April Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Continue writing here:
April Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Dear users, dear authors,
we’re continuing here with Part 2 of the April projects.
Have fun.

You can read the earlier posts at the link:
April Projects + March Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Part 3!!!!

Part 1 covered the April projects and the rest of the March projects.
So this is now Part 2 of the April projects.
How did you come up with Part 3?

Here’s a closer look

Mod I thought because it's the 3rd redirect... 
I was wrong :-) Sorry

Ah yes, now you can see the colors better! 
Isn't the Catania too stiff to use as a blanket? I find it so uncozy. 

OK
Have a great weekend

Andrea, the blanket is already looking great so far—lovely colors.

Andrea, that’s great—the blanket is turning out really colorful, so beautiful! At first I just saw the photo and thought, “Oh, I’ve made something like that before.” Then I read your explanation in the last thread, and now I know better: I’ve actually made the SAME blanket before :-) As a baby blanket for my younger daughter. That was soooo much fun! I’m a little envious that you still have a few pieces left to go ;-) I just dug the blanket out—unfortunately, it hasn’t been in use for a while:


I hope you have fun continuing to crochet! Will you keep us updated on your progress? Your doll already looks really chic, too, with her clothes and her handbag :-)

Andrea, I like your blanket too—the bright colors alone make it really special

OMG, there’s so much going on here! You guys are super hard at work!

Anja, we’ll all still get to admire your UFOs once they’re finished, right? You’ll show us something new every Sunday or Monday.

Marion and Ines, thanks for your feedback!

Andrea, your little doll looks so cute. I can’t wait to see it finished. And the owl is cute, too—even at this stage. Your blanket is definitely worth crocheting further—it’s so beautifully colorful. You can use up quite a bit of your “diet yarn” and really let your creativity run wild.

Sonja, what a beautiful blanket! And what a coincidence that Andrea is crocheting the same one. It’s a small world.

I’m already a third of the way done with the second pot holder. I’ll keep working on it tonight so it’ll be finished soon.

Now I wish you all a cozy evening and a sunny weekend.

Good evening, everyone,

and once again there are lovely things to admire...

Andrea, you’ve been super hard at work. The little doll, the owl, and then such a big piece of that colorful blanket. But I totally get it—you have different needlework projects for different situations. The little doll already looks cute, but it’s only once she gets her hairstyle that she really comes into her own—truly one of a kind. And the colorful blanket is just perfect for right now. All those bright colors really lift your spirits while you’re crocheting. And with every row, you find yourself looking forward to the next one, or the one after that, or to the little tulips. It already looks absolutely great. How wide is the blanket?

And Sonja has made one too. That one looks really good as well! And I really like the border made of those little pom-poms. They make the whole thing so playful, and you just can’t help but want to play with them. Oh, such a lovely blanket—it’s actually too nice to be tucked away in a dark closet.

I have to be patient. The yarn package is taking its time to arrive. It’s a shame you can’t just walk into a yarn shop and pick out the yarn right away. I miss that!

I wish you all a lovely evening and a wonderful weekend.
Warm regards, Ina

The blankets are great. One pattern, yet so many different ones. Each one is a dream in its own right. It must be a lot of fun to knit with a different color and pattern every time. 

Since I hadn’t put the blanket away yet, my daughter found it—I told her that I’d crocheted the blanket for her before she was born. And now she’s lying in bed with the crocheted blanket—so cute :-) Thanks, Andrea, for the inspiration :-)

Sonja: That’s such a sweet story—how old is your daughter?

Anton really loves snuggling with the blanket:


My mom got it when I was born. 😍

You’ve all finished so many great things. I don’t even know what to highlight in particular.

I used up some leftover yarn (the turquoise is gone). These are two gifts for my gift drawer. I don’t have anyone to give them to yet, but babies are always on the way 😃


The giraffe’s head rattles and the rocket crackles. 

Sonja, that’s funny that you crocheted the same blanket.  I really like it in your colors too,
blue is my color anyway.

Sandra, your “supplies” are lovely again, especially the giraffe.   I think the blanket you received when you were born is still modern today
I remember crocheting a similar one for my daughter back in the ’80s.

I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Hi there,
Your blankets are all really lovely—each one has something unique about it.
Sonja, that’s a lovely story about your blanket—it surely brought back memories too, didn’t it?

Sandra, your use of leftovers has once again turned out beautifully—it’s amazing what you can make from leftover yarn.

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend—keep those needles clacking! In this weather—at least here—there’s nothing else you can do.

ARNI, the fact that you still have your baby blanket is amazing! Wonderful. 

And the giraffe and the rocket are absolutely fantastic. ♡

The weather is lousy here, too. We'll see what I work on today. 

In between, I always have to take breaks and do some exercises, otherwise my neck seizes up. 

Sonja, that’s so sweet that your daughter is now going to bed with her baby blanket. I’m sure it’s good for her. Now she can really savor the feeling of snuggling with it.

Sandra, I also think it’s really lovely that Anton now has a blanket you made. It’s something special to pass down handmade items like that. I even still have a bath towel that I used to have as a baby. I treasure it like a precious gem. Your gifts for the babies are always simply enchanting. You’ve really put together quite a treasure trove.

We had a wonderful day here today with spring-like weather. Tomorrow is supposed to be just as nice. I’ll be spending plenty of time outside.

Have a lovely evening and Sunday, and do whatever brings you joy—indoors or outdoors.

Ta-daaa: 

Congratulations, Anja.

I’ve already admired it in the gallery. Your bunny is now sitting there looking completely relaxed and pleased with his ears.

We had nice weather again today, so I took the opportunity to go for a long walk. Tomorrow I’ll get back to knitting.

The only reason my baby blanket still exists is because of my mom. She can’t throw anything away. Anton also has some of my old children’s bedding—with Maya the Bee and Ernie and Bert. They’re still popular, after all.

Anja: I’m glad your Schlenkertier is finished. It looks great.

The next gift for my gift box is finished. 

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday—and once again, you’ve all been so hard at work.

My blanket has grown a bit more.

For now, the doll is wearing a wig from another doll as a temporary solution. I’m mainly concerned with the hair length right now. What do you think? Should I make it longer or leave it like this?
I wanted to crochet wigs in several colors so I can switch them out. It’ll be a sort of “dress-up doll.”

 

Oh, by the way, Ina, the blanket is about 67 cm wide

Sandra, your treasure chest of gifts is getting fuller and fuller, and it’s all such lovely things that delight children’s hearts.
My daughter also still has some bedding from my childhood—or rather, from her own childhood—that I’m storing here until it’s needed. Back then, we produced the Seven Dwarfs with Snow White at the textile factory for the Neckermann catalogs, and as employees, we were able to buy the factory seconds…

Hey Andrea, you’ve been busy—the hair turned out great. It’s also a good idea to have wigs that you can switch out.

Anja, see, your bunny finally got its ears—so that’s taken care of.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

I love the hair. With those curls and that color, the doll looks really sassy. I really like the eyes, too. I admire you. Everything is so tiny. 

Oh Anja, the first “Sunday child” whose birth we get to witness. Your bunny has woken up, and it’s turned out sooo cute. You really did a great job with it!

Sandra, you make such beautiful toys. Quite a few babies can come along now.

Andrea, your colorful blanket looks gorgeous. I like it. I also love it when things are really colorful. And that’s easy to pull off with blankets. Your little doll looks great, too. The interchangeable wigs are a great idea. I can’t quite picture it right now. Do you have separate patterns for the hair? Is the doll still missing a mouth, or are you going to embroider it on? The eyes are already very pretty.

I’m currently knitting another pair of pants for Sternchen because the red is so hard to photograph. The pants will match the colorful pink sweater. So basically, the summer version. And then I want to get back to working on the second pot holder. But for now, I have other things to take care of.

Have a wonderful sunny Sunday, everyone!

Please forgive me if I can’t manage real names. Ms. Bastelfan: I think long blonde hair would be nice too, or black hair with one or two braids.

A sunny day? Not here. Everything’s gray. 

Hello again—it’s me.

No problem at all, Anja . It happens to me every now and then, too. It doesn’t matter. There are more important things.
I’m glad your bunny is now complete. You’ve brought it to life, and it looks great.

Some of the hair wigs are crocheted following patterns (in German or English). You can also crochet your own. It’s really easy.
You basically crochet the “head” again in the hair color for a few rows until it fits.

If you want short curls, crochet the rounds directly into the back loop only (BLO); at the end, simply crochet the curls into the front loop only (FLO) to the desired length.
If you want long, wavy hair, crochet the stitches of the rounds as usual plus the chain length of the hair strands, and then crochet back along the chain (e.g., 2 single crochets in each stitch; this will make it curl). Between the hair strands, you can crochet 2 single crochets as usual, then repeat this chain, and so on.
I hope you can follow along.
If you want braids , crochet a chain of chain stitches as long as “from the forehead to the back of the head,” then crochet back along that row; next, crochet the hair strands to the left and right of the chain, or tie them in on the left and right. Then braid the left or right strands into plaits—and you’re done.

There are so many hairstyles. That was just one example.

Yes, the doll will get a red mouth, and maybe some hoop earrings (small metal rings or split rings). I like to experiment. I have so many “little bits and pieces.” We’ll see.

My rainbow blanket is crocheted with Catania yarn; yes, that’s why it’s a bit stiff but sturdy. That’s exactly what I wanted for my purposes. It’s not soft enough to snuggle up with.
My yarn had been sitting in the closet for at least 8 years—it gets dull over time and is hard to crochet with. But it’s just right for the blanket, since all the skeins are uniform.
With the Järbo yarn, I had varying yarn thicknesses despite the skeins being uniform, and that looked weird (I’d already started this blanket once with Järbo—it didn’t work out).

I crochet 10 rows every day, with breaks in between.

Have a nice rest of your Sunday. At 2 o’clock, there’ll be coffee and apple cake with whipped cream
:-) :-)

Good morning

brrrr....I would have loved to stay in bed when my husband told me earlier that it’s snowing; I’m really starting to get tired of this. Yesterday it was 23 °C in the early afternoon, and today this.....

But at least the busy little bees are buzzing here, and everyone has a lovely project on their needles again.

Andrea, yes, you’re right, hairstyles can be done in so many different ways; there’s no limit to your imagination.

Anja, aren’t names just names? :) I made myself a little note and matched each nickname to the name, because I wouldn’t be able to remember them either, but that’s no big deal; I think it comes naturally over time.

Monika, you’re knitting another pair of pants for Sternchen—I’m really looking forward to seeing them......

I’ve now designed the first of my pot holders; the idea has been swirling around in my head for months, and I’ve finally been able to create a chart that I’m sure future buyers will be able to follow. It’s still just a draft that needs some work, but I’d like to show you Motif 1 today. Motif 2 is a lot more involved, and I’m unraveling and unraveling again because Saturday’s soccer match ended up not just being something to listen to, haha, and yesterday I finally started watching “Rivals of the Race Track” in the media library. Those were the days too....every now and then I need movies where you don’t have to think





I’m going to change the border again, though—I don’t like it.

I hope you all have a great start to the new week, and maybe you’ll have better weather than we do here

Ines, I’m really curious to see how this turns out! So much for better weather: Nala absolutely had to go outside and then had to lick her damp fur and wet paws… But we’re happy about the rain, because the garden is crying out for it. We could easily do without the snow they’re predicting, though…
My dishcloth had grown to two-thirds of its size when I realized I didn’t have enough yarn. I did find another half-used ball of yarn, but somehow the whole thing seemed too stiff and boring to me… so I took out the needle, added a second color, and started over—this time corner to corner (three times!!!). Oh well, my niece’s birthday isn’t until the day after tomorrow, and I still have to get the package in the mail!

Oh, Christina, well then, get a move on! If you have to, you can always blame it on COVID—cheeky grin—if it’s too late, everyone does that anyway.

Yeah, the garden needs it; there are sure to be some pretty long dry spells coming up again, and you’ll be glad if there’s still some moisture deep down and the water containers are full. I’m not thrilled when it starts splashing against the windows again right away.

Andrea, thank you so much for the detailed information about the hair. You definitely did a great job!

Ines, your pot holder design looks great. I’m sure it’ll be a hit. After all, hearts are popular gifts and are often given. I’m looking forward to seeing your second design.

The second pair of pants for Sternchen will be finished soon, and then I’ll show them here. And the second pot holder, too. So both are in the home stretch.

Christina, I know those kinds of moments, and that’s when you have to improvise. I’m sure the result will turn out great. That always cheers me up a little.

The weather here was sooo nice this weekend, almost summery. And today it’s just 2 degrees with snow and rain. But that’ll only last until tomorrow, so we’re happy that the rain barrel is filling up. The days after that will be rain-free. That’s great, because the skylight installation starts here on Wednesday.

Have a cozy afternoon, everyone, with your needles and plenty of yarn.

One more tip, in case you’d like to be addressed by name. You can add your name to your signature in the forum settings. Anja, for example, has done this really well. That way, no one has to remember it—they’ll see it with every post.

Have a lovely afternoon, everyone

First of all, thank you Monika, for the signature. I didn’t even remember that anymore. It worked.

ines, I already like your potholder. I love those heart-and-paw motifs.

Weather-wise, we never get above double digits. Sleet, rain. Just uncomfortable. No sign of spring.
Only yarn helps with that :-)

Oooooh, so much has happened again! Such great things have been created—I can’t even keep up with commenting! I especially like your little doll, Andrea. How big is it, by the way?

I also managed to finish something over the weekend: my cross-stitch portrait of my grandchildren! It took me 22,490 stitches—105 days (including breaks). Now it just needs to be framed. But I still have to decide what color the frame should be. I was actually thinking of black, but then the whole picture would end up looking pretty dark.


 

Wow, ruthk , you’ve been really busy. That looks great.
I wouldn’t go with a black frame either, since the embroidery is already quite dark. I’d imagine something lighter—beige, a light wood tone, or even red. As for white, you’d have to see how it all looks together. Great idea with the grandchild embroidery design. Did you use a pattern for that? There are programs out there that can convert designs, or did you order it (the embroidery design and kit)?

My doll is about 35 cm tall, crocheted with a 1.75 needle.

Andrea , a 1.75 mm needle?? Whoaaah
What a labor-intensive project. Needles that thin are my worst nightmare!

Monika , great embroidered picture. Looks like a lot of work. I also think a light-colored wooden frame would look good. 

Thank you very much, Monika, for the instructions on the signature. Learned something new again!

Aaaahhh, let there be light! Suddenly I can see names ♡♡♡

Andrea, your blanket is turning out beautifully. I think the doll with the “changing hair” is a great idea. In fact, I think “changeable hair” is a great idea—I’d love to have that too :-) (And I had to be really careful not to write “years” instead of “hair”... That would be another classic autocorrect mistake.) And yes, the weather here is such that we need wool, too :-)

Ruth, your embroidery is sensational—applause and huge respect! I’m completely speechless. So much work, so much patience, so many little crosses. All that hard work and perseverance paid off—it’s turned into a one-of-a-kind work of art. I’d go for a light-colored frame, too.

Sandra, another such lovely gift—you always make such amazing things. By the way, my younger daughter is 5, and although the blanket is still next to her in bed, it’s not quite as interesting to her as it was on the first night :-)

Anja, how wonderful that your bunny has now come to life. Who’s getting it? Or are you keeping it? I’m already looking forward to your weekly “Sunday Kids”!

I hope you all have a wonderful evening!

Ruth: That picture is amazing. I also think a black frame would be too dark.

Andrea: Your doll looks really great. But a size 1.75 needle is terribly small.

I’ve finished the next gift for my box:

Andrea, I got this embroidery kit from my daughter for Christmas. You upload a photo, and then they put together the embroidery kit—the thread is already included. And the great thing is that the cross-stitch marks are already printed on the fabric, so you don’t have to count them every time.

Wow, a size 1.75 crochet hook! I’ve worked up to size 2.0 before, but I have a hard time with thinner hooks. What kind of yarn was that, and what was the yardage?

Sandra, you’re moving incredibly fast with your toys for the gift box. Your friends and acquaintances are really going to have to hurry to keep up with producing children 😄

Ruth, I’m pretty speechless: That cross-stitch picture must have been an enormous amount of work! My sincere admiration! How big are the stitches? I also really enjoy embroidery, but I’ve found that some fabrics are already too fine for me to embroider on. Crocheting with a 1.5 or 1.75 needle, on the other hand, is still no problem…

Good morning

Sandra, you’re churning things out nonstop. Each piece is more beautiful than the last. Now the babies can arrive.

Andrea, your colorful blanket is getting more and more beautiful. Your little doll is also very pretty, and I think the idea with the wigs is great, too. I’m really curious to see which hairstyle and color you chose.

Ines, your potholder with the paw print looks lovely; the border actually goes really well with it.

Ruth, you’re clearly having a lot of fun embroidering. It’s unbelievable that you’ve already finished the picture. It turned out simply beautiful.



Monika, your tip about the signature really paid off. Now nothing can go wrong.

Christina, it’s annoying when you don’t have enough yarn, but I’m sure you managed it well.

Anja, how’s your tunic coming along now? Since you’re not complaining here anymore, I assume it’s going well.

I hope you all have a lot of fun today, whatever you have planned.

Oh Ruth, the embroidery picture is beautiful—it really must have taken a lot of hard work, and everything looks so even, especially your granddaughter’s hair and top. I had to zoom in on it, it’s so lovely. I think a light-colored frame would look best with it, too.

Sandra, another baby gift, and you hardly know which one is prettier… you really are very quick :-)

 Monika, that’s a good idea, including your name in the signature. I did that too now; my name is already there anyway, more for the sake of consistency, haha…

Anja, yes, I was going to ask about the tunic too, but Marion already took care of that.

I’m going to take a break today. I only have some typing to do on the computer and the house and yard to take care of, and I should probably get back to working on the cardigan for my mom so I can then show it in a different color.

Oh Sandra, the bunny with the little bow.... soooo cute!!! Hopefully all your friends are up for having a big family so your beautiful gifts can be put to use soon :-)

Ruth, I’ve mentioned this before, but I have to express my admiration for your cross-stitch again! How big did the picture turn out to be? I can’t really imagine the dimensions from the number of stitches.

Ines, a day without any yarn at all just isn’t right, is it? ;-) I hope that, despite all your work, you’ll still find time to knit or crochet a little.

I’ve finished a crochet project - I’ve now adapted the Doubleface bird motif for crochet as well. Unfortunately, the contrast between the two colors isn’t that strong, but I thought the combination was so beautiful that I just had to go with it anyway.



My next project will definitely be another Doubleface knitting project. The yarn for it is being delivered today :-) And no, I don’t feel too guilty about it. Other women buy expensive handbags and shoes. I just buy yarn :-)

Andrea, she turned out so cute. She does look a little skeptical, though—maybe she’s not quite sure about her hair color? In any case, I think she’s funny, especially with that hairstyle. Did you crochet the socks right onto her, or can they be taken off? The shoes are great, and I like the crossbody bag, too.

Christina, she’s not really supposed to look skeptical. I thought the upturned corner of her mouth looked cheeky. I’ll have to change that. The facial expression really defines the whole crocheted figure.
Sonja, the motif looks great when crocheted. Sure, knitted items are softer and finer, but as a coaster or pot holder—maybe incorporate the motif into a bag.
Sandra, your grasping bunny looks cute. Is it based on a pattern or did you create it yourself? I ordered some wooden rings like that once, too, and wanted to crochet animals on them—I still need to experiment with that. For Christmas, I crocheted a wreath out of them.


So, back to the doll. For the 1.75 crochet hook, I use thin crochet yarn from Rico Essentials Crochet, 50 g – 280 m, or the Mandarin crochet yarn from SandnesGarn, 100 g – 590 m—that works best.
I still have some old leftover Diana yarn, but it’s too thin even for me to use on such large dolls. I use it to embroider the eyes or for hair on mini amigurumis, or to make little tassels. Somehow, I find a use for everything.
Every now and then I crochet with 2.5 or 3.0 needles—a nice change of pace for my fingers.

The socks are crocheted right into the doll. You could also crochet the shoes right in—start with black, then switch to white for the socks—that works too. But I’d like to change the shoes, just like women do :-))

Have a lovely afternoon, everyone!

Sonja, the little birds now in crocheted form too? Very nice.......you seem to be enjoying both techniques.

Andrea, I also think the facial expression looks a little skeptical, haha, but also a bit cheeky. I always have a bit of trouble with facial expressions—it’s not always easy, and sometimes you have to experiment—but otherwise your little doll is very pretty.

I’ve now finished the second motif, too.


and actually, my yarn arrived today for another cardigan like this, but in a thinner yarn, and I’m itching to get started, but I really have to finish my mom’s first.

Have a lovely evening, everyone

Oh my, I have to scroll sooo far up here to check out all the beautiful new things that have come off your needles again. I’m thrilled by every single piece shown here.

It’s great that you now have your names in your signatures. That makes it so much easier to address you. :)

Ruth , your embroidery of your grandchildren is absolutely amazing! Hats off to you! What a labor of love! Sooo many hours! But it was really worth it. You’ll always enjoy looking at it. An orange frame might also look great. It would add a bit more color, and it matches the skin tone, too.

Andrea , your little doll turned out super cute, too, with all those little details. I think the mouth turned out great just the way it is. To me, she looks cheeky and a little shy at the same time. I like that mix. She’s truly adorable.

Sandra , your collection of baby items is quite impressive. I really like the bunny with the bow. You must know a lot of people who would like children or are expecting soon.

Sonja , I’ve already admired the crocheted shawl in your shop. It looks great, too, and will especially delight crochet fans. That way, everyone gets their money’s worth and can recreate the motif in their own way. Great idea. Yeah, I feel exactly the same way as you do. Handbags and shoes have never
interested me. But yarn! That’s where I just can’t resist.

Ines , I like your second motif even better. The paws are much clearer to me. This is truly a must-have for all pet owners and animal lovers. Another really great idea.

And I finished the second pair of pants for Sternchen today. Tomorrow I’ll knit a headband or a hat, and then I’ll take a photo of her wearing them. Here’s what the pants look like:

Now the pants have slipped up… they’re actually supposed to be down below…

Andrea, your doll turned out really great! I like the facial expression just the way it is. Everything goes together perfectly. How tall is she? I’d guess about 30 cm, right?

Sonja, the crocheted birds look cute, too. I like the colors.

And your paw motif is great, Ines—something for all animal lovers. But that one’s quite a bit bigger, isn’t it?

Monika, the pants for Sternchen turned out very cute. I’m already curious to see how they look on her.

Sonja, the cross-stitch picture is about 29 x 37 cm, with about 4.8 stitches per cm—that’s roughly equivalent to 11-count Aida fabric.
Now it’s time for a break from embroidery.  Tomorrow is “Granddaughter Day”—my granddaughter is homeschooling, but in first grade, she can’t quite manage it all on her own yet. My daughter-in-law has to go to work (at the doctor’s office), and although my son is working from home, he has conference calls and can’t help out.
I really hope this damn Corona is finally over. At least I’ve already had my first vaccine shot. 

Wow, I’m green. Thank you.

That was quite a bit of embroidery, Ruth... my embroidery designs were always larger, but the yarn I used was also quite a bit thicker. Then I embroidered some table runners from Atelier M.....—those had such delicate stitches, too; I’ll have to take a few pictures.
My pot holders are 25 x 25 cm, so not much bigger than usual. 

Now I can show you how cute Sternchen looks in her new summer clothes. These pants are made of cotton and match the short-sleeved sweater. I’ve also knitted a hat to go with the outfit. I think she’s very photogenic, and the pink set looks great on her.

By the way, if you click on the photo, it gets larger. This applies to all photos.



Monika, your little star looks so cute with the summer set! Now we just need it to get a little warmer.

My dishcloth did get finished in time after all, and hopefully it arrived on time today.
(the blue-and-white one) 

Sonja: The little birds look very pretty crocheted too. I’m curious to see what else will come off your hook. The crocheted bears are already on my wish list too... since I can’t knit. 
Andrea: I also think the doll looks rather skeptical. But cute.
Ines:The shawls look great.
Monika: Sternchen looks very chic. The pants turned out incredibly cute.  
Christina: It’s great that the dishcloth was finished in time. It looks good.

I’ve finished something for my gift box. 2 candy jars. I’m really enjoying making these little quick projects right now, and I’ve made enough baby gifts for now. 

Sandra , I love your candy jars. I always enjoy crocheting little things like this in my spare time, and with a jar designed so lovingly, you’ve got a gift ready in no time.

Christina , you finished those dishcloths pretty quickly after all, and they turned out lovely too. Is that cotton yarn?

Monika , your little star always looks absolutely adorable, and those outfits—any doll would feel right at home with you.

I’m currently stuck on one part—I really should finish that cardigan—but my daughter came by and needed something else, so now I have to make the pug a little smaller; an expectant grandma wants it. I’m actually a little glad about the current dreary weather—it keeps me from going out to the garden to do something.
We’re having sleet again right now—typical April weather.

Yesterday I also finished a third dishcloth—green and beige again—since the first one seemed a bit small for men’s hands. Plus, I’d finally like to use up my old yarn stash—or better yet, crochet or knit it away. Yes, it’s pure cotton—the old Tissa from Lang. The new version is twisted a bit more, so it’s easier to work with.

Sandra, you’re really so productive again, and I admire that you can make things in advance like that. With me, everything always happens at the last minute—unfortunately! Right now, I’m having a really hard time with the pot holders for our friend, since the design, yarn, and size just don’t seem to fit together properly.

Hello everyone,

you’ve all been super busy again! I just can’t stop being amazed. I have 2 windows open and I’m working my way through ...

Sandra, I think the baby things for your gift drawer are really sweet. It’s a great idea to make things like that ahead of time, then you always have a gift on hand. And the items look lovely; nothing store-bought can compare. Any baby would love to play with them.

And the candy jars look great too. The kids will probably be more interested in what’s inside, but at least you also have nice packaging for it. You can always use them for children’s birthdays, invitations, and consolation gifts. You can’t have enough of those in reserve either.

Anja, your floppy-eared bunny turned out totally cool. He’s sitting there so casually too and looking straight into the camera. You did a really great job!

Andrea, I’m very much in love with your doll. The colorful rainbow blanket is also very beautiful and surely brightens up many a gloomy, cold day for you. It always gives you something to do. But I especially like the doll with her interchangeable hairstyles. Even as an adult, you’d enjoy playing with her; I think the curly hairstyle is brilliant. And the little shoulder bag completes the outfit perfectly. Nicely done!

I think the facial expression fits. Does everyone always have to look cute? She’s so cool with her red hair and cheeky outfit, so she’s allowed to look a bit cautious—about the reactions of the other dolls. She’s wearing her new outfit for the first time today and showing herself in public—she’s not quite sure whether she can wear it—and that’s why her facial expression looks rather cautious to me. But of course, she can wear it!

Ines, your new paw-print potholders look very good. Every dog lover will think they’re great. They also show your joy in your four-legged friend. Without him, these designs might not exist. Surely your dog inspired you on a walk. For design 1, I would have liked the paws to be larger; that’s why there’s still so much space. But otherwise, two thumbs up.

Ruth, you are the most diligent and persistent one in the whole group. The embroidered picture of your grandchildren turned out beautifully. So detailed and so finely done. Often it’s just color shades next to one another, and that’s already demanding when embroidering. Such a beautiful memory that will amaze viewers for decades to come. The two of them are growing up so fast, and you captured this one moment. I’m thrilled!

Sonja, the double-face bird motif is truly enchanting. It’s nice that you can now not only double-knit it, but also crochet it. Not everyone manages double knitting, so of course I like that the lovely motif can now also be crocheted. I think it’s such a feel-good motif. And neutral enough to give as a potholder too.

Monika, first of all, thank you for the tip about putting names in the signature. If everyone does that, no one will need to use their cheat sheet anymore. Good tip! Yes, I had already been using that with Sonja before—she’s clever like that.

The overalls for your little star turned out absolutely adorable again. And especially the whole set when worn ... very, very sweet. Everyone would love to cuddle the doll. I also like the colors you chose; they go together wonderfully. Even the blue of the eyes is reflected in the colors of the sweater. It really looks great!

Christina, your dishcloths look really good! I would never have thought that you could create something so beautiful from just two colors without a “motif.” I really like it, and it looks so neutral too. Your friend will certainly be very happy with them.

So.... finished admiring everything :-)

I have now finally made up my mind about a color for the shawl collar of my cardigan. Since you can’t go into any yarn shop and the colors on the screen all look different than they do in real life, I just started last night with the one that seemed most likely. But I’m not sure whether I’ll rip it back again. We’ll see.



But I have finally uploaded the pattern for the cardigan, which has actually been finished for a while now. I’ll add my cardigan to the example photos later. I’d like to thank Ines once again very warmly for test knitting. Thank you very much, dear Ines :-) I enjoyed working with you.

Otherwise, I crochet one row on my temperature blanket every day. This is how it looks as of today:



I wish you all a lovely day and a lovely weekend. Since it’s still very cold, needles will surely be clicking everywhere.

Best wishes from Ina

Right now, my motivation is crawling around on the floor.

Wow, if you need some creative inspiration for crafts, just check out this forum :-) It’s amazing how many and what a variety of ideas emerge in our wonderful community!

Ruth, thank you so much for your info on the size of the embroidery! Almost five stitches per cm is really tiny—I can imagine that’s incredibly straining on the eyes. What you’ve created is truly extraordinary. The picture looks incredibly realistic. It’s great that you can still see your grandchildren despite that pesky C*. My mom has now had her first vaccine dose and is coming to visit us next weekend, after we haven’t seen each other for almost five months...

Monika, those overalls turned out so well! Sternchen looks absolutely adorable in that outfit. You should consider offering the set in baby sizes too!

  Ines, your pot holder set will delight all dog lovers! I especially love the idea that you can crochet the different pot holders as pairs—since you use the same colors, they go together even though the motifs are different.

Christina, your dishcloths turned out beautifully. Simple, but the two colors make them really striking! What kind of pattern is that? I can’t quite make it out, and I’m afraid I can’t enlarge the picture right now either.

Sandra, the decoration for the candy jars looks really funny. Those eyes, hehe.... :-) :-) :-)

Andrea, I’m really impressed that you can crochet with such thin yarn. That must take a lot of patience and perseverance. But you’re rewarded with a very delicate and detailed result. I can’t wait to see the rest of the hairstyles!

Ina, I just have to tell you how wonderful I think your writing style is! You respond to every post so thoughtfully and in such detail, and you always find just the right words. Thank you for that!
About your jacket: if it were mine, I’d choose the collar color exactly the same way. I think the fuchsia (?) makes a nice contrast, and at the same time, the same color is also in the jacket—at least the color looks the same in the picture. Picking out colors on a screen is actually difficult, if not impossible. I’ve had some unpleasant surprises like that myself.

Marlene, what’s holding you back right now? If you’re not in the mood today, just go with it. I think it’s okay to take a day off every now and then :-)

Here’s the latest update on my new double-face project—it’s going to be a placemat:






Best wishes and have a lovely afternoon!

Christina , your dishcloths look great—a really unique pattern and very stain-resistant. Perfect for the kitchen.

Sandra , the candy jars look fantastic—such a great idea. You could also use them to give away homemade cookies.

Wow, Ina , I like your purple jacket even better this way. You picked the perfect color. It looks great with that contrast. I might even like it in that color myself. And your temperature blanket has really grown by now. It looks very vibrant. Are you using it as a blanket or maybe as a rug or runner? I could definitely see it that way, too.
Yes, I’d also like to thank you for your consistently thoughtful comments here. It’s a joy to read them all.

Oh, Marlene , we all go through phases like that sometimes. Just enjoy this break from doing nothing. Your motivation will come back.

Sonja , you’re going to laugh. I’ve actually already thought about knitting this set for babies, too. I think it’s totally cute, and my Paula (60 cm) keeps giving me that questioning look...
But first up is the birthday gift for Juna. She’ll be turning 2 in May.
Your new placemat is going to be super cute again. I also think the colors are a great choice. I can’t wait to see how it looks when it’s finished. You’ve really got a knack for designing the motifs. I admire that so much, and I have to say, to me it’s true art.

Thanks to all of you for the feedback on Sternchen’s outfits. I fall in love all over again every time I look at her. I have so much fun knitting for her.

And now I’ve finally finished my last unfinished project—the pot holders for my friend. Now they’re ready to be sent off—it’s her birthday next week. I designed the edges in different, contrasting colors, and I think it looks absolutely great—the colors, too. I hope it comes across that way in the photos here… it’s always prettier in person.

Monika, your little star looks absolutely adorable in his new outfit. The colors go well together and suit him perfectly. I also think this would make a great set for a baby.

Christina, I’d also be very interested in the pattern for the dish towels. It looks great—simple yet somehow sophisticated.

Sandra, the candy jars are really cute. Did you glue the crocheted part in place or just pull it over the jar? I actually gave away crocheted candy jars for Easter, and I’d glued the crocheted part to the lid and the bottom so it wouldn’t slip. But now I’ve heard back from my daughter that it’s impractical because you can’t wash them properly that way 😒.

Ina, I can only agree with the compliments on your posts. I’m always happy when I get to read something from you. You find such beautiful and warm words— it really lifts my spirits.
I think the color for the trim on your jacket is a great fit. At least that’s how it looks in the photo. (In real life, colors often look quite different.) Your temperature blanket is coming along nicely and getting more and more colorful—just like mine. I just hope it gets warmer soon, because I’m gradually running out of cool colors.

I actually wanted to take a longer break from embroidery, but now my other granddaughter has asked me to embroider a picture of her, too. How can I say no to that?

It’s supposed to stay cool this weekend.  Looks like it’s time for some more crafts. I’ll probably keep knitting my loop scarf—it’s still not finished because I’d set it aside for a while. But now I’m bringing it out again (until a new project catches my eye and I just have to start it).

Oh, Sonja, I completely overlooked you! Your placemat looks really interesting. I think I can guess the motif 🤔.
And, Monika, our posts crossed paths. How did you do the border? That’s crocheted, right?

Ina, I also think this “erika” goes really well with the yarn. I’ve zoomed in a bit so you can see it better :-) and found the exact same shade in the color gradient. I’m really looking forward to your decision and the final result—I can imagine that the shawl collar in this color will brighten up the jacket nicely.
I was really happy to have the chance to test-knit the jacket—I learned a lot from the experience, since I’d never knitted an RVO before. Now I’m already on jacket No. 2—pictures to follow—and the yarn for the thinner version has already arrived.

Sonja, I had to smile right away when I saw your new project—it was almost like telepathy! I’ve had some cotton yarn sitting around for over two years that I want to turn into placemats. At first, I wanted to use Tunisian crochet, but now I’ve gotten hooked on tapestry crochet and am working on a motif. Yours is being knitted, and I think you can already get a little glimpse of it. I’m excited to see the final result.

Monika, your friend is in for a treat with those gorgeous pot holders—I think the colors are simply beautiful, especially since I really love those shades of yellow too.

Ruth, your previous embroidered picture turned out so beautifully—it’s easy to see why your other granddaughter would also like to have a picture like that, stitched by Grandma with so much love and patience. I also find it very remarkable that your work is already so appreciated at such a young age.
Yes, the loop scarf—I had that same yarn too, and it really does involve a lot of patient work, but then you get to enjoy the cozy yarn when you wear it. What color did you choose, by the way? I had red, and Ina had that beautiful purple, which still catches my eye—but I’ll add that to my birthday wish list. That yarn is quite expensive, and people usually ask anyway if you have a specific request.

There’s a lot going on here again. It’s hard to keep up.

I’m taking a short break from crocheting. I’ve been spending some time in the world of miniatures.

Sonja: The placemat already looks really good. I think I can guess what the motif is, too 😃

Monika: The pot holders look great. 

Have a lovely evening, you busy bees,

once again, such wonderful things have been created for us to admire. I’m always amazed at how fast you all are.

Christina, your dishcloths look really interesting with that pattern. I’d love to know how you made them too; I can’t quite tell.
Sandra, your candy jars are great. Your crumb-cookie monsters are totally funny.
Monika, I’d love to be a doll at your place too, if I were dressed so prettily. Your potholders are a lovely eye-catcher in any kitchen.
Sonja, your DF projects keep surprising us again and again. You can already make out the patterns. Could that be the Eiffel Tower?
Ina, your jackets look great, and I’ve already spotted the AL. But it may be a while before I get to that point. I really like the one in orange, though, and I’d love to have one like it. The stitches are easy. I had to look up the horizontal strand first; I wasn’t familiar with that.
Your temperature blanket is growing and growing; the colors already look interesting.

I’m not making any progress on my crochet blanket right now. Crochet break. I didn’t crochet anything yesterday; I was out and about (doctor’s follow-up appointment) and also stopped by the hotel, where two colleagues are still working. They were happy, and so was I. Checked out the situation a bit. I got out for once, and the weather was sunny too.

By the way, yesterday was my lucky day. I chatted with my gynecologist (she’s German) about everything under the sun, and along the way I got a tip for a place to visit. We also got onto the topic of “pimples,” since I had one on my face, and she said her colleague (a dermatologist) could take a look at it, and he removed it right away without an appointment. Great

While I was waiting in the waiting room, I checked out the skincare products on the shelf. And the receptionist promptly spoke to me. Afterward she brought me a bag with samples in it; that was a lovely gesture. I thought that was really nice
I felt so happy all day. That’s how it should be. Those little moments of success.

Next time there will surely be pictures of my crochet progress again.
Now I have to make dinner first.

Have a lovely evening, everyone

Yes, Ruth, the border is crocheted. Thanks also for the feedback on the star-patterned outfit. I’m actually going to knit that set for babies too—but first, I’m working on something else.
You really want to tackle another big embroidery project like that? Wow—you’ll soon have a homemade gallery hanging in your home. Well, I can totally understand your granddaughter. And it’s such a joy when she appreciates it.

Andrea, did you crochet another little handbag for your doll? It looks pretty. And those tiny art supplies even fit inside. How cute! I love little things like that, just like a dollhouse. I’m so happy for you that you’ve had such a sense of accomplishment. Joy is what we need most right now. Spring is coming, and it’ll do us all good with its blossoms and—hopefully—the warmth that’s on its way.

Hey there,

I’m still alive—my email inbox was full, so I wasn’t getting any messages.

The tunic isn’t a big deal; I just don’t feel like working on it right now.

I’m suffering from my chronic sinusitis or allergies—I’m not sure which. I’m having trouble breathing and can’t sleep more than 4 hours a night. As a result, I’m exhausted and unmotivated.
But I’m back to reading along now. :-)

Anja, I hope you feel better soon—when you’re not feeling well, you just don’t feel like doing anything.
I’m on a forced break today, grrr… birthday party—just a small gathering, but I can’t exactly show up armed with my craft basket, camera, etc.
Well, back to it tomorrow—the weather won’t let me do much else anyway.

Anja, I hope you find new energy and that you’re feeling better again. It’s okay to take a break sometimes and just watch. The inspiration will come back. How about you show us your next finished UFO on Monday—the one you’ll have brought to life tomorrow, on Sunday? I’m curious to see what it’ll be.

Ines, I feel the same way as you do when it comes to visits. I’d love to bring my knitting along, but I usually don’t.

I’ve started something new with RVO. I’ll post a photo once I’m a little further along. I’m still in the middle of the design phase. My ideas usually get put into action right away and evolve as I go. And that’s why I’m curious myself to see how it turns out.

Have a cozy weekend, everyone, with your needles and yarn.

Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday. The sun is shining here, the temperature is finally pleasant, and the birds are chirping. Maybe I’ll even sit out on my patio. Finally.

I did another knitting swatch.
Here in the gallery, I admired this striped knitted shawl and promptly found a pattern that explained it really well.
Now I also know what an I-cord edge is. Learned something new again. No, I didn’t know that before, and it’s so simple.

It’s just that this black yarn—which I had left over from my stash—isn’t really my thing. It has glittery threads in it. It always feels so scratchy. Oh well. It’s good enough for trying it out.
Here it is.

Some of you have asked how I knitted the dishcloth. It’s very simple with stitches worked into the row below and knit stitches. Since I worked diagonally, the stitches worked into the row below automatically shifted in each row. I got the pattern from a booklet published by frech-Verlag. I found the knitting very relaxing without being boring, and the dishcloths turn out nice and grippy.

 

Yesterday I was finally able to give my sister her birthday present. The bag basically served as a sheep pen… I found the pattern for the little sheep in "Anna"; the packaging is from CP. The gift was a huge hit!

Ina, I can only agree: I always read your posts with great pleasure too.

Monika, I had the same idea for the edge of the potholders, but it will still be a little while before I get to making it. 
I'm just not that quick, and besides, my right hand is acting up again in the mornings (carpal tunnel?) Weeding and knitting for longer periods are pretty hard on it…

Sonja, I'm excited to see your placemat. What material did you choose for it? After lots of experimenting, I went back to the tried-and-true Tissa for the potholders after all. I hope the first one will be finished today, then I can show it already.

Wow, Andrea, your swatch looks really promising. You’ll laugh—even though I’m actually an old hand at this, I only recently discovered the I-cord edge myself. You see, we can all still learn new things, and that’s part of the fun.

Christina, your sheep looks great—even with wheels. Is it meant for playing with or just for decoration? In any case, it has an interesting pattern. And in the gift wrapping as a sheep pen, the gift is truly original. I hope you’ll soon be able to use both hands with the needle again without any pain.

My pot holders are going in the mail tomorrow, by the way. I chose Sonja’s beautiful gift pouch to wrap them in. That way, she’ll have a little pouch for any treasures of her own.

Make yourselves comfortable—outside or inside—with your needles and cozy yarn. It’s only 6 degrees here, but it’s dry. We should have installed the windows in the attic ages ago, but every time we have an appointment, it rains. It’s supposed to rain again tomorrow. I wonder when we’ll finally get that done.

I won’t be able to finish my UFO today.
My whole day is all over the place. Since I’ve apparently started suffering from senile bed escape, I always wake up between 3 and 4 in the morning and then stay awake for 1 to 3 hours. That’s how it was last night, so I ended up sleeping until 11 a.m.

Then I had breakfast and walked over to my office for an hour, since I work from home and on Sundays I go in for an hour to get things shipshape so I’m exposed to as few colleagues’ aerosols as possible.
Now I’m back, and it’s already 4:30 p.m. I have to start cooking soon (asparagus, yummy) and I definitely won’t finish anything today.

Monika’s comment still motivated me to keep knitting a shawl by Petra that had been on the back burner for a while. After such a long time, it was also a lot of fun; it’s easy to knit while watching TV, and the end is in sight. I only have two more skeins left to knit up. Plus, I’m enjoying it again now that I have my KnitPro needles: the complete plastic set and a few other models I bought separately. I’ll definitely finish it in the next few days.

Does anyone here have any experience with Manuka honey?

I decided to capture my motivation before it runs off again, and finished my scarf.
Here’s the short version.

While I’m keeping an eye on my girls in the bathtub (less for safety reasons and more to make sure all the furniture doesn’t end up floating away afterward...), I’ve just been enjoying reading your lovely posts :-)

Ruth, I totally understand why your granddaughter wants an embroidered picture from you, too! I’d love to ask for one from you, too :-) So, if you ever run out of embroidery designs, I’d be happy to help out... ;-)

Ines, it’s sometimes hard to put the needles away—I know how that feels. But right now, it’s also really nice to be able to meet up with someone and “celebrate” a little, even if it’s just in a small group. That’s why I really hope you were able to enjoy yesterday’s birthday despite the yarn withdrawal!

Andrea, your miniature handbag is incredibly cute! It even has a snap closure. I never cease to admire such tiny projects—it’s almost like finger acrobatics! The striped scarf looks very promising. I understand why the glitter thread bothers you. I absolutely love glitter for accessories, but since I prefer something cozy and soft around my neck, I usually skip it.

Christina, thank you so much for the explanations about your dishcloth! That sounds like a pleasant pattern—one that’s fun to make and can still be worked on alongside other things. Tissa is just great for pot holders; hardly any other cotton is as soft. Your sheep turned out so cute, and the packaging is lovely too! A really beautiful gift! I’m making the placemat with Schachenmayr Baby Smiles Cotton Bamboo. I briefly tried Schachenmayr’s Organic Cotton, but the blend with bamboo is softer, and I find it even more pleasant to knit with for double-faced projects.

Monika, I’m so glad you’re giving your friend the little bag as packaging along with the pot holders! You spent many hours knitting for her. She must be a lovely person who appreciates your wonderful work. It’s frustrating that your renovation isn’t moving forward. Once you’ve come this far, all you really want is for it to get started, right?

Anja, I’m familiar with those sleep interruptions too—for me, they’re usually caused by outside factors (my kid). I’m glad you were at least able to sleep in. And it’s great that Monika was able to motivate you a bit to keep working on something. You don’t have to finish a UFO every Sunday. Every other one is enough for us, haha ;-) What would you like to know about Manuka honey? I know it from New Zealand—it’s sold everywhere there, though it’s very expensive. Unfortunately, we haven’t tried it.

I’m now a little more than halfway done with my placemat. You all recognized the Eiffel Tower right away :-) It’s grown a bit more already, and I’m totally thrilled with it. 



Now my girls have wrinkly feet and need to get out. I hope you all have a lovely Sunday evening!

So, your double-face knitting—that’s real art! Amazing!
How do you design that? By drawing crosses? On paper? On the computer? 

Yeah, Sonja I don’t need any outside help. I wake myself up with the urge to pee, choking on my saliva, a stuffy nose, thirst, or hunger (or both).

Now (at my age), my body’s a bit out of whack and wakes up after 4 hours all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, dumdidum, and then I look at the clock and say to it: “Are you kidding me? It’s 3 (or 4 or 5) a.m., nope, not with me.” And my body is like: “Yeah, no, I’m not sleeping either. Pffft.”
And then we just lie there, and neither of us gives in. :-(

Unfortunately, despite being dead tired, I haven’t mastered the fine art of taking a nap. I just can’t do it. Only when I’m sick. 

Thanks, Anja, for the compliment! With a few exceptions, I design the motifs directly on the computer. Sometimes I sketch something out on paper first, but I have to admit I’m not exactly a gifted artist. “Pixel drawing” in Excel obviously suits me better.

But your body is being pretty mean to you! Sleep deprivation is a real pain :-( You’ll probably have to find a compromise somehow. What have you tried so far? Would it help to get up, work on an unfinished project, and then go back to bed after two hours? (I’m asking this like I know what I’m talking about, but I know full well that I wouldn’t be able to get up myself, even if my body went on a sleep strike...)

Andrea: The sample already looks really good. I can easily imagine that the glitter is scratchy, too.

Christina: Your sheep is really cute, and so is the stable.

Anja: Oh dear, that sounds really nasty.

Ruth: Thanks so much for the tip about the candy jars. I glued the covers in place, too. Now I’ve finished the next one. On that one, I only covered the lid:


The unicorn candy jar is a little pick-me-up for my manicurist. She likes unicorns. She injured herself so badly that she’ll be out of work for several weeks.

Anja, I’m glad I was able to motivate you. As you can see, it’s really easy here—your UFOs quickly learn to fly. :) You’ll be able to show us your pretty shawl soon, and we’re looking forward to it.
That’s really funny about your body and you—at least it sounds funny when you tell the story. Mine does that sometimes, too—it wants to get up really early. But then I just roll over and enjoy lying in bed. Eventually, it gives in, because it doesn’t stand a chance. :)

Marlene, your scarf looks really pretty with the lace pattern and the cables. That’s a lot of counting, phew. I can totally understand why you sometimes lose your motivation. It’ll be finished eventually. Maybe you could squeeze in a smaller project in between that motivates you more.

Sonja, you’ve created another enchanting design. Wow!! It’s way too pretty to just put a plate on top of it. It would also look great as a table runner. Or as a pillowcase for lovers. There are so many possibilities. In my eyes, you’re a true artist. And I wonder how you manage to design such beautiful knitting motifs. Simply fantastic!
Yes, I’m also looking forward to giving my friend the little bag with the pot holders. She’s a special person and a true friend. And I’d love to give her something in return. Since she’s been baking so much lately, I’m sure she’ll really appreciate the pot holders.

Sandra, it looks like you were posting at the same time as me—I just noticed it now. Your unicorn is so cute. It’s such a sweet idea to give it to your manicurist. Little gifts like that can bring so much joy, especially right now.

And now I wish you all a wonderful evening!

sending you a good morning from thick fog.......phew, what a pea soup, I can barely see the neighbor’s house across the street......

Monika I had the same thought about Sonja’s placemat, that it’s far too beautiful to cover up this gorgeous motif with a plate. So beautiful, I would definitely see it more as table decoration, a runner, etc.

Oh Anja,sleep problems can really get to you, I have that now and then too, and then I really appreciate my Tolino; I don’t have to turn on a light and can read my crime novels without disturbing my husband, and that helps me fall back asleep, unless the crime novel won’t let me go, laugh.

Christina the packaging is really original, anyone receiving it will be delighted.

Andrea,I really liked your tiny works again too, and also the knitting sample, well, glitter yarn, I also have some in burgundy lying around, luckily I’m not quite that sensitive, and at some point I’ll try whether it works as a loop scarf etc. I don’t know the I-cord, I’ll have to ask Google... oh, when you read / write here in the group, you keep discovering new things and would love to learn them all.

Sonja,it was already hard for me to keep my fingers still on Saturday; we were only celebrating with family, but the clicking of needles would have been very distracting. And ....I had little Asterix (mini Yorkie) around me, who is always really happy when he’s with us; he gets spoiled and gets lots of cuddles. In the late afternoon my daughter and I went for a huge walk with 3 dogs. I have to keep a firm grip on my female dog, she doesn’t get along with other dogs, and although she has now more or less accepted the other 2, you can’t take your eyes off her.

Marlene,I really like the pattern of your scarf, I like knitting such delicate patterns now and then; you do have to work with concentration, but it’s still a joy when such a delicate piece has been created.

Sandra, your unicorn jar has turned out pretty again too. I had already read at Ruth’s about sticking things on; I don’t know if that would work, double-sided tape? One piece on the jar and the other on the crochet/knitted work, so you can rinse the jar and now and then wash the cover by hand too.

I didn’t get much done over the weekend, so I can’t show anything yet. I’d like to finish 2 works this week and hope I manage it; at the moment the weather is really playing right into my hands, so the garden will have to wait a little longer.
Wishing you all a good start to the week

A note about the I-cord... I had to chuckle when I looked it up—of course I’ve knitted it before, it just didn’t have a name... now I know what it’s called

Now I finally have time to check in with you again.

So much has happened here in the meantime, I first had to read through everything.  There are so many beautiful crocheted and knitted pieces, even embroidered ones
.
I’ll sum it all up now and can only say:

Simply wonderful, you all made everything so beautifully, each piece is prettier than the next.

We currently have a bigger construction project in the garden, so there isn’t much time for crafting.

This is what I managed to get done.

My cardigan has sleeves now.



My Mäxchen got a new pair of pants, thanks to Monika. 



The first pot holder is finished—except for the crocheted border—and the second one “already” has 10 rows…

Anja, unfortunately, I know that problem all too well: I can’t fall asleep or I wake up way too early. The doctor’s prescription: get up and look through a boring book, but I just can’t bring myself to do that—mainly because it’s guaranteed to wake up the kitten…

I managed to finish this one, too.

The first motif from Ines's wonderful potholders.  

Marion, you’ve been so busy! Those pants look great on your daughter, and I think the pot holder is perfect for a dog lover. I could have used one of those right away for our friend (though I’d knit it myself).
You’re really tempting me to change my plans right now…

Thanks, Christina.

That’s true, the pants turned out beautifully and they go well with all the other pieces.
I also really like your pot holder in these colors.

I do think the dog pot holder motif can also be knitted without any trouble. Why not just give it a try?

Wow, it feels like it was just yesterday that I checked in here...

Sandra, I think the unicorn on the glass is absolutely wonderful, too. And it’s so lovely how you keep bringing joy to the people around you. I really hope that you, too, get spoiled with nice little gestures every now and then :-)

Monika, thank you so much for your kind words! The ideas just come to me. I used to have an exciting job that really got my brain working at full speed, but with two kids and a household to manage, that’s fallen by the wayside a bit. Apparently, though, it still needs to come out somehow—even if it’s just in the form of knitted motifs :-)

Marion, you’ve been super hard at work! You’ve got three beautiful projects to show us. Mäxchen’s pants are totally cute, just like Monika’s original. And the pot holder turned out really great, too!

Christina, you found a great solution for the pot holder! It looks really nice, and now it’s probably the right size for you, too. 

In principle, it is possible to knit a crochet motif, but the motif ends up “squashed”—in crochet, the stitches are roughly square, whereas in knitting, the stitches are usually much wider than they are tall. But of course, you can “stretch” the motif vertically by adding extra rows.

I haven’t even shown you the coaster I knitted for a blog post yet. If you’d like to knit it yourself, you can find the pattern on the Crazypatterns blog. It’s supposed to bring you all good luck :-)

Marion, you’ve been really hard at work despite the construction in the garden. The jacket is turning out great—I really like the yarn and the colors. And your little Mäx is super cute—just like my Sternchen. He’s the twin brother. And I always think it’s so sweet to see the boys’ version of my knitted items. The appliqués are totally pretty, too. And you’ve also crocheted such a pretty pot holder. When did you manage to get all that done?

Christina, wow, your pot holder already looks great. I really like the colors, too. They’re very similar to my little gift bag, which has just been sent off.

I’m still working on designing a little dress for Juna for her 2nd birthday. Now I finally know how to continue after the top part.

Oops, Sonja, looks like we wrote at the same time again. :)
Wow, your coasters are amazing once again. Simple and absolutely beautiful. Thanks for sharing the patterns for them on your blog for all of us. They’re definitely going back on my list. They could make a great Christmas gift for my girlfriend—she loves coasters.

Oh man, this is the second time this has happened to me—I wrote something and it didn’t show up here. But I can’t rule out the possibility that it’s my fault and I’m somehow missing the “submit” button on my phone. In any case, I paid you all lots of compliments! :-)

Thanks for your compliments.

I knitted Monika’s pants before the construction work started; I just hadn’t shown them yet.

The jacket is a bit of a filler project, just a little now and then. Now I can at least see better how far I’ll get with the leftover yarn. Then I’ll have to do some figuring out again.

   I finished the pot holder over the last few days. I actually want to finally start on the second motif today. Hopefully it’ll work out—something always seems to come up.

Anja, I’ve done that too, and it annoyed me that I had to rewrite everything. 

 A lot has happened here again. You don’t check in for just one day, and before you know it, you can’t stop marveling at all your lovely creations.

But I just had to take advantage of the gorgeous sunny weather yesterday, so I knitted outside on the patio. It was so nice and warm—finally—that I even got a little tan.

That’s why I’m just popping in for a quick look, then I’m heading back out into the sun.

To everyone: you’ve conjured up such amazing things again. I’m thrilled. Mäxchen looks cute in those pants, and the four-leaf clover pot holders are so great—I’ll have to try making some myself when I get the chance.

Here’s my progress so far. I’ve been knitting in black and white. I still had two leftover skeins that match. On the swatch, I tried out the I-cord edge. That is knitted on separately. It’s not that hard at all. It’s explained really well in a video (Kerstin Landherzen).


 

Andrea, I think it’s really great that you’re picking up your knitting needles again. That looks very promising. And you’ve even learned how to make an i-cord. That’s awesome! I’m sure you’ll discover lots of beautiful things to knit soon.

I’m currently working on a little dress for Juna. Let me show you a photo. This is how far I’ve gotten so far.

Continue here:
April Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Craft Group (No Advertising)