November Projects Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

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November Projects Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group (No Advertising)


Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the November projects.
You can read Part 1 and the October projects at the link.
November Projects + October Projects Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group (No Advertising)

UFO Week:
UFOs = unfinished objects = unfinished crafts. During the
monthly UFO Week, the unfinished crafts are given priority
and completed.
November 23–30, 2020
Award ceremony = recognition for everything you achieved in the relevant month.
Early December 2020

December 2020
In December there will be no UFO Week because of Christmas.
January 2021
At the beginning of January, the successful Wool Empresses and Inner-Couch-Potato Conquerors of 2020 will be honored. At the end of January there will also be another UFO Week.
February 2021
The next regular award ceremony will then take place at the beginning of February.

Welcome to all readers here in the new November thread of our needlework group. I hope that many DIY enthusiasts will participate again and show us their beautiful creations—or even just write a little about what’s going on in their lives right now. A little chat like this does us all good, doesn’t it?

I’d like to kick things off with an “attic find.” While tidying up, I discovered a box of yarn that had been sitting there for a year, neatly packed away in a corner. I’d found it in my swap group. I’d traded for a box containing 2 kg of “Drops Nepal” yarn. It’s lovely, thick, soft yarn made of 65% virgin wool and 35% alpaca.



So it’s perfect for some relaxing knitting. First, a little gauge swatch ... with so many different colors, it can only turn out very colorful.



At the same time, I’m tinkering with my new project, but I don’t want to show it to you just yet. In any case, it’s coming along.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend. Enjoy the sun, autumn, and your needlework.

Best regards - Ina

Thank you for your kind words and for kicking off November, Ina.

Just finished: the two little angels in the celestial sphere (day and night)

Marlene, I admire your patience and dexterity. It already looks so pretty. I’m really looking forward to seeing the final result.

Ruth, you’ve created something absolutely enchanting again. Your angels are so pretty and cute. I think I’d hang them up all year round, not just for Christmas.

Ina, ooooh wow! I love this yarn, and I don’t think I could have resisted it. It’s almost like winning the lottery—a whole boxful. This blend is simply a dream. As far as I know, I used it to knit the first pair of leggings for Linja. Luckily, I still have quite a bit left in my stash, so I could easily keep up my yarn diet for another year. Let’s see how long I can make it. My goal is definitely to keep it up until next spring. And I have to say, I’m already really proud that I’ve managed to stick with it this long. In December, it will make a full year.

Monika, I admire your perseverance! Unfortunately, the diet isn’t working out for me (for now), since I’m constantly missing the right color for my projects (to replenish my stash)… While I almost always have yarn of the right quality on hand, the leftover skeins are just the wrong color. I’m pinning my hopes on the coming year!

Yeah, Christina, that’s probably how I’m feeling right now about my sweater. Since I chose a pattern that uses up quite a bit of yarn, I can already see that I’ll have to incorporate a different yarn into the sleeves, otherwise I won’t have enough. But for me, it’s a fun challenge to find something suitable in my stash and then figure out how to combine it. I’m already curious to see how it turns out.

Sometimes I don’t have the right colors for the projects I want to make. When that happens, I just start something else for now.

@SchnuckeIina
Such beautiful yarn. I’m curious to see what you’ll make with it 😊

I’m curious myself to see what November has in store for me.....

I’m sure I have to/can/should embroider some slippers again.... more like “can” 😋—winter’s coming, and everyone wants warm feet, so the slippers will sell.
  We’re allowed to sell them in a store that offers lots of local products—handmade items, but also other things.

I became a grandma again last week—for the third time—and his name is Klemens 😍😘. So I’m embroidering a little bath towel with his name on it. 

@Bergli congratulations on your little grandchild. Wishing you a wonderful time and all the very best for the little one. 

@bergli, congratulations on your third grandchild, and I wish the whole family all the best.

@bergli: Congratulations from me, too! Hopefully you’ll be able to cuddle the little one soon and watch him grow up up close!

What wonderful news! Congratulations on your 3rd grandchild, dear @bergli!
I wish Klemens the very best of health and a happy life. He already has the best parents and grandparents :-) It's so nice that you can now make beautiful things for a baby again.

Ina wishes everyone a lovely Sunday

@Ruth,
I was so thrilled by Bergli’s good news that I completely forgot to mention your two orbs with the angels. They really do look absolutely enchanting! And you can really tell from the choice of yarn and colors that one little angel guards the day and the other the night. You’ve even embroidered cute and friendly faces. And everything is so small and delicate—very fine and decorative.

Hugs, Ina

@bergli, best wishes from me as well for the little one, and congratulations on your third grandchild


The rest of you have all been very busy again. I’m just passing through at the moment, but my yarn time will come again. Right now, I tend to collapse onto the couch in the evening, and my eyes close pretty quickly.
So for the time being, I’m enjoying your lovely things.

Have a lovely Sunday, best wishes, Ines

Hello dear craft friends,

First of all, my warmest congratulations to @bergli on your third grandchild :-)

I'm currently crocheting a rug made from textile yarn for my niece's birthday.

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday
with best regards,
Marion 

@begli,
congratulations, and enjoy your time with Klemens. May he have a wonderful life.

Thank you all so much 😘—you’re all so sweet. Thank you
On Tuesday, we’re going to visit him and his parents.... I’m looking forward to it.
Today, the other two grandchildren (with their parents) came to visit. 😊

@bergli
I’m also absolutely thrilled for you about your third grandchild. And I wish you lots of joy with Klemens and hope you get to have him with you often. It’s such a precious time when they’re still babies. Unfortunately, it goes by so quickly. Knitting for babies is the most fun, after all. I’m sure you’ll come up with plenty of ideas.

A warm welcome, dear Marion, to our craft group! It’s great to have you here.
You’ll definitely show us your rug when it’s finished, right? I’m already curious to see what it looks like. By the way, your coffee pots look great.

Things have turned out quite funny for me with my new projects. My sweater is coming along slowly right now because I just felt like knitting something smaller again. So I (actually) started knitting socks for my friend. And now that the first one is almost done, I realize they’d be way too big for her. So now my husband gets to look forward to some new socks.

And—actually—I’d planned to design a sweater for little Juna. When I was going through my yarn stash yesterday, I spotted two balls of acrylic yarn—red and yellow. I’m going to use them to make cute outfits for my bears. The colors just suit them perfectly. So, doll clothes again… one of my favorite projects.

Once the socks for my husband are finished, I’ll move on to the ones for my friend. So I still have quite a bit planned for this month.

Wishing you all a wonderful rest of the evening and a creative week.

Warm regards
Monika

Good morning, everyone.
We had fantastic weekend weather, so I didn’t get much crafting done. We went for lots of walks in the woods, collecting beech leaves and mole soil for the turtles.

I sewed a little fabric pouch. I’ve decided to make one for each UFO, so that maybe someday I’ll be able to keep track of what’s still unfinished. Later, it can be used for the weekly market or as gift wrapping. Sewn from an old tablecloth and scraps of nonwoven fabric.

My doily and my next project.
It’s fun and easy to crochet on the go.



Petra, your fabric pouch looks pretty and is even versatile. Great idea, by the way, to use it for UFOs. Luckily, I only have one that’s slowly coming together.

Wow, Marlene, that looks absolutely gorgeous. Will the bottom part be lace or a border? I really like the color gradient and the colors themselves. And your doily is beautiful, too. That takes a lot of patience, and you certainly have plenty of that.

As for me, I’m making progress bit by bit on my three projects. Right now, they’re all UFOs—unfinished objects. As soon as I finish something, I’ll post a photo.

Petra, I think the hedgehog on the little bag is really cute—and the bag itself is a great idea!
I might just copy it right after Christmas!

@Marlene, that colorful yarn looks really pretty. I’d like it just as a border, too. I’m looking forward to seeing your final result.

Does the whole thing need to be blocked and starched at the end?

I’m just blocking it, Petra.
If I have enough yarn, I’ll make a rectangular doily out of it.

I just popped in for a quick look and discovered some new things again—I think Petra’s little bag with the hedgehog is so cute. Also, Marlene’s doilies and lace… super beautiful—the colorful lace really makes my fingers itch to try that technique myself.

I still have two UFOs; as soon as one of them is finished, I’ll post a picture.

I hope you all have a lovely evening 

Good morning, everyone,

@ Petra
I’m glad you enjoyed the sunny fall weekend. Maybe you even spotted the three little apples in the photo. I think it’s really lovely what you sewed from the old checkered tablecloth. I really like the little UFO pouch. The little hedgehog goes well with the checkered fabric. And the little apples, in turn, serve as a nice decoration for the hedgehog. I’d probably use the fabric pouches for giving gifts, too. There’s always a bit of excitement about what might be inside, you don’t need wrapping paper, and you’re left with a reusable container afterward.

@Marlene
The round doily made with the new technique turned out really nice. You can tell you’re eager to try out other shapes now. When you crochet with gradient yarn, it’s always a little more exciting to see how the piece develops and what it looks like in the end. We’re excited to see it along with you.

@Monika
I often feel the same way you do. You make a firm resolution to do this or that right now. But then other things keep popping up that you’d much rather be doing at that moment. That’s why I—like most people here, I suppose—always have several projects on the go at the same time. And that way, it never gets boring.

**********************************************
I’ve finished the “Striped Loop” using the two leftover skeins of “Superior.” I closed it along the long sides. That way, you don’t see any purl stitches when you wear it. This makes it a bit more compact and suitable, for example, for wrapping around twice as a warm and cozy-soft alternative to a scarf.





I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Best wishes, Ina

@bergli, my warmest congratulations on your third grandchild as well. All of you who have grandchildren can count yourselves lucky. That’s probably never going to happen for us. First there would have to be a girlfriend in the picture. Oh well.

You’ve all been so hard at work again. I’m crocheting a little here and there with my leftover yarn. I usually work on several projects at the same time.
Right now, I’m finishing up a crocheted doll (embroidering the face, gluing on the hair, crocheting the ears).

@Ina, your loop scarf looks so nice and fluffy, really perfect for snuggling up in.

Happy crafting, and I wish everyone a pleasant week.

Ina, your scarf—or infinity scarf—looks great now that it’s finished. Wow! It’s the simplicity of just two colors that go so well together that makes it special. You really see its full beauty and impact when you wear it.

I’ve now finished one sock for my husband. He’s already tried it on and is looking forward to both of them. 



And today I kept knitting on my new project, which I want to show you guys already. It’s going to be a suit for my teddy bear. After all, he needs some new winter clothes. He’s already had a fitting, too. The suit will probably be finished as early as tomorrow, and I’ll use it to dress another teddy bear. I’ll switch the colors around for that one.

@bergli
I’d also like to offer you my heartfelt congratulations on your third grandchild. I have three as well, and I’m always happy when I can spend time with them.

@Marlene 
I admire delicate things like your lace crochet. I don’t think that would be for me.

@Petra 
I think the little bag with the hedgehog is really cute. What a great upcycling idea!

@Ina
Your loop scarf turned out beautifully. You’d never guess that it was made from scraps. The yarn looks very cozy, too.

@Monika 
Hardworking and quick as always! But doesn’t your teddy bear already have a suit in the same colors? In any case, you can’t deny your favorite colors. 

Thanks again to everyone for the congratulations.
I went to visit the little one yesterday. So tiny 😍 and so adorable 🥰.

  Today I’m supposed to digitize an embroidery design, but first I have to figure out how to do it..... Then I’ll embroider it—it’s a commission that makes me especially proud. I can’t show a picture here, though; it’s still a secret, but maybe later, once the commission is all wrapped up. That might take a while, though..... “Good things take time.”

I’d love to have your loop right now—it’s so gloomy and damp and cold here, and it already radiates a certain warmth, very nice...

And Monika has been hard at work again—your teddy bear is surely happy about his new outfit.

I wish you all a wonderful day

Thanks, Ines and Ruth! :)

Ruth, you really paid close attention. Yes, my twin bears once got a similar suit in the same colors. And yes, those are my favorite colors.

Now two other teddy bears need a warm suit. And since I can’t find the pattern for the first suit, I’ve decided to design a new one that’s much easier to knit. I’ll also knit that one for a larger bear. I have an idea that the size can be easily adjusted to fit several different sizes. We’ll see how that turns out. That’s what I’m enjoying the most right now.

Hello everyone,

it didn’t really get very light outside today. I went to physical therapy in Berlin (which always takes 4 hours including travel time) and had to treat myself to an éclair afterward. But what I was most looking forward to afterward was my yarn. Tonight while watching TV, I’ll keep knitting on my new loop scarf. The striped one is nice and soft, but it’s not quite my style. I just don’t like anything striped or ringed.

So now I’m going for a solid purple color from the same soft, cozy yarn. A yarn shop I trust has my favorite yarn on sale once a year, so I just had to snap it up. Since I have silver-gray hair, I always need bold colors for contrast.



I wish you all a relaxing evening and send warm greetings across the internet to your living rooms.
Ina

My Pueppi is finished, with a doll carriage and doll.

Andrea, your doll turned out so pretty, and she even got a doll carriage along with the doll.

Ina, that purple is a great color—what kind of yarn is that?
I got caught up in a yarn frenzy today—while shopping, I saw various packs and before I knew it, they were in my basket. Luckily, I found an empty box to stash them in. Let’s see what I’ll make with them—maybe even a loop scarf for myself; it would be soft enough and a lovely wine-red color....

Warm regards from me to all of you :)

Ina, your scarf already looks very cozy and warm. Purple is one of my favorite colors, too. I hope you continue to enjoy your time in your winter garden with pastries, coffee, and your knitting. I imagine it’s incredibly cozy.

Andrea, I was absolutely delighted when I saw the cute doll and the mini doll stroller in the gallery. It makes my inner child smile. Everything turned out great. Did you crochet that for yourself? I wouldn’t be surprised. :-) I’ve actually treated myself to two patterns here as well—both are dolls that I’d love to knit and crochet. I fell in love with them right away, and my inner child is already really looking forward to it.

Now I’ve finished knitting the outfit for the teddy bear (yes, it’s Fynn). All that’s missing are the buttons on the front as a decorative touch. I think he looks totally cute in it. Here’s a photo:



I’m still not sure which buttons to use. There are two options. Which one would you like better?

 

Now I’m already knitting the larger version for the bigger teddy bear. This outfit will also fit my little star (doll). This one has a button placket, so it’s a bit different. That way, I can creatively use up my leftover acrylic yarn, and the teddy bears get some nice new winter clothes. The pattern is already in the works. This time, I’m moving really fast.

Here’s what the second outfit looks like so far—during the fitting. Since I’m running low on yarn, I’ll be incorporating some dark red.

I’ve changed my mind and made various border patterns, Petra.



Now I’m continuing to knit on an older sampler.
Let’s see how far I get with this yarn.

I can totally picture the teddy bear suit in dark red, Moni :)

It’s a beautiful color, and the yarn already looks so cozy in the photo, Ina.

Marlene, your borders are pretty. I really like things like that. For example, on the shelves in the closet or on a table setting. I’ve sewn borders onto those before, too, but not as delicate as yours. 




Monika, your suit turned out cute. I’d like yellow buttons on it. It looks nice with the yellow cuffs. 

@Monika, yes, the little doll is staying with me—I’m totally in love with her because she turned out so well. Plus, I don’t have any blonde curls left, so I’m keeping her for that reason alone. Someday she’ll get a second dress, or I’ll make a little boy to go with her.

@Ina, your loop scarf is sure to be really cozy, but your purple yarn looks pretty delicate, and those thin needles… I don’t think that would be for me. Crocheting with a 1.75 needle is no problem. Hats off to you, Ina.

I also think crocheted borders are very pretty, but I prefer a more delicate style.

I wish everyone a wonderful weekend in advance, and if the weather’s bad, we can all get to work on our crafts to our hearts’ content.

Warm regards from Norway

I’m trying to crochet up my leftover yarn. To do this, I used the mosaic technique and tried out this pattern (based on AL) in the form of these squares.

Wow, that looks interesting. You have so many beautiful colors—I’m really looking forward to seeing the result. The mosaic looks really great. 

Marlene, I like your colorful borders, too. I think they’re prettier than just white.

Andrea, I also bought two doll patterns here, which I hope to tackle sometime next year. It’s great that you can still let your inner child shine through like that. If I had my own room, I’d definitely put a doll carriage or a doll’s bed in there. 

I still have plenty of colorful cotton, too, but I don’t necessarily want to use it up because there are so many different colors as whole skeins. I like to keep them in stock in case I ever need them, for example, for a color challenge. ;-) But your mosaic pattern looks great. I’d be interested in that for smaller leftover yarn. Coasters also make great gifts. Is there a pattern for that?

Well, I wish you all a wonderful day. The sun is shining here, and it’s at least 10 degrees warm. 

Oh, you’ve all been so hard at work again. So many beautiful things have been created.

@Andrea
Your little doll looks absolutely adorable. Just looking at her warms your heart right away. I love her blonde curly hair and her pretty clothes. You’ve also done a wonderful job with her face. I’d definitely want to keep her for myself. She’s a real little feel-good doll. The doll carriage with the little doll is also very pretty, but the big doll just catches my eye more.

You’ve got a huge pile of cotton yarn scraps. But if I gathered mine from all over the place, it would look something like that. The little squares already look interesting—they could be pot holders right now if you just crochet a hanging loop onto them. Or crochet four of them together and you’d have a pillow top. Let’s see what you can conjure up from the scraps and the squares.

@Monika
The outfit for your teddy bear looks super cute. And the colors really pop. It makes every kid want to dress their teddy bear in something like that! Personally, I wouldn’t sew on a button at all… little kids and buttons—better not. And I think the outfit is beautiful enough as is—in my opinion, it doesn’t need any decoration there. The button would also bother me when I’m cuddling the teddy.

@Marlene
It’s clear that you’re totally caught up in border fever. It’s really fun to keep trying out new patterns. Your imagination then runs wild thinking of all the places you could crochet this border onto.

@Petra
Your white borders are also very pretty. White goes with everything and really makes any patterned fabric stand out even more. The little crocheted doily with the sugar bowl on the porcelain saucer looks lovely, too. All such lovely things!

@ines
My favorite yarn is “Superior” by Filatura di Crosa (70% cashmere, 25% silk, and 5% wool). It’s very delicate and soft. My neck is very sensitive, so I can’t wear anything that’s even remotely scratchy.
Maybe you’ll actually knit a loop scarf with your new yarn. A loop scarf is always a good choice, and knitting it is relaxing.

***********************************

I’m continuing to knit my purple loop scarf in the evenings. Here’s a note for anyone interested in the yarn:



And this is how far I’ve gotten so far...



I hope you all have a lovely Friday afternoon and a relaxing weekend. Maybe we’ll chat again soon.

Best wishes, Ina

Thanks, Ina, for your feedback on the teddy bear suit. You’re right—for small children, it would definitely be better without buttons. The buttons would just be an option. So I’ll probably take some different photos, just as an idea. The teddy bear is sitting next to me right now and looks sooo cute in it. I’ve fallen in love with him all over again.
It’s my Fynn… I know, some of you here have one just like him.

Your yarn is really beautiful—the blend would be right up my alley, too. But… I want to stick to my yarn diet for now and use up what I already have. In any case, I’ll keep your yarn in mind. There will be other times again. ;-)

Thanks, Ina, for the name of the yarn—I’m totally thrilled with the bold color and am going to Google it right away; I have to have it. But my wine-red yarn will definitely become a cowl. Since I’m a football fan, I’ll surely start it at the next game. 

I’m currently working on little gifts for St. Nicholas Day. I’m not quite finished yet; a thick LED candle goes in the ring, and now the leaves are still missing—my task for tonight. 

Monika, I’m sure your Fynn is doing very well next to you :)

Now I wish you all a lovely evening and a great start to the weekend 

@Ines
The crocheted candle ring is already sparkling even without a candle. Will there still be room for leaves on top or underneath? The likely leaf green would work well. I’m curious to see how it turns out in the end. I hope you have a lovely soccer evening with your crafting.

Best regards, Ina

Thank you so much to all of you for the positive feedback on the doll.

@Ina, thanks for your ideas. Maybe a pillowcase or perhaps a small granny square blanket with these mosaic squares. They’re too small for potholders—you can’t really tell from the picture.
Thanks, Ina, for the yarn info—I’ll keep that in mind once my “yarn diet” is over or my yarn stash has shrunk. I still have quite a bit in stock.
@Monika, yes, there’s a pattern available for purchase for the mosaic squares. I’ll admit, I “cheat” on Etsy every now and then. You can find it in the Engimonogifts shop. Check it out.
To be honest, I’m also up for a doll room, dollhouse, or mini furniture. I guess I’m still a little girl at heart. But I think it’s great when I’m not the only one who feels that way.
@Petra, yes, thank you. I haven’t quite decided what I’m going to do with it yet. It depends on how far the scraps go.

So I wish everyone a creative weekend—relax, do some crafts...

Andrea

Wow, Ines, your candle decoration looks beautiful. I can already picture the candle inside it, but I’m also curious to see what it’ll look like when it’s finished. You’ll definitely show it to us, right?

Andrea, I’m glad you’ve kept a childlike spirit in your heart. We must never lose that—I see it as something precious. I’ve always loved doll rooms and dollhouses. Like I said, if I had my own room, it would probably look like a child’s room. Right now, my Fynn is actually sitting next to me in his new clothes, and I’m enjoying seeing how cute he looks in his winter outfit. If you could see our living room… dolls and teddy bears live here, too. And I’m very grateful that my husband is so understanding about it.

  As for the squares, there’s plenty of time for that. Right now, there are other things that need to be finished first. I’m not bored at all.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Now I’ll show you something again:

Halloween decorations—which, unfortunately, weren’t finished until November—but I think the raven is so cool.

Anton wants tools for Christmas 🤣, and since we’re worried about our furniture, I crocheted something. 

And then I got caught up in a coaster-making frenzy 😀

@Arni
That tool looks “awesome” 😊

Wow, Sandra, you’ve been super hard at work! You’ve conjured up such beautiful things again. The cow coaster looks really funny. I like the pumpkin best. You did a great job on that. I wonder if Anton will be satisfied with the crocheted tool? My grandchildren have a little workbench like that for kids. But you do need strong nerves sometimes when they’re hammering away at something with such fervor. Crocheted tools are definitely a solution there. At least you can give them a try to start with.

By the way, I missed you here and I’m glad you’re back.
I already saw in your birthday thread what the reason was.

I actually think the tool is great—safe for little hands and really nice.

Yeah, Monika, I can totally picture it with the little workbench—little guys hammering away. Even the big ones get on my nerves sometimes :)

In the meantime, I’ve finished my project and can now show it off. Today I’ll continue working on my storage baskets so I don’t always have half-finished projects lying around.

Oh, by the way, Ina, I found what I was looking for. Sure, the yarn comes at a price, but the combination of materials is really great—now, which color should I choose?????
I’ve bookmarked it for now and will decide soon, although purple is my favorite and the red is also very pretty—well, we’ll see.

Best regards, Ines

Wow, Ines, your crocheted decorations look even prettier with candles. They’re already bringing a Christmas atmosphere into the house.
They also make great gifts. It’s not just little boys who love workbenches. In our family, it’s our youngest granddaughter. She couldn’t walk yet, but her favorite toy is still the workbench. 

Hi, everyone,

just checking in briefly here again.

Once again, you’ve all conjured up some absolutely wonderful projects.
It’s almost impossible to decide which one is prettier.
You’ve all been very hard at work, that’s for sure.

I especially like the white decoration for the candle—a lovely idea.

Sandra, it’s great to hear from you again—I’ve missed you here, too.

Now I wish you all a wonderful weekend and lots of fun, whatever you have planned.

Marion

Such beautiful things have been made again!

Andrea, I think your little doll is especially cute. I wouldn’t be able to part

with her either.Marlene, your edgings are very beautiful, but I think that would be too fiddly for me.

Ines, your candle holder turned out beautifully. I’m crocheting some myself right now too, though for tea lights:

Monika, I’m just picturing your teddy bears all sitting side by side on your sofa in similarly colored outfits. That must look really funny!

Sandra, it’s lovely to hear from you again. You’ve been very busy too. I think the raven is amazing! I wish you all the best and hope you’ll come out of this low point soon.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone. It’s really nice and warm here; I was even able to sit out on the balcony in the sun for a bit.

Hello dear everyone,

it’s Sunday and I’m enjoying having time—first to browse around here, and then for my crafts. Right now I have 3 projects I’ve started—now I want to be disciplined and finish them one after another. I’m sure you know this resolution too. 

@Sandra
Wow, sooo many beautiful things. You’ve been very busy, but it’s also fun to crochet lovely decorations and toys for a child. I think these crocheted tools are very cute; for little handymen to practice with, they’re enough for now. My 2-year-old grandchild now has a real DIY kit too. He sees what Daddy is doing and wants to copy it.

I also think the pumpkin is absolutely gorgeous. Although the raven probably took much more work. Your coasters look good too. I especially think the two cows are brilliant. They put you in a good mood as soon as you look at them. They look so friendly too—and with the little tail, that’s really cute. You almost don’t want to put anything on them.

@Ines
Your finished candle rings look beautiful and atmospheric. The green leaf added a bit more color and contrast. I also think you decorated them with the right candles—the ones with the silver at the bottom. A beautiful Christmas decoration. It will draw admiring looks even with the candle lit.

Yes, my favorite yarn has its price, but it’s worth it. I don’t know any softer one. Sometimes there are offers or discounts, and then I treat MYSELF to some. Sometimes you also have to give yourself a gift, or wish for it for your birthday. For now you’re making your storage baskets OR starting your wine-red loop scarf ... everything else isn’t going anywhere—and you already have the wine-red yarn at home.

@Ruth
I especially like your tealight candle holders. It’s probably a small crochet project for you, but the result is really great. The Christmas greenery with the hint of silver thread looks elegant and chic. Add a beautiful white tablecloth and nice dishes—there isn’t much more you need to create a Christmas mood. Are you going to make them in other colors too?

@Monika
At your place, you’d want to be a teddy bear. They all feel right at home with you and are lovingly cared for and spoiled. I think it’s lovely that you stand by it, that you can live it out, and that your husband lets you have that joy. That’s not something to be taken for granted.

****************************
I am currently trying to finish the things I’ve started—one after another. So first I’m knitting the purple loop scarf for myself to the end. I’ve just started the third ball ... so I still have 300 meters of yarn ahead of me.



Best wishes from Ina

Ruth, you’re working so hard right now. Even if they’re just little things, they still take a lot of work—they look so delicate and intricate. As I’ve said before, that wouldn’t be my thing, which is why I admire it all the more.

Yes, Ina, I know that feeling very well—I always have to have several projects going at once, too. Right now there are 3–4. The outfit for my doll Sternchen is on the needles now—this time with a button placket. And then there’s a small and a large teddy bear waiting for a onesie. And in between, the second sock for my husband is taking shape.

It’s funny—my husband once said to me (with a smile), “I’d love to be a teddy bear for you.” :-) Of course, he gets his daily cuddles too, so he has absolutely no reason to be jealous. Yes, he thinks my teddy bears are cute too and takes it all in good humor. I’m really lucky to have him.

Now I wish you all a great start to the new week!

Oh, Ina, I’d completely forgotten… your scarf made with that exclusive yarn really makes me want to try that yarn myself. Even if it probably won’t happen this winter (yarn diet…).

So, the buttons are on the jacket, and I’m knitting one for my youngest grandchild—I still have some yarn left..... 

You’re all so hardworking 😊

A friend gave me a bag full of yarn as a gift. I had to put it away safely; otherwise, my two cats would empty it out and scatter it everywhere.

Best regards, Gabi

@Gabi - hopefully not so well that you forget about it and/or can’t find it anymore.
A gift like that is certainly something to be very happy about

Bergli, now we can see the jackets even better, and they look perfect with the buttons. The ears on the hood turned out great.

Gabi, it’s so nice that you’re here with us now! Yarn gifts are a real treat. I need to make some space first. Somehow, I’m moving too slowly with the decluttering. ;-)

Today I started by tidying up. I completely emptied out a shelf full of storage bins and little boxes and reorganized everything. In the process, I came across a lot of things I didn’t even remember I had. I also discovered lots of little leftover balls of yarn. I’m sure I’ll think of something to knit with them. But one thing at a time… First, I’ll dress the teddy bears. :)

You’ve all been busy again
Ina since I still have a birthday coming up this year, the yarn is now on my wish list :) and it’s not going anywhere, I still haven’t gotten around to the cowl with the wine-red yarn; I had a rush order for the candle arrangements over the weekend, my friend who doesn’t do any crafting at all wanted 2, luckily they’re quick to make. Then I used up a few more scraps....
Ruth I also think your tea light holders are very beautiful, so delicate

So here is my scrap-busting from yesterday and today; tomorrow I’ll make a few more, and then I can give them away :)

Oh, Ines, your candle arrangements look so pretty. They really get you in the Christmas spirit—I’m sure they did when you were making them, too.

Tonight I finished knitting the jumpsuit for the bigger teddy bear and sewed everything together. Tomorrow I’ll add the buttons, and then I’ll show it to you all.

I’m still working on using up my leftover yarn, too.
Here’s another colorful mosaic granny square. I only had small balls of yarn left. It’s about 13 cm square. I checked the time—it took me 1 1/2 hours to crochet one granny square at a normal pace.

Andrea, those look absolutely beautiful. It’s making me want to try crocheting some granny squares from leftover yarn right now. At the moment, I could use at least six hands and arms for everything I have planned.

I’ve now finished the second onesie, this time for the bigger teddy bear. And I can finally show it to you all finished. I think he looks totally cute in it.



Next up is a second onesie for the second little teddy bear, and then a big one for my little star—the doll. In between, I’ll finish knitting the second sock for my husband. And my sweater is coming along, too. So it definitely won’t get boring.



The order has been delivered. The mug warmer gave me a headache because I didn’t have a picture of the mug it was meant for. I hope it fits!

Wollbaerli the mug warmers turned out really pretty; they’re sure to be well received

Monika  the teddies are truly to be envied—not every teddy has such beautiful clothes...
Yes, while crocheting the little hangers, I had already started thinking about the Advent decorations, but I won’t get around to putting that into practice until next week; there’s still quite a lot on my list here 

I actually wanted to keep working on my storage baskets, but today my daughter showed the ornaments to her colleagues and now I “get to” make a few more, so my scraps are shrinking. 

Wishing you all a lovely evening 

Wollbaerli, that mug warmer looks great. Since yarn does stretch a little, I’m sure it’ll fit. The colors are pretty.
Monika, the jumpsuit for your teddy bear looks awesome. It fits perfectly. I used to have a thing for collecting teddy bears too (though smaller ones), but crocheting outfits for them is something I could really try sometime.

Some lovely things have been made here again. I enjoy looking at them.
Stay healthy, everyone, and have a nice evening.

Best regards, Andrea

@mowi: The colors roughly match the logo of the client’s group. My problem was the shape of the mug—specifically, the handle; I had a rough idea of the circumference and height…
My teddy bears have been waiting a long time for clothes, but luckily they aren’t protesting loudly!

Andrea: Mosaic crochet is also on my to-do list—I just tried my hand at mosaic knitting, but now I have to put that on hold to focus on Christmas gifts.

Hello everyone,

What lovely things to look at here again!

@Ines
It’s wonderful that you turned the leftover yarn into little candle rings. Your friend must have been very happy to receive them. And each one looks different—you even decorated some with beads. And you still have a few left to give away. Everyone loves receiving such a nice little gift. Whenever I see so many similar things, I can’t help but compare them and pick out the prettiest one. My favorite is the one in the second-to-last row on the left :-)

@Andrea,
your mosaic squares are getting more and more beautiful! I like the really colorful one at the top best so far. Will it be a blanket? If each square is 13 cm, then you’ll still have to work pretty hard. But I’m sure it’s a lot of fun, too. One nice movie in the evening = 1 new mosaic tile.

@Monika
The colorful onesie for your teddy bear just puts you in a good mood just by looking at it. You can’t help but smile when you see it. It suits the teddy bear really well. The ladybug buttons are a wonderful match, too. Your teddy bear is in good hands when he’s dressed so lovingly. In contrast, of course, the second sock for your husband isn’t quite as exciting a project. But the next teddy bear is already in position, waiting for you to take care of his outfit.

@Christina
First of all, I think the colors are brilliant—they just go together wonderfully! Next, I especially like the three Christmas ornaments. I’m sure you crocheted those. And the mug cozy is also very nice. If the client doesn’t provide a mug, it’s tricky to get the measurements right. I’ve knitted some myself before, but I had the mugs on hand then. The pattern on the mug warmer is nice and bold, and the cables give it a slightly rustic look. I really like it.

***********************************

I’ve finished my purple loop scarf. Since my husband can’t take photos, I’m showing it on my mannequin. I let her wear my black leather jacket for the occasion. For this loop scarf, too, I decided to sew the open sides together so you can’t see any purl stitches.

I wish you all a wonderful day and send my warmest regards until next time.
Ina

Your loop, Ina, looks great. It goes perfectly with the black leather jacket, of course.
Everyone’s been so hard at work.
I only have a little something to show. It’s coffee time 😎

Ina, I just have to say that it’s a joy to read your posts. They’re like little, sweet stories and always put a smile on my face.
Your cowl looks super cozy and I’d love one too. What’s next for you? I’m sure your needles won’t be taking a break, right?

Andrea, how cute! Such a sweet little mug. It would make a great gift with a little surprise inside. Or did you just crochet it as a decoration?

Christina, I think your cup warmers are very pretty. Since they’re stretchy, they’re sure to fit. I think I’ll knit some myself—they’ll hug the cups better. Great idea!
I especially like this color combination. I probably would never have thought of that.

I started the second, smaller teddy onesie last night and actually wanted to show you the finished result today. I actually managed to finish everything except for one sleeve. I’ll finish knitting it tonight, and then I’ll move on to the last onesie for my baby doll “Sternchen.” So far, I’ve knitted them all from leftover yarn.

Here’s what the new onesie looks like. I think this color combination is almost even prettier than the first one. It’s something completely different.

Yeah, Monika, what happened?

How did you come up with such a pretty color for the suit? It’s really unusual, but beautiful. Your teddy bear must look great in it.

Since I have to take a break right now, I baked something today—and now I have a delicious quark stollen.

Monika, I really like this outfit—my teddy bears would love it too.

Ina, your purple cowl turned out great and is so nice and cozy. I’d love to have it around my neck right now—color-wise, it would go well with both my black and gray jackets…



XOX washcloths following the pattern by Somethinks Design.


My first two zodiac sign wrist warmers are ready to give as gifts. 






I’m really into double-face knitting right now: potholders with zodiac sign motifs (Strickfee 1211)
and slightly adapted from a pattern by RiaSu.

Yeah, Marion, I think these colors are great for the suit, too. I still had them in stock and didn’t know what to do with them. Since I’m working through my yarn stash… well, now I’m really in the mood to design some more teddy bear and doll clothes with them.

Christina, you’re welcome to knit a suit like this for your teddy bears, too. :-)

You’re sooo hard-working! Wow, look at everything you’ve finished knitting. I’m just in awe.
The washcloths are made from sponge yarn, right? They look great.
And your zodiac sign wrist warmers and the pot holders—absolutely fantastic! I’m going to give double-faced knitting a try soon, too, and I’m curious to see how it turns out.

Well, I wish you all a lovely evening and lots of fun with your crafts!

You all knit and crochet like world champions. I think that for us needlework women, our hands just can’t keep still—that’s how it is for me, anyway. I always have to have something to do.
Monika, yes, that little crocheted cup is just for decoration; it’s sewn shut at the top. Maybe a keychain—I could even embroider the word “Cappu” on it, because I like drinking it so much.
I’m almost starting to like the greenish jumpsuit for your teddy even better than the first one—more subtle. The colorful part in the OT is what does it. Great
Wollbaerli, your wrist warmers look so chic. I love knitted things because they’re softer than crocheted ones. I used to knit too, but I can’t do it as well as you. I’d even wear those, even though I’ve never had wrist warmers before. Simply great.

You’re all raving about this sponge yarn; maybe I should try it too sometime. I touched it in the shop once—prickly—and thought it would be too stiff for crocheting, but apparently not, judging by the finished results I see from you all. But only after the yarn diet.

Have a lovely rest of the evening, everyone

Kind regards, Andrea

Wow, everyone is working hard! We’re a real Christmas craft room here!

Ina,
I like your cowl very much, although the first one with the two colors was more to my color taste. But the yarn already looks so soft and cozy in the picture. I think I already have a new Christmas wish there. How many balls did you need for the cowl?

Bergli,
the jackets turned out really cute! Unfortunately, my grandchildren don’t like knitted things.

Ines,
your ornaments are beautiful. It shows again what wonderful things you can create from leftovers.

Andrea,
the pattern of the mosaic grannies looks pretty complicated. Do you already know what you’re going to make from them?

Monika,
I think both teddy overalls are lovely, but the green one is something really different.

But the highlight is your double-face pieces, Christina. If I ever have more time (laugh!), I’d like to try my hand at double-face too. I’m just afraid I won’t manage to make it as even as you do.
I used to knit more, but now I almost only crochet, and I’m a bit out of practice with knitting.

I have something to show too:
The candy jar was finished today. I think I’ll crochet some more and give away my cookies in them.

Then I got another order for finger puppets. I’m starting on that today. If only the day had more than 24 hours!

My goodness, so many beautiful things you’ve made again..

Monika, the romper in this color is really very pretty; your teddy will be delighted 

Ina, the loop scarf looks warming just from looking at it; is one skein enough?

And the potholders are soooo beautiful too; I haven’t tried that yet, I can’t imagine it’s all that easy

I’m just trying to make a winter door hanger; once I’ve made a bit of progress, I’ll post a picture. I’ve incorporated the idea from my table arrangement into it a little
 I wish you a lovely evening 

Yes, we really are a truly lovely Christmas craft room, just as Ruth writes. That’s how I feel here too.

Ruth, you’re crocheting like crazy! There’s always something new from you. Gigantic! The idea with the candy jar decorated with Santa is brilliant and will surely bring the recipients a lot of joy.

Now I’ll show you my two teddy bears with their suits. They look so cute in them.

Oh, don’t they look cute, Monika—especially today, when it’s wet and cold here—they can snuggle up together in their new clothes.

I thought Ruth’s jar in today’s news was absolutely charming—a really great idea for wrapping treats in a lovely, personal way. 

Oh, those two bears are just so cute! That looks so cozy!

Good morning, everyone!

Before we all head into the weekend, let’s take a quick look at our crafting group.

@Andrea
Your little cup is so cute. I’d hang it on the coffee maker as a decoration (there are these little “magic hooks” that can be removed if needed). That instantly makes you want coffee and puts you in a good mood. That said, two cups side by side would be even more inviting.
I hope you continue to have fun with your mosaic tile crochet project.

@Monika
I’m glad you like my writing style :-)
I really like the green and colorful teddy bear onesie. The colorful top, in particular, gives it a fresh look. It catches your eye because the play of colors draws you in. Thank you so much for sharing this charming photo of the two teddy bears in their new outfits. They’re sitting side by side, looking very proud, showing off what they got from “Bear Mom.” I think you matched the colors to the bears really well. The green-and-colorful outfit suits the brown bear better, and the red-and-yellow one suits the blond one.

@Christina
Those wash mitts really wake you up first thing in the morning. They practically glow at you. I’ve felt the yarn used for them in the store a few times, and it’s not for me—I feel the same way as Andrea. I admire all the things you can make with it, but I need something softer.

I’m in love with your double-faced wrist warmers! They look so elegant, beautiful, cozy, and unique. I also really like the light gray and natural color combination. The colors aren’t too loud and have a softer feel. Your daughters will be thrilled with a gift like this (it was your daughters you wanted to make happy with them, right?).

The pot holders made using the same technique look absolutely gorgeous, too. For the ones with the cat motif, I can think of several people right off the bat who would absolutely love to have them. Did you knit them out of cotton because they’re pot holders? All my pot holders are made of cotton, which is why I’m asking.

@Ruth
With your candy jar, the contents are almost an afterthought—you notice the cute Santa Claus with his sack of gifts first—he’s so sweetly made, too, with his bushy beard and the pom-pom on his hat. Little details like that always strike me as a still life—you want to look at it longer to discover and marvel at everything. The jar could also hold Christmas cookies, and he’d be guarding them and giving you a stern look if you snacked on too many.
Now I hope you have lots of fun with the finger puppets.


************************ @Ina
For my purple loop scarf, I used 3 skeins of 25 g each. Two would probably have been enough, but I wanted it for outdoors and for winter. If it had been mainly for indoors or the transitional seasons, I would have knitted it with two skeins. Yesterday it served me well because I had to wait 30 minutes on the train platform in the cold wind for my train. I snuggled my head right into it and even noticed admiring glances from other women. The purple really stands out, but I like it that way.

Now I’m working on two projects. One is for relaxing in the evenings while watching TV. It’s going to be a blanket made from the Drops yarn I got in a swap. Here’s a little sneak peek...



And the second project is going to be my November pattern. I won’t show it to you until it’s finished.

I wish everyone a wonderful Friday and a relaxing weekend.

Warm regards from Ina

Oops, I started this post early this morning and only just finished writing it—that’s why it says “Good morning”... not that you’d think I just got out of bed ;-)

Best, Ina

Dear Ina,
thank you for your lovely post, as always, and for your kind words about my teddy bears. :) Yes, I think the colors are a great fit for the bears, too.
I’m a little envious of the yarn you’re using for your rug. It’s one of my favorite types of yarn. Your rug looks like it’s hand-knotted. I really love it, and it would look great in our home too. Did you crochet it, and what stitches did you use?

Dear Ines and dear Ruth,
thank you for your feedback on my teddy bears.

There’s a specific reason why I love teddy bears so much. A teddy bear was, so to speak, my first great love, back when I was still a baby. I spent a lot of time in the hospital during my first year of life, and my parents put a teddy bear in my bed. The first thing I could say was that “Bööh” sound it made when you turned it over. That love has stayed with me to this day. My love for soft, movable dolls came later. By the way, I played with teddy bears and dolls for a very long time. I even had my first boyfriend back then.
Now you’ve gotten a little glimpse into my personal life. :)

And another part is finished. The socks for my husband, who can look forward to wearing them today. Here I used a new technique that makes the socks fit even better and prevents them from stretching out.

Ina, even if you had gotten up that late, I’d totally understand, because I’m a self-confessed night owl. I almost never go to bed before 1 a.m. Especially when I’m doing needlework, I always think: “Just one more round” or “until the next color change.” It’s really bad when I’ve spotted a mistake. Then I have to unravel it, and I can’t go to bed until I’m back at the same spot as before. And to wind down, I have to read just a little bit before falling asleep...

Monika, I like the socks for your husband. It’s rare for men to wear colors like that, but I think it’s bold and great.

Ruth, I feel exactly the same way as you do. How many times have I knitted well past 1 a.m. because I just wanted to knit one more row… and then it turned into many.

Yes, my husband loves colors. And he’s always happy to receive something I’ve knitted myself. Especially since he often gets cold feet when he sits at the computer for a long time.

Yesterday I worked on my sweater a bit more, and just now I started on the onesie for the baby doll. It’s going to be totally cute, too.

I wish you all a creative and wonderful weekend.

Warm regards,
Monika

Ina: I’m knitting the pot holders with Tissa, the pot holder yarn from Lang Yarns. It comes in many beautiful colors, and the fabric turns out surprisingly soft (I’m using size 3.5 needles) 

Hi everyone, there’s already plenty to discover here again 😊
Ina, thanks for the yarn quantity for the loop—I was almost right! I have 2 skeins on my wish list; I love those big, cozy loops you can really wrap yourself up in, so I’ll have to reorder one more skein or update my list. I’ve decided on the bold red since my jackets don’t go well with purple.
Monika , you really don’t see that very often with men’s colored socks, but it’s nice—my mom also likes to incorporate color as stripes in the cuffs. 

I’m more of a night owl, too—it’s usually not possible during the week since we have to stick to the work schedule, but otherwise I spend quite a long time sitting in my cozy corner doing needlework. After that, I’m just like Ruth—I do a little reading; my husband sometimes calls me “Crime-Mimi.” Well, anyway, here’s a picture of what I’m working on right now—I hope to finish it today. 

Actually, I wanted to add a picture, but it’s not working right now—maybe later.

Well, somehow it worked out after all—wishing you a relaxing rest of Saturday

Wow, such beautiful things ☺

Double Face—that’ll be my next knitting project.... a girl can dream.

I’m still working on the little jacket for my grandchild.....

Last night and today I’ve been at the computer.... digitizing images and embroidering. If everything went the way it should—or the way I want it to—it would go much faster......
Last week I’d finished all the orders and thought, “Now I can take a break...” Wrong—yesterday I got another order.... It’s nice when people like our products.... ☺
(Pictures to follow...☺)

Good evening, everyone.

I hope you had—or are having—a wonderful weekend. And I hope you’ve had time for your crafts.

@Monika,
thank you so much for sharing something so personal from your life with us. Now everyone understands why teddy bears are your true love. You were truly born with a love for them—even if, in this case, it wasn’t necessarily your crib at home, but a hospital bed. But you weren’t alone with that teddy bear—it was always there, offering comfort and coziness.

The socks for your husband are finished, and he no longer has cold feet! They look great and are colorful. Bring on winter. It’s great that they fit even better now and don’t stretch out.

@Ines
I’d say I see a door wreath, right? It reminds me of winter and snow with glitter. I like that it’s mostly white—just like winter—and that you’ve added just a few turquoise accents. It looks really elegant that way.

@bergli
It’s great that you have orders! It’s just peak season for handmade items right now. Once that’s finished, you can happily devote yourself to your double-face project. Maybe you’ve even started it already. We’re excited to see it.

***************
I didn’t have much time for my crafts this weekend. I only worked a little bit on my November project. But now I’m missing some “ingredients” to finish it, which I first had to find online. Now I’m waiting for the mail carrier. Let’s see if what I picked out on the screen actually works for my project.

I wish all readers a wonderful Sunday evening.

Warm regards, Ina

Good morning, everyone,

Now that our vacation is over, it’s back to getting up early. It’s still too dark to do any crafting, and I can’t make any noise this early in the morning, so for now I’m sitting at the computer and getting a little done here.

Ina, yes, it’s a small door wreath. Sometimes I just like it in white with a colorful accent, so I can leave it hanging a little longer through the winter months.

Today, after I’ve taken the dog for a walk, I’ll start on my Christmas decorations—I went through them thoroughly over the weekend to make room for new things :)
I won’t get much crafting done today; this afternoon I’ll be playing “hairdresser” for my daughter’s little Yorkie, and I won’t be back home until this evening.

I hope you all have a great start to the week.
Warm regards, Ines

@schnukelina
You’re right—it’s great when we have orders 😊. I’m happy about it, too… but I just wish I had more time…
I’m on the go a lot this week… and when am I supposed to find time to embroider? It really should have been embroidered by the start of the week 🙈. But you can’t just rush through it—the machine would surely “go haywire,” or something else would go wrong. I need to be calm and have the mental space for it.... then it works out......

the third grandchild’s jacket is finished.... I’ll remove the buttons from the first two and sew on snaps. (I’ve already sewn the snaps onto one of them; the others will follow....) The buttons didn’t hold up perfectly the first time the grandkids wore them (but the grandkids were happy—it’s a jacket with ears 😊), so they weren’t satisfactory..... Time for another try.... 🙊

Hello dear all,

thank you @Christina for the information about the “soft potholder yarn.” I had no idea that the materials had advanced in that area. I’ll use this yarn for my next potholders. So thank you very much for the tip.

@Ines
Yes, this way the wreath can be seen in all its beauty. You’re right, in these “winter colors” it can definitely hang up longer and isn’t too obtrusive color-wise either. I always find anything with white very elegant. You also sewed on just the “right amount” of decoration. That way you’ve brought together a bit of chic and something slightly rustic. It really turned out to be a beautiful door wreath!

@bergli
Oh, it shows that you’re short on time. Surely lots of people are feeling the same way right now. You want to do so much, and yet the day is never long enough. You always have to put your plans off until tomorrow or the day after tomorrow or the weekend. Especially in the run-up to Christmas, time is probably even tighter than usual. BUT I know for sure that January will be calmer again. By then all the gifts will be knitted, crocheted, given away—no one will need anything anymore, and you’ll have more time for yourself again! And then you can take your time with your embroidery projects.

**************************
I am currently waiting for materials. They’re only little things, but without them I can’t make any further progress on my November project.

Until then, I’m continuing to knit my “diligence blanket” from the many thick, colorful balls of yarn. It’s now nice and pleasantly warm on my lap.

I wish all readers a lovely day.

Best wishes from Ina

Continue writing here:
November Projects Part 3: the Crazypatterns Handicraft Group (No Advertising)