September Projects and August Projects, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

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September Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group (No Advertising)



Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the August projects.

You can read the earlier posts at the link.
August Projects + July Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group
Have fun.

Last night I “finished” these two...
A keychain and a bracelet....
and an “attempt”—but the yarn wasn’t a good match. You can even weave letters 

Steffi, I’m really impressed by this technique. It looks great and interesting.

I also sent you a private message (Mosaic)

Andrea, I’m also interested in the pattern—I think it’s really great and would love to learn the technique too.

Andrea, I’m also completely blown away by your super beautiful mosaics. You’re incredibly fast! I’m slowly starting to feel like trying something like that myself. A blanket made of grannies has tempted me for a long time.

Steffi, your new woven pieces look fantastic again too!

Now I’ve finally photographed the finished nest. The second one is growing right now.



Today I spent the whole day writing the pattern for my long cardigan. Since I’m knitting Linja’s cardigan in a similar way, that’s very helpful right now. It’s really a joy to see the cardigan grow now.

Our raspberries are finally starting to ripen now—a month later than usual. At least we’re already getting a bowl a day for muesli out of it.

This is what our breakfast muesli looks like every day now:

I’ll come over for breakfast then 😍
The nests are great. Up here in the north, I wouldn’t even know where they’d be needed... maybe a wildlife rescue center. I called one once because I needed help with an injured bat... they weren’t exactly much help. In any case, they didn’t really want to take it in. I kept it nice and warm, hid it away through the day, and then late in the evening I "released" it again.... Hope it survived.

I already bought the pattern for Andrea’s squares today 🙈😊—I just have to crochet them...

Monika, your nest looks really pretty, colorful on the inside and solid-colored on the outside. I like it. For my purposes, I could easily imagine a small potted plant in it.
You’ll definitely manage the mosaic crochet.

I’ll come by for breakfast too. Looks delicious. I’d add some oatmeal to mine.

I’ve already “infected” Steffi too. Nice. I hope you have lots of fun and that it turns out well. I’m already curious to see how yours looks when it’s finished.
That pattern really appealed to me too—simple, with a big impact.

This pattern only really comes into its own when you use just 2 colors. I tried it in multicolor today, and you can’t really make out the pretty pattern.

Hello everyone,

today summer is taking a break—and so am I. I don’t have to water anything or harvest anything. So there’s time for crafts and the PC.

You’ve all been very busy again!

Andrea, your colorful mosaics have something hypnotic about them. If you look at them for a while, you switch off inside and the pattern swirls around in your head. I also like the two-color look of a tile—that’s what I’ll just call a single piece. I can well believe that crocheting them is fun. You’re always looking forward to the next color combination. And only when the tile is finished do you see its full beauty and how it harmonizes with the others. A whole blanket made of those would be THE eye-catcher. Maybe you’ll make one for your new apartment ... as a blanket for the balcony or something. In any case, you’ve already inspired a few ladies here with the idea.

Steffi, I’ve missed a bit of what you’ve been doing—because I haven’t been here often. And only now, while paging back, do I see what lovely new things you’re bringing to our group. So far, there haven’t been any woven pieces represented. That really is an exciting subject, but also a specialized one. What I mean is, I think you really have to concentrate well. If you weave one thing wrong, the whole pattern is off—and unraveling it seems almost impossible to me. Or then you just say, “It’s meant to be that way.” In any case, you make lovely things. The little keychains look playful. Also because of the thick fringes that invite you to play with them. Let’s see what else comes along.

Monika, your commitment to the animals is very commendable. The rest of us just look at how beautiful they are when they fly around or crawl about—and don’t think much about how they get through the winter. It’s good that you keep at it so consistently and diligently. But the nests look beautiful too! I like the felted dreys best. I’d want to overwinter in one of those too :-)

Your muesli looks very healthy and is full of power. Very exemplary! Can you eat the big yellow blossom, or is it just decoration?

Ina
Well, there isn’t much for me to show because I’m still in summer mode. So the only thing I can show you is my temperature blanket. By now it no longer fits on the table for the photo.



Status as of yesterday:





Apart from that, yesterday I just preserved some sweet-and-sour “Danish cucumbers”. They’re basically the “hot dog pickles” you get at the big furniture store. Since I have a lot of cucumbers, I always have to preserve them for the winter. I harvest this amount every 3 days in the greenhouse. There’s cucumber salad, braised cucumbers, and, of course, preserved cucumbers ...





I wish you all a lovely day and a late-summer weekend.

Best wishes from Ina

I’ve lost track a bit, too, because so much has happened here again in the meantime. I’ve been very busy with my granddaughter because my daughter-in-law has to work even during summer break.
So I haven’t gotten around to doing much, while you’ve all been very hard at work.

Andrea , I think it’s great that you still find time to crochet despite the stress of moving. And you’re making such beautiful things—those squares with their impressive mosaic pattern. I could totally see that as a bag, too.

Monika, when you’re not baking or surfing the web, you’re probably constantly knitting! It’s hard to keep up with you—new projects pop up so fast. The squirrels, bunnies, and little birds will thank you.

Marlene, I’m glad you’re feeling a little better again. That Japanese glove looks interesting, but also a bit complicated. Isn’t “regular” knitting easier in that case?

Ina, your temperature blanket looks really beautifully colorful. Did the dark blue or purple stripes represent particularly warm or cold days? You’ve definitely had temperatures a bit different from ours here in the south. It never really got that hot here. I only had one day with a midday temperature of 30 °.

Although I’m not really a fan of Bobbel yarn cakes, I’ve started a summer sweater with one. With those rainbow colors, I just couldn’t say no.

....I wouldn’t have been able to resist that rainbow yarn either. 😍

Ina.... The cucumbers look so delicious... Unfortunately, my vegetable garden isn’t that big yet, but it’s growing a little bit every year.
And your blanket is turning out absolutely beautiful.
Weaving actually requires a lot of concentration, depending on which “technique” you’re using. And you can actually weave back or unravel it, but that takes some “practice” too. So I often end up with little woven “scraps” that then have to serve as keychains up to the mistake. 🙈
I’m currently weaving a belt for myself. So far I’ve got just under 60 cm and no mistakes; I always keep the loom in my line of sight and have to really pull myself together so I don’t just start weaving in between other things.... That would totally “backfire.”
I actually wanted to crochet Andrea’s square today, but I injured the index finger on my right hand while splitting wood... of course it had to be that one. Now I’m a bit clumsy. 

Oh Steffi, that’s not so nice. I know very few women who split wood. You seem to like unusual challenges. In any case, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your finger heals quickly. But now you really do need to give it a little time to heal. I understand that the belt is tempting, but I’m sure that work will still be there for you.

Ruth , the summer sweater doesn’t have to be finished until next year, because summer is over for this year. So you can take your time. But I’m guessing you want that colorful yarn cake to unfold all its splendor quickly. It certainly looks lovely rolled up like that. For me, the art with a yarn cake is always making sure that all the colors in the cake get a chance to shine in the finished piece. It would be a shame if that beautiful light green, yellow, and orange didn’t appear at all. So hopefully you’ve chosen a pattern that uses the whole yarn cake. I’m curious.

Yes, my temperature blanket looks different from yours. We had lots of hot days over 30 degrees. The purple one is practically for exceptional conditions; it was over 35 degrees here. Actually, the shade doesn’t really fit on my scale after the increasingly deeper reds, but there wasn’t any other color left for "blisteringly hot." I wish you all a relaxing evening.

Ina

Ina, since I’m pretty tall (1.78 cm), I’m a bit worried that I’ll have to crochet on more colors...

Crocheting is going well....
I can’t live without it....
It’ll have time to heal tonight 😂🙈
Plus, I have to keep splitting “my” firewood over the next few days. My husband “isn’t allowed” to do it for health reasons. So it’s up to me to make sure we stay nice and cozy in the winter. 

Having it on the right is of course awkward; I hope you get well soon.
Your swatch already looks great.

Thank you....
As you can see, crocheting is going well.... Weaving is on hold for now.... Mosaic crochet is addictive—just one more round and tada... it’s done🙈

Hi everyone,

wow, you’re all writing like champions—it’s easy to lose track.

Andrea, I have to say, I really like this mosaic technique. I’ll have to try it sometime; I have a box of cotton leftovers that could work well.

Ruth, I might like the colors of that yarn cake too, but working with yarn cakes hasn’t really been my thing so far. I once got a free yarn cake in shades of blue in a package; I gave it to my mom, and she crocheted a table cover from it.

Steffi, oh dear, I hope your finger has recovered a bit overnight and you can get back to crafting and making your beautiful woven pieces—at least you were able to crochet.

Ina, what colors...... The blanket is very beautiful, and I admire you all for your perseverance: one row a day, then waiting until it’s time for the next row. I think the purple is placed quite well, especially since weather charts sometimes also have such a sharp jump between temperatures.
And the cucumbers too—so much work, but then you also have something from your summer efforts in winter.

Monika, that salad/muesli looks so delicious, you could gladly make a bigger portion next time, and then we’ll all be there when it’s time to dig in.
Oh, all the nests you’ve already made this year—I really admire your diligence, but I can easily believe that a mountain of yarn does eventually get used up.

I was given a task this week that made me more than smile: my daughter ordered a Christmas pointed hat for her son, who’s due at the end of the year. At the hospital, on the ward where she usually works, photos will surely be taken, as in other hospitals too, and since it’s around Christmas, this hat is meant to be used for the photo shoot. So I made this little pointed hat this week


I’d also like to show you my Tunisian-crocheted sweater; it has narrow knitted inserts at the sides, and although it’s quite thin, you’d think it was a really thick winter sweater


Right now, I’m working on a few Christmas projects, and a baby blanket is also in progress. We’ll see what I can show you next.
For today, I wish you all a pleasant weekend—enjoy the sunshine once more

Oh, you’ve all gotten so much done. I’ve been following along these past few days, but I didn’t have time to post and didn’t have anything to show either.
I got to test-crochet for Sonja again. Since she posted the pattern today, I can show it to you too 


And then I got creative. I designed the invitation card for Anton’s birthday. I’m going to copy it now, and then it’ll be done. I don’t feel like drawing it four more times 

I hope you all have a wonderful evening 

Such beautiful things....
I think the card is great; my little nephew would like it too 😍
By the way, he’s turning 4 as well....
and the cowl looks great—do boys wear those too? 🤔
Ines, I think your sweater is super chic. It would look good on me too 🙈😇
Tunisian crochet.... I’ve never tried that before. Maybe after the
"weaving binge".... 
...and I also rediscovered a "fork" for crocheting while tidying up; I’ve been wanting to try that too.... 
I’ll get to it, I’ve got plenty of yarn after all. 
Andrea has just got me hooked on mosaic crochet. It’s so much fun. 
Just a few more rounds to go... 

Hi Steffi, your mosaic is already looking really great.

I think Anton would wear the cowl, but my husband would veto that 😄... it’s way too cute.
It’s going to a friend’s daughter for her 3rd birthday 

Hello at this late hour

I’m always amazed by your new creations. This forum is my nightly reading material.

Sandra, the birthday card looks great. Even I like Fireman Sam. Great drawing.
It’s nice that you get to test-crochet, and the crocheted loop looks fantastic, as does the motif.

Steffi, wow, I’m thrilled. Your mosaic granny looks fantastic. See, it’s not hard at all. It’s addictive, isn’t it? The pattern really pops with those colors. You’re giving me a run for my money :-)

Ines, your sweater looks very pretty. I always wonder how you crochet large areas in Tunisian crochet?

I just can’t stop

Andrea.... the one in the middle looks great, like it’s glowing. I took a look at a few Mosaic blankets today. And I saw a few that also had a very light center.... it looks like points of light. Totally beautiful...

Sandra.... I think I’ll knit or crochet that loop for “little” Alex.... I think it’s sooo cute.... And in blue, it just works

Good morning,

Andrea, for Tunisian crochet on large areas, I use a crochet hook tip with a flexible cord, and it works very well.
I’m amazed at how quickly you finish the individual pieces; I also really like the square in the middle, it has such a glowing quality, maybe it’s because of the light. I haven’t started yet, I’m still knitting a baby blanket.

Sandra, nice that you were able to do some pattern testing; the cowl turned out beautifully, and the invitation card came out well too. I’m sure the children will be happy to come to Anton’s birthday party when they’re invited so sweetly.

Steffi, when it comes to crafts, you can’t do everything anyway, but I used to think too, hmm, Tunisian crochet, that must be difficult. Now I quite like it.
And then Andrea comes along and makes your mouth water with her great squares, I have to try that too. You’re always learning something new somewhere.

So, wishing you all a good start to the new week

a wonderful good morning to everyone

thank you Ines, good to know. I'll have to see where I can get a crochet hook with a cable like that.

You all are putting a smile on my face again because I was able to get you excited about mosaic crochet, and because you're not alone with this crochet passion.
So 27 rows are crocheted up quickly, and you only have to weave in the starting and ending yarn tails.

It feels really good to be here in the forum; you always learn something here and there from others, new techniques, get newly inspired... so it never gets boring here.

But over the next few days I'll have to take it a bit easier again. Final sprint with packing, and getting the apartment a little spruced up, because the landlords want to take pictures tomorrow for the listing page (for re-renting it after we move out).
And the weeds still need to be taken care of too :-(

If I can't show as much anymore, I'll still be a "silent" reader here. I wouldn't want to miss out on this.

have a pleasant week, everyone, don't stress yourselves out. But if you have enough yarn on hand, stress doesn't come up in the first place. :-)   :-) At most, you have sooooo many projects in your head, but there just isn't enough time in the day for them

best wishes
Andrea

So many things I like again.

Right now I’m into Japanese gloves. 
This time I’m trying them in a single color using double-face knitting.

Then I wish you strength and peace to get everything done just the way you imagine it. 
You can also get the crochet hook from Knit pro... I have one lying around; I needed it to bind off my knitted lace shawls.
I could have secretly opened a store 🙈 This morning my bobbin lace pillow ran over my feet.😇😂😇
I’m just at home all day, so I also have time to simply try out lots of things.
My grandma was a needlework teacher at the “village school”; even as a child, I was fascinated by all the things you can create from threads... 

Hi everyone,

especially on a rainy day like today, it’s fun to browse here at CP and in the forum. And there are always exciting things to find in this thread.

@Ines
I think that’s a really cute pointed hat for the “Christmas babies.” The photos are sure to be super cute. And of course, the sweetest ones will be of your own grandchild. The hat already looks so soft, too. You could have made the brim and the pom-pom out of that super-soft “Baby Smile” yarn, too—the same one I used for the brim of my doll’s little coat. I’ve seen that in a photo before, and it looked even more fitting because the delicate baby skin went so well with the fluffy wool. Maybe you’ll make a second one? You still have a little time left :-)



The crocheted sweater looks absolutely amazing—really modern and chic. From a distance, I wouldn’t have believed it was handmade at all. It looks truly professional. I love the cut and the texture. That texture can only be achieved with a special crochet technique, which isn’t really my thing. But maybe I’ll give it another try because of your beautiful sweater. You didn’t catch the crochet bug until later, either.

@Sandra
The blue-and-white loop you crocheted as a test for Sonja turned out great. With those fresh colors and the lovely wintery motifs—it’s really cute and enchanting. Is the yarn soft enough for the neck? Crocheted items are always a bit stiffer and not as snug. Just looking nice isn’t enough, though. Is it also soft and warm enough, and how do you decide on the width? What age group of kids does the loop fit? Or do you have to measure the neck circumference first? Sorry for all my questions, but I’m currently thinking about making one for my grandchildren. I really like it, though :-) If you make it in “boy colors,” I think little boys could wear it, too.

Wow, the 4th birthday invitation cards are awesome! Fireman Sam is really popular with the little ones right now. And you even drew them yourself? You’ve got so many talents! Anton will be so proud of these personalized invitation cards.

@Steffi
—I’m glad your injured index finger is already allowing you to do such delicate handiwork again. That little mosaic piece looks great. Since you’re having so much fun with it, I’m sure you’ll add another 1, 2, 3… pieces. Let’s see what you end up making with them.

And then there’s bobbin lace-making too…—you’re very versatile and must have inherited that talent from your grandma. Everyone would have loved to have had such a talented grandma. Mine knitted, too, but I was still too young for her to teach me anything. When she died, I was 14 and hadn’t started knitting yet. But she definitely passed the “yarn gene” down to me.

@Andrea
Yeah, you can tell you’ve just caught the mosaic bug. Placed side by side like that, it creates a great effect. The pattern really stands out best with high-contrast color combinations. But in the end, it’s probably the mix that makes it work. This mosaic crochet project is just the thing for you right now. It takes your mind off the stress of moving—with all its demands and challenges—and offers relaxation without being too taxing.

@Marlene
I hope you continue to enjoy the Japanese gloves and the double-face project. Can you make it in a single color??? I thought you always needed two colors. But if you only use one color, why bother with double-face at all? Both sides would look the same then. As you can tell, I have absolutely no clue about double-face—these are probably really silly questions.

I don’t have anything new to show. Last night, I dug out my second self-designed temperature blanket (in pastel colors) again and crocheted a few more rows on it. But there’s nothing to show.

I wish everyone a wonderful day and send warm regards to everyone—Ina

In that case, I’m working with two identical skeins, Ina.
I only have one color of this yarn, and I want two right sides.

Since I haven’t knitted doubleface with increases yet, I’m keeping it simple for now.

Yay, school has started again here :-) Starting tomorrow, life will be back to normal, and I’m glad about that... As nice as it is to have summer break and lots of time with the kids—it’s just as nice when everyday life returns ;-)

Since you’ve all been working soooo hard, I don’t even know where to start. I’ll try to go through them one by one.

Steffi, to be honest, I’ve still only ever understood the principle of weaving in a very abstract way. But I could picture it to some extent—that you figure out a specific, repeating pattern and then have to move the boards in the corresponding order. Now you’ve completely confused me with the letters—that means every woven row is different. I’d really have to see this in person (and ideally try it myself) to truly grasp it. But since I definitely live too far away from you to just pop over and look over your shoulder, and besides, I don’t have time for ANOTHER hobby anyway, I’ll just stick to marveling and admiring. And I’m happy when you show us your beautiful creations here :-) Get well soon with your thumb! How nice that you can at least still crochet.

Monika, even if the birds and squirrels probably don’t care much about how they look—your nests look really beautiful :-) The caretakers will surely appreciate both the practicality and the beauty. Your granola looks delicious! Fresh raspberries from the garden are a real treat. They always disappear pretty quickly at our house, too, since the kids love them. If there are any left over, I like to turn them into vitamin-packed chocolate muffins *laughs*

Andrea, your mosaic granny squares are incredibly beautiful. I love the idea of making the same pattern in different colors as a quilt. It’s going to be a dream quilt! I wish you smooth progress and patience for the coming days. You’ll be done soon and can head home!

Ina, your temperature quilt is so fascinating—you can practically trace the progression from the cold of winter, through a green spring, all the way to your warm summer. What a glut of cucumbers :-) I’d love to have a little jar of pickled cucumbers like that, too—I think they’d be delicious on a homemade burger, mmmhhhhh....
Regarding your questions about the loop: when knitted in double-faced fabric, it’s naturally much softer than when crocheted, since it’s knitted in stockinette stitch on both sides. You can’t get it that fluffy when crocheting. But if you make sure to use very soft yarn, it’s also very comfortable to wear when crocheted. My loop is made from Phildar Caresse, which is an extremely cozy microfiber yarn. Sandra used Omega by Lang Yarns—maybe she can tell you if and how soft the loop turned out with that yarn. The loop needs to be wide enough to fit comfortably over your head, since the crocheted thread makes it not very stretchy. Mine has a circumference of 56 cm and fits my 5-year-old daughter—but it fits me, too :-) It’s better to make it a little wider, since you can fold the loop over when wearing it. The pattern includes a repeat that you can either omit or crochet multiple times to adjust the size a bit or to compensate for different gauges.

Ruth, I really like your yarn skein—those are such lovely, cheerful colors! I also find color gradients a bit tricky, which is why I’m especially excited to see your summer sweater. But with these colors, nothing can really go wrong. And in the photo, the color gradient looks really nice and subtle.

Ines, how cute, your pointed hat! That’s sure to make for some totally adorable photos—if the baby wants to keep the hat on ;-) I really like your sweater, too; it really looks like something you’d buy in a store. The baby blanket for your first grandchild is something very special! I’m already excited to see what you come up with for it.

Sandra, your loop scarf turned out great—thanks again for testing the pattern :-) Your invitation is amazing—you’re also really good at drawing! All the kids who don’t get such a beautiful invitation are going to be sad. And you cleverly incorporated Anton’s “new motto” into it ;-)

Marlene, your Japanese gloves have me curious. Why do you want two “right sides” if both are the same color? Is it because stockinette stitch is more comfortable to wear than the wrong side?

I’ve been working on the first extension piece for the therapy blanket; it’ll measure 20 x 80 cm and will later be crocheted onto the first part of the blanket. To make sure the text is legible on both sides, each side has to be worked differently, so it’s a bit more complicated than a normal double-faced piece. One row took a whopping 20 minutes... ;-) I also made a mistake, but I’m happy to show it to you—that’s what makes a handmade piece one-of-a-kind. 





Now I wish you all a wonderful afternoon—whether it’s raining or sunny, with enough yarn, the weather is always beautiful :-)

@Ruth: Knitting is going better than crocheting right now because I’m holding the yarn in my right hand here.

@Sonja: one color, because I only have one color of this yarn (old leftover skein without a label). I didn’t want to hold it double either.
If the glove turns out well, I’ll make it in two colors.

Oh, I see...

@Marlene
Thank you so much for your explanation. So if you knit double-faced fabric in a single color, you end up with two beautiful right sides that look exactly the same. That sounds great! I’m curious to see what you’ll make of it.

@Sonja
Thank you very much for your explanation, too. Now I understand, and I’ll take a look at those two types of yarn. I really like the pattern, and it would be a chance to try out the new yarn. If I decide to go for it, I’ll show it here. For now, I’m doing some material tests.

So far, I think the extension piece for the therapy blanket is really well done. It gives the blanket an extra special touch. It’s just a flap at the top with a message on it. It looks very decorative.

Have a pleasant afternoon. Ina

Ines, the hat turned out really cute. I’m sure it’ll make for some great baby photos! I really like the sweater, too. Personally, I prefer “regular” crocheting over Tunisian crochet, but the pattern looks really great.

Sandra, you did a really great job on that loop scarf. I especially like it in this color combination. And your invitations are super beautiful! You really have so many talents. The other kids who didn’t get an invitation are sure to be jealous.

Andrea, I can just imagine how wonderful a blanket in that tile pattern would look. You’re so fast—I’m sure you’ll be done with it soon. How big is each square?

I imagine double knitting with lettering is pretty difficult, Sonja. You definitely have to be super careful not to get mixed up. The color combination looks amazing.

My summer sweater is coming along pretty fast thanks to the lace pattern. If we have a warm fall, I might even be able to wear it this year.
In the meantime, I’ve crocheted a little bag to store Lego bricks. A friend had asked me to make it. I realized it turned out just big enough to hold CDs, too. That also helps keep the cube shape better :-)

Oh Ruth, what a great little bag! So cute and full of details. If you don’t have that many building blocks, this will do just fine. With what we have, I’d probably need more of a sack. If the building blocks are in your little bag, it’ll end up being more of a round structure, which is nice too.

Wow, I’m truly blown away when I see your beautiful creations here. And sooo much has been posted! Please don’t be mad at me if I can’t go into as much detail as usual about everything. I’m just a bit short on time right now because there are other things that need to be done. Let’s just get started...

Andrea, those nests for plant pots—now that’s something. But I’d rather make them for animals, and that way I can use up my leftover yarn. By the way, my husband suggested I could make little storage baskets like that for our motorhome… imagine that. ;-) By the way, our muesli also has rolled oats and a few other things in it—not just fruit.
Your mosaics are absolutely amazing, and my desire to crochet them myself just keeps growing… with every one I see here.

Ina, the nests aren’t usually for overwintering; instead, wildlife rehabilitators place injured birds or other animals in them to nurse them back to health or raise them. And that mainly happens in the summer—that’s the peak season. The idea is simply to provide the animals with something as comfortable as possible where they can feel at ease during their recovery. I really enjoy doing this, and while I’m crocheting, I always imagine how cozy a little animal must feel inside. So a lot of love goes into each one, too. :-)
The big yellow flower on our muesli is an evening primrose blossom, and we have lots of them in the garden. They’re very healthy and taste delicious. We put them on our muesli every morning.
Your blanket has turned out to be a real gem, wow! I really admire your perseverance in working on it every day. Your cucumbers look super delicious. You’ll have quite a stash for the winter. We love sweet-and-sour cucumbers too, but unfortunately we don’t have any in our garden. It’s too small for that.

Ruth, hehe… no, I’m not knitting all the time, but I do it quite often. Lately, a lot of other things have been more important, and now it’s time to do the bookkeeping again. I’d put that off because of the nice weather. But I’ve made something new again—slowly this time.
Your summer sweater looks very airy—it’s off to a good start. But you probably won’t be able to wear it until next summer, given the current temperatures.
Wow—your little house for the Lego bricks turned out beautifully. That’s another great idea.

Steffi, I hope your finger gets better soon! I can see how you’re still managing to crochet somehow. ;-) Hats off to you—you’re really holding your own. Chopping wood is definitely backbreaking work.
Your mosaic looks absolutely fantastic. I’m getting more and more tempted to try that myself… as soon as I find a spare moment.

Ines, it’s nice to hear from you again. That pointed hat for your future grandchild is sooo cute! Does your daughter already know it’s going to be a boy? How wonderful! I’m sure you’ll come up with lots of ways to wrap him up in wool. ;-)
Your crocheted sweater looks amazing—just like it’s knitted. And I can totally imagine that it’s very warm.

Sandra, that’s so cute—the Christmas motif you got to test-crochet. I’m thrilled!! If I had 10 hands, I’d start working on Doubleface again right away. But that’ll come later.
And wowww! Your invitation card for Anton’s 4th birthday looks beautiful. It goes perfectly with the fire brigade theme. Really great! You’ve really got a knack for this. I can’t believe Anton is already turning four. Where has the time gone???

Sonja, how nice to see you here again. I can totally imagine you’re happy now to have more time for yourself and for crafting. Still, I think you got a lot done and designed quite a bit during the holidays. It never ceases to amaze me.
The addition you made to your daughter’s DF blanket looks absolutely gorgeous!! I’m always in awe of how you manage to create such great designs—and with such beautiful lettering, too!! I can’t wait to see the finished blanket.

As for me:
The jacket by Linja drove me to the brink of despair at times. It’s turning into a “ribble jacket”—I had to reknit a total of 35 rows of the body. I knit 5 rows too far—and forgot a buttonhole. And then I discovered at the bottom that I’d miscounted by 8 stitches on one pocket. So, back 30 rows and plan the pockets correctly. Grrrrrr....
In the meantime, I really could have finished it.

Now I’ll show you my two nests—one more has been added in the meantime. I still have two more to make so that the shipping costs are worth it for the rehabilitators.

Whoa, there’s been a lot to read again since yesterday.

First off, thanks for your feedback on my sweater—I’m glad you like it.

Ruth , I’ve already admired the gift bag in the news section—a lovely, unique idea that’s sure to be a hit with the recipient.

Sonja, I’m really impressed by the double-face knitted lettering—it’s certainly not easy. Will that be added to the blanket as an extension? Oh, right—I just read that when I scrolled back up.

Andrea, yes, you’ve definitely struck a chord with a few people here with this mosaic technique. I’m going to finish up my UFOs that are currently on hold and then tackle this technique and give it a try—I think there are no limits to the imagination here; I can already picture it as a pillow.

Monika, the detailed ultrasound scan apparently showed very clearly that a little boy is on the way—that’s going to be a whole new experience for me; everyone in our circle, whether family or friends, has girls.

I only did a little crafting yesterday—I was out shopping with our daughter from the morning until early evening. It was a very relaxing day that both mother and daughter enjoyed—except... I missed having my craft store there; it was gone—what a shame.

Have a pleasant day, and hopefully the weather will be better than it was yesterday.

I’m also curious to see if the result turns out the way I imagine it will, Ina.

Ines, your little grandson is truly something special and will surely be eagerly awaited and celebrated when he arrives. That’ll be a great joy for you, and your needles are already working overtime—aren’t they?

It’s done… my first mosaic…
I’m not quite “happy” with it yet. The transition between rounds needs to look nicer next time... 😇🙈😇

Hey Steffi, that looks great for your first try.

My round start is pretty much in the middle, so it’s hardly noticeable. Once I finish the first round, I make a slip stitch with the new yarn and start the single crochet right there. Give it a try.

Here’s the front and back

Ruth, my granny squares made using the mosaic technique are about 24 x 24 cm, crocheted with a 2.5 mm hook and Catania yarn. If you sew two of them together, you’ll have a nice, thick potholder. To make sure you don’t burn your fingers in case it does turn out too thin, you can always sew something in between.

Since the squares are so nice and big—and a breeze to crochet—they’re perfect for a blanket or even a decorative cushion cover.

I’ve finished 9 squares so far, which I’ll be crocheting together soon. Then I’ll have a small blanket to start with. Maybe I’ll make it bigger, or maybe I’ll leave it as is. We’ll see.

To all the night owls out there, sleep well. See you tomorrow

Hey there...
Sonja.... Yes, when weaving letters, every row is actually different. It’s actually just like double-face knitting... this weaving technique is actually called “double-face.” Two colors are threaded into each card, and two cards always form a pair. There’s always a light-colored and a dark-colored thread side by side. I can also weave “unicorns,” dinosaurs, and all sorts of things this way 🙈😁🙈
It’s just a ton of fun. I think letter weaving is easier than knitting them in double-face 😇🙈
Right now, I can only crochet anyway—I guess I hurt myself “worse” than I thought. I banged up my joint capsule. I can’t even spread butter on bread properly or write.... Good thing I learned the fist grip as a kid.... 

Have a lovely afternoon :-)

Marlene, thanks for your explanation—now I get it :-)

Ruth, what an adorable little house you’ve designed! It’s not just storage but also a wonderful toy—really beautiful! And very practical to take with you, too.
Yes, knitting the lettering was really exhausting—I couldn’t do that many rows at a time.

Monika, I feel for you—unraveling is such a pain. But by now you’ve surely caught up and will soon be able to show us Linja’s finished jacket. Thanks for your feedback on the lettering. That’s actually my handwriting; I just wrote the text on the printed blank knitting chart. The only tricky part was drawing the text both the right way around and mirror-inverted on the same knitting chart. It almost drove me to despair ;-)

Ines, how lovely that you were able to spend such a wonderful day together with your daughter. Too bad there’s one less craft store now... Unfortunately, that’s the case here, too. It’s great that you already know your little grandson is going to be a boy. I’m sure you’ll have even more ideas right away about what you could crochet for him :-)

Steffi, your first mosaic turned out really great! So Andrea’s got you hooked on it too *laughs* Thanks so much for your explanations on letter weaving. Soooo, I’d absolutely love to see that woven unicorn or dinosaur ;-) I’d love nothing more than to peek over your shoulder.
I hope your finger gets better soon!!! I hope your husband spoils you a little...

Andrea, you’re really lightning-fast with your granny squares! That’s going to be such an adorable doily, with those beautiful colors. Do you already have an idea where it’ll find a worthy spot? It’s great that you’re still stopping by here so regularly despite your upcoming move!

I treated myself to a little side project—I finished it yesterday, and it was really fun. But now I’m going to get back to working on my double-face blanket for a bit.

Wow, you’ve all been hard at work on your mosaics again. Steffi, I think your first attempt is great, too. You did a great job. It’s too bad you hurt yourself so badly, though. But that will heal, too. However, it looks like you’ll have to take a break from some of your projects for now and give yourself some rest.

Sonja, I’m absolutely blown away by your beautiful side project. It looks fantastic! Did those turn out to be washcloths or pot holders—or both? Either way, it’s a great idea.

As for my “unraveling project,” I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve finished the body. Now all that’s left are the sleeves. Here’s what the jacket for Linja looks like now:



And guess what—two days ago, an angel named Ina sent me a package full of colorful felted wool scraps and skeins. I was sooo happy about it. It was like a wish come true. Now I can knit a beautiful, colorful swing for squirrels out of it. I couldn’t help myself and started right away last night, full of joy. So you can picture the beautiful colors and the swing, I took photos of the current progress from all angles today. The swing is going to be beautifully colorful this time.







And since I still have other leftover yarn, I’m sure I’ll even be able to put together a second one. That’ll make one—or two—squirrel caretakers absolutely thrilled.

Have a cozy evening, everyone. With this weather, soft, cuddly yarn is truly the best thing ever.

Wow, you’re all so incredibly hardworking and have made some really great things! Sonja, your work-in-progress is absolutely adorable... I’m working on the bottom rows of the Paris placemat. The lighting in the vacation rental isn’t great, which doesn’t exactly make the work any easier.
My iPad is acting up—I can’t access all the websites I want, and sometimes I can’t send emails. It’s really annoying and time-consuming...

My DF project is on hold for now until I find a satisfactory solution for the increases.
Instead, I’ve picked up my crochet hook again and started working on a shawl:

Christina, I hope you have a wonderful vacation. Enjoy it. Your iPad can take a break, too. :)

Marlene, you’re always so hard at work. I’m curious to see what your shawl looks like once it’s grown a bit.

I’m currently in full swing with my squirrel swing production. The colorful one is now finished—it came out of the washing machine today. And the next one is already on the needles and growing taller.

Here are the photos before and after felting.





And here’s the new swing:



I thought long and hard about whether the second one should be a drey. But I’d need 400 g of felting wool for that, and I only have 350 g. So I decided to knit two more swings instead. That way, I can make one more caretaker happy. I can still scrape together 50 g of leftover yarn, so that should be enough for two more swings. The squirrels can really make themselves cozy in them.

Wow, I’d love to swing in such beautiful, colorful nests too! Great colors! The little ones might not care, but working on them is definitely just as much fun. 

Yes, Ruth, that’s right. With such vibrant colors and cozy, soft yarn, knitting is really fun. However, using a 9 mm needle is pretty hard on the joints. I have to take breaks every now and then. Today I want to finish the second swing; I’m already on the last two rounds at the top. Then I just need to add the hanging loops and weave in the ends. I’ll take a photo later to show just how big the difference is before and after felting. It’s huge!

Have a cozy Sunday, everyone! It’s raining on and off here, and it’s only about 15 degrees. Summer is supposed to come back in the middle of next week, which I’m really looking forward to.

Hello, dear all,

a little Sunday greeting from me. You’ve made some lovely things.

@Monika
You were/are super busy. You can’t tell that Linja’s jacket had such a “difficult birth.” It already looks soft and cozy now—and just like yours, only smaller. She’ll surely love that you have matching jackets.

I really like your colorful little squirrel swing. If I were a little animal that needed nursing back to health, I’d feel very comfortable there. A lovely, warm temporary home. In this dreary weather, it’s nice when you can knit up colorful yarn. Yes, needle size 9 isn’t so easy to hold, but then you can always reach for Linja’s jacket. You never run out of needlework.

@Marlene
Exactly right. When a project stubbornly resists our efforts, then it deserves a break. So just pack it away and let it mature. The right solution usually appears on its own. And in the meantime you’re crocheting a lovely shawl. We’re excited to see what it looks like when it’s bigger.

@Sonja
Those are cheeky potholders. So I’m just going to add them now. On the front, the little sheep looks at you, and then it runs off and shows you the rear view. Nice idea! Yes, little projects in between loosen things up. If you only work on one big project, it just gets tougher and tougher, and you have to push yourself more and more. Now you’re surely in the mood to keep going again. It’s almost done! But it does look especially beautiful, too.

@everyone
I know I haven’t mentioned everyone today. But my husband is rushing me ... we’re about to have supper. He’s already demonstratively rattling the dishes. We’re having tomato sandwiches today. The bread is homemade; the whole house smells of it. And I harvested the tomatoes today.

I wish you all a lovely Sunday evening and a good start to the new week tomorrow.

Best wishes from Ina

Wow, Ina, your tomatoes look so delicious!! And then there’s freshly baked bread to go with them. My mouth is really watering, even though we just had some delicious lentil soup.

Can you believe it—the colorful swing just found a new home. It’ll be the winter home for a little squirrel that’s only 6 weeks old. Soooo cute!! It’s still being carried around to keep it warm. And now it’s getting this lovely home. I’m so happy about it. It’s always such a special experience to hand over the finished pieces.

Once the second swing is done, I’ll get back to knitting Linja’s jacket. I already figured out today how to continue with the sleeves.

Have a wonderful evening and a great start to the week, everyone.

Good morning, everyone!

When I opened the thread just now, those delicious tomatoes from Ina immediately caught my eye—they really make your mouth water.

But there’s still plenty more to look at :)

Sonja, I really like the idea with the washcloth—it’s definitely planted a seed in my head, haha—but I still have a lot to do and haven’t gotten around to much of what I’d like to make yet. But as Ina already wrote, doing a small craft project every now and then is good and makes you want to tackle a bigger project again. I’m currently knitting a patchwork blanket, and it’s exhausting because it involves 8 balls of yarn that you have to keep untwisting—but the result is what counts in the end.

Monika , the animals are sure to love such colorful nests and swings. I’m always in awe of your perseverance—I imagine the thought of the little animals for whom you’re creating a warm home is what keeps you going.
The jacket looks really nice, too, and you’d never guess it had to be unraveled.
Yes, you’re right—I have lots of ideas for my little grandson and am already working on some projects, but I was told from the start what’s wanted and what isn’t. Right now, it’s hats and socks (though my mom has to make those), and jackets, etc., aren’t on the agenda yet.

Christina, your post made me smile a little—I’d just had a discussion with my husband a few days ago when he said, “Well, I hope you’ll leave your crafting at home; we’re going to a hotel,” and he was dreading the thought of me sitting there armed with my craft bag. I was able to reassure him, haha—it’s staying at home; I need to give my neck muscles a break.

Marlene, I’m also looking forward to seeing your finished shawl. I’ve made a start, and I’m the same way—if something doesn’t go quite as it should, I set it aside for a while and then pick it up again with fresh enthusiasm.

Now I’ll show you my new crochet project, which I finished on Saturday evening—I just had to make this little guy again, and maybe he’ll watch over the new baby’s sleep.


I think the dog looks bigger here than he actually is—he’s only 15 cm tall.

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

My shawl is slowly taking shape:


Oh, Ines, what a cute little dog!
Ina, your tomatoes look absolutely perfect and super delicious!
We’re eagerly waiting for the sun—we’ve had enough of gray weather!

Cute little dog, Ines...

First of all, thank you all for your nice feedback on the washcloth—yes, it’s a washcloth. But you’re right, you could also make pot-holder gloves out of pure cotton. I wouldn’t have thought of that myself.

Monika, you’re so incredibly hardworking!!! The jacket for Linja is turning out great. No matter how frustrating the unraveling was, it was worth it. And your nests are super cute—the squirrels are sure to get well extra fast there :-)

Ina, your tomatoes are such a vibrant red—I’d love to just bite right into the screen! Freshly harvested tomatoes from your own garden taste especially delicious, and then paired with homemade bread—mmhmm, yum yum. You can tell you’ve had more sun than we have :-) Unfortunately, our tomatoes are still only pale red so far...

Ines, your little dog is sooo cute! He has such a loyal look on his face—I’m sure he’ll be a very sweet friend to your grandson. Your blanket made from 8 balls of yarn sounds exciting; I’m already looking forward to seeing a picture.

Christina, I’d love to send you a little sunshine. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of it here either, sigh...

Well, I wish you all a great start to the week!

Warm regards, Sonja

Wow, you’ve all been so busy writing and crafting!

Ines, thanks for the feedback on the animal homes. :-)
I know that—the grandchildren’s parents have their own ideas. Otherwise, I probably would’ve showered them with things they don’t like. You’ll get your chance yet—just wait and see.
Your little dog is soooo cute! That’s such a cozy baby gift. He’ll love it. Crocheting with yarn like that is quite an art. I know what I’m talking about.

Marlene, it’s lovely to see how your shawl is coming along. I admire your patience with lace patterns like that. That looks like very fine yarn.

Sonja, if you crocheted your washcloths a little bigger, they’d make perfect pot holders. But as washcloths for kids—or those who are still kids at heart—they just look totally cute.

Today, the nests and the swing were sent off and will provide a new home for little birds and a little squirrel named Toni Sleepyhead. Before shipping them, I took a photo so you can see the big difference before and after felting. Take a look:



Yes, the next swing is finished and will be felted soon. This time it’s in warm shades of red—I think they’re really beautiful and cozy too.



Now I’m going to keep knitting Linja’s jacket for a bit—I need a break from those thick 9 mm needles.

I’m crocheting the shawl using three strands of yarn and a 2.5 mm hook, Moni.

Monika, the difference really is striking! Although I really should have seen that coming—I once had a great pair of black pants that fit perfectly, form-fitting (back when I was still young). After they accidentally ended up in the dryer, they still fit perfectly, were still black, and still form-fitting—for a little person... ;-) So your nests and swings are going through a similar transformation, but in your case, at least, it’s completely intentional.

Between housework, sports, the library, and parent-teacher night, I actually managed to sew the first extension piece to the ceiling today—phew. A few colored threads are still showing through where they shouldn’t be; I still need to tidy that up. But I’m so proud of the work I’ve done that I want to show you the result anyway:





Now I’m going to cast on for extension piece No. 2.

Have a wonderful evening!

So, Sonja, I have to say, I’m totally in love with your blanket. The motif alone makes it look so fluffy and cozy—perfect for snuggling up under. I can totally imagine your daughter sleeping wonderfully under it.

Where exactly are you planning to add an extension piece? To me, it looks finished. I’d guess the sides are getting extended. It’s definitely a little masterpiece, and you’ve put an incredible amount of love into it. And now your other daughter wants a blanket too… so you’ve got your work cut out for you. Just make sure no other family members or friends come to you with requests. ;-)

I wish everyone here a wonderful Wednesday. The sun is shining here, and it’s almost 20 degrees in the shade. I’m going to enjoy being outside.

I’ll stop by again sometime,

Wow, Sonja, what a masterpiece. All that hard work really paid off. To me, it already looks finished. I’m guessing the other extension piece goes on the bottom, right?
I wouldn’t have the patience for such a huge project.

Instead, here’s a little final crochet greeting from Norway.
Everything has to be packed by September 11.

My little color (AL from here)

Oh, Ina, your tomatoes really do look good enough to eat! In summer I also absolutely love tomato bread. I don’t need anything else with it.
I’d adopt your little dog in a heartbeat, Ines — he really has turned out incredibly cute!
Sonja, your blanket already looks finished to me too. How big is it still supposed to get?
Marlene, I’m curious to see what your shawl looks like in the end. I’d actually quite like to crochet shawls too, but I don’t wear any myself, and among my friends and family I don’t have anyone who would want one either.
Unfortunately, I had to unravel my summer sweater again. Even though I had made a gauge swatch, it turned out too tight. At first I thought, oh well, then I’ll just have to lose a little weight, but then it kept bothering me and I undid the whole thing again. I don’t want to walk around looking like a stuffed sausage. And only the sleeves were still missing 😥
But instead I can show you my temperature blanket. After all, it’s the start of a new month again. Now it’s getting harder to fit everything into the picture:

Oh, Andrea, I completely missed your little colorful goblin. He’s so cute! My kids used to have a picture book called “The Rainbow Goblins.” He reminds me of that a little. 

Andrea, that little colorful one looks super cute. Yes, I’ve been thinking about you and your final push this September a lot. Now you still have a great chance to say goodbye to nature there. It really is uniquely beautiful. I hope everything goes super smoothly for you. I can already imagine the joy you’ll share with your family. You’ll surely enjoy it very much, and knowing you, probably with some delicious cake and coffee.

Ruth, your temperature blanket looks very colorful—an interesting mix of colors. You still have a little while to go until the end of the year.

Wow, you’ve all been so busy—and such beautiful things…
The goblin… and the blanket—just perfect for snuggling up in. I think the nests are great.
  I’ve been quietly reading along and admiring your creations. I’m slowly able to do crafts again. I’ve really missed it.
I’m currently trying to crochet a bag; I’ve already woven the strap and crocheted the bag flap. Now I just need to design the bag itself somehow. 
I wove the strap in the same colors. The mosaic will be the flap to close it. I want to crochet the bag itself in a single light color. I think it’s going to be a rectangle 🤔...
Have a lovely evening, everyone....
I’m going to tinker with it a bit more 

Good evening,

ruthk , your temperature blanket already looks great. The colors go together perfectly. I’m curious to see what it’ll look like when it’s finished. You still have quite a few rows to crochet.

Monika , thank you—that makes me happy. Yes, I needed another little project—and something colorful.
We’re slowly entering the home stretch, and the end is in sight—our excitement is growing, and of course so is the tension about whether everything will turn out the way we imagine.

Steffi, your mosaic granny square turned out great. The idea with the bag flap is good.
I’ve also been thinking about crocheting myself a bag with a mosaic pattern.

Have a great rest of the week, everyone!

In the meantime, I’ve also finished a pattern; this time it’s a crocheted board game: “Mouse Hunt”.
My grandchildren love it!

Oh Ruth, the “board game” is a really great idea, and I can totally believe the grandkids love it.
Your blanket has also grown quite a bit in the meantime, and I really like it.

Steffi, your crocheted mosaic turned out great, too—my fingers are itching to get started, but I still have other things to take care of. On top of that, I’m currently looking after my four-legged grandchild for two weeks, so I won’t be able to get much done. After that, I’ll be heading off on vacation myself.

Andrea, the “BUnte” is just lovely—it looks so cheeky.

Wishing you all a great start to what will probably be a sunny week.....

Hello everyone,

Outside, the sun is beckoning, but here it’s your creations that are calling. So, one thing at a time.

@Ines
The little dog is absolutely adorable. At 15 cm, he’s just the right size. And he looks so loyal. You just want to adopt him right away. For now, I hope you enjoy spending time with your big four-legged friends (your own dog and the foster dog). And after that, I hope you have a really nice, relaxing vacation. There’ll still be time for new craft projects afterward.

@Sonja
You have every reason to be proud of your therapy blanket. That last piece—the flap with the lettering—was quite a challenge, though. You really had to push yourself to finish the blanket. But the flap also shows where the top and bottom are. Now we’re all curious to see where the second flap will go.

@Marlene
You’re making great progress on your shawl. You can already get a sense of how the pattern might develop. But we won’t really be able to see and admire it until it’s finished.

@Monika
Your little nests and swings are always a joy to look at. But even more important than the appearance is their practical use. I got to admire little Anton in his finished colorful nest. That’s when you know why you’re doing it. Keep up the exemplary work for the animals that need nursing back to health!

@Andrea
The little colorful goblin looks cheeky, curiously waiting. Who knows what he’s up to right now. In any case, he’s beautifully colorful and fits in anywhere as a fun little eye-catcher. I’m picturing him right now peeking out from behind a flowerpot or a decorative piece in the entryway, sizing up the visitors as they come in.

I hope you still have enough strength and energy for the final leg of your move. The trips to the bulk trash drop-off and the big house cleaning—you can handle that too! When you think about everything you’ve already managed to pull off, that last bit is definitely doable. If we could, we’d all come over to help you. Just imagine… everyone who’s active here on the forum standing at your front door, armed with cleaning buckets and scrub brushes. That would be quite a welcome—and we’d have your place spick and span in the process :-)

@Ruth
I really, really like your temperature blanket. At first I thought the color blocks (a temperature range of several degrees = 1 color) would be too boring. But the result shows that it looks great!

But I’m even more impressed by your board game. And a mouse hunt to boot. Great idea and fantastic execution. That’s really a lovely game for the grandkids. And it’s so practical because it’s washable and portable.

@Steffi
The mosaic looks great, especially with the gradient yarns. That really adds something special. I’m curious to see how this mosaic will look as a bag flap. Since you already have the strap, all you need now is a solid-color bag. I imagine the mosaic would be the focal point of the bag in that combination. That would be a great way to use the mosaic technique.

@Ina
I’ve also started crafting again. My summer break is over. I’m currently knitting a new doll dress and ordered more yarn yesterday.

Now off to the garden I go. The sun is shining just for me today! And for you, of course :-)

Warm regards from Ina

Ina, I’m really looking forward to seeing that doll dress! You always make such beautiful things!

...And just in time for the last few sunny days, my rainbow sweater is finally finished—perfect for warm, but not too hot, days.

Steffi, I’m really looking forward to seeing your bag—especially how you’ll incorporate that mosaic. I can’t quite picture it yet.

Andrea, I wish you lots of joy for the final stretch and hope everything works out just as you’d imagined.

Ruth, I admire your tiny, intricate details. Your mouse board game turned out beautifully. Such cute little figures. Just adorable. Did you come up with this yourself, or is it actually a real thing?
You look absolutely great in your rainbow sweater! You’ve really done a wonderful job.

Ina, you’re also an artist when it comes to the tiniest details. That doll dress is sure to be a masterpiece again. I’m already looking forward to your new creation. Yes, the photo of Anton in his new cozy home made me so happy and gave me incredible motivation to keep going.

I’ve started a new squirrel swing with the remaining yarn. Once that’s finished, I’ll be able to felt two more and pass them on. I’m curious to see where they’ll end up.



Linja’s jacket is also finished now, and I think it turned out really beautiful.



Yeah, and then… I spotted something lovely in my swap group again and just couldn’t resist. Take a look at this beautiful yarn… it arrived with a little angel. It’s now hanging on my keychain. I already have an idea of what I’ll do with this yarn. Once the idea is fully formed, I’ll tell you all about it.



And even more yarn! I actually found another box on a shelf with about a kilo of yarn just waiting to be worked up. I got that from my swap group too and had completely forgotten about it. For now, I’ve knitted a swatch using different stitch patterns. It looks really pretty because the yarn has a bit of a sparkle to it. I’m not sure what I’ll make with it yet. Maybe you guys have an idea?

Thank you so much for your compliments on my mouse game. Yes, there’s a similar one with dogs that catch sausages. I adapted it for cats and mice and added the “Mouse King,” who gives you special advantages. That makes the game even more interesting. 

Monika, the jacket for Linja looks exactly like your full-sized one. Linja will definitely be thrilled to be able to match outfits with Grandma. When you’re together, you absolutely have to take a photo of the two of you in your jackets!
I really like your turquoise yarn (turquoise is “my” color—I can hardly resist it.) Paired with the dark yarn, I can immediately picture a winter scene—a Christmas tree, a skier, a figure skater, or even snowflakes. Maybe you could use it for some double knitting. Or is the yarn too thick for that?
How much yarn is in that colorful skein, anyway? It looks pretty small. I’m curious to see what you’ll whip up with it.

Ruth, that colorful skein is huge! It’s 200 g and 380 m. The yarn is very easy to work with, and I’m still designing what it’s going to become.

I’d already had the idea with the turquoise yarn too. For DF it might be too thick; it has 95 m per 50 g. But it would work well for a cushion in DF. That’s really a good idea.

I really like the color combination too. And since it’s 1 kilo of yarn, there’s definitely something that can be made from it. Linja will definitely get either a sweater or a summer jacket from it. Maybe even a little skirt; I still have to think about that.

Hi Marion,

I love the jacket. Can you tell us what kind of yarn you used? Those are my colors, too!

Sunny greetings,
Silvia

Hi Silvia,
I’m glad you like the cardigan.

I used Corvara (color 727611)
from Fischer Wolle.
It’s almost the same yarn as the one in the original pattern.

Best regards, Marion

Thank you so much for your reply, Marion. I’ll go “browse” around there then 😉…Ina’s jacket is at the top of my wish list.

Have a lovely Sunday evening, everyone!
Silvia

Silvia, have fun browsing. 
I liked the jacket right away, too. Great pattern from Ina.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you choose and hope you’ll show it to us then. 

Marion, you’ve really pulled off something big again. Wow—that jacket looks absolutely great. You did a fantastic job.

I’ve finished another swing for the squirrels; I’ll take a photo tomorrow.
I’m a little stressed right now—the garden on one hand and travel preparations on the other. We’re heading off to visit the grandkids again on Wednesday for three days, and my friend is coming to stay for a few weeks on Sunday. There’s still quite a bit to get done. That’s why I’ve been a bit quieter around here. ;-)

Have a creative and wonderful week! The weather is still absolutely gorgeous.

Yes, Monika, I managed to get a large part of it done again.
I’m already looking forward to wearing the jacket.

I wish you lots of joy on your short vacation with your grandchildren,
and lots of fun with your visitors.

Wishing all of you a lovely start to the week.

Marion, your jacket turned out great! I really like the colors, too. It does look pretty heavy, though: What needle size did you use, and how much does the jacket weigh?

I’ve finally finished something too—my vacation craft project, which had a little hiccup: On the second-to-last day, I ran out of brick red, and when I wanted to use the (extra skein I’d bought specifically to match the batch), I couldn’t find the yarn anywhere, no matter how thoroughly I searched through drawers, cabinets, and even my luggage! Oh well, I guess the two skeins just stayed at home after all… but they were nowhere to be found there either! So I had to keep knitting with yarn from my stash, which luckily isn’t noticeable despite being from a different color lot! 

  

It’s been almost two weeks since I last checked in… I was knocked out for a few days by a nasty stomach virus, then it was my birthday, and last weekend we had lots of visitors. But things have calmed down again, and I’m taking this opportunity right away to admire your beautiful new creations!

Andrea, you’ve crocheted a super-cute little Colorli! He’s got such big eyes—probably because everything’s already packed into boxes at your place and it doesn’t look cozy at all anymore. Or are you even already on your way to Germany? At the very least, you’re definitely in the midst of the hectic moving phase right now… I wish you lots of strength, patience, a sense of humor, and plenty of strong men ;-)

Ruth, you’ve really been going full steam ahead these past few days! The temperature blanket is growing steadily and is already an impressive size! Then you crocheted a really great game—I think that’s such a lovely idea. Even the littlest ones can “play” with it, albeit by their own rules. I totally believe you when you say your grandchildren are thrilled with it! And your rainbow sweater is absolutely amazing! It could be from a designer store. It looks fantastic on you!

Steffi, I’m so glad you’re feeling a little better already and can get back to your crafts. It’s really no fun without them ;-) I can totally picture your bag—how far along are you with it? Or are you still tinkering with it?

Ina, I’m also looking forward to your new doll dress! You always make such enchanting things. But it’s also nice that you’re able to enjoy the summer in the garden so much and treat yourself to a break now and then. I’m sure you already have plenty of new ideas just waiting to finally be brought to life :-)

Monika, I’m curious to see if we’ll get a matching-outfit photo of you and Linja in the jacket! I imagine that would look great. But either way, the jacket turned out really beautiful, and Linja will definitely be happy when you bring it to her this week. The turquoise and black mottled yarn looks great—those would be my colors.

Marion, I’ve already admired your jacket in the gallery—it turned out absolutely gorgeous! I’ve got the jacket on my wish list, too—I just can’t decide which yarn and color to use for it... In any case, you’ve already made a great choice :-)

Silvia, I hope you have fun picking out your yarn, too. If you start working on the jacket as well, I’d love it if you’d show us your progress!

Christina, your “Paris” is gorgeous :-) You’re so lucky that you can’t see the color difference. Sometimes the differences are huge, but I can’t spot any transition on that placemat. Are you going to use it yourself or give it as a gift?

Since many of you have asked the same questions about my big blanket, I’ll answer them here in general: the second extension goes at the bottom; it’ll be the same as the top extension, just with different text. After that, there’s an extension on the left and right sides, with different colors and motifs. This will bring the blanket’s size to approximately 1.20 m x 1.60 m. But that’s not the end of it—the third part will be an additional 20 cm all around, bringing the final dimensions to approximately 1.60 m x 2.00 m. I’ll wait a few years to do that, though, until my daughter needs the extra size and warmth. Right now, she’s already very happy with the first extension—she can snuggle up in it quite nicely.
And as you can see, I don’t always have the patience for this long-term project either, since I’m constantly working on little things in between.

Take these pot holders, for example—I really enjoyed making them. Especially the “Mrs. Right” version, hehe :-)



Last night I started a little shawl with a unicorn on it. But then—then I’ll really get back to working on the blanket, I promise… :-)

Have a great start to the week!

Christina, your placemat turned out aaaawesome. You can’t even tell.

Sonja, I’d already written to you because I’m really, really excited about your new idea for these pot holders. I’m going to knit them for my son and his wife. I’m already curious to see what they’ll say.

A shawl with a unicorn—that’s definitely going to be a hit! Lots of kids are really into that.

Well, now I have more work waiting for me, since we’re heading off to see our grandchildren the day after tomorrow. There’s still quite a bit to get done. Here’s a quick photo of the new Hörnchen swing—before felting. Both finished pieces will be felted next week.

Thanks for your feedback on the jacket. I’m really looking forward to finally being able to wear it.

Christina, I knitted with a size 5 needle, just like Ina, and I used exactly the same amount of yarn as she did.
Your set has beautiful colors—you really can’t tell the difference.

Sonja, your new pot holders are quite original again—I really like them.
I’m curious to see if you’ll knit the jacket too and what you’ll decide on.

Today is another rainy day here, so it’s perfect for crafting.

Marion, I really love your jacket! It’ll definitely look great with jeans. Now it can get cold for you.

What a relief, Christina, that you can’t see the different color sections in your placemat. That would have been very, very frustrating, considering all the work you put into it.

Cool saying on your pot holders, Sonja! To go with that, “Mrs. Right” would have had to be bigger than “Mr. Right” ;-))

Monika, I hope you have a great time with your granddaughters. I can’t even imagine what it’s like to only see them a few times a year—mine live right nearby. They must be making huge developmental leaps by now. Can you at least talk to each other on video every now and then? I’m curious to hear what Linja says about the jacket you knitted. I’m sure you brought yours along too, so you can wear them out together?

With the beautiful late-summer weather we’ve had these past few days, I’ve been spending a lot of time on the balcony, continuing to embroider the picture for my granddaughter. The light’s still good right now. I have to take advantage of that, because once it gets dark earlier in the afternoon, embroidering those little crosses becomes much more tiring. I’ll take another photo of it sometime.

But I also crocheted a little something:
Charly, the head chef. You can remove the upper body and hide a little surprise inside. I’d asked a friend for a recipe. I gave it to her along with Charly. She was very happy.

Oh, that little chef turned out so cute. A real gem for the kitchen. There’s always something to store or hide away, after all.

Sonja, your pot holders are great. I could totally see them as a wedding gift.

Monika, you’re still hard at work for the animals. I now have 5 large nests finished and in the closet, and I’m working on the 6th. That way, my leftover yarn will decrease a bit…… unfortunately, much too slowly.

I’m currently taking pictures of my supplies and adding them to my records. I’ve logged 115 different yarns so far (including many single balls), and I still need 79 more photos.

   

Hello, my dears,

There’s always so much going on with me that I just don’t get around to really diving in here in peace. But this morning I’m making use of the time.

@Ruth
Your rainbow sweater is a dream. The colors are soooo beautiful. I love the color gradient in exactly these colors. And it suits you so well. It’s a shame that fall and winter are coming now, so that beautiful piece will unfortunately have to wait in the closet. Gorgeous! You too, not just the sweater :-)

The little chef is also a lovely idea. You can always use something like that, and give it as a gift with vouchers or a homemade herb salt. What is hidden in the lower body so that he stands so well?

@Marion
Your cardigan looks stunning as well. You want to slip right into it and wrap it tightly around yourself. Those are just such feel-good cardigans for fall, when you need things a bit cozier. I really like your yarn choice and the colors. It’s not too bright, not too bold, and nicely compatible with jeans. I’m glad you found a different yarn from mine. That gives people an alternative. I’ll include it in the pattern as an alternative yarn. Thank you for this material tip.

@Monika
The mini cardigan for Linja is also a little dream in red and yellow. Your granddaughter will be thrilled: with the cardigan, and because you have the same one, and because her grandma knitted it especially for her. That is love! And every time she wears the cardigan, she will feel that love. I hope you have a lovely stay with the grandchildren.

The squirrel swing is wonderfully colorful and cheerful—and will make another little animal happy and give it a sense of security.

@Christina
Your Paris set also looks beautiful. It invites you to dream. On Saturday we’re having the neighbors over. We’ll sit at our large table in the garden pavilion. The table has a glass surface. I just imagined each guest having a “charger plate” like that. And each one a different scene. Everyone would immediately admire their own piece and chat about it. You, dear Christina, already have Paris to dream about.

@Sonja
You are super hardworking! The extensions for the therapy blanket are tedious. You have to concentrate, and it doesn’t go as smoothly as the rest. That means: do something else every now and then, so you can work on the blanket again for a bit afterward. The little potholders made me smile. Yes, we need things like that in everyday life! With a pinch of humor, everything is more fun. And you see, it’s a hit. Monika wants to make it right away and give it as a gift.

We’re all excited to see the shawl with the unicorn. With your talent for designs full of loving details, it’s sure to be especially beautiful.

@Petra
You also drew the “never-ending task” from the raffle bowl. On the one hand, it’s nice to have an overview of your treasures, but with you, because there is so much, it really turns into work. With every third ball of yarn I’d remember what I had wanted to make from it. And then I’d find it hard to turn my attention back to the sorting work. Knitting or crocheting is nicer than sorting and cataloging. But then you do that as a reward.

@me
Yes, the garden is still keeping me busy: now the tomatoes and peppers are ripe. Everything grows so abundantly for us that we have more than enough. And so I have to preserve it for winter.

But it’s slowly getting annoying. I WANT to knit! I’m totally in love with my new doll dress right now. But it’s not finished yet. It’s supposed to become a 2-piece set. For the bare shoulders, I still want to make a small sleeve shawl. But for now I’m first knitting a few of these beautiful dresses. It’s a shame the day only has 24 hours and there are always other things to take care of too.

So here’s a little preview:





In case you couldn’t see it in the pictures, beads are knitted in. Here’s another close-up.



I wish everyone a lovely day.

Best regards from Ina

Oh, Ina
your doll dress is absolutely gorgeous once again! What kind of yarn did you use for that? (I’m especially curious about the cozy yarn. It can’t be too thick, or it’ll look bulky.) And with little beads again! Your little dolls are real princesses!

I crocheted the bottom part of the little chef around a cardboard roll (from toilet paper).  

Good morning, dear Ruth,
the cozy yarn is “Baby Smiles Lenja Soft” by Schachenmayr. It’s very light and fluffy. I’ve already used it for many projects. The color selection is a bit limited, but well, you can’t have everything. I’ve also knitted baby blankets with it.

Wow.....you’ve all been so busy.... you’ve created soooo many beautiful things 💖
I’m trying my hand at socks right now… just 4 more rows and then comes the heel, and I still have no idea how to knit that part… I guess following the patterns step by step (they’re in English 🙈) will work out somehow… 
....and yes, they’re “different” colors—all from a single skein of hand-dyed yarn😇

Wow, Steffi: great pattern and beautiful yarn! I’d put those socks on right away…

Christina.... I haven’t finished them yet....😂😂😂
Just thinking about the heel makes me queasy—I’ve never knitted one before.
I like them too... they’re nice and cozy, a merino/poly blend.... 
I “cleaned out” my stash two weeks ago and donated a whole three moving boxes full of yarn... and there’s definitely more to come. I’m keeping the things I really 😍💖😍 love, and that definitely includes the hand-dyed merino sock yarn.... 

Thanks, Ruth and Ina, for your compliments.

You can really wear the jacket with so many colors. It goes very well with jeans, but I also have pants in other colors.

Ruth, your little chef will surely bring a lot of joy to the recipient—that’s another lovely idea from you.

Ina, your doll dresses look stunning. I’m familiar with that yarn, too. I’ve already used it for baby booties.

Steffi, I really like the yarn you used for your socks—those are exactly my colors. The pattern is pretty.
Does it go only on the top part of the leg?

I’m currently crocheting a washcloth in Tunisian stitch; it’s a gift and has to be finished by next week.

Hello everyone....

A few days away from here and, bam, you hardly know what to admire first.

Ruth I am absolutely thrilled with your summer sweater; it’s a shame that summer has apparently said goodbye after all and the sweater will have to wait to be worn. The little cook is lovely too; you always need a little hiding place like that now and then.

Sonja, I already admired your potholders/washcloths in the gallery. I almost think we have the same sense of humor, lol; crocheted lettering is unfortunately never quite as exact as with double-face knitting.

Monika, You are still sooo busy making things for the little animals, which I admire. Doing the same thing one after another like that wouldn’t really be for me; I always need something different in between.

Marion, I already admired your cardigan too; yes, the colors are very beautiful, and I am actually thinking about knitting myself another cardigan in a similar color combination, since I like and often wear jeans and, as INa already says, you can always use cardigans, especially when they are so cozy.

Christina, your Paris set turned out well too; apart from the colors, you can hardly see any difference from the original.

Petra, I also sorted through my yarn last week, but without photos.......yes, it turns into work, but having an overview is worth something too, and while sorting I noticed I was missing a few colors, which I have now reordered so the next projects can get started.

Ina, Your doll clothes....wow....are a hit; I’m really in love, and once again those wonderful details with beads, they really have something special.

Steffi, I think the socks are stylish; unfortunately I have never dared to knit socks, but I still have my mom for that, who likes doing it and does it often.

At my daughter’s request, I have now also finished a 2nd blanket. At first I couldn’t really warm up to the yarn, but the wish still needed to be fulfilled



A little hat, also made according to my daughter’s ideas, came together one evening.



Right now I’m working on a few small things; we’ll see where that journey will take me.

For now, I’m heading off on vacation and wish you all a lovely time.

Best regards, Ines

@Marion.... The pattern will also go on the top of the socks—so the heel and “under the foot” will be stockinette stitch—at least that’s the plan...
@Ines.... These will actually be my very first pair of socks. I’ve been knitting for ages and have made all sorts of things, but I’ve always avoided socks.... Somehow, now was the right time, and I found the “right” pattern, too....
The leg of both socks is finished. So, ta-da.... I’m working on the first heel.
Yesterday at the knitting café, some people suggested knitting yoga socks... those don’t have heels.... 😂🙈😂

Hi Andrea, where can I find the patterns for those beautiful mosaic tiles? I really like them and would love to make some myself.
Best regards, Barbara.

Wow, a lot was written here while I was with my granddaughters! Let's see how much I manage to read before my friend arrives. My time is pretty tight at the moment, but that’s okay.

Ruth, your Charly, the head chef, is so cute. Really a great idea! You keep pulling something new out of your sleeve, and I really admire that.
Yes, it was wonderful with the girls. I really wanted to see them again before winter. Linja thought it was pretty cool that we both have the same jacket. Wearing it out wasn’t really on the agenda, because it was summer-warm. But now Dad (my son) wants a jacket like that too, without any frills, very simple. ;-)

Petra, your yarn inventory is a really interesting idea.
Now I’ve finished two more dreys for the squirrels; they came out of the washing machine today ready for felting. Photo further down.

Ina, your new dress for the doll looks beautiful. I always admire all the many details you put into it. That’s probably what gives you the most joy. It’s something very special. With the matching sleeve shawl it will look unique, and who could resist it so close to Christmas.
Thanks for sharing my happiness. Linja actually put the jacket on right away the next morning. And I can be proud of that. She’s just starting to be veeery picky about her clothes. Soon Dad will have a similar jacket too. :-)

Steffi, your socks are turning into a work of art. I also really like the wool. I love it when the color changes, and hand-dyed anyway. That is pure luxury (for me).

Ines, first of all I wish you a lovely vacation. I’m sure you’ll soon be allowed to knit even more for your grandson. The blanket and the hat are definitely filled with Grandma’s loving energy, and the little one is sure to feel that.

A warm welcome, Barbara, to our colorful group here. Feel free to show or tell us sometime what lovely things your needles are working on right now.

These two colorful swings for the squirrels came out of my washing machine today. They’ll be on their way next week and will be a temporary home for sick or abandoned baby squirrels.




Before the trip I had started something else for babies—a warm suit. This is how far I’ve gotten so far.




I’m glad I’ve finished the animal nests and swings now. Because now I’ve brought back commissions from the trip. My son now wants a jacket like the one I have too. Linja will then be matching with Dad. However, it will be without any pattern or frills, which makes it easier for me. That way I’ll also have a version for men. :-) The collar is almost finished already.

My sister-in-law asked for a hat, also very simple. It will be Sonja’s Modemuffel hat. And Linja has once again presented me with an artistic challenge. We’ll see how I manage it. I’ll tell you all when I have a solution. Now I’m curious to see what I can still make with my needles for my friend. As you can see, there’s plenty to do, which makes me very happy.

Now I wish you all a lovely rest of Sunday and a good start to the week. The sun is shining here, and it’s supposed to stay that way.

Oh Monika, can’t you send a little sunshine our way? It’s been raining nonstop here today, and the traffic reports are mentioning snowfall on various Alpine passes—which we can feel here too. Today I also found the first chestnut on the ground—an unmistakable sign that summer has come to an end. 
Right now, I’m waiting to take the enticingly fragrant plum cake (an old tradition on the Day of Prayer) out of the oven. A little later, we’ll head to the train station, as we’re going to a concert at the widely renowned St. Urban Abbey Church. We’re so happy that we can revive this tradition once again!

Hi everyone, I’m back again. A lot has been going on with me, and I just haven’t had much time to write or crochet.

I did start a new job in July. But unfortunately, it’s anything but perfect. I have to work overtime all the time, and it doesn’t pay very well either. So I’ve been writing a lot of job applications lately, and I’m switching jobs starting November 1.

  I got to crochet for Sonja again. It didn’t turn out to be a washcloth, but a crinkle cloth.  

Now I actually have a request from my husband.😃
I’m going to tinker with it a bit for now. It’s supposed to become gift wrapping for a bottle of wine.

Hello, and have a nice rest of your Sunday.
Thanks for the warm welcome and the quick answer to my question.
After about 15 years, I only started doing crafts again last year. The reason was the birth of my little granddaughter. I knitted a little jacket and some piggy booties for her. I’m attaching a picture. Since then, I’ve actually always had something in the works. I’m not the fastest at it, though.
From what I’ve read here, you’re all very hardworking. You always get new ideas, too.
I knitted a “Dragonfire Scarf” for my daughter, and right now I’ve started on some socks.
Best regards from Lower Saxony, Barbara.

Wow, Barbara, you knit such pretty things. The Dragonfire scarf looks super interesting. And the kids’ clothes—simply enchanting. Those little shoes are totally cute. I also started knitting and crocheting again four years ago after a very long break—because of my first granddaughter. And then I got totally hooked on knitting because it’s just so much fun to make such tiny things.

I used to live in Bremen, and my friend from Lower Saxony is visiting us right now. Now we’re really settling in here in the southeast.

Sandra, your crinkly blanket turned out just as beautiful as Sonja’s—you can’t tell them apart. The fact that your husband wants something you crocheted—wow! You can definitely be proud of that.

Christina, unfortunately the sun’s gone for us today, but it’s dry. It’ll come out again tomorrow, but it’ll only get up to 16 degrees at most.

Here’s the new thread:
September Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group