December Projects 2021 + November Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

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December Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns crafting group


Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 3 of the November projects.
You can read the earlier posts via the link.

November Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns crafting group
Have fun.

Oh my goodness, things are really hopping here again! And soooo many beautiful things to look at!

Marion, what a lovely doily—or is it a placemat? It could be either. Either way, it’s very Christmassy.

Petra, your hat is also very pretty. I really like patterns like that. And the color is right up my alley, too.

Steffi, your winter loop scarf already looks really cozy. Great colors that go perfectly together. Did you knit that on a knitting machine? Can you do that in doubleface, too? I can’t really picture how that would work.
Would you mind telling us which yarn shop waives shipping fees for orders over 10 euros?

Sonja, wow! Your keyhole scarf looks super cute, just like everything else you design. I just can’t quite picture what it’ll look like when it’s finished or how it’ll work. I’m curious. The colors are definitely very pretty for the winter landscape.

Marlene, I often find myself starting something and then not liking it. I often work out the details as I go along while knitting.

I’ve just knitted two more dishcloths to complete the set of six. Those will be given away, too—probably to two different people. Next up is the loop scarf for my Peter. And then I already have something else in mind...

Oops, the dishcloths actually belong at the bottom...

Oh, everyone’s been busy crafting.
So winter and Christmas can come soon. Everyone is already prepared....
I’ve only managed to do a bit of crocheting here and there because I’m now spending more time working on the embroidered picture for my granddaughter. Her birthday is in January, and it’s supposed to be finished by then.
But in the evenings, when the light isn’t so good anymore, I can also do a little crocheting. When it’s finished, I’ll show it to you.

You’re all making wonderful things.

I’m currently using up my leftover yarn by crocheting a little doll.

Best, Gabi 

@Monika, you’ve already put together a lovely collection. What’s the yardage of your yarn, and what needle size did you use? My knitted pieces always turn out so baggy. I’m not sure if it’s the yarn or if I’m using needles that are too big. I’m not entirely satisfied with them, so I’m keeping them all for myself and only giving away the crocheted ones. 

Petra, I’m going to give these all away. I’ve noticed that they get a bit stiffer after washing. I’m knitting them with a size 3 or 2.5 needle, using yarn with a length of 125 m/50 g, 100% cotton. Since I knit quite loosely, I try to knit as tightly as possible. That works pretty well with a smaller needle. Since they’re washcloths, they need to be a bit softer—that’s why I don’t really like crocheted ones.

Today I finally finished knitting the loop for my husband. Here’s what it looks like. Unfortunately, the lighting isn’t great for photos today:



Now I’m planning to make some loops from leftover yarn for my two granddaughters. Those will be quick to whip up in between other projects. Before that, I’ll knit a few gauge swatches with different yarns. That should keep me busy for the evening. :)

Hey everyone…
have you made any more beautiful things? 😍💖😍
I’m still knitting the “Winter Dream”… by hand. Row 45 👍 So I still have a few rows to go.
My new yarn arrived on Saturday (ordered from “mein Filati”)—it got here super fast. I’d imagined the colors to be a bit “different” 🙈 I thought “kiwi” would be a fresh green, but it turned out to be an “older” kiwi and beige melange... I thought the melange would “vary” on its own, but there’s no real color play...
  But that wasn’t the shop’s fault… they just use the manufacturer’s original description…
Tonight, if all goes to plan, I’ll finish the little bear loop, and then the dinos will go on the needles… 

Steffi, you’re almost done—how wonderful :-) Yes, choosing colors is so tricky when you order online. I just had that happen again—I’d imagined a color completely differently than what was ultimately delivered. But without a well-stocked yarn shop nearby, it’s hard to do otherwise. Free shipping on orders over 10 euros is great—I’ve bookmarked the site. Thanks!

Petra, I really like your hat, too. You picked a lovely, warm color!

Monika, you’re already done again. Just like a whirlwind :-) Apparently, it was pretty gloomy over there yesterday, too. It’s been like this here all week. Or all month. Or probably until mid-February, haha ;-)

My scarf is coming along—just 80 more short rows, then it’s done. I hope you all find some sunshine in your hearts, even if it’s not shining outside :-)

After changing the pattern at least five times, here’s the final version for my cowl:

Good morning, all
you hard workers—it’s impossible to keep up with you all anymore… so many beautiful things have been created again, and there’s plenty to read.

Monika, the dishcloths turned out great, and I’m sure they’ll be a hit. Dishcloths are now on my to-do list too, since I have a few orders. But I’m still figuring out the yarn and color selection, since the customer left that up to me—well, I have plenty in stock, so I’m sure I’ll find something.

Steffi, that loop scarf looks really lovely in those colors. I keep wondering if I should try the DF pattern—I still imagine it’ll be pretty tricky right from the start.

Oh, Sonja, the day’s starting with fog here, too, and it just doesn’t seem to want to get very bright, but that’s just November for you. I really don’t like these gloomy days—they sometimes make me feel depressed, and the last few days have been especially bad in that regard.

Marlene, I really like the pattern on the loop, too; sometimes you just have to tinker with it until everything’s exactly how you want it.

In the meantime, I’ve finished two orders that were practically eating away at me—I always have to get them done so the pressure doesn’t build up.
For the grandchild on the way, I was commissioned to knit a photo shoot outfit for the hospital; here’s what it looks like.....

and a friend really wanted a completely brown cow

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday.......

Oh my gosh, that is so adorable Ines! Those are sure to be totally sweet pictures in the Santa outfit. 

The sun is shining here today; hopefully it is where you are too, then the depression will melt away too...

I had to call an ambulance for myself yesterday. I couldn’t breathe and had a panic attack because of it. And I was hyperventilating too. I thought it was my heart, so they checked me over, and everything was fine. It’s probably psychosomatic. Since after my nose surgery I’m currently getting less air through my nose again (heated indoor air), but my brain absolutely insists on breathing through my nose and won’t open my mouth when oxygen gets scarce, I keep getting confused while breathing. Then I try to take a deep breath and it doesn’t work; my chest somehow feels blocked. I’ve ordered a breathing trainer now; you breathe into it and train your respiratory muscles that way. I hope it will help. Good Lord, all the things you have to deal with. By the way, the ER was horrible. Packed full, 25 people ahead of me (and we’re not a big city). So many sick and suffering people; that always gets to me. The whole thing ended up taking 5 hours; I’d had to take a sedative beforehand and was accordingly groggy. It’s really a crappy time right now. So my question: What brings you joy in life? 

Fortunately, I don’t suffer from panic attacks, Anja.

As an autistic person, I’m glad to be surrounded by as few people as possible.
All the smells and noises are pure stress for me.

I find joy in photographing birds or taking photos in general, and identifying the birds using a birdsong app.
Decorating and doing crafts.

Joy of life..... I’m really enjoying the fall weather right now—it’s been sunny here since yesterday. My dog is doing great on her walks; the training is perfect for her, and she’s making great progress. Right now I have plenty of physical energy, and that feels good—it lets me run around the garden and walk through the woods and fields.

   Ines..... get one of Sonja’s patterns. At first I thought, “I’ll never manage that cast-on”.... It’s explained so well, with pictures… you can do it 👍
Before, I used to cast on “normally” with both strands, so I already had the pairs of stitches on the needle when I started—but if I wasn’t paying close attention, I’d have to rearrange the stitches in the first row… The Italian cast-on looks much better 😍

Oh Anja, I’m so sorry to hear that. Yes, needing a doctor right now—and a hospital, too—that would scare me as well. I hope your breathing trainer helps you.

Joy of life and moments of happiness—I find them in my home, in my garden, in my crafts, and in nature. Like Marlene, I could watch our birds at the feeder for hours. They’re so funny. I don’t take pictures because if I move, they’re gone. But yesterday we had a nuthatch, a jay, and a great spotted woodpecker. That makes me happy.

I hope you find your own source of happiness and contentment, too. 

A bird-song recognition app, Marlene? Brilliant—I need that. I heard some the day before yesterday and was wondering if they were starlings. They sounded like something out of a Star Wars movie, when they’re swinging their lightsabers.
I have the Flora Incognita app—it can identify plants.

Yeah, I like watching birds, too. But I haven’t fed them for two or three weeks, so now the little guys are offended and aren’t coming anymore. And my little feeding hedgehog seems to be sleeping already—he hasn’t been around for two weeks either.
A little while ago, a gray heron flew by here. It’s been living here alone at the edge of the forest for years. I got really scared once when I was out walking with my husband. I said, “There’s someone standing back there by the bushes. He’s wearing something white. It’s probably a pervert or an axe murderer—let’s get out of here!” (Yeah, I’m still working on that positive thinking thing...) We then stood next to a tree and didn’t move, and then the heron stalked out. Phew! 

Check out “Birdnet” in the Google Play Store, Anja.

We were able to photograph a nuthatch a few weeks ago while out for a walk, Petra.
A few days ago, a kestrel flew in and perched on the neighbor’s roof.
We also saw a green woodpecker.
I just couldn’t get a very good photo of it.

Anja, I hope you’re breathing easier now. Unfortunately, I’m also familiar with something like panic attacks (at least that’s what my family doctor calls them), but thankfully it’s not quite that bad. I hope you find your moments of happiness. For me, it’s often nature that makes me happy, but also nice encounters or a good book—and, last but not least, crafting. It also makes me happy when I can delight someone with a small gift.

Ines, that’s going to make for a very special photo shoot with the St. Nicholas outfit! When is it going to happen?
Steffi gave you some very good advice regarding the Italian cast-on. I tried it once before following the instructions in a knitting book and decided: not for me—too complicated! Now I gave it a shot using Sonja’s instructions, and lo and behold—it worked! And with the DF projects on my list, I’ll be able to keep practicing!

The Silence of the (Knitted) Lambs... 🐑🐑🐑

Woolly sheep..... 😂
I just got the evening “off” today.... the webinar was canceled. Now I can finally finish knitting my cowl—just 5 more rounds and then “bind off” 😁
Anja...did you find the right yarn for the scarf? 

I’ve taken on another commission. Grandma, can you knit me a hat? In wool. Red, really long, with a pom-pom.... 

Steffi, I’m not buying anything else. I have too much lying around here. I’ll make it with what I have—it just won’t be gradient yarn. Let’s see how it turns out. I’ll show you something soon.

Just 4 rows left on the shawl collar, then it’s done. I really don’t feel like it again, waaah 🦧🐒

Petra, that’s so nice of you. 

I still have two rounds left on my loop scarf.
I’ll do them during the day, since the yarn is too dark for lamplight now.

Then I’ll write the pattern.

I spent many hours today struggling with a Bascetta star. Of course I won, ha!!! :-) I wasn't going to let it beat me—after all, I made a few of those a few years ago. But when you don’t quite remember how to make it, it’s really tricky...

Anja, I have a very timely story today on the topic of “joy of life”: this morning there was a loud bang against our window. A little tit flew into it at full speed. Afterward, she sat on our garden bench, looking very dazed. We quickly shut the cats inside, and my husband scattered some birdseed for her. Lucy and I kept going back to check whether she was still moving. After half an hour, we didn’t have much hope left that she’d recover. But just as we were standing by the window, she shook herself and flew away completely unharmed. That was so lovely :-)
Otherwise, I find joy in music—sometimes listening, sometimes making it myself, depending on my mood. I can really lose myself in it and forget “everything else” when I need to. I sincerely hope you find a “source of strength” that you can always tap into! Hopefully your breathing trainer helps. And by the way: even though the background isn’t funny at all, your brilliant writing style had me laughing heartily at the heron story :-)

Petra, those are surely the nicest kinds of requests—when you can fulfill a special wish for your grandson! It already looks very cozy :-)

Steffi, good luck with the final push for the Loop :-)

My goodness, you’ve all been writing and creating so much again. Since I’m online less these days, I don’t get to check in here as often as usual. And when I do, it’s only briefly. Right now, I’m anything but “Turbo,” at least when it comes to knitting.

Steffi, your little bear neckwarmer looks absolutely adorable.

Marlene, I love the pattern on your neckwarmer. We also have someone on the autism spectrum in our family. You are one of those very special people with special abilities.

Ines, thanks for your feedback on the dishcloths. They’re a great way to use up colorful scraps. Mine weigh just under 30 g. Your brown cow is absolutely adorable. How do you always manage to conjure up such cute and funny characters? I really admire that a lot. And the outfit for the baby—very original. Is it going to be a little Santa Claus?

Oh dear, Anja, that doesn’t sound good at all. Luckily, you’re back home and can rest up. You asked a very good question there: What brings us joy in life? I spend a lot of time in nature, often light candles, and have a bouquet of flowers every now and then. Crafting is an important part of my joy in life—creativity in general. It lets me forget everything around me. Painting—that also brings me joy, as does beautiful music. By the way, something that helped me shake off the winter blues years ago was a book—“Healthy in 7 Days” by Dr. Raimund von Helden. It really opened my eyes. And ever since then, we’ve made it through every winter without feeling down or catching colds.
By the way, we also feed our hedgehogs until they go into hibernation. Now it’s finally cold enough.
Your heron story, by the way, is a real blast!
Anja, you can easily manage 4 more rows so we can marvel at your work. :)

Petra, you’ve gotten a cute commission for that Christmas hat.

So, now I can show you my latest acquisition—a really great swap. A fantastic package of yarn arrived yesterday. Half of it (the colorful part) will become a blanket. The felting yarn will be home to some little squirrels next year. And I’ll find a way to use up the rest somehow. Colorful cotton is always a good thing. Of course, I celebrated it in style. The yarn was packed in three layers in the box. Here’s a peek so you can share in the joy:

Layer 1—top



Layer 2—middle



Layer 3 – bottom (the left row was already in the last picture)

Thanks, Moni :)

Hope you have fun with your yarn.

Glad to hear the titmouse had recovered, Sonja.
Today we saw a kestrel on the roof opposite for the third time.
That is, it had first warmed itself on the chimney.

Oh Monika, that yarn—you can really go wild with it... I’ve already gathered a bit of leftover yarn for the dishcloths, and I’ll get started this weekend; before that, I’ve only been able to do a little crafting here and there—there’s just so much else to do right now.
Thanks for your feedback on the cow; that was a commission I received from a “cow-loving friend.” I don’t make that many figures anymore, since I can’t keep them all myself, haha… I used to make most of them for raffles at an animal shelter, but events like that aren’t happening right now.
Yes, our soon-to-be-born grandchild is going to be a little Santa Claus—due on December 24—but it looks like he might arrive a few days early, maybe on December 21—which would be my birthday....

Anja, I hope you’re doing well again? Hopefully the breathing device is helping you.

Petra, I’m actually looking forward to when the time comes and the grandchild can express his or her own wishes; for now, the mom-to-be is still doing that, and she wanted a hat like this too.

Sonja, we’ve often had little birds get hurt on the windows of our sunroom; since spring, we’ve had these bird stickers on them, and that seems to help somehow.

Otherwise, I wish you all the best with the projects you’ve started—I’m sure you’ll all manage it, smile....

Thanks, Marlene. :)

Ines, that would be wonderful if you could celebrate your birthday with your grandson. There couldn’t be a better gift! My granddaughter was also born on my birthday. I’ve actually noticed that this happens quite often—that children share a birthday with a relative, often with their grandparents. My son, for example, was born two days before his grandpa’s birthday.

Sonja, I’d completely forgotten to mention the bird that flew up to your window. I’m always so sorry about that. That’s happened to us quite often, too, even though we have narrow windows. Since I’ve hung various decorations there, it’s stopped. They simply don’t see the window, especially younger birds. How wonderful that he recovered after all.

I wish you all a cozy evening doing what you love most. :)

Marlene, we also had a pair of kestrels in our neighborhood this year, complete with chicks. It was absolutely fascinating to watch the little falcons (who already look quite big) learn to fly and hunt from their parents. 

Monika, your yarn packages are a dream :-) :-) :-) Thanks for letting us in on the fun! It’s almost like ordering yarn myself...

Ines, that would be such an amazing birthday present! Either way, the baby will be born around your birthday—maybe it’ll be right on the dot. Funnily enough, I can confirm what Monika says—Lucy was also born just two hours after my mom’s birthday :-)

Our windows are already covered with so many decorations, stickers, and window decals; I don’t even know what else to do. Covering them up doesn’t really make sense either. Right now, our two budding artists are still decorating various empty spaces with chalk paint—maybe that’ll help.

Tonight, I’m going with two friends to the Zauberpark at Zurich Airport—it’s an event featuring light art and a concert every night. Tonight, 77 Bombay Street, a really great Swiss band, is playing. Unfortunately, it’s an open-air event—brrr… I’ll probably have to drink one, two, or maybe even a lot of mulled wine :-)

Monika, the colors in your yarn bundle are wonderful.

Sonja, have fun at the open-air event....

I’ve been trying for days to get the love-crazed blackbirds away from the window.... They’re reflected in the window, and now they’re sitting in front of it and constantly “flying” into it. But it’s really intense—a) there are scratches on the glass, and b) they must be getting “headaches” from banging into it so hard. I’ve already tried hanging “something” inside, but they completely ignore it 🤔. Now there’s some kind of “ghost” hanging outside, but that doesn’t really scare them off either.... It’s sooo loud when they’re fighting against it....

Tonight I took the loop off the needle 😍😁😍e
Just need to wash it and stretch it out a bit, and then my sister will be thrilled.... 

There are a few charming little mistakes—whoever finds them gets to keep them 🙈😇
Now it’s time to put the dinosaurs on the needle 💖

Have a lovely evening—
there’s a lot going on here again. I had the day off today, so I had time to check in here again.

Wow, Steffi, your loop scarf turned out great. Even the pattern and the colors are very pretty.

Monika, you’ve really outdone yourself again. Gorgeous colors in your yarn box. That yellow is so bright and cheerful. You do a lot of crocheting with thick and felting yarn. We’re looking forward to seeing your creations.

Anja, I’ve never heard of a breathing trainer like that—how does it work? Hopefully it helps you a little. I’m sure we’ve all experienced that feeling when you can’t get any air, or you’ve choked on something—that’s when panic sets in. Even a tiny crumb in your throat is enough to set it off. At least for me.

Your pet stories sound really interesting. It’s true—it breaks your heart when a little birdie like that flies right into the window. That happened with my budgie back then, too. He was free to fly around, and we had the curtain pulled aside, so Hansi thought he could go outside, and… then he flew into the window. But everything turned out okay in the end.

Today, two great tits were sitting on our balcony, too. But they flew off right away.
Soon we’ll set up a birdhouse, and maybe my husband’s GoPro camera. Because every now and then, a buzzard sits on the roof across the street—pretty big, as far as we can tell. I’m sure we’ll get some great shots with a telephoto lens.

Have a lovely evening with your crafts

Best wishes, Andrea

I’ve missed quite a bit here. Time to catch up...
 
Oh dear, Anja, I really hope you’re feeling better again and that your breathing trainer is doing you some good. Luckily, it hasn’t been that bad for me yet. Listening to music helps me, or simply looking up at the sky and watching the clouds. You can spot wonderful “shapes” there, or just daydream.
A funny book also gives me joie de vivre, for example “Only the Pudding Hears My Sighs” by Erma Bombeck. I’ve read it many times.
 
You’ve all made such wonderful things! I’m always amazed by the dishcloths, cowls, little figures, and so on… I especially admire your DF items. I imagine that must be incredibly difficult.
 
Birds with headaches… I know that too. The little chirpers come zooming around the corner of the house, across the patio—oh dear, there’s a person there—and off they go outside… but with a “detour” into the PVC panes. Even all the bird stickers I made don’t help there.

I wonder how the tits always managed to fly into the mailbox slot when they nested in it two years in a row. During one brood, the last little tit didn’t manage to get out right away
. There was a terrible thud in the box. When we checked, we found a little ball of feathers that clearly had a headache. But the next day it flew out too.

Monika, all I can say is: “Yarn package to me.” I would have taken it too.

We have “birthday babies” in our family too. My sister-in-law had her first son on her birthday. She gave my brother a daughter on his birthday, and her second son shares a birthday with his uncle
.
I didn’t manage that. My birthday is on January 3, my son’s on the 4th, my daughter’s on the 11th, and her daughter’s on the 9th.
One of my sisters shares a birthday with our grandpa. That always caused trouble because she sometimes wanted to celebrate on her own birthday, and not always together with Grandpa.

Sonja, how was your open-air event? Was it bearable with mulled wine?

When my husband was around, I couldn’t get to the computer much. He always thinks of something “important” that we wanted to do… even if it’s just a round of Kniffel. He saw a photo of the cheese wreath. He didn’t know it was my photo. “What’s that? I can’t make out anything there.” I explained what could be seen. “Well, if you say so.” My Christmas excitement is gone now. Maybe I’ll just keep the cheese wreath myself.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t brought enough stuffing material with me. So I could only start quite a few things. I finished one “Waschi” and a Christmas pickle. I’ll hide that in the Christmas tree for him.

 



Why can’t men actually listen properly? Call from him on Monday at noon: “Aunt Dorothea called on Friday and invited us to her birthday. We’re supposed to come for lunch. We’ll put money in the card, and you can tie a few knots.”
I was in a spin; from Monday noon to Wednesday evening isn’t much time. I think putting money in a card is silly. So I emailed a photo of a money cake. His comment: “That’s no good for old people.” 

Question for you: is a money cake age-related?



“Tying a few knots” isn’t done that quickly either. So I put everything else aside and got to work. Of course, there were no tea lights left in the house (the battery-powered ones). Off to the town center to stock up.
I hope the aunt likes my “tied knots.”





And yesterday evening I finally crocheted my Christmas door wreath for the apartment door. The rest of the Advent decorations are still missing. They’re not going anywhere.




Wishing you lots of fun with your current projects, and above all, stay healthy.
Best, Marlies
 

Damn *beep* *beep* *beep* CENSORED

Spent ages writing something again and stupidly tapped the wrong button on my phone—everything’s gone. HATE IT! Maaaan!

So, in short: Steffi, great loop scarf. 
A breathing trainer is a mouthpiece with a tube and three plastic cylinders at the end. You breathe out and in through the mouthpiece, which moves the balls; they have different weights and are supposed to strengthen the breathing muscles. 

Marlies that cake is amazing, and everyone will be thrilled with it, no matter how old they are!!! Men!!! *snort* Tying knots! Orrrrr 
Although I do think that description is pretty creative... I’ll ask my husband over his evening beer if he’s “destroying yeast” again. hehe 
That moose wreath is so beautiful! I’ve had one of those Styrofoam wreath blanks lying around here for years and never done anything with it. Maybe I’ll force my daughters to make lots and lots of pom-poms with me, and then I’ll just glue them onto it. 

So now, just a quick photo (while being careful where I click with my index finger) of my current project. The original has a great color gradient, but it has nasty virgin wool in it, and that just won’t do for my delicate swan neck... (Although now that I’m older, it’s heading more toward a turkey’s wobbly throat sack). 

Anja, I love your writing style!

“Turkey wobbly throat pouch” is my word of the year... lol.

Best wishes, Marlies

Hi....
Marlies... I think the cake is great, and there’s definitely no such thing as being “too old” for a money cake.... Men 🙈😂🙈
I think your “tied knots” are great, I’d like them.

Anja .....You’ve crowned the Word of the Year 😂😂😂😂
Dein Schal wird schön! I like the way it’s coming together.

I’m feeling a bit deflated right now. I wanted to start baking Christmas cookies today, but then I realized yesterday afternoon that I was still missing a few things. It was annoying because it was already afternoon and getting pretty dusky outside. My problem is that I can’t go shopping then. I just can’t. Walking the dog on the field paths is fine, even when it’s almost dark, just not through the parking lot in the “dark,” even though it’s actually lit... anyway, I headed out early this morning, Saturday morning. Just as annoying, only in daylight. Now I’m totally tired. Maybe I’ll at least manage one cookie recipe 🍪🍪🍪.
I want the house to smell like Christmas 😂

Oh Marlies, your husband really leaves me speechless… He can’t even manage more than a half-hearted “put some money in a card,” but then he doesn’t appreciate your creative and lovingly crafted gifts. Ommmmmm… is all I can say… The cake is a great way to give money—it doesn’t matter what age the recipient is. And your knotted designs turned out great :-)

Anja, your wordplay is brilliant, but my personal favorite is “destroy the yeast,” haha :-) Your scarf is turning out great—it looks beautiful even without the color gradient!

Steffi, I hope you find the motivation to bake after all! I love that scent too—unfortunately, I don’t really like baking... If you can’t manage it today, maybe you’ll find a nice scented candle instead.

The open-air event was amazing—there were beautiful light installations, ranging from super cheesy to cute to totally futuristic, always accompanied by the right music; it was a real experience. And the concert was great—finally getting to dance and sing again. And yes, the mulled wine really helped ward off the cold, too :-)

I finished my wrap scarf today. Now I really need to get started on my little sheep, or else they’ll turn into a never-ending UFO...


The first stollen this year.... 
And it gave me so much energy 🙈💖
Yesterday I knitted the first 10 rows of the Dino Loop. The yarn has a very nice stitch definition. I’m just not quite warming up to the green yet.... I’ll knit a couple more rows and then let it sink in for a bit. 
Do you sometimes have that too, where a yarn you’ve started knitting just doesn’t seem to work in the project, and then a few rows later it looks really good? 

Yeah, I know what you mean. But that’s more with the pattern—since I usually knit solid colors. With colors, you often wonder, “How is that supposed to go together?” and then when you see it on a larger surface, it looks great.

  Your stollen looks very delicious. I baked my marzipan stollen again this year. What did you make? You can’t really tell just by looking at them from the outside.

Have a wonderful first Sunday of Advent. I hope to finish the hat for my grandson today—then it’s time for a hat again, for a change....... 

I have a super delicious recipe for quark stollen—it doesn’t even need to sit for very long... Still, it tastes best after three days... so, the last few pieces 😂🙈
Today is all about baking and knitting, plus a little decorating too....

Wishing everyone a wonderful First Sunday of Advent—and you’ve all been so hard at work again.
I’m not really in the Christmas spirit yet. I did put up some decorations this morning, but when you have to work the late shift, time is tight.

Instead, I’m admiring your creations.
Steffi, your decorations look great. Is that brown thing on the right a little bird lying on its back? It looks so cute (which pattern is that?).
Your stollen smells all the way over here. It looks delicious. I haven’t even started baking cookies yet.
Sonja, your pull-through scarf looks great. Double-face really is something special, and the stitch pattern looks unique—plus, you always choose such beautiful colors.
Anja, I had to laugh out loud—your wordplay and writing style are a real treat. You always brighten our day with your good humor. Your knitting looks absolutely fantastic. Kudos for sticking with it—that’s always a challenge for me, too.
Marlies, your money cake is definitely going to be a hit with everyone, big and small, young and old. The effort alone is commendable. Some men just don’t appreciate things like that.

Well, have fun, everyone—see you later!

Hey Andrea, you can find the pattern here....
Snowman & Friends -- Crochet Pattern by Haekelkeks®
And you mean that little “unlucky guy,” right.... 

He wasn’t fast enough 🙈 

Sonja, that wrap scarf turned out super cute—my fingers are already itching to start again…

Anja, I, too, always enjoy your creative neologisms and your whole writing style.

The little gifts for my coworkers have to be finished by tomorrow, so I still have some work ahead of me. While blocking, I spotted two mistakes in a snowflake, so I had to crochet another one. Since I know the pattern by heart now, I was able to finish it during the train ride—well, almost. We were in Bern this morning because our former pastor was installed in her new parish. After the service, we stayed for a very brief outdoor reception and then headed home. There was already a significant police presence in the city, as authorities fear riots following the vote on the COVID law. Now we’re just glad to be home in the warmth—it’s snowing in big flakes…

Thank you for your kind compliments on my writing style. That really makes me feel good right now! 💗

Snow was forecast here too, but yesterday there was only a graupel shower—just as I was about to go for a walk. I quickly got cold in my light jacket, and it got wet too, so I headed back home after 10 minutes. Then there was some sleet in the evening. That’s all. Too bad. 🌨

I’ve been sneezing a lot today, so I dug out some yarn—it’s 100% polyacrylic, though… I wonder if these kinds of fibers make you sneeze too? I realized that I only have hats and scarves in gray and black to go with my winter coat. This yarn also has some wine red in it. Now I’m knitting a hat in garter stitch. Does anyone have an idea for a scarf using garter stitch and other stitches? Just garter stitch is a bit boring to look at—and to knit, too. 🧣

Steffi what do you mean about the little bird, that it wasn’t fast enough? Because it’s lying there? 🐦

The crochet piece is very cute, and the keyhole scarf is an absolute dream, Sonja, both the design and the colors. ⛄

I’m not making anything for my coworkers or neighbors this year. I just don’t feel like it, even though I’ve always enjoyed crocheting stars. ⭐
I forgot to take the crocheted Easter bunnies off the little tree back in the spring, and now that all the leaves have fallen from the maple, you can see bunnies there instead of Christmas decorations. 🐰🎄🐰🎄🐰🎄🐰

The little brown birdie is lying there flat because it took a direct hit during the snowball fight.... It just wasn’t quick enough to dodge 🤷—that’s why it has that round white belly.... 

Awwwww ♡ Steffi

Your keyhole scarf looks so great, Sonja!

Steffi, that little guy is adorable. You’ve got a fun little gang there.

All those fibers are enough to make anyone sneeze, Anja. How about a triangle pattern for the scarf?

My husband just barely managed to redeem himself today… When he picked me up, the “knotted knots” were still sitting on the table. His comment: “That looks so cute, what you’ve made there.”
He still put the money in an envelope, though… grrr.

As usual, way too much food was served at dinner, and just as much was eaten. The menu included: Hadler wedding soup as a starter. With so many meatballs that it could have served as a main course on its own.

A “gardener-style” grilled platter: tender young pork fillet wrapped in bacon (it practically melted in your mouth), small grilled beef steaks (cooked to perfection), small breaded pork cutlets,
“Caprese”-style chicken breast au gratin with tomato, mozzarella, and basil, sautéed mushrooms, seasonal vegetables (unfortunately more than just “al dente”—the carrots were still crunchy and the cauliflower was almost impossible to cut even with a knife), buttered potatoes, croquettes, French fries, cream sauce, hollandaise sauce, and herb butter.

For dessert, there was a “Traumschiff” ice cream platter, an ice cream specialty served on a platter. I’d imagined something different. There was a Königrolle on the platter, topped with two scoops of stracciatella, a dab of whipped cream
and a few pieces of melon. By the time the waitstaff came in with the platters, the first sparklers that had been stuck on top were already going out. There were also hot cherries served with it.

For coffee, we had marzipan and raspberry cake (both still two-thirds frozen) and butter cake. Throughout the whole time, there were drinks of our choice and an excited aunt saying, “Kids, eat something else—order yourselves a drink.” She was then seated and given a shot of schnapps.

We were at the Norddeutscher Hof, Janßen family, in Cuxhaven-Lüdingworth.

The “knots” went over very well with my aunt. She hadn’t bought an Advent wreath yet. She was particularly taken with the chocolate in the glass.

It was a beautiful day with bright sunshine.

Now I’m stuffed and feeling lazy, just letting the evening unfold.

Wishing you all a lovely Advent evening.
Love, Marlies

 
 

Oh, Marlies—my mouth is watering just looking at all these delicious things!

Oh, so much has happened here again! I’m not online that much right now—I’m enjoying real life more and, of course, knitting too. I actually have something new to show you. But first, I’m going to check out all the wonderful things you’ve written and shared.

Sonja, I totally believe you that the Magic Park was beautiful. I guess the cold is just part of the experience—but thanks to mulled wine, it’s bearable.
I just saw in the new items that you’ve finished your scarf. Wowww! It looks absolutely gorgeous. That’s such a great idea. And you’re super fast at everything. The colors, too—really lovely and wintry. And your Lucy(?) looks great with it.

Steffi, your lovesick blackbirds are probably more like two squabblers defending their territory. The male blackbirds around here do that often too, though usually in the meadow or up in a tree. The windowpanes aren’t exactly the ideal spot for a duel like that.
Your little bear cowl looks adorable—just like Sonja’s. When I read about your little mistakes, I had to smile… because I make one every now and then, too. But if it’s not noticeable, I just leave it as is. ;-)
Yeah, I also sometimes find that I’m not satisfied with the yarn I’m using for a project. But most of the time, I just swap it out. Your stollen looks delicious! Hmmmm… And your decorations are really cute.



Andrea, I rarely crochet—I prefer knitting. I already have that thick, colorful yarn on my needles… I’ll show it to you in a minute.

Marlies, double-face knitting isn’t nearly as difficult as it looks. I did have to practice a bit at first, though. It got easier and easier after that.
You’ve made a lot of pretty things, too. Washcloths, a cucumber for the Christmas tree, a door wreath, and cute snowman gift decorations. Those are the kinds of things I wouldn’t really feel like making—they’re too fiddly for me. But who knows what else I’ll come up with. Thanks to Sonja, DF made it onto my list too.
The money cake is a hit! I think people of all ages would love that. I find it very original. Great idea! Nah, men can’t listen—I see that every day. They just tick differently than we do. I once saw a funny video about how men’s brains are wired differently. Yeah, no joke! They have these “boxes” for specific topics. And if something doesn’t fit in there, it goes into the “Nothing” box. It’s different for women. When they hear any term, their brains go into overdrive and look everywhere for connections. Ever since then, I’ve understood that and cut my hubby some slack.

Anja, your posts are a blast. Especially when you’re annoyed. Hilarious! Don’t worry—even my former swan neck is now a turkey wobbly-throat sack :-)
Your scarf is definitely going to be great! Hang in there!

So, now I’ll show you what I’ve started with the new colorful yarn.
Yesterday morning it looked like this. The first piece was finished—a whole skein in total.



And now it looks like this. It’s going to be a colorful patchwork blanket—all different patterns. It’s already grown quite a bit, and I’m now on my sixth ball of yarn.

Oh, so much has happened here. Since I started a new job, I haven’t had time to write. Not because I’m working so much, but because I don’t take the train anymore. That’s where I used to read and write.

Last weekend, we spent a kid-free weekend in Berlin. We did a lot of strolling and shopping and ate some really good food. And for Sunday, I’d booked a guided tour of the Reichstag… or so I thought 😳

When we stood there at the door, we realized that I’d mixed up the dates by a week when I booked it. The tour was today… how silly can you actually be?

Well, my husband has a company car and doesn’t pay for gas. So today we drove the 300 km (one way) again. It was really exhausting, but it was worth it—of course, after the tour we went out for a delicious meal and then picked up Anton. He’d been staying with my parents again and had a great time.

And I finally have something to show again:
A simple scarf for Anton’s daycare. 


And Sonja’s Dinoloop:

Ruth: It was all so appealing that I would have loved to try everything, but that’s just not possible—especially since the wedding soup was so delicious that I ended up eating a bit more of it than I intended. So many meatballs in there, and it was seasoned just right. I’m getting hungry again...

Best regards, Marlies

Guess who bid on 10 skeins of yarn on eBay just for fun, thinking she wouldn’t win the auction for €7 anyway?

And guess who’s completely fascinated by a new pattern again and would love to start YET ANOTHER UFO???
🧠🔨🔨🔨

Oh, Anja, you’re such a hit. You’ve won some yarn again. Well, that’s just great!
Why don’t you just start on that UFO—and then you’ll finish them all in one go and become the UFO Queen. What do you think?

Sandra, your warm clothes look great. It’s nice that you treated yourselves to a kid-free weekend for once.

You really scored a bargain there, Anja.
I’m always so happy when I read that you all feel the same way about these new, fascinating patterns. I’m already behind on making Christmas decorations, and I’ve already picked out the yarn for three new projects...

A friend of mine once bid on a motorcycle on eBay just for fun. She wanted to drive the price up a bit. Tough luck—3-2-1… it worked. Oh, was she mad. She ended up selling the thing later.

Today, the aunt we had birthday dinner with yesterday called. She took her time looking through all her gifts last night. Now she wanted to thank me again. She was really happy, especially because it’s handmade. Even her “fussy” daughter-in-law was really thrilled.
That’s when you know all the work was worth it.

Best regards, Marlies

Yeah, Monika I actually bid on some Knit Pro needles—someone was clearing out their stash. But then it ended up being too expensive for me, especially since I already have some. 

Your colorful blanket suddenly reminded me of another UFO: 
Well... The back is just really ugly. 

I’m so overwhelmed by all these UFOs right now that I don’t even know where to continue. I also realized that a pattern by Petra will be turning one year old in December. Still not finished. And it’s going to be a great shawl, too. I’ve actually had another shawl finished for a long time, but I don’t like the mohair yarn (I got it as a gift once). I’ll never, ever wear it. What do you guys do with stuff like that? 

Well, I have soooo many UFOs right now that I’ve completely lost track of them. There are half-finished projects lying around everywhere. When I finally start tidying up, I often end up unwinding work that took two or more days to complete. One less UFO.

Unfortunately, I also find it hard to resist when I see yarn I like. When I’m shopping, I often gravitate toward mohair yarn, even though I know full well that I can’t wear it because it’ll itch me to death. So I knit with it, but I can never wear it. It just sits in the basement, hoping to one day see the light of day and find someone who loves it.

Anja, I think we all have our own cross to bear when it comes to our “passion.”

Marlies, that’s so nice that you got so much praise. That really feels good. The items were truly beautiful, and when someone appreciates them like that, it makes it twice as enjoyable. I’m sure the money cake would have been a huge hit, too.

Petra, I definitely need that advice on new projects—I usually have 2–3 going at once. But thanks to the UFO Weeks here, I’ve thoroughly kicked the habit of leaving projects unfinished. Since then, I’ve been finishing all my projects, even if it sometimes takes a while.

Anja, if I don’t wear something, I give it away. There’s always someone who’ll want it. Your blanket is actually one of those patchwork blankets, too. I love those—the more colorful, the better. But for me, it has to have different patterns; otherwise, knitting would be too boring. I’m now on my 10th skein and almost on the 11th. It really is a “turbo blanket,” it looks like. Now I’m waiting for my size 2.5 needle, which broke. Then I can test-knit the washcloth for Sonja. It’ll definitely be here tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to that. Then I’ll be working on two projects at the same time again. After the blanket, I’ll make a shawl for my friend—she asked for one. I’m not sure yet if I’ll finish it by Christmas, though. We’ll see.
Anja, I’m done with Knit Pro needles for good—I’ve already had a few break or have the cable come loose. Never again! There are better ones out there.

Have a lovely evening, everyone, with your needles and yarn.

Hey everyone....
Anja, that’s why I hardly ever go on eBay anymore 😂😂😂😂
That kind of “oops” has happened to me quite a few times.

Monika, I only knit with Knit Pro… I’ve never broken a needle yet. Okay, every now and then I tighten it up a bit while knitting, depending on how many stitches I have on the needle and how “heavy” the project is. I have one needle from “chiao goo” with a “rotating” cable—nothing comes loose with that one, and the cable doesn’t twist while I’m knitting. I only use this needle for lace shawls, since there are so many stitches on it....

My cowl is almost halfway done 🙈
The little one has already hatched. 

....somehow there's something wrong with my "word recognition". ...
😂😂😂🤷

Thanks, Steffi, now we know. But your “unlucky bird” still looks funny.

Man, you’re all so fast at crocheting/knitting. Your “patchwork blankets” are interesting. They’re a great way to use up leftover yarn.

First I have to finish the teddy bear I’m making on commission, and then crochet two more dolls for a coworker (I wonder if I’ll manage that by Christmas?)
I have the day off today, so I’ve got to get something done. Christmas is already in 23 days—oh my gosh.

Have a great day, everyone

My coworkers were delighted with the little gift! (Pattern by elke-eder)

I would’ve loved a gift like that, too 😍
They’re really pretty, and the colors are absolutely gorgeous...
I just have to take the dog for a quick walk now 😝
Rainy, cold, and stormy, but after that, the needles will be clacking away.

What do you guys actually use as stitch markers?
I have some metal ones—they’re actually pretty small, but they still bother me while I’m knitting. I just saw some little rings online—does anyone here have those?
I hate stitch markers; I only need them for doubleface knitting. Otherwise, I avoid them—I’d rather count than attach them....

I have a colorful assortment. The transparent rings on the bottom right are curtain rings. When I only need to mark one “M,” I used to use a paper clip, but bobby pins work even better! 

...I have the one in the top left corner.... All 10 stitches—it’s so annoying....
and for the start of the round, I have one like the second from the left in the picture below; I have no idea how many times I’ve accidentally knitted it in already 🙈😂🙈 Luckily, I always noticed in time, so I could unravel a few stitches and didn’t have to cut it.... 

I usually just use scraps of cotton yarn; I can pull them up from round to round. The rings bother me especially with small pieces—they’re too bulky for my taste. 

I also have a colorful thread that I keep bringing back up with me. 

I usually use these little carabiner hooks.
Sometimes I also use a round counter to thread through when I’m knitting.

Steffi, so far you’re the only one who swears by Knit Pro needles and has had good experiences with them. It’s annoying when the needle twists, because then the stitches get stuck inside. But your tip about the others is good. I’ll keep that in mind. Your loop is already looking really good.

Christina, your gifts for your coworkers look really nice. I can imagine they were all delighted.

For stitch markers, I prefer small loops made of yarn—I make them myself. The plastic ones are usually too thick for me, though they’re great for crochet projects. When I’m crocheting, I often just use a single colorful thread that I pull up over and over again.

So far, I’ve also been very happy with the Knitpro needles. I have some made of wood and metal, round and square ones, and the large acrylic set (though I’m actually waiting for one of those to break). You just have to tighten the needles properly with that little key—then nothing comes loose. Tightening them by hand isn’t enough.
The needles with the swivel cable must be amazing—but they’re also ridiculously expensive!

  My yarn bargain arrived today (it came to 10 € including shipping for 10 skeins). It was meant to be that I stumbled across this bargain, because the color matches my jacket perfectly. *happy* It looks very orange in the picture, but in real life it’s coral. It’s knitted on 7–8 mm needles. That means a hat and scarf will be finished in no time, and I won’t need a pattern anyway because of the yarn’s texture. This yarn would also be great for crocheting a sheep (I mean, sheep’s wool), but a coral sheep??? Although… it would be an eye-catcher… *searching for a crochet sheep pattern on CP* 

The yarn feels wonderful, but it doesn’t knit up very well. Unraveling it is a disaster. I’m tinkering with it now until the hat fits—I’m not going to make a scarf out of it. It would look a bit silly anyway—a hat, scarf, and jacket all in coral, like a garbage collector’s uniform.

Nobody’s writing—you’re all soooo hard at work again, you Christmas elves! 

Anja, that yarn looks aaaawesome—it’s exactly my color. What made you think of garbage trucks? They’re orange, after all. Well, I’d actually love it if everything were one color. I assume you’ll show us your hat soon, right?

Speaking of bright colors... I took a photo today of how far along my blanket is—it’s not that easy because of its size. Now I’m knitting one more colorful round all the way around, and then it’ll be done. While I was weaving in the ends last night on the couch, it kept me nice and warm.



And now I’m starting on the sheep washcloth... finally doing double knitting again.

Christina, your lights look great.

Anja, cool color. I actually think this tone-on-tone look isn’t bad at all.

Monika, I really like your blanket. It looks so cozy. How big did it turn out to be?
I was just wondering what a “sleep washcloth” was, but then I took another look and lo and behold… it’s a sheep. Somehow this happens to me a lot—I see something different from what’s actually written. Does that happen to you, too?

I brought some plastic stitch markers with me. I packed them back up; they get in the way when I’m working. I’m going back to using my yarn to mark my stitches.

I cut myself pretty badly on my left index finger. I don’t know where exactly, but it’s bleeding quite a bit. The yarn doesn’t glide properly with a band-aid on, so I’m taking a break from crocheting today.

Best regards, Marlies

Yes hahaha Marlies, that happens to me both when reading, but even worse when listening. And then I always blurt it out super quickly, and that’s often pretty embarrassing. 

Monika of course you’ll get to see it soon. I’m knitting it sideways and now had to cast on the original hat with old yarn so I can convert the required stitches for the new one. That means I’m knitting 2 things in parallel yet again. The blanket is beautifully colorful! 


But I have to stop for today too; the yarn has really strained my thumb, so I’m putting my arthritis splint back on now. Darn! It had been better for several days now. 

Oh Anja.... the color is amazing—such a steal 👍💖
I would’ve loved those, too! I actually browsed eBay yesterday and, luckily, “didn’t find anything” 😂

 Monika.....I even bought size 3 needles from Knit Pro in Spain—you can hardly find them here because they’re supposedly so prone to breaking 🤔 I’ve been using them for three years now, and they’re great. I have them in both standard and short lengths, and I knit with them a lot.

Oh yeah, Marlies, I’m really good at that too.... When I “notice” it, I can barely hold back my laughter sometimes—such bizarre “things” come out.... I can only laugh it off.... My husband always gives me this weird look because he doesn’t understand, and I try to explain it to him... He doesn’t want to know—he’s not interested! 

Steffi, mine always looks just as clueless as a cow when it thunders and just shakes his head. Typical men...

I’m currently trying my hand at knitting a hood.
It’s supposed to keep my neck and head warm.
Since I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, I’m curious to see how it turns out myself.

So, my first beanie is finished.
I’m going to knit it again in different sizes.

Marlies, I hope your finger gets better soon. :) Hopefully you can still knit, right?
The blanket is still growing. It’s now almost 1 meter long and just under 90 cm wide. Next, I’ll add one ball of yarn to the top and bottom, and then a narrow strip along the sides. It’s super cozy and warm. I already love it, and it’s going to be my favorite blanket.
And yes, it happens to me sometimes, too—I read something differently from what’s actually written. And that’s usually funny.

Thanks, Anja, for the feedback on the blanket. :-)
Do you often knit your projects twice? Then I understand better why they turn into UFOs… *grin*.
I hope you get well soon, too.

Steffi, you probably don’t have any wooden needles from Knit Pro, do you? I don’t really like the others—I prefer knitting with wood or bamboo.

Marlene, your hood came together really quickly. Simple and very practical at the same time. For me, the collar would need to be a bit longer. I like to keep my neck warm.

I’m two-thirds done with Sonja’s washcloth now. I’ll take a photo tomorrow. My washcloth has turned out pretty big, though—19 cm wide. I just can’t make it any smaller, even with thin needles. The yarn is 160 m/50 g. Unfortunately, I don’t have any thinner cotton yarn.
Christina, how wide did your washcloth with the sheep end up being?

Monika.....
I actually have the ones made of wood/bamboo, in “mottled green” for light-colored yarn and the lighter reddish ones for the darker yarn.
Only the one with the swivel cable is made of metal. 
Today I have to start two new skeins for the loop; I’m on row 52 of 65, 
Good thing I ordered two of each color right away 🤔 or maybe not so good... Otherwise I would’ve had to order more, and two skeins always feel so lonely when they go on a journey; it’s much more “fun” with several of them 🙈😂🙈

I’m definitely going to knit that hat again, Moni.
I’ll make it a little longer at the neck, too.
I was surprised that it turned out right the first time.

The yarn goes great with the jacket, Anja :)

Hope your index finger gets better soon, Marlies.

Ladies,

great yarn-shopping therapy, Petra. I like the colors you showed most recently (summer yarn, 5 skeins of one color, 4 of another) the best. 🧶

I saw a picture on Pinterest where someone knitted wrist warmers as a flat piece and added a triangle for the thumb. I couldn’t find any patterns for it, so today I experimented on my own with leftover yarn. Now I have a pair made up of two one-of-a-kind pieces. It was fun and went quickly.  


 My shawl collar (the 4th one) didn’t turn out right this time. What worked well with merino wool didn’t work with acrylic yarn—it’s floppy and doesn’t hold its shape. 



I also crocheted a few stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 yesterday—the light blue ones from an old bedsheet. The Easter decorations 🐰 are still hanging on the maple tree. I don’t know where I put the ones I crocheted for this last year. I’ll probably find them again around Easter. 

Anja, your fabric stars are a great idea. They’ll definitely look great hanging on the tree outside. I have to try that for my garden tree, too. Your wrist warmers look very warm and are just what’s needed with the current temperatures.

I’m going to keep working on my baby booties and the photo album today. 

Please take a look at the photo. When I make the color change from right to left (lower quadrant and upper one), twisting the yarn works wonderfully. In the middle section, where the color then spreads out from the left, I can tighten the yarn as much as I want; the stitch loosens up again when I work it on the wrong side (even if I pull like an ox). Anyone have any idea? The double-face ladies in particular might have some experience with this?

I’m familiar with that “phenomenon” — I’ve had it with doubleface too.... Actually, it should have straightened out again after washing.... and then it won’t be noticeable anymore. But I can’t say why that is either.... maybe someone has an explanation or a tip....

Hey there, I’m back again… :-) Thank you so much for your feedback on the slip-on scarf. I just realized I haven’t posted here at all since then—oops…

Steffi, you’re already well on your way with the loop! I really like the green once it’s knitted up; at least in the picture, it looks nice and bright. The regular stitch markers bother me, too—I feel like there’s always a little gap between them, like with a set of double-pointed needles between two needles. That’s why I use a thread in a different color instead.

Anja, your wrist warmers look really great! I just haven’t quite figured out how the triangle part works yet. Is it all knitted in one piece? Or sewn on later? As for the loose stitches at the transition—I’ve noticed the same thing with the edge stitch: on one side it’s perfect, and on the other side it’s very loose. No idea why—I’m also curious to see if anyone can explain it...!

Marlies, is your thumb feeling better? If not, get well soon! Your birthday dinner sounds like a real feast. How nice that your husband finally showed some appreciation after all, and above all, that the gift brought you joy!

Marlene, your hat looks nice and cozy :-) Have fun experimenting with it.

Christina, you’ve been super busy making those candle holders for your coworkers! They’re really pretty, and a lovely gift for the Advent season. 

Sandra, Berlin is always worth a trip, even twice in a row *grin* You did a great job crocheting that Dino-Loop! And Anton’s scarf, of course—it has a great pattern.

Monika, it never ceases to amaze me how fast your projects grow! The blanket is beautifully colorful and is sure to not only keep you warm but also put you in a really good mood. That’s a great idea for using up all kinds of leftover yarn! Is all that yarn the same weight?

Anja again :-) I just saw your colorful blanket while scrolling—it looks amazing too! Couldn’t you sew some warm fleece fabric onto the back? That would turn it into a real cozy blanket and cover up the back side. It would be such a shame to leave a little treasure like that unfinished.

Now for me—between Advent calendars, Christmas gifts, Bascetta stars, and nativity play rehearsals, I haven’t had much time for yarn lately. At least I’ve started a hat to match my Celtic loop scarf, but progress is very slow. Earlier today, I was afraid I’d have to throw the project in the trash—our mischievous cat Lily got her paws on it and scattered the yarn all over the living room. Luckily, she only chewed on the ball of yarn twice; I can handle that. So now I can keep knitting a little longer :-)

Have a lovely evening!

Sonja, I’m attaching two photos so you can better understand the triangle:

The hat was put through a real-world test yesterday, Sonja.
It passed the test :)

Good morning.....
after a pretty “short night,” I’m pretty tired..... buuuut the loop is finished 😍🙈😍


And somehow I still don’t have a clue what I want to start knitting next.
I still have some really great skeins of Kauni yarn in really beautiful colors—maybe a blanket in double-ply???? Or a sweater in merino????
I’m still totally undecided.
Maybe I’ll go for a walk first and then think it over. 🙈

Wow—I really like the cowl, Steffi :)

Thank you all. My index finger is feeling better. I can crochet again. The big cut ran diagonally across the second finger joint and probably happened while I was opening a box.

Anja: Stars made from an old bedsheet—what a cool idea.

Steffi, your loop looks great.

I wish you all a wonderful St. Nicholas Day and hope there was something nice inside your polished boots.

I’m heading to the Alte Land tomorrow at the latest. The funeral is on Wednesday.

Have fun here.
Love, Marlies

Wow Steffi, it turned out great! Did you sacrifice sleep to finish it, or did you finish it because you couldn’t sleep??? 

Anja, thanks for the pictures—now I can picture it! Great idea, and the result looks lovely.

Steffi, your dinosaurs turned out great :-) Have you decided what’s next yet?

Marlene, that’s the good thing about the current weather—you can put all your winter accessories through their paces right away :-) 

Anja... I think—or fear—it’s a bit of both.... I’m heading straight into a pretty big “depression hole” right now, and I just can’t seem to slow down or swerve out of it. It often starts with me having a really hard time sleeping... Hopefully there’ll be a “crossing” coming up and I’ll be able to zoom right past it.

  Sonja... I started winding skeins today—it’s definitely going to be a Fair Isle sweater 🙈 with really cheerful colors....
  Three skeins still need to be wound. (It’s so nice and monotonous, yet really pleasant—winding merino yarn, wonderfully soft.)

But first, time to warm up; I just got back from dog training... so coffee and stollen by the fireplace 💖

Well, I’m checking in again. I’ve been laid up for a week with a stomach virus. (Thankfully, it wasn’t COVID—that’s always in the back of your mind these days, so we got tested right away.) During that time, I could only catch up on posts sporadically because everything was too exhausting—let alone crafting!

I’m slowly getting back on my feet—I’m still a bit wobbly, but at least I’ve been able to catch up on posts, write a little something, and finally post a pattern I finished ages ago.

I won’t be responding to all your posts—there’s just too much I’ve missed in the meantime.
I still owe you a picture of my temperature blanket from November 30. Here’s what it looked like then:

Now I still have to make up for the missing 6 days. Good thing I at least wrote down the temperatures. As you can see, the colors are now transitioning almost symmetrically into the green-blue range. I think it looks quite harmonious.

The pattern I posted today is for a nutcracker—you can’t crack nuts with it, but you can store them inside:

Wishing you a speedy
recovery, Ruth :)

I knitted my hat again in a smaller size.
Just no babies or toddlers around to try it on.
I don’t have a doll either.

Anja, those are two cozy warm wrist warmers—turned out great!
I don’t always get great results with acrylic yarn either, but I do with merino. For a cowl, I would generally only use natural yarn. You crocheted stars from old fabric? I already can’t manage ribbon yarn, so all I can say is: hats off! They really look good as an upcycling project.
About your triangle two-color project:
I always twist the strands together at the back so it doesn’t slip. That always works. But yours looks very neat at the transition.

Sonja, I always pull the edge stitches very tight, then it works well and both sides turn out the same.
My blanket is knitted completely from the same yarn (MyBoshi No. 1) - 30% wool - 55 m per 50 g. It’s very pleasant and cozy as a blanket. All in all, I’ll probably knit up 19 balls.
Your Celtic cowl is sure to turn out really beautiful again too. You’re really active at the moment. But it’s also fun with all the Christmas preparations. It brings some variety, and the needles are already waiting patiently for you.

Steffi, wow! Your cowl looks fantastic. You knitted that up quickly—Turbo Steffi ... :-)
Together, we’ll get through the dark winter season much more easily here. You’re not alone here, and that surely brings a little comfort too, doesn’t it? Your dog will certainly cheer you up now and then as well. You can be grateful for that, because animals sense what is good for their companions. My budgie often put a smile on my face back then when I didn’t feel like smiling at all.

Marlies, I’m glad your hand is doing better again. Take good care of yourself and do something good for yourself as often as you can. You surely have lovely memories of your uncle. You can think of those at his farewell, and it will be easier.

I’ve now almost finished the “washcloth” with the sheep. Since my cotton was probably a bit too thick after all, I like the width better for a cowl. So I’m going to declare it a cowl now and send it to my granddaughter to try out. If she likes it, I’ll knit a second one, but with a different pattern.

Well, I just finished writing this and already there’s another post here...

Ruth, that’s not very encouraging, but all the better that you’re back on your feet and in the mood to get crafting. Your temperature blanket looks great. I could also imagine it as a sofa cover. Yes, the colors really do look very harmonious now. Your new project, the nutcracker, is—as always—something special and very well done.

Marlene, you’re such a diligent hat knitter. That one looks just like the other one. I’m sure there’ll be a child it will fit.

Sonja, I had that issue with the chain edge the whole time, too. There are different ways to do it. Here’s what I do: bring the yarn to the front before the last stitch, slip the last stitch without knitting it, and then in the next row, knit through the back loop. When I knit the second stitch, I pull the yarn tight again—that way, the edge stitches look really good now. 

Steffi, oh dear... Just give that hole a wide berth!!! Knit up something with cheerful colors quickly, put on your favorite music—maybe that’ll help. In any case, I’m sending you a big “Bye-depression, hello-good-mood” greeting!

Ruth, you poor thing—that really hit you hard. It’s good to hear you’re already on the mend! But when you’re that run down, it takes a while for your body to really get back on track. That’s why I hope you can still take it easy and rest a bit over the next few days! Your temperature blanket actually looks almost symmetrical. Really fascinating. And the nutcracker—wow! So many details—it’s great :-)

Marlene, wow, I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to knit without a model at all. I always have to measure against or hold up a “test subject” every now and then; otherwise, I can’t picture how it’s supposed to turn out.

Monika, your little sheep is so cute :-) I think the idea with the loop is great—I’m curious to see how it fits!

Anja, thanks for the tip—I’ll give that a try.

I haven’t gotten very far with my hat yet, but at least I’ve got the brim and a bit of the rest done. I’ll post a picture once it’s finished.

Anja, thanks for the tip about the edge stitches. Very good!

Sonja, I’m also curious to see how the loop fits. For now, I’m knitting another one for Linja with the cheeky mouse.

And my colorful “Good Mood” blanket is now finished, too. I think the result is really great. And after sewing it up, the back looks pretty decent, too. I love it, and it’s very cozy and warm.

Monika , that turned out really great! That one is made with that yarn that creates its own patterns, right? I can’t remember the designer’s name right now.

The patterns in the solid-colored yarn are nice, too. That 5 knit, 5 purl staggered pattern arranged in squares looks really striking. What’s that pattern in the gray sections (between the orange self-patterning sections)?

I’ve been on a knitting hiatus for three days now, since I’m still groggy from the increase in my psych meds—and even though they’re really kicking in, they’re keeping me awake. Last night I was wide awake again until 3 a.m. (and at the same time dead tired). Of course, it could also have something to do with menopause, and I’m dealing with stress at home. Everyone’s just being stupid/selfish/thoughtless right now. It doesn’t matter if it’s family, neighbors, or coworkers. Sometimes, ugh... ******** (Marlies knows what I mean! 😉)

Continue here:
December Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group