’s why, when shopping at multiple stores, we often park in a central location and then visit the stores one by one. Of course, this only works if you’re not buying a full carload of groceries. 

It’s easy to bake your own rolls and bread. If that’s not possible, buy a larger quantity at the bakery (preferably from the day before) and reheat it yourself every day. This saves a lot of trips and is faster. If the bakery is in town, ride your bike there instead of driving.

Wow, this is an amazing collection of money-saving ideas.

I do what Petra-Perle does, too. And Veronika’s tip about the bokashi bucket as well. The fertilizer that comes out at the bottom as liquid is very effective, and you only need a little bit of it. Here’s another tip on what else you can do with the bokashi liquid: it’s a brilliant drain cleaner. Just pour a splash down the drains every now and then and let it sit for a while—half an hour, for example. Then rinse thoroughly. We’ve already unclogged drains this way. It’s best to use it as a preventative measure.

Mel, your food-sharing initiative with the neighbors is just brilliant. That’s how I imagine our future—sharing what we have. Then nothing gets wasted or thrown away, and everyone has enough. Awesome!

Ina, I think your tip with the lemon is absolutely brilliant! I’m going to do that too from now on.

A pattern mix of a very special kind is this colorful feel-good blanket. Each pattern section is knitted from one skein. It features not only many different colors, but also many patterns. The pieces are simply knitted on one after another. The blanket can basically be knitted with any yarn. Just make sure all the skeins are the same quality.

Go to the knitting pattern

Yes, dear Ina, you’re doing the right thing. It’s better to focus on the beautiful things. Because there’s no point in dwelling on the loss for too long. I just hope there’s still plenty left—or that new crops will grow—for you to harvest. The main thing is that you’re all well and everything’s okay with the house.

Warmest regards again from Monika

Oh no, dear Ina! That’s anything but pleasant—so much of your harvest is now gone. The sight of it really makes me sad. You must have been looking forward to the harvest so much and put so much love into it.

That your area was hit so hard… I can only hope that there’s still some of the harvest left and that something like this doesn’t happen again. 

The main thing is that everything else remained intact. I remember that the storm had already wreaked havoc on your greenhouse before.

Just know that I’m sending you a big hug. My heart goes out to you.

Warm regards
Monika

Dear Ina,
I’d also like to thank you very much for organizing and launching this wonderful swap package. It was once again a very special experience—both sharing in the excitement here with all the participants and wondering what might be inside the package. Yes, I’m already looking forward to the next time.

It was a really lovely group once again. Now I’d also like to wish you all a wonderful summer.

Best regards, Monika