August Projects + July Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Here’s the continuation of the August projects:
August Projects Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group


Dear users, dear authors,
here are the August projects and Part 2 of the July projects.
Have fun with them.

You can read earlier posts at the link:
July Projects 2021: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Thanks, Steffi, for your detailed explanation of weaving. I’ll try sewing first and watch the video to get an idea of how it works. 

Wowww, I’m really blown away by you all! These are true works of art. I’m going to get started right away.

Steffi, your scarf is truly a work of art. And as I understand it, it’s easy to knit if you use just one color per row. Interesting! I’d love to try something like that too… once I have my hands and mind free.

Petra, I think your blanket is absolutely beautiful, too. Those are colors I really love. Starting a blanket from the center… I’ll have to try that when I’m knitting sometime. I definitely like it a lot when I’m crocheting.

Wow, Ines, you’re constantly coming up with gorgeous designs. These are truly amazing! Your potholders are absolutely fantastic. It’s an idea that’s sure to be a big hit.

Steffi, your bag looks absolutely gorgeous with the sheep. I really, really like it. And you’ve done a great job with the strap again—it goes perfectly with it. A bag in doubleface... now that’s a great idea. I might like that, too. Now I just need a lot more hands! :-)

Ina, I’m completely blown away by your cheerful family gathering. Thanks for giving us such a lovely glimpse into your life. Tell me, did you build all those doll beds yourself? They’re absolutely gorgeous! I can totally imagine your grandkids loving to visit you and play with them. That would have been a dream come true for me as a kid! Jewelry is always a highlight for little girls. That pretty little princess probably couldn’t decide which one to wear, so she tried on all the necklaces right away.

Marlene, your scarf is coming along more and more beautifully.

Now I have something to show you again, too. I’ve reached the last 24 rows on the Venice placemat. This is what it looked like just two days ago:



Here’s what it looks like today:





And my loop scarf could actually even become a hat. I’ll just add a few more rows and knit something else with the rest of the yarn.

Monika, I keep wondering how you do it. In the time it takes you to knit that placemat, I barely manage to finish a pot holder if I knit for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours in the evening. Sometimes I get about 4 rows done in the morning—it depends on my daily schedule and how my wrist is feeling.

Steffi, your scarf looks great! At first I thought it was going to be a triangular shawl... Is it knitted in one piece? It looks as if there are several pieces that are then joined together. In any case, the technique sounds very interesting. And the bag is truly one-of-a-kind. The strap matches it perfectly. Tablet weaving sounds a little complicated, but the result is convincing. I could also use sturdy straps for my bags, since I always carry them over my shoulder.

Petra, if you’re crocheting the blanket in rounds, it’ll probably turn out square, right? What kind of pattern is that?

Ines, are those pot holders you’ve crocheted there? I have a hard time gauging the size. In any case, I could definitely imagine the motifs working well on placemats, too.

Ina, it’s nice that you’re checking in with us despite all the hustle and bustle. I can vividly imagine that the grandkids had a blast with the doll beds and the jewelry. The photos clearly show how thrilled they are. And the boys are joining in too, or at least watching intently.

Marlene, you’re really making quick progress on that scarf. It’s also a great way to use up leftover yarn.

Monika, the Venice picture in that color combination reminds me of a hot, sunny day on the sparkling blue waters of the lagoon — it fits Venice perfectly. The colors of your “loop hat” remind me a bit of a mix of gummy bears, really cheerful.

As I mentioned, we celebrated my oldest grandson’s First Communion on Sunday, unfortunately in pouring rain almost the entire day. My embroidered picture was very well received. Of course, he can’t really appreciate all the work that went into it. But he does understand that “Nonna” made something just for him personally. When I wanted to take the picture back with me because it still needed to be framed, he didn’t want to give it up at first.

Well, now I’ve written enough. It’s time for me to go to bed, too.

Hi Ruth...
Yes, the scarf is knitted in two parts; then the stitches are redistributed and knitted together in the middle.... In the photo, part of the middle has already been knitted....



Tablet weaving actually isn’t that hard; you just have to stay pretty focused when setting up the warp/frame...
When it comes to the weaving itself, you just rotate the tablets, and there are row-by-row instructions for that.... Turn the light-colored boxes forward, the dark ones backward...
I’d also love to have ten more hands—or just for the day to have a few more hours... but only for beautiful things 😊

Christina, you’re doing great—2 to 2.5 hours for a pot holder. I actually checked the clock today while knitting to see how long it took me to complete a row. I was amazed myself. It’s just under 10 minutes for the placemat—which has 110 stitches, after all—and requires a lot of counting. The reason I’ve gotten so much done is that I’ve been knitting a lot in the garden these past few days. My wrists are holding up great—I haven’t had any problems with them.

Yes, Ruth, you’re right. I’m just now realizing that the colors go perfectly with Venice. Yes, the loop scarf is really colorful and goes with everything. That was my plan, too. It’s super cozy and soft.
I can totally understand why your grandson didn’t want to give the picture back. Not everyone has something like that. “Nonna” instead of “Grandma”—isn’t that Italian? It certainly sounds affectionate.

Steffi, you’re really bringing some interesting new crafts to our group. I haven’t dabbled in weaving at all yet. It’s a fascinating topic. You make such beautiful things. The technique you used for your scarf is new to me, too.

Monika, I love the color combination of your “Venice” placemat. All that counting must be exhausting, so your loop is a nice change of pace from just knitting away.

  Ruth—yes, the blanket will be square. This time I’m crocheting it in spiral rounds; until now, I’ve always crocheted in rounds. But with this variegated yarn, I think spiral rounds are great. Let’s see if I like crocheting the blanket with different solid colors and how the transitions turn out. I often find my crochet and knitting patterns online or in my pattern books. This one here is three double crochets worked together. Unfortunately, I don’t know what it’s called.

I can understand why your grandson didn’t want to give the picture back—it also shows that he appreciates what you’ve made for him. I’m so happy for you. 

Yes, time—I think we’d all love to have more of it for our crafts. Weaving, embroidering, spinning, bobbin lace-making, dyeing… those are just a few things I’d love to try or do if I had more free time. 

Monika, of course I’ll need three or four evenings to make a pot holder! Let’s see how I get along with the placemat then!

Christina, the placemat is done—yay! I’ll take a photo tomorrow. Of course, it has 220 stitches per row since it’s double-knit. Without having to count, I work faster and only need 7 minutes.

By the way, I also started a new project today. It’s going to be a pair of knitted pants with suspenders for Juna, made from the beautiful yarn from Finkhof. These will probably be finished in a flash compared to the placemat. It’s a nice change of pace right now. The loop scarf is growing on the side as well.

See you tomorrow—sleep well!

So, now I can show you the finished placemat. I’m thinking about turning it into a pillow. However, I don’t have enough yarn left for the back to knit it in DF. I’ll probably just knit it very simply using the leftover yarn. That should still work out well. In any case, I don’t want to use any other colors for it.





And this is how far I’ve gotten with Juna’s pants. They’ll have straps, and I’ve come up with something special for them. I’ll tell you about it when everything is finished.

Hey everyone.

I’m still here, too. I’ve had a new job since July 1. The preschool has been on summer break since July 11. I haven’t gotten anything done. 😬

But I’ve been following along diligently, and I got to test-crochet for Sonja again. Since I was much slower, her pattern is already online, and I’m sure I can show it to you:



Not as colorful as Monika’s Venice.  I don’t know yet who I’ll give it to, so I kept the colors a bit more subdued.  

I had the day off today, and Anton and I spent the day in Hamburg. We took the S-Bahn and the ferry and visited the Elphi and a museum ship. We had a really wonderful day.



I hope you’re all doing well.

Best wishes 

Anton has gotten really big.
It’s great that you’re joining in again, Sandra.

Hey Monika....
If you make a pillow out of this, do you leave one side open so you can turn it right side out?

Hi Sandra, I like your color choices—they let you add a pop of color to the table decor without letting the beautiful motif fade into the background.


I’m busy weaving.... A narrow “belt” (2 cm) that’s meant to be “tied,” so it’ll be pretty long… with decorative “tassels” on it… I hope I can finish it soon. 😇

It’s so wonderful to see such a variety of lovely things being created here. Steffi with her loom and the special projects that come from it. Sandra with her crocheted Venice set, and me with my knitted one. A colorful variety that couldn’t be more beautiful.

Sandra, at first I thought: oh, that set could use more color. But then when I read Steffi’s comment that it really stands out so much better on a colorful blanket and goes with everything, I actually really like it now. Anton has really grown up—wow. Yes, kids grow up sooo fast—I see it with my granddaughters. You really have to consciously enjoy every day, because this time will never come again. Anton must have had so much fun on the boat. It looks really great. A fantastic photo.

Steffi, I’d also been thinking about whether to leave the side open. Maybe I’ll sew in a zipper. But it definitely won’t be reversible. I’ll use the blue side on the outside if I make it into a pillow. Maybe I’ll add some snaps, too. We’ll see.

Now I wish you all a wonderful weekend. I’m going to enjoy tomorrow with my favorite man—it’s our 29th wedding anniversary. :-)

Monika, I wish you a wonderful wedding anniversary and many more happy years together.

Monika, happy wedding anniversary and here’s to many more happy years together! I wouldn’t make a pillow out of this set. If you can’t flip it over, it’s a shame to waste the second side that you’ll never see.
I think your set is great too, Sandra. Even though it has the same motif, it’s completely different from Monika’s. That’s how I imagine Venice in winter, during Carnival.
Steffi, the belt is going to look great. I’m sure it’ll look fantastic with jeans. 

Good morning.

Hi Monika, all the best on your wedding anniversary. Enjoy the day

Josefa: Yes, Anton has made huge strides. He’s so eager to learn and interested in everything. It’s really fun right now. But I’ll also be glad when daycare starts up again.

Steffi: I really like your Gürzel, too. 

Sounds great, Sandra.

Dear Christina, dear Sandra, dear Ruth,
Thank you so much for your congratulations. That makes me very happy.

Now we’re taking a little break for some computer time. Earlier, we baked rolls together, which we’ll have later with a delicious salad plate.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!


All done and framed! I was able to pick up the picture today. The framing shop went out of their way to hurry it up when they heard that the picture was for a child celebrating First Communion. Julian wanted a red frame. I think it fits quite well. 

Dear Monika,
I’d also like to extend my warmest congratulations on your wedding anniversary.
Enjoy every moment....

Ruth.....
The picture turned out beautifully, and the frame fits perfectly. 

Ruth, that picture looks really great! It’s funny that your grandson is also named Julian and even bears a certain resemblance to my second grandson!

Ruth, the embroidery is truly beautiful, and I don’t even want to know how many hours—and above all, how much love—went into it.
Unfortunately, I don’t have anything to show at the moment; some projects are finished but just haven’t had their photo shoot yet.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Oh Ruth, that picture looks absolutely beautiful. A real work of art. You’re a model of patience. ;-)

Thanks, Steffi. Yes, I’m actually enjoying every moment.

Juna’s pants have already grown all the way down to the leg. I’ll post a photo once I’ve finished one leg. I’ll also finish the infinity scarf today. I’ll need it in the winter instead of a scarf, and the color goes with everything.

Have a cozy evening—or whatever else you like to do.

Since I won’t be able to knit or crochet for a while, I’ve tried my hand at drawing again:

Hello everyone,

You’ve all been busy again.
I can finally show you something again despite all the packing I’ve been doing.

My crochet bag is mostly finished—I just need to sew on the handles.

I learned a new crochet technique from a video: double-face crochet. It’s so much fun now that I’ve got the hang of it.

Of course, I used this technique right away to make the handles—they’re nice and thick and sturdy.

Here it is

Andrea, the bag looks great—that’s a really special pattern. I had no idea there was such a thing as DF crochet. I’ll have to look into that right away—it really interests me.

Marlene, you’re such a great artist—wow! You’re really showing a whole new creative side of yourself. I’m sure you’ll come up with lots more ideas. These motifs would be perfect for DF knitting. I’ll post a photo as soon as the first leg of the pants is finished. I’ll post it later.

Thanks, Moni :)
I’ve taken note of the idea for the download file based on the drawings.

Hello everyone,

I’m back too! Our vacation was wonderfully relaxing—and apparently we caught the only real summer week with plenty of sun and no storms :-) It was really great to be back in my old adopted home.

And there are so many beautiful creations to admire here again—Venice, no less, twice over. Those two placemats really show how differently the same motif looks in different colors. I really like both of them, and the recipients are sure to enjoy them!

Monika, I’m just now seeing that you celebrated your wedding anniversary. Belated congratulations! It sounds like you had a lovely day together—I’m so glad to hear that.

Ruth, with that frame around it, the picture of your Julian is now a complete masterpiece. I have huge respect for your perseverance, and all that hard work has definitely paid off!

Steffi, your belt already looks great! How many centimeters have you done so far, and how many more do you have left? I haven’t quite figured out yet exactly how weaving works, and that tangle of threads looks pretty complicated. But I can imagine it’s a lot of fun!

Andrea, your bag turned out great again! You picked some really warm colors. I haven’t tried double-sided crocheting yet either. The double layer is definitely great for handles—it’ll surely be very sturdy.

Marlene, why won’t you be able to crochet or knit for a while? That’s a bummer—you’re sure to miss it...

During my week off, I took a break from yarn. Of course, I had to make up for it all over the last two days *laughs* That’s why I already have something to show you. I actually started working on it before my vacation, though.





The pot holders are a gift for a very dear friend who recently separated from her partner and moved into a small apartment on her own. The rainbow dishcloth was a spur-of-the-moment idea—it’s a little smaller than the pot holders. It’s been catching my eye ever since; the colors are so vibrant.

I hope you all have a cozy evening—hopefully without any storms!

It was all because of an accident, Sonja—I broke the middle bone in my left ring finger.
Glad to hear you had nice vacation weather.

How wonderful that you were able to enjoy your vacation so much... 
...the belt is already finished... at least it’s woven; it’s currently 160 cm long—still a bit too long...
The weaving itself is actually quite simple: insert the “weft,” turn the tablets, beat it in, pull the weft a little tighter, and repeat. What’s really time-consuming is the “tangle of threads”—it has to be right, otherwise the pattern won’t line up later. I’ve spent as much as three or four hours holed up in my room doing that. It only gets “more fun” when I want to weave more elaborate patterns, because then the tablets are turned in different directions within a single row 😋 
I have one of those on the loom right now; I’ve started weaving it three times, and each time the pattern didn’t line up. I checked everything again and then found the mistake. A typo in the weaving draft. So tomorrow, I’ll do the whole thing again. 
Practice makes perfect. And because I always want to understand why something works—or doesn’t—I often really get my teeth into it. Giving up isn’t an option 😂. If people figured this out as far back as the 5th century BCE, I want to as well. 

Oh, Sonja, your LOVE pot holders look beautiful. That’s a great idea for a gift for your friend. I like the colorful one best—it’s way too nice to use as a dishcloth, I think. Thanks also for the wedding anniversary wishes. :)

So, now I can show you more of the new pants for Juna. The second leg is almost done, and then I’ll add the straps.

Hi Monika.....
The colors of your trousers are really pretty—so cheerful...

Sonja, I like the pot holders—they’re exactly my colors 😇

Marlene, that sounds awful—I hope you feel better soon!

Thanks, Steffi, for your detailed explanations. It’s really frustrating when the problem is caused by a printing error... I’m glad you like the pot holders. I hope I’ve also managed to suit my friend’s taste with them.

Monika, thanks for your feedback :-) Yeah, the colorful version is a hit—it really puts me in a good mood. Since I don’t really like doing housework, it’s perfect as a dishcloth. The pants for Juna will be ready to wear soon—wow! Very nice—they look really cozy :-)

Thanks, Sonja :)

Those pants are sure to become a favorite, Moni :)

Hi Monika, the pants for Juna look great. So cheerful.

Andrea: I really like your bag, too. Are you making good progress packing the boxes?

Marlene: I hope you get well soon. Get well soon.

Steffi: That sounds really time-consuming and pretty frustrating if it’s due to a printing error.

I got to test-crochet for Sonja again—here’s my version of the pot holders:

Hi Sandra....
I think I’m going to dig out my crochet hook again....
The pot holders turned out great.
I’m currently trying to “make sense” of all this “bankese” 🤔😜
“Acknowledgment of Receipt of Pre-Contractual Information for the ‘Assignment of a Building Savings Contract’....
  I’m supposed to read this carefully before I sign anything. (It says so right there.)
I can read, but it would be nice if a “normal” mortal could understand it too....
I’d much rather deal with the tangled threads on my loom 😂
But there’s no helping it—somehow I have to figure out what they want from me. 

Dear all, thank you for the feedback on the pants. They might actually become a favorite piece—I really love how colorful they are.

Sandra, I also think your version of the LOVE pot holders is very nice, especially the color combination.

Steffi, I wouldn’t understand that kind of bureaucratic German either. I have just as much trouble with it as you do.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

I decided to start a new belt after all.
A gift for a friend, in “her” colors. At first I thought 😯
but after a few rows, I like it. Old technique meets “new” colors. A bright green, almost neon, a fuchsia, and a lavender.... and a little black for the border, so the pattern really pops...

 

Steffi: The colors look really great; yours will definitely be pleased.

I crocheted another phone case using Sonja’s flamingo motif. I love this motif. 

Thanks, Sandra :)

At least there was some good news today: We’re allowed to sell our Palmengarten photos to private customers.

Steffi, your belt looks beautiful. I really admire it.

Sandra, a cell phone case with a flamingo is such a great idea. It looks fantastic.

Marlene, you sell photos? So you’re pursuing multiple artistic endeavors. Awesome!

I’ve now finished the pants from Juna and will take photos today. I’m very happy with the result. Next up is a jacket made from the same yarn, most likely for Linja.

Yes, Moni—mainly landscapes, animals, and plants.

And here, at last, is a photo of the finished pants.

Hey... Juna is going to be so happy....
She looks so cheerful. 😍

Thanks, Steffi—I think so too.

Today I actually “managed” to weave.... I hadn’t been able to do anything since Friday—I got vaccinated, and that made me sooooo tired that I couldn’t concentrate at all....
But now I’m back on track...
A purple heart.... 

Marlene, I hope you feel better soon, too. It’s great that at least you can still draw. Your hands always need a little something to keep them busy 🙂

Andrea, you guys are already well on your way with packing! I can imagine that must be pretty uncomfortable when all your important things are packed up weeks in advance. But on the other hand, you’re already looking forward to your new (old) home. It’s great that you still find time to crochet. The bag turned out really pretty. I really like the colors.

Steffi, I admire your weaving. The belt is going to be great. But it must be a lot of work.

You’ve conjured up some fantastic pot holders, Sonja. They really brighten your day!
The flamingo motif shows up here several times. Sandra has also made pot holders and a cell phone case with it. It really is beautiful.
I crocheted myself a cell phone case out of some scraps, too:


Monika, I’m always amazed at how fast you knit! Do you have a pattern you’re working from, or how do you make sure the items fit your granddaughters? You don’t have them there to try them on. In any case, you’ve created another true Monika-style knit! You have your own style—I always recognize your creations right away.

Well, July has come and gone without us really having had a real summer… although there were thunderstorms, but it wasn’t cold, as you can see from my temperature blanket. (It’s getting harder to fit everything in the picture now. That’s why I folded it widthwise this time.)

Ruth, your weather blanket looks great. It didn’t feel that warm to me—you’ve used so much red for summer. But you’re right—the rain is fooling us, and we think it hasn’t been that nice so far. 

Hi Ruth
The blanket is great,
I wouldn’t have had the “patience” to work on it for that long… 
Do you have other color tones for fall, or is it “purely” about the temperatures???? 
I weave my belt in very small “portions,” just a few rows at a time, and it takes a lot of concentration. And I can hardly fix mistakes, because I lack the practice/knowledge. Every row is woven “differently”; each tablet (here there are 4 each for the border and 11 for the pattern) is turned differently, sometimes forward, sometimes backward.... if even one is turned the wrong way, the entire pattern no longer works 🙈
A repeat is just under 20 cm long, so I still have a few to go..... 
Did I just write that I wouldn’t have the patience for a temperature blanket 🤔🙈😂
Tomorrow I’m going to my workshop to build myself a smaller loom, which I can then also take outside more easily... 

Steffi, I think your weaving requires a lot more patience than a temperature blanket. I only do one row every day—it takes maybe 10–15 minutes. I usually do it in the evening while watching the news. With the blanket, it’s all about the temperature. So I’m using the same colors for fall, too. Ideally, it will taper off almost symmetrically from the beginning.

That sounds great....
When I was writing about weaving, I noticed that too 😂🙈😂
I just popped into my workshop for a moment and laid out the wooden pieces for the new frame, measuring and marking them up... But I can’t do any sawing today—the neighbors are home.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what your blanket looks like when it’s finished. 

Thanks, Ruth—I’m glad to hear what you’re saying. Yes, it’s actually not that easy to figure out the right size. I usually ask my daughter-in-law to give me their current measurements. That’s worked out pretty well so far. When we were there in June, I measured a few things on both of them so I’d have their current sizes. For these pants, I just made the straps adjustable. They can be adjusted to three different sizes. And since they’re removable, I can easily knit new ones and send them over. I wasn’t that fast this time—I actually took my time with the pants. However, compared to the double-faced placemat, they were finished pretty quickly.

Your temperature blanket looks really colorful now. It’s going to keep growing for another (almost) half a year. You’ve got a lot planned for it. I’m curious to see how colorful it’ll look by then. I think your cell phone case looks great, too. Another one of those little projects that’s so typical of you. :-) Once again, I’m in awe of your dexterity when it comes to small pieces. That’s absolutely not my forte.

And Steffi, I also admire your patience and skill with weaving. So everyone here has their own unique talents, which I think is really wonderful.

A lot has happened again, and many beautiful things have been created! I’m still working on my pot holders—I’ll show them off as soon as they’re done.  Yesterday was the first day in a long, long time without any crafting: It was our national holiday, and since the women’s association traditionally runs the festival food stand, I was very busy. After a year of virtual celebrations, with pandemic restrictions and weather that was anything but midsummer, the whole thing had us pretty worried, but in the end, everything went well. The financial side of things, however, won’t look so rosy… Despite some heavy rain that lasted until around evening, about 200 people came to the hall (a maximum of 250 were allowed), but with the cool weather, the visitors were much less thirsty… Well, now I still have to do the statistical analysis of the event
and, with that, start preparing for next year.

Hello everyone,

today I’m speaking up again for once; you’ve all been quite busy, and some very beautiful things have been created.
Monika, as always, you’ve conjured up a very pretty pair of pants—unmistakably your work.

Sonja, I really like these flamingo potholders; they would be ideal for my daughter, who loves these little animals, but I also like Sandra’s color combination.

Ruth, your blanket has already grown quite a bit. I had to smile, because the Tagesschau time is the time when I usually put my needlework aside, at least the pieces where I need to concentrate more.

Steffi, I once started weaving, just with a school loom, but it didn’t work for me at all; however, I do like the belt you’ve started.

Today I’m showing you my bathroom set with makeup remover pad, bath pouf, washcloth, a back scrubber, and the matching basket.









At the moment I’m crocheting a sweater in a Tunisian pattern; there isn’t much to show yet, so that will be for next time.
Wishing you all a lovely week, best wishes, Ines

Thank you, Ines. :-)
Your bathroom set is really gorgeous, and it makes you smile. You brought such a wonderful idea to life there—once again. You really have been incredibly productive lately. Did you crochet the letters in as you went?

Christina, it’s nice that you’re writing again. I’d already missed you. Your potholders are sure to turn out very pretty again.

I still haven’t shown you my loop scarf. It’s cuddly soft; I tried it on today. The pattern makes it very fluffy and airy. And the colors go with all my jackets.

Yes, Monika, the letters are crocheted in, and those “terms” are very common here, chuckle.

Ines, I think your bathroom decor is great....
I’d put that in my bathroom, too. 
Monika, your cowl looks very “cozy.”
I was totally “frustrated” yesterday—I’d already woven a good 60 cm of the belt and thought, “Oh, I’ll just quickly weave two rows,” but I wasn’t really paying attention and ended up making a mistake… so back to square one… today I’m looking at it positively; it was good practice. 
Today I was in my workshop/hobby room and finished building my table loom.... 
 

Wow, Steffi, your belt looks great. All that work really paid off, even though you had to start over from scratch. That piece you’re showing looks really interesting. I have absolutely no idea how it’s supposed to work. Technically, I’m a complete novice. ;-)

Ines, you guys have some really funny terms and a great sense of humor.

Yesterday I received a huge package of yarn and scraps through my swap site. Most of it will go toward making animal shelters. Last night I immediately crocheted a nest out of 100 g of really thick yarn. Here you can see it with a folded edge and with an open edge. Today I’m starting the next one in green.

What kind of yarn could you use????
I’m tidying up here right now and I’m sure I still have quite a bit that’s looking for a “good home.” ...
Best, Steffi 

Steffi, what I really need right now is felting yarn. Leftovers are fine. That’ll make it nice and colorful. For this nest here, I crocheted with really thick yarn (a wool-poly blend). It works great. Otherwise, I still have plenty of leftovers. But I’m still a bit short on felting yarn.

So, the next nest is now finished—last night’s project. ;-)




And the start of Linja’s jacket—here’s the collar. It’s going to be another RVO project.

You’re all so hard at work :-) And I’m always amazed at the variety of things you can make with yarn—each one more wonderful than the last!

Sandra, I’ve already admired your flamingos in the gallery; the pot holders turned out beautifully, and the phone case is a great idea, too. Thanks again for testing the pattern!

Ruth, your temperature blanket really does look nice and “warm.” Summer hasn’t felt that warm to me so far. What color would we see if the thermometer were to climb to 35 degrees in the coming weeks after all?

Monika, I’m probably repeating myself, but I think it’s incredibly great how much time and effort you put into the animal nests. They can really count themselves lucky to get such cozy little nests from you. The next time you hear a bird chirping in your garden, feel free to take it as a “thank you” on behalf of its fellow birds :-) The pants you made for Juna turned out great, and with so many ways to adjust the size, that’s a delight not just for Juna but for her parents, too. And so beautifully colorful—it’s a real joy to look at. Your loop scarf looks super cozy, too. It feels like you could already be wearing it… ;-)

Ines, how funny, your bath set :-) I wasn’t familiar with those terms, but it’s easy to imagine what they mean. That’s a really pretty gift set! I’m also looking forward to seeing your sweater.

Steffi, your woven pieces are truly extraordinary! Without having it right in front of me, I still can’t quite picture how it all works with the little boards and such. Even though you described it in great detail, I’d really have to look over your shoulder to understand.

Christina, what a shame that the women’s club event didn’t go quite as well as hoped. With all the safety measures, there was certainly a lot to do and keep in mind during the preparations. On the other hand, it must have been a real treat for many people that the celebration was able to take place at all. So while you may not have brought in as much revenue for the club, you made it possible for a few people to enjoy a lovely, social afternoon!


We’re having guests over this weekend, and next Monday I’m taking my two girls to a big vacation home in Toggenburg for just under a week with two mom friends and their kids. There’ll be three of us women and seven kids, and we’re sure to have a lot of fun. The kids all know each other well and will basically keep themselves occupied, which means we moms get a “break.” We’ll still get to serve drinks and food every now and then, but other than that, we won’t be noticed much... :-)

Have a wonderful evening!

Sonja, as you said, the Swiss National Day celebration wasn’t a financial success, but most of the guests enjoyed the evening. The city had also decorated the hall nicely with all the cantonal flags, so it didn’t look quite as dreary (it is, after all, a market hall and not a multipurpose room). The preparations were more intensive than usual, since we had to cut up the donated cakes and wrap them in foil, and we made and packaged the sandwiches (offered for the first time) ourselves. On the other hand, the event itself was less labor-intensive, since (thanks to COVID!) we did without the recently mandatory reusable tableware and bottle deposits. And by 10:30, after the brief fireworks display, the hall was empty…

Hello everyone,

A lot has been happening with you all lately. There are some beautiful things to admire here again.

I have something to show you as well.
I found this pretty doll again; she’s thrilled with the new dress I got to test-knit.





The dress looks great on my little Mäxchen, now Maxima, too. I crocheted a matching hat to go with it right away. Now Maxima is perfectly dressed. 

Sonja, when I watch our birds in the garden, I often think of their fellow birds who aren’t as fortunate and need to be cared for. Crocheting nests is just a fraction of what the caretakers do. They’re often on the job day and night, and I really admire that. Thanks for your feedback on all my projects. :) I can just imagine how wonderful your mother-child week will be. Wow, 7 kids is quite a lot. They’re sure to have a lot of fun together—and so will you. When my son was little, I went on a week-long vacation like that too—with 5 moms and 10 kids. I had a daycare child with me back then. That was really something special. We did a lot of crafts and played a lot with the kids. There were kids of all different ages there. Anyway, I wish you all lots of fun and nice weather, so you can spend plenty of time outdoors.

Wow, Marion, you’ve pulled this off fantastically again. I’m so in love with your Maxima outfit with the new pieces. The little hat that goes with it is a really nice idea—it matches perfectly. And your rediscovered doll looks really cute in that little dress, too. So you have another little doll to dress up. How lovely! I’m also thrilled with your color combination.

I don’t have anything to show you tonight. But over the weekend, I plan to get back to sewing… and writing. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone, and make the most of it.

Marion, that’s such a cute little doll you’ve dug up there, and the little dress looks great on her, just like it does on your little Mäxchen (I think “Mäxchen” works well for Maxima, too 😉). I’m always fascinated by how different the little dresses look just by changing the colors.

Monika, you’re making a lot of animal nests! Can they actually be reused, or do they just rot away over time outdoors?

Yes, Sonja, you’re right—my temperature blanket already has a lot of orange and red in it. However, it never got warmer than 30 degrees here at noon—that would be dark red—and anything warmer than 35 degrees would be brown. Those colors haven’t appeared in the blanket yet, and it looks like we probably won’t reach those temperatures this year either.

I’ve also finished something in the meantime: 5 little farm animals as finger puppets + the pattern for them:

Monika and Ruth, I’m so glad you like the little dress so much.

It’s true, with color changes the dress looks very different. But it’s always pretty.
Maybe the doll with braids will get some new clothes.

Ruth, I’m sure you can come up with several more animals for your finger puppets. Those five look fun.

I wish everyone a wonderful Sunday, whatever you have planned for today.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.

Today I have another little something to show you.
I used leftover yarn from my crocheted bag to make a doily in the c2c technique. The color gradient looked like this in some places.
Of course, my beloved slides couldn’t be missing either. Here you go

Ruth, the animal nests go to caretakers who nurse sick animals back to health—for example, birds, squirrels, or other small animals. They’re always kept indoors in a special aviary. I have to wash them at 60 degrees before shipping, and the caretakers wash them regularly as well. That way, they last quite a while. The caretakers usually line them with tissues or a washable fleece liner. So the nests aren’t meant for animals living in the wild. By the way, I’ve finished another one, and I’ve started on the fourth.
Your little farm animals are so cute again, Ruth. Lots of kids are going to have fun with them.

Marion, I’ve got a few ideas for your braided doll, too...

Andrea, your crocheted doilies look really beautiful. That’s a great way to use up leftover yarn. And those little bath slippers… absolutely adorable! Are you going to give them all away?

Dear friends, this morning I just felt like going through all my yarn stash and taking pictures of it. That was probably the shock of my life!! I think I’ll need another lifetime to use it all up. I went on a “yarn diet” for a year… and what did I end up with? The yo-yo effect, of course… lol! I got most of this yarn through my swap group over the last few months. There were just so many times I couldn’t resist. To show you all of this, I’ll start a separate thread right away. I think when I see it all at once, I’ll get a second shock (grin). Since the yarn is scattered across several rooms and closets, I hadn’t even noticed how much there was until now… So I’m clearly and openly one of those yarn addicts… lol.

And here’s the third nest, along with a photo of my progress on the Linja jacket.

...those bath slippers are amazing 😍
And those finger puppets 💖—to fall in love with....

  I just don’t have any motivation to crochet or knit right now. While tidying up, I found some soooo great yarn—size 10 or 11 needles, perfect for a cat cave. I “tried” to get started yesterday, but it’s just so hard to get going....
So back to the loom I went and finished weaving the belt for my friend. 

Wow, that belt turned out great! How wide is it, roughly?

Just measured it quickly....
Just under 4 cm, but I can also weave it wider. I wove this one using 22 tablets and cotton. 
The more tablets I use, the wider the finished band becomes. Then I have to adjust the border a bit.
At first, I wasn’t convinced by the colors at all, but now I think they’re great. 😉

I also quickly made a matching keychain....

Steffi, your belt is another work of art. It looks absolutely great. That you can do something like this... just amazing! The keychain looks great, too. I also think the colorful threads peeking out at the bottom are very pretty. The colors go together perfectly. I don’t really like knitting with thick yarn. Felting yarn is enough for me, and I knit it with size 5 needles. That’s hard enough for me as it is.

Right now it’s too warm for me to knit with thick yarn. It’s supposed to be over 30 degrees this weekend—we’ll see how knitting goes then.

I finished the fourth nest the day before yesterday, and it went through the washing machine today. Now I’m going to offer it to the animal keepers. They can really use it right now. And Linja’s jacket is coming along nicely, too. I’m currently enjoying crafting in the garden in this lovely weather.

Here’s the new nest—and all four of them:

Hello there late at night—

wow, you’ve all been busy again.
Those little finger puppets are so cute.

Marion, your Maxima looks lovely in that pretty dress, perfectly matched with the hat. Great job.
I’m glad you found your other little doll again. I like it. She’s surely happy to have seen the light of day again, too. Is this doll sewn from jersey fabric?
Monika, you’re really quick with your nests. When do you even get any sleep? *:-)* No one can keep up with how fast you knit and crochet. Kudos. The new residents are sure to be delighted.
Steffi, your woven ribbons look great. It sounds complicated, with all those little cards you have to turn. I don’t know anything about it, but hats off to anyone who can do it.

But that’s pretty much how these ribbons and embellishments are woven here in Norway for the bunads (traditional costumes). Every region has its own colors and patterns.
I really like that sort of thing.

I didn’t crochet anything today.

Best regards

This is roughly what it looks like. You can get a general idea from the
belts on both of them (photo taken by me)

I made two little things again today. (Pattern from here, blog page)
Coasters and a little birdie

It was so much fun—thank you so much for the pattern


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Hi Andrea,
I love your “little things” — the coaster has such beautiful colors 😍 and the little bird 💖
The traditional belts are beautiful; thanks for sharing them... I love “things like that.” And just think how old the technique for making those belts and ribbons is.
Now a friend from Strick-kaffee brought me instructions for “nalbinding,” complete with a needle and yarn 🙈
There just aren’t seem to be enough hours in the day... But I still want to give it a try... 

Interesting, Steffi, all the things you’re trying out.

I first had to Google “nalbinding”. I’d never heard of it before. There really is such a thing as everything.

That’s right, Steffi—I’d also like to try out a few things or revisit some projects.

Right now, I’m working on knitting the second glove.

Oh.... You’re knitting a “chicken sweater”...
my grandma always called it that. 🙈
When we were kids and asked what “funny” thing she was knitting...
I’m simply fascinated by everything you can conjure up from “threads.” And with nalbinding, the advantage is that if you accidentally tear a hole in it, nothing unravels... just darn it and that’s it.... 

I like the “Chicken Sweater” :)

What do you call this “style” of knitting gloves? I only know it as “chicken sweater”.... 

Hi everyone,

I’m checking in again—back from vacation. The weather was incredibly kind to us; we were able to enjoy the large garden every day with a fantastic view of the mountains (all 7 Churfirsten peaks and the Säntis).

While I took a week off from yarn, you were obviously all the more hard at work!

Marion, that little doll dress looks great on Maxima, and with the matching hat, the outfit is complete. Do you actually change your doll’s clothes regularly, or does she keep the same outfit on for a while? And does she only get something new once you’ve knitted a new dress?

Monika, I really can’t stop being amazed by you. Admit it—you secretly have four hands that let you knit and crochet at the same time!!! :-) It’s crazy what you manage to accomplish in just a few days.

Ruth, thanks for the info on the other temperature ranges. Just looking at the blanket, you wouldn’t know that the colors for the really warm temperatures are missing. So it’s all the more wonderful that you’ve already chosen a beautiful red for the moderately warm temperatures, making the blanket look “warm.” Maybe you had a hunch about that… I can’t imagine we’ll need dark red and brown anymore either. For our area, the long-term forecast already says that the coming low-pressure system (starting Tuesday, brrr....) will mark the end of summer.
Your finger puppets are absolutely adorable! I’m sure your grandchildren already love them dearly :-)

Andrea, you’ve been crocheting an incredible amount again these past few days! They’ve turned out really lovely. I think the little flip-flops are really cool—I can totally see why they’re among your favorites :-) How nice that you haven’t put all your yarn away yet and can distract yourself from the stress of moving this way. Do you actually have an exact moving date yet? If I happened to miss it, I apologize in advance... ;-)

Steffi, your new belt is another really beautiful creation! Do you always follow a pattern, or can you also design your own patterns? I had to look up needle-binding too—and on the very first website I came across a picture of needle-bound socks from Egypt dating back to around 300–500 AD. The things you find! Now I’m really curious to see how your first attempt turns out.

Marlene, I really like your “chicken sweater” too :-)

I just finished my loop scarf right before the holidays. I knitted the pattern last year in double-faced fabric, and now there’s a crochet version of it as well. Every year we put together two boxes for the “Weihnachtspäckli” campaign, which is similar to “Christmas in a Shoebox.” The idea is to fill a box with specific, pre-selected items—for children, these include, for example, school supplies, candy, toys, and warm clothes for winter. The filled and beautifully wrapped boxes are then transported by truck to Romania and distributed there as Christmas gifts to families in need. The crocheted loop will go into one of these boxes and will hopefully keep a child in Romania warm and happy.





Now I’m going to grab my knitting needles—I’m really looking forward to finally getting started again. Just under a week of withdrawal is really tough *laughs*

Have a wonderful Sunday!

These are “Japanese gloves,” Steffi.

Beautiful winter motif, Sonja.
Today on our hike, we saw a squirrel, among other things.
Of course, I forgot my camera.

....I like the chicken sweater better 😊

Sonja.... Right now, I’m “only” working from patterns/weaving drafts. But in my book, which is always lying nearby, there’s also a chapter for each technique that covers creating your own weaving drafts. So, what you need to pay attention to, which thread turns where, etc., so that the pattern actually looks in practice the way you drew it....
It’s like knitting; you start by practicing knit and purl stitches first. And then you venture into your own creations.... 
A child will definitely be delighted with the loop scarf; it turned out absolutely enchanting. 

Hello everyone,

I’m checking in again—I haven’t had much time to write over the last few weeks and could ONLY read your posts, so I have to say you’ve all been soooo hard at work. There are so many lovely things that have been created here—I can’t even begin to comment on everything.
Steffi’s belt turned out beautifully, and even though I don’t usually wear belts, I could definitely see myself wearing it with a pair of jeans.
Andrea, the fact that you still have time for crafts amid all the stress of moving—hats off to you! I really like your coasters, too.
I’m really keeping my fingers crossed that everything works out.
The “chicken sweater”—that really made me smile, and yes, the term could fit; I’m not familiar with that style of knitting gloves myself.
And one last quick note: Sonja with that gorgeous loop scarf—and what a great cause, too. We used to have a “company” in town that organized Christmas deliveries like that, but unfortunately, it’s been gone since 2019.
Sonja, aren’t you at Lake Constance, or am I mistaken? If so, I hope you’ve saved a little sunshine there so I can enjoy it there in five weeks.

I’m sure I’ll have something new to show you later this week—I’m just really busy with personal stuff right now.

Warm regards to everyone here

Wow, there’s been a lot written here. That’s quite a bit to read. I haven’t really felt like using the computer much these past few days—I’d rather be in the garden. It’s raining today, so I’m catching up on a few things, including here.

Andrea, I’m not that fast. A nest like that is crocheted with thicker yarn, and I can finish that in a day. I’ll crochet the base up to 110 stitches and then about 16 cm high. Looking at your work, you’re pretty quick with your hook too—you’ve finished crocheting such beautiful things in no time at all. For example, your pretty cloverleaf coasters. They look lovely in those colors. And then there’s that little birdie to go with them.

Marlene, I’d love to see your Japanese gloves on your hands—maybe you can show them to us later with them on.

Sonja, it’s great that you’re back and that you were able to enjoy Mother-Child Week so much. A week without knitting… I can’t even remember when that was. It must have been a long time ago. ;-)
It doesn’t even feel like it takes me that long to finish my projects. You’re at least just as quick, because as we all know, DF takes quite a bit longer, and yet you finish it pretty fast.
You’ve now turned your cute little bear motif into a crocheted loop scarf too! Wow! It looks just as beautiful as the knitted one. Though I’m guessing it didn’t turn out quite as fluffy and soft, right? In any case, the child who gets it will definitely be over the moon. That’s a lovely idea—the Christmas gifts for Romania.

Steffi, I’m still in awe of your beautiful weaving projects. It sounds pretty complicated to me, but you enjoy it and you’re doing a wonderful job. You enrich our little group here with something truly special and rare.

Ines, how nice to hear from you again. Sometimes other things are just more important than the needles and the yarn. Knowing you, you’ll catch up on all that soon and show us some new, beautiful projects.

Since it’s been pretty hot here the last few days, I haven’t been very motivated to keep knitting Linja’s thick jacket. Still, it’s coming along. Yesterday I had to unravel a few rows because I’d forgotten a buttonhole in the heat of the moment. Yeah, that’s how it goes. Here’s what it looks like now:



And since my little star doesn’t have any socks to match her pretty pink outfit yet, I knitted her some in between. I had to rip some out there, too—I’d placed the stitch marker wrong. Oh well, I guess it was all because of the heat, which is thankfully over for now. Here are the cute little socks.



And here’s another funny photo from today’s breakfast. My slice of bread had a peephole.

Thank you for your feedback.

Monika, thank you for making us smile with your funny snapshot.

Just finished—it hopped right off the needle. Mosaic technique (store-bought AL)

I'll take a little time to write here again, too.

Well, quite a lot has happened lately. You've all created beautiful pieces.

Steffi, your belts really look very nice. It sounds very complicated to me; I probably wouldn't have the patience for it.

Andrea, yes, my braided doll is made of jersey fabric. She is from the 80s and is still wearing the clothes from back then. 
You've crocheted some very lovely little things again; I like them all very much.
I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for your upcoming move, hoping everything works out the way you want it to.

Monika, you seem to be in a knitting frenzy at the moment. One piece after another is being created.
What ideas do you have for my little braided doll?
Your breakfast picture turned out great, very funny.

Sonja, it's nice that your vacation at Lake Constance was so wonderful. You really picked the right time.
The children are sure to be very happy about your beautiful crocheted cowl for the Christmas package. Here where we live, we've also had the Operation Christmas Child campaign for years.
As for your question, my Maxima/Mäxchen gets changed again and again. Thanks to Monika, I now have a selection. When I make something new, of course that's what she wears.

Marlene, I've never heard of a chicken sweater, but it sounds funny. I've never seen a glove like that either; it almost looks like top-down raglan technique. 

Ines, I'm excited to see your new creations. I'm already keeping my fingers crossed that the weather at Lake Constance will be as nice as it was for Sonja.

I don't have anything to show yet either. Once my current project has grown a bit, I'll be happy to show it to you.

It got cooler today, so it's perfect for crafting.

Have a nice week, everyone.

I’m so glad, Andrea and Marion, that I was able to put a smile on your faces. :)

Andrea, you’re amazing! Do you actually crochet through the night? I’m truly amazed at how quickly you finish such beautiful pieces of art. It looks absolutely gorgeous. I definitely have to take a closer look at the mosaic technique—I really like it. It’s impressive that you’re managing to do all this while you’re in the middle of moving. It’s almost time. The countdown’s probably already on, and you’re really looking forward to seeing your family. I’m sure there’ll be a big welcome party.

Marion, let me surprise you. I’m sure I’ll come up with a thing or two for your cute little braided doll. She’ll definitely be happy to get some new clothes, too.

Yeah, I’m kind of in a knitting frenzy right now—and a crocheting frenzy at the same time. Yesterday I dug out some leftover yarn that I didn’t know what to do with anymore. I’m crocheting them into little nests now. Since the four I’ve finished are already on their way, I just feel like keeping at it. I’ll finish one nest tonight, and I’ll show it to you tomorrow. And then there’s still a felt swing for Hörnchen that needs to be knitted. Since I’m using up a lot of leftover yarn, it’s sure to turn out pretty colorful. I just need to alternate between knitting something complicated and something simple. That way, I can use up the leftover yarn and free up some space.

Have a wonderful afternoon, everyone!

Hello everyone,

I’ve lost track of your projects in the meantime :-) So today I just want to say that you’ve all crocheted, knitted, woven, and crafted some truly enchanting pieces! Everything is so beautiful, individual, and unique!

I’m not doing much crafting right now because other things are taking up my time. First, it was my son’s move into his new house (there’s still quite a bit of work to be done there), then we looked after our little grandson for a week because the new daycare didn’t have a spot for him yet. Now it’s back to the garden with its ripening fruits. We have mountains of plums, cucumbers, blackberries, tomatoes, bell peppers, herbs, and so on and so forth. Every day is filled with harvesting, pickling, canning, baking, and searching for old and new recipes. Every day we also enjoy our new favorite spot by the pond. The new plants around the pond are growing taller, so more and more insects are gathering there. During our siesta, we watch blue dragonflies flit about and listen to the soft murmur of the water. Sometimes I also read a good book there and simply enjoy the atmosphere, the fresh air, the silence, the sounds of nature—simply summer.

I usually keep my computer turned off during the summer, so right now I’m just a silent reader. Keep up the good work and stay creative—and enjoy the summer, too! It won’t last forever, and you can’t make up for lost time. In the fall, I’ll be turning my attention back to wool. Then I’ll be more active here again.

Until then, warm regards—Ina

What a beautiful place to relax.... 😍💖💖💖

I’m sneaking back into the forum.

Wow, Ina. What a wonderful place to spend time. Enjoy it while you can, before the cold fall sets in.
You’ve got plenty to do in the garden, too—how do you manage it all?

Marion and Sonja, thank you for your feedback and for keeping your fingers crossed for me. Most of it’s already packed, so there isn’t that much left—which means I still have time to crochet.

Monika, yes, I pack during the day, and at night I work on my crochet projects, and just like that, Part 2 is done


Above all, I’ve figured out that balls of yarn take up more space in the box than finished crocheted pieces *hihi*

Part 3 is in the works. 😍

Hey Andrea....
Your squares look great.... Are you making a blanket out of them? I like the pattern...
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you’ll soon be able to spend some “relaxing” time crocheting again....

Ina, I completely understand that you’re currently very busy with your garden and just want to enjoy your beautiful spot in the sun in your free time. It’s a little paradise, and the summer days are numbered. It’s nice that you still stop by here every now and then. Fall is just around the corner, and things will be different again then.

Andrea, your second set of pot holders is just as beautiful as the first. That’s an exciting and very pretty pattern. And yes, you’re right. Crocheted yarn takes up much less space. I can really tell now with the “nests”—when a big pile of yarn suddenly shrinks dramatically. I actually meant to take a photo of the nest today, but I forgot. I’ll do that tomorrow. Maybe I’ll start on the next nest today.

Have a lovely evening, everyone, and keep those needles clicking.

Good morning, everyone—have a wonderful day!

I’d like to introduce you to No. 4. It crochets up so quickly, and the squares are a nice, large size—about 24×24 cm. Just right for a blanket. Of course, they’re also great for pot holders if you sew two together.

I used leftover Catania yarn and a size 2.5 hook.

Hi Andrea....
Could you let me know which pattern you used for this? I’ve totally fallen in love with this pattern.... and I still have two big drawers full of leftover Catania yarn 🙈😍

Continue writing here:
August Projects Part 2: the Crazypatterns Handicraft Group