January Projects: The Crazypatterns Crafting Group 2020

Part 2:
January Projects: Part 2. The Crazypatterns Crafting Group.


Dear users, dear authors,
here is the thread for the January projects.

UFO Week: January 24–31
Award ceremony: approx. February 3/4
More information to follow.
Have fun!

Looks good :-)
Velvet yarn = chenille yarn?

Yeah, exactly. I used a pretty thin one. But you can also crochet it with the regular-weight yarn—the mole will just turn out bigger.

OK, thanks. Moles are wonderful in all sizes. :-)
What’s the name of that fuzzy yarn again—the kind that’s better for knitting than crocheting, and that you can use to make a sort of “fur” or a “fur stole”?
I can’t remember the name.

Josefa, to answer your question, I can show you my first finished January project right away. A hat for my husband made from Lana Grossa Furry. It’s a fluffy yarn made from 90 percent alpaca. I’m currently knitting a matching scarf to go with it

Thanks :-)

Ruth, your mole is so cute—it looks great in any yarn.

Mel, you’ve been working hard—your hat turned out beautifully.

I’ve been crocheting on my pillowcase some more; it’s already grown quite a bit. 

My goodness, you’re all so hard at work! What a cute little mole—you really did a great job on that, Ruht.
Mel, your hat looks very cozy, too. And I’m already excited to see your finished pillowcase, Marion.

I’m going through a bit of an artistic slump right now… sort of. A thousand ideas are swirling around in my head—and for so many different projects, too. I just can’t decide what to work on.

My sweater has turned into a UFO for now, because I’m still missing that spark of inspiration for the neckline on the front.

Then I’d like to knit myself a cowl or a loop scarf, but I can’t decide on a pattern. Once again, my perfectionism is holding me back…

And hats are also on the agenda—as well as little slippers for Juna (though those can wait).

I think things won’t really get going again until our guests leave—in a week. Then my needles will definitely be working overtime again. :)

Hat with matching scarf. It used 150g of yarn. Monika, everyone goes through a creative slump sometimes. Given everything you’ve made over the last few months, that’s not surprising. Marion, I’m already looking forward to seeing your finished pillow.
Ruth, the moles are adorable :)

The moles turned out really cute.
You’ve all been very busy again this year. Meanwhile, I only have a pair of socks on my needles; otherwise, it’s all projects I started last year… For now, I’m enjoying the peace and quiet and just taking it easy.

Do you mean fringe yarn or eyelash yarn, Josefa?

Mel, that warm winter set looks really cozy; it looks even better on.

Last night I had some more ideas about what else I want to make in the near future. I’ve added a little dress for the dolls and a colorful skirt for Linja to the list. For now, I’m going to start on the cowl for myself, because I can tell I really want to wear it.

I also already have a vague idea of how to continue with my sweater.

And I’ve also set myself goals for what I want to achieve this year. One of them is revising all my patterns. And of course I’m joining in with the yarn diet and want to use up quite a lot of yarn.

I wish you all a lovely weekend!

Ruth, both moles are really great! :) (And now I’m just realizing what a silly word that is… “mole”… Hihi

Mel, I really, really like your hat and scarf, too! I’d love to snuggle up in them :)

Monika, it’s better to have too many ideas than too few :) Once your guests are gone, I’m sure you’ll be back in full swing.

I’ve been back to work this month. Yay.
  I’ve already finished two hats in the last few minutes... two of the same kind, for my two guys.
One really big and one tiny.
Little Leo’s already in bed, so I can’t try his on and finish it up...
And the big hat is already in use and sitting in the car...
But maybe there’ll be pictures tomorrow :) 

After some back-and-forth, I’ve found my January project:


It’s going to be a poncho.

Thanks lucygurumi.
“Fringe yarn” was the word I was looking for.

I really like the moles.
When it comes to crocheting animals, I’m all thumbs.

I plan to write my new patterns in both German and English right away.

Hi, I wish you all a wonderful 2020

The poncho is definitely going to be great—I really like how it’s starting to look. The material also looks very vibrant—I’m excited to see how it turns out.

The moles—ah, that brings back memories of the kids’ show. I loved him so much… it turned out really nice, Ruth.

Mel, your set looks pretty and totally cozy. It must be very comfortable to wear.

Monika, right now I’m feeling much the same way as you—too many ideas and not quite the right spark yet—so I’m crocheting my sofa blanket with quite a bit of discipline; I’ll actually be done soon. Right now I’m still working on the border—yayyyyyyy… I’ll be finished soon!



I’ll be so glad when I’m done with this... as much as I’m looking forward to the finished piece, it was just so boring to crochet a gray waffle pattern on such a large scale. But it does keep me really warm :-)

Marlene, you’ve picked out a lovely project—I really like it.

Tina, I’m looking forward to seeing your hats. That’s a really great idea, and it’ll probably make Dad very proud.

Claudia, a blanket like that is just the thing—it’s perfect for this time of year. I could really use a project like that right now, something that just comes together on its own without me having to think too much. Right now, I’ve got a few baby booties on my crochet hook, made from leftover yarn. They’ll be finished tomorrow, and then I’ll take a photo. I’ve worked from my own pattern again, this time in dark blue and white.

My husband mentioned today that he’d like a new hat—one that’s thicker than the ones he has so far. Well, I’ll go pick out some yarn and knit him one. I have no idea yet what it should look like. I just know that this time I’ll sew in a fleece lining for him.

In any case, I’m looking forward to everything we’ll be making together here.

It’s funny how ideas come about… Yesterday I finally had a brilliant idea for my loop scarf, or collar scarf. And then I looked at the yarn I’d chosen for it… and I actually like it better for a jacket for Juna—I could practically picture it. So now I have the idea (actually two), but I have a new decision to make—namely, choosing the right yarn. ;-) 

Wow, you’ve all been so busy in the first week! And with such beautiful projects :-)

After knitting a few things for my kids last year, I’ve now designed something for myself. To go with my loop scarf, which I finished last year, I’m currently knitting a beanie featuring the Chinese symbols for love and energy. I’ll be finished with the ribbing soon.



Since our cat cuddled up with me a lot while I was knitting yesterday, I’m sure a few cat hairs have ended up knitted in as well ;-)

Thanks, Claudia and Moni :)

Since I’m using thin yarn and working with a size 2.5 needle, this will probably be more of a spring project.

Wasn’t the little mole’s name “Pauli,” Ruth?

CreatOwl, that poncho is going to be amazing. I can already tell. You absolutely have to show it to us when it’s finished.

Claudia, hats off to your sofa blanket. I never have enough patience for such huge projects.

A-mano, that looks really exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing a picture when it’s done :)

I had to make the little hat bigger again this morning, since Leo’s head is apparently bigger than that of other babies his age ;)
Buuut. I’m done. 





This is the “Ice Cube” hat by chrristlkleespies. Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the big hat yet ;) 

Tina, how lovely! And it’s even better when you’re wearing matching outfits :-)

By the way, my name is Sonja—that’s actually supposed to be in my signature, but somehow it seems to have gone missing, hmm....

Should I be jealous of all this creativity in the first few days of the new year? I admire your creations! All I’ve managed so far are fourteen little snowflakes made from sponge yarn and an ice flower made from the same material… On top of that, I’m still finishing up my six shopping bags—now it’s just a matter of sewing them up, attaching the flowers, and sewing on the labels…
I fell in love with Ruth’s little Grabowski right away—I definitely have to crochet that one! Oh, how many times have I had to read this picture book—first to our children, then to our grandchildren…

Are you knitting double-faced, Mano?

It looks that way to me.

Yes, CreatOwl, that is knitted in double-face. 

I’ve finished it!!!
Phewhhh.... finally.

This beauty is 1.10 x 1.75 m in size, and I’m going to snuggle up under it right away now :-) 
I think this was the most boring project since I started crocheting.  The fairly undemanding waffle stitch, and then in this color - it really dragged on and really tested my willpower.
But I wanted it exactly like that... and I really like it now too.



Sonja, by the way, your hat is already looking really good now - but Tina, your “model” is outdoing everything else right now! Just plain cute - and the hat too, by the way.

You’ve all created some amazing things!

Little Leo looks absolutely adorable in his new hat!

Claudia, your blanket turned out beautifully. But I can understand why this project took so long and why you’re glad it’s finally finished. Big projects like that aren’t for me—I lose patience too quickly.

I prefer making smaller things. I’ve got a whole bunch of them floating around in my head right now, just waiting to be brought to life.

Yes, that’s right, Marlene—the little mole’s name was Pauli. But I preferred to call mine Poldi :-))

Claudia, hats off to your hard work—it was definitely worth the effort!
Tina, the picture is simply enchanting; little Leo and his hat are absolutely adorable :)
I finished the front of my sweater yesterday. Now “all that’s left” are the sleeves, but those are always a struggle for me. I hope one try per sleeve will be enough this time—so far, everything in the patterns has worked out without a hitch.
I also came up with a new idea of my own yesterday; let’s see if I can make it happen...

Wow—there’s really a lot going on here! How wonderful! Our craft group is getting bigger and bigger—that’s really great to see.

Sonja, I’m a huge fan of your amazing creations. You did a fantastic job. It’s great to have you here in our craft group now. :-)

Tina, that hat turned out great. It’s nice that you’re showing us your sweet little treasure.

Christina, no need to be jealous. I’ve been in the same boat—I haven’t gotten much done in the last few weeks either. But I’m getting back to it now, because I’ve got both the ideas and the yarn all ready to go.

Claudia, my hat’s off to you for that blanket! You nailed it—the result turned out absolutely fantastic, and now you can enjoy snuggling up with it for a few more weeks.

Mel, a new year has just begun, and the ideas will surely start flowing. Let’s look forward to lots of beautiful new projects that we can then share here.

I quickly crocheted some baby booties from leftover yarn over the last two days, and I’ll be sending them off tomorrow because they’re needed. So I’ve already finished my “yarn rescue” project for this month. Here’s what the little booties look like:



And today I’m winding some thick yarn from Finkhof so my husband can wear his new hat soon. Claudia, what’s the name of that fleece you can sew into the hats?

I wish you all a wonderful and creative day!

Best regards
Monika

How’s it going?

Monika, the little booties are great!
I’ve almost finished my sweater—just one sleeve left. I’m also crocheting nests for animals in Australia right now.

Mel, that sounds great... nests for animals in Australia. Is this related to the wildfire-affected areas? That’s really a good idea. Would you mind telling us more about it? I’m interested. You’ll show us the finished nests, right? And your sweater, too—I’m curious to see that.

My projects are coming along. The cowl for me is being knitted from scraps left over from Linja’s sweater. And the hat for my husband is taking shape, too.

Here’s what both pieces look like right now:

Progress on my poncho:

(unedited photo)

Marlene, that already looks great! You sure are quick with those needles ;)

Yes, I have them—not much left to go, and the crochet hook has practically grown into my fingers ;)

Monika, you’re really back in the groove again… and those little booties are great.

Marlene, I really like your poncho so far—it’s definitely going to turn out beautiful.

Mel, is the wildlife project still on? I’ve read that there are often problems with distribution and import… and that’s why it’s better to donate money instead. I’d actually already set aside some yarn… but now I’m feeling unsure.

Yesterday, I had to rip out my work—one project just didn’t turn out the way I wanted at all. I’d already used up almost 300g of sock yarn—so now I need a new plan.

Claudia, I’m sending you a private message.

Marlene, I like your poncho, too. It already looks really great.

Claudia, I’m also crocheting bird’s nests. I’ll definitely finish at least two and send them off once they’re done. There are a few things you absolutely need to keep in mind—Mel will let you know.

Now I actually have 5 projects in the works. Although my long-term UFO—the crocheted sleeping bag for the dolls—is still waiting for better times. I’ll definitely get the small parts finished.

Thanks, Moni—the poncho is coming along quickly for me, too :)
Five projects in progress—that’s quite something.

As for the yarn, I can imagine there might be certain import regulations on the part of customs, Claudia.
I’m not really familiar with that, though.

I’ve now finished 9 nests. The nice thing about this is that even old yarn I bought back in 2014 is finally being put to good use.
Today I’m sewing. Inner pouches for the kangaroos.

All my other projects are on hold for now.

Have a wonderful Sunday

Petra, I think that’s great! It’s exactly the same for me—everything else has to wait. How big are your “nests” on average? 

I’m using yarn that’s 115 m / 50 grams, worked double-stranded with size 5 needles. 48 stitches, and 16–18 rows up (that’s about 6 cm high)

Right now, I’m sewing up old bedding. I’m a bit of a hoarder and a stockpiler. I never would have thought that my daughter’s old bedding would end up all the way in Australia.

Sewing goes much faster. I’ve already finished 3 Joey Pouch liners in just one hour. 

I’ve started too... I’ve actually finished a few more already. This is really helping to whittle down my stash of leftover yarn—and it’s for a good cause.

Wow, you guys are fast! So many nests are already finished. I’ve only managed to make one so far, and I’ve started the next one.

Unfortunately, I don’t always have the label for my old leftover yarn. You need that, right? If not, I’d have even more yarn available. At least I know what it’s made of.

In any case, I’m going to keep crocheting and have put everything else on hold for now so I can send out a few nests.

By the way, I’m really happy that we’re already crocheting—and sewing—together here for Australia. Quite a lot is coming together. I’ve already shared it on all my Facebook channels, too.

I crocheted the “Eucalyptus Heart” pattern, measuring 12 x 12 cm. It can be used in many ways. Now I’m going to crochet more bird nests in different sizes.

I think it’s great that so many people are joining in. So far I’ve made 4 nests out of acrylic yarn. Now I’m moving on to the cotton; I’m going to make the eucalyptus heart with that. Let’s see how many I can whip up. I do still have some acrylic yarn, but unfortunately it’s contaminated with a few cat hairs... And it has to be 1000% free of animal hair! I’ll use the remaining yarn to make nests for my foster stations here nearby. If you perhaps also have breeding and foster stations in your area, ask them—there’s usually a need!

Hello, Nesthäklerinnen: It’s great what you’re doing! Where can I find the necessary details and patterns?

Wollbärli there’s a Facebook group called “Germany Helps Australia’s Wildlife.” When I joined, there were just 2,000 members. Not even a week later, there are now 16,000 members. That’s where all the information is shared. The willingness to help is indescribable, and everyone is motivated.

I’ve since joined the group in Baden-Württemberg and am crocheting nests and sewing the liners.

Shipping is scheduled for early February.

Which federal state are you from? Maybe this group is still accepting members, and then you’ll get all the info there.

Monika I don’t think you need a ball band for every nest. I’ll put each type of yarn — the 100% cotton in one bag, the 50% cotton/50% acrylic in the next — and attach the insert sheet that needs to be filled out, with details of the contents (it’s a checklist). If I’m translating the insert sheet correctly, I only need the original ball band for animal-fiber yarn (Superwash). 

Thanks, Petra. I don’t know if there’s something like this in Switzerland—in any case, I’ve never heard of it.

Thanks, Petra—that really helps. I’d also understood that you only need to include the label if you’re using animal-based yarn.

I just finished the second nest—this time a bit smaller, 10 cm in diameter. I really enjoy crocheting the nests, even if other projects have to take a back seat for now.

It’s amazing how helpful everyone is. I think that’s great! I’ll take a look on Facebook, too—I’m not in the group yet. I didn’t know anything about the checklists yet either; I’d only received the patterns. Thanks for the info.

Good morning—unfortunately, I don’t know if this is happening in other countries as well.

Wollbaerli, if you’d like, you’re welcome to send your finished items to me; I’ll forward them to my collection point. If you’d like patterns and information, just send me a message. There’s still time.

Monika, your collection point probably has information sheets as well. The customs process seems to be quite involved—washing, packing, labeling, etc. The volunteers still have quite a bit of work ahead of them before everything is ready to ship.

Yesterday we watched a documentary (from 2018) about Tasmania. In it, a woman was raising baby wombats. They, too, lived in little nests just like the ones being sewn now.

Wishing you all a wonderful (hopefully) sunny week

Yes, Petra, I’ll check on that. Are the nests washed before they’re shipped? They’re made with new yarn, after all. I’ll definitely include a note with the exact composition.

When are you planning to send the nests?

The sun is shining here—the weather has been beautiful for days now.

Monika, the nests have to be washed beforehand (like everything else) at 60 degrees. Use laundry detergent, without fabric softener. 

They are supposed to be sent out at the beginning of February, so I’ll hand in or send my things around the 25th. 

The weather here wasn’t nice at all today. Drizzly and no sun :-( , but I had to work all day, so it wasn’t quite so bad.

Have a relaxing evening

Petra, I also ended up in this Facebook group.

Everything was nicely summarized there—which materials, matching patterns, shipping collection points, and instructions on how to ship items so there are no problems at customs.
I also think it’s great that the items that have to be sorted out at the collection points because they don’t meet customs regulations will be donated to local wildlife rescue organizations—I’m sure there will be a thing or two among them.

However, this group is now at capacity because there are sooo many people who’ve signed up on the volunteer list to do handicrafts there.

I also think the willingness of the crafting community to help is absolutely amazing.

I support a group from Speyer; if you’re interested, feel free to send me a private message, and I’ll send you the link.

I’ve finished crocheting something again. I’m using up my unloved “stepchild yarn,” which I really don’t like (I’m doing the yarn diet, after all).

Here’s the finished piece (pattern: ursulapetra)

And here’s a crocheted blanket made from a pattern (but it’s not finished yet). I used up 3 leftover Bobbels.

A lot has happened here again since my last post.

Kudos to the hard-working baby-nest crocheters.
Baselfan, your pot holders and the blanket look great.

I finally have something to show you all, too. The front of my pillowcase is finished. For the back, I still need to find some matching “diet yarn”—though that part will be knitted.

I pinned it in place as a test run.  


That unloved yarn has certainly found a lovely new purpose. The colorful potholder really lifts my spirits.

The pillow pattern looks so beautifully retro to me—I really like that.

Best of luck to both of you with your yarn diet; may you always find enough suitable materials in your stash and stick with it for a long time.


I just finished weaving in the last ends on my crocheted nests and pouches for the Australian wildlife rescue organization.

I used up about 900g of colorful leftover yarn—that really whittled down my remaining stash.
Just need to wash them on a hot cycle, then I’ll take them to the post office.

Hopefully they’ll survive the wash just fine...



Let’s see what I’ll crochet next… I’m still waiting for a brilliant idea.

Claudia, you’ve been super hard at work—the animals will thank you! So far, I’ve used 500g of yarn for the nests; unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to continue yesterday. Some days just don’t have enough hours...

Bastelfan the colors are great. Are those placemats or cushions? I can see now they’re potholders. I think it’s lovely when the kitchen is colorful and cheerful.

That crochet blanket is amazing. Beautiful. What hook size do you use, and what yardage do your leftover bits have?

Wollefaden your cushion cover is going to be great.

Claudia you’ve really got a lot done. My stash has also shrunk by about 500 grams, and I sewed a duvet cover. Who would have thought that my daughter’s old discarded bedding would make it all the way to Australia one day. (laughs)

I’ve since been informed that the donations at my collection point will be picked up on January 28 and then flown to Australia. Anything that arrives later will go to aid organizations in Germany. 

So now I can show you my nests, too!
They’re going in the washing machine tomorrow, and I’ll send them off at the end of the week.

Wow, you’ve really produced a lot more—hats off to you all!

Bastelfan, you’ve put your leftover yarn to such lovely use. I really like everything.

Claudia, you’ve been very hard at work again—it’s really impressive how many nests you’ve crocheted. I have to say, with my fourth nest now, I’m reaching the limits of what my wrist can handle. That’s why this will probably be my last nest—I’ll finish crocheting it tonight. If my arm feels better in the next few days, I’ll finish a fifth one over the weekend.

Here’s how it looks so far:

x
Mel, you’ve made a lot of nests too—really great! Since I still have a little time left, I’ll see if I can manage a few more. How do you handle the information slip? Do you just write down the yarn composition?

Marion, I like your pillow. It’s something completely different. I’m curious to see the back...

Monika, since I only used 2 different types of yarn (2 gradient skeins of 200g each and one 150g blue skein), all in 100% acrylic, I’m including the yarn labels, and I think that should be enough.

Thanks, Mel—yes, that should definitely be enough for you. I also used only two types of yarn, but both are cotton blends. I have the label for one of them, but unfortunately not for the other—just the specifications. I’m sure it’ll be enough if you include all that information.

Wow, you’ve all been busy again. These crocheted nests are a great idea, and so colorful too.
I also like the pillow with its varied crochet arrangement. Retro is “in.”
Thank you so much for liking my doilies. I’m quite happy with the final result, too. It’s quick to make and looks beautifully colorful. I crochet a lot with a 2.25 mm hook. Stiefwolle yarn, 100% cotton (50 g / 160 meters), and leftover Bobbel yarn (50% cotton, 50% acrylic), 200 g / 800 m, 3-ply or 4-ply.
I’ll use them as coasters.
Here’s a little tip: you could also crochet 2 pieces, sew them together and stuff them a little, and you’ve got a small pillow as decoration or for the doll mommies.

Monika, I used up a lot of small, colorful scraps of cotton yarn—so I no longer had a label for every single scrap.

I’ll just pack them into plastic bags according to their material composition and include whatever labels I still have.
No one can really verify that anyway...

I’m doing the same with the acrylic yarn nests. I still had a relatively large leftover from the big skein from my blanket, so I only had 1 label for several nests. I crocheted it together with other acrylic scraps, so it’s all one fiber type, so to speak.
Hopefully that’ll be good enough for customs...

The nests came through the 60* wash just fine; now they’re in the dryer—I was really worried that the acrylic, at least, wouldn’t withstand the temperatures without damage. But it seems the manufacturers are indeed playing it very safe with their specifications.

And yes, my wrist was really acting up by the end.
In any case, I’ll be working much more loosely on the next project :-)

Mel, is the campaign still going on at your organization?

In “our” group, it seems we’ve reached the maximum transport capacity—a whopping 2.6 metric tons. That’s an incredible amount we’re managing to handle...

I checked again today—the next submission deadline is next Friday.  



This is how far my two KALs have got so far! Now there’s a break until the next installments:

Hats off to your commitment to the animals in Australia! I think the nest idea is wonderful, but unfortunately I haven’t seen anything about it here.

I’ve heard that you shouldn’t send knitted items to Australia anymore because a lot of it is unusable and gets thrown away. Plus, volunteers on the ground don’t have time to sort through all of it. What a shame—all that work for nothing! But monetary donations are probably more helpful.

Ruth, there are also many wildlife rescue organizations in Germany that would be happy to receive nests. Last year, I took part in a campaign for a forest zoo; this year, I’m making some for the animal shelter in Bocholt and a private squirrel and bird rehabilitation center. My neighbor is a veterinary assistant, and her practice works closely with these organizations.

@Nadeleule could you send me a link to the Waldzoo and the squirrels? I still have so much yarn lying around that I wouldn’t normally use. 

@ruthk I also read a report. I don’t think anyone expected a result like that. Sometimes I wonder if the many collection sites can even handle this without any experience. And in Australia, there’s surely a shortage of volunteers everywhere. I saw a report where an entire town lost all its homes and two residents even lost their lives. It’s just terrible. 

I’m done—just need to edit the pattern:

Ruth, that’s why I decided to participate through the Facebook group—they’re German wildlife rescuers who reached out directly to Australian rescuers to find out what’s really needed. They then translated the sewing patterns and crochet patterns from there into German, posted them here, checked the approved materials with customs, and are already sorting out items here in Germany at the collection stations—removing anything that might cause problems at customs or isn’t actually needed. Anything that’s usable but just can’t clear customs will be put to use here in Germany.
The team has put together a massive operation and even brought Lufthansa Cargo and Schenker on board for transportation, though this meant they had to move up the deadline by about one week.

I really have no fear that the work was in vain.
They always clearly communicated what wasn’t practical and which requirements—such as those regarding materials—had to be strictly adhered to.

Marlene, your poncho turned out great—you’ve created a really beautiful piece.

Thank you so much, Claudia :)

From what I’ve read on Twitter, the situation in Australia seems to be easing somewhat thanks to rainfall.

Fires aren’t exactly unusual there.
It’s just that this time, they’re said to have been extreme.
Another consequence of climate change.

Your poncho turned out really beautiful. I also really like the colors and the color gradient.

There’s really a lot going on here, wow! I really hope my 4 nests will find a use—if not in Australia, then somewhere here. I’ll definitely send them to the drop-off point Mel gave me early next week. And I’ll include the exact yarn composition.

I’d love to have more addresses for collection points for wildlife rescue centers here in Germany. Mel, you surely know whether our collection point here in Germany also forwards donations as needed, right?

Christina, that’s really pretty—what you’re crocheting right now. Are those going to be triangular shawls?

Marlene, your poncho turned out really nice, too. Your needles are always in use. ;-)

Now that my 4 nests are finished and can be washed over the weekend, I’ve started crocheting a few baby booties in between. I’ll finish them tonight so I can show them to you tomorrow. Next, I’ll keep working on my shawl collar.

Let’s see how far I get this month with all my UFOs… there’s still a little time left.

Great poncho, Marlene!

Dear Claudia, Mel, Monika, and all the other Nest crocheters! It’s amazing how hard-working you all are and how many nests are making their way to Australia just through the CP group… I’d love to join in too (I have plenty of leftover yarn), but with our two cats, the nests wouldn’t really stay free of pet hair :-(

@ Bastelfan: you really made some great coasters out of that unwanted yarn!

@ Marlene, wow, didn’t you just start that poncho? Wow, you’re fast, and it turned out really nice.

I’ve finished my hat in the meantime:



Now we just need winter to finally arrive... ;-)

And I already have my next project in mind: a hat with a New Zealand flair for my husband’s birthday in February. I hope it’ll be finished in time—I can only work on it in secret, after all...

Thank you, dear friends :)

Oh yes - I wouldn’t mind winter either, @ a-mano.
Especially with this hat.

A double-face hat like that is on my list too.
I imagine it’s especially warm.

I crochet and knit almost everywhere.
That easily adds up to a few hours a day.

That hat looks great, a-mano!
Marlene, I wish I had more time for crafts, too! But unfortunately, household chores, family, and my main job take priority...
Today I’ll finally get around to sewing my sweater pieces together. I hope it goes better this time. If it works out, I’ll of course post a photo for you all! 

The hat is definitely nice and warm if it’s double-knitted. I once tried crocheting in double-face, but I found the result very “stiff” — maybe I’ll give it another try after all... someday...

I was in the mood for some new door decor, since the Christmas stuff has been put away and everything looks so bare now — and here it is.



Now I’m just wondering whether I’d rather have the heart in a different color — but which one? Unfortunately, that stupid door color clashes with so many colors...

I just can't warm up to double-face crochet, Claudia.
Knitting is a whole different ballgame there.

Well, I don't have a main job, the household is running on a shoestring, and the family here consists of two people.
So, lots of time for crafting @Nadeleule.

My goodness, there’s a lot going on here. I think it’s great!

a-mano, I think your hat is great too—just like so many of your wonderful creations. :) They really have your own unique touch. I’m curious to see your New Zealand hat. I can’t really picture what it looks like right now. You’ll definitely show it to us, won’t you?

Mel, I’m looking forward to seeing your sweater. I’ll be picking up my own sweater again soon, too.

Claudia, your door decoration looks great. How about a nice orange or yellow? That would go well with the door.

My 4 nests went through the washing machine today and are now drying on the radiator. I’ll pack them up this weekend and send them off on Monday. I’m really happy to be giving a few baby animals a temporary home.

Tonight I finished crocheting the little shoes for Juna. It’s an experiment using two strands of sock yarn. That makes the shoes really sturdy. I’m curious to see if they’ll fit. They’ll be on their way on Monday, too. Juna is now 8 months old and is becoming more mobile. These are, so to speak, her first little slippers. :) I’ll take a picture of them tomorrow.

I haven’t really made much progress on my shawl collar yet. Tonight I unraveled several rows twice because I didn’t like how it looked.

As promised: a picture of my finished sweater! 

Wow, Mel, I really love your sweater! :) And the color, too. You did a great job on it—it has that special something despite its simplicity.

I’d wear that sweater, too, Mel :)

This time, I have a knitted doily—or is it a knitted blanket?—on my needles.

The pattern is taking shape in my head round by round.
So I don’t even know myself what it will look like in the end:

Mel, that sweater turned out absolutely gorgeous and so clever. Are there openings between all the braids, or just at the top and bottom?

@ Mel, I think your sweater is great, too!

@ Claudia, I agree that double-sided crocheting turns out very stiff. But with double-face knitting, everything stays nice and stretchy and soft. Ever since I “rediscovered” it for myself, I can’t stop doing it because you can create so many great patterns with it. I really like your door decoration, and I could also imagine orange (as a bold accent) or terracotta/rust red (a bit more subtle) going well with the brown door.

@Monika, thank you so much for your kind words!!! For the New Zealand hat, I have a fern leaf and a kiwi (bird) in mind, as a reminder of our trip to New Zealand last year. Of course, I’ll show you a photo when I’m ready. I’m already excited to see the little shoes you’re making for Juna! They’re sure to be absolutely adorable again :-)

Have fun with your crafts on this sunny day (at least here where we are)!

Warm regards, Sonja (I still haven’t managed to get my signature to show up...)

Marlene, tell me, do you sleep with your knitting needles? Or have they grown right into your hands? I’m amazed at how fast you are! For me, patterns often just come together as I knit, and then I’m surprised by what ends up coming out of it. That’s going to be a pretty blanket.

Sonja, that’s going to be an interesting hat. I haven’t tried double-faced knitting yet, but I’d like to learn that, too. Especially with hats, I think it’s great when they’re knitted in two layers. When I’m ready, I’ll stop by your place. ;-)

Here are Juna’s little booties; they’ll be on their way in the next few days.

 

Today I’m starting a pair of little socks from my yarn stash. I found some really soft angora yarn, and I definitely want to use it for these. Juna is almost 8 months old now and is already making her first attempts at crawling. She absolutely loves playing with Linja. Kids grow up way too fast.

Sleep with your knitting needles? No, that would be a little too prickly for me, Moni ;)

@Sonja
Go to Settings > Forum Settings and check the box next to “Show Signature.”

@Everyone
You’re all so hardworking!
Right now I’m busy getting to know my new cell phone. There are so many new features, and not everything is working the way I want it to yet. So I haven’t been able to do any crafts—or rather, I haven’t had the peace and quiet for it.
I’ve finished the doll clothes for my granddaughter. Maybe I’ll take a photo tomorrow?

Monika, those little booties are so cute!
I’m really happy that you like my sweater, too! Petra, the openings are only in the uppermost cable section, and there’s a slit at the bottom front. It’s a little longer in the back with short rows (unfortunately, the photo didn’t turn out very well).

Thanks, Mel! :)

Your sweater is truly a masterpiece. 

UFO Week starts on Friday.
Are you ready?

Which UFOs? I’d have to make one first... ;)


So this is the doll clothing I made for my granddaughter. I hope it all fits, because I don’t have the doll here. 

Here’s the continuation:
January Projects: Part 2. The Crazypatterns Crafting Group.