December Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Here is Part 3 of the December projects
December Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Dear users, dear authors,
here is Part 2 of the December projects.
Have fun with it.

You can read the earlier posts at the link.
December Projects 2021 + November Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

I’ve finally finished something: 

Anja, thanks for the feedback! I didn’t know beforehand that the yarn would form patterns either. But it depends on how wide you knit. It’s not always the same and was probably more of a coincidence. The yarn is called No. 1 by MyBoshi and isn’t actually meant to form patterns like that. It’s 30% wool and feels really nice. For the light blue sections, I tried out some special patterns that always turn out a little different. I love playing around with patterns.
Oh dear, that doesn’t sound so great for you. I hope things calm down soon for you, and for those around you, too. By the way, your hat turned out great. I love it!

Tonight I finished knitting a dishcloth for a friend that I started yesterday. (Photo coming tomorrow.) I’m sending her three of them now in the colors she likes. One of my next projects will be a shawl she’s been wanting—she even picked out the yarn for it herself. I’m designing it right now. She’ll get it for her birthday this spring.

I’m really itching to start several projects, but I don’t want to spread myself too thin. That’s why I’m sticking to a maximum of three projects at a time.

Hello to all you hardworking crafters out there,

December always brings a lot of hustle and bustle. That’s why I haven’t been able to read or post here lately. But it’s great to see how hard you’re all working—I’m sure you’ve already crocheted and knitted 1,000 beautiful things. I’ll definitely be back in January.
Until then, I wish you all a wonderful run-up to Christmas.

Best regards, Ina

I feel much like Ina. First I was sick, and now so much has piled up that I can only drop in here sporadically. But I did manage a little something one evening too: a cute lucky-charm dish sponge:

Oh Ruth, that’s so cute!

I’m also working on the scarf for my friend. I try to knit a section every day. I haven’t done anything for the past two days, so I’m trying to knit three sections today—hopefully my thumb holds up!

It’s really quiet here… Are you all reading this on a computer, phone, or tablet? 

That’s so cute, Ruth :)

I’m currently tinkering with a knitted doily.
Once again, I know what I want it to be—but I’m not sure yet what it’ll look like in the end.

Ina and Ruth, I’m sure everyone here would be happy if you’d just pop in briefly to let us know you’re still around. It’s totally understandable that sometimes other things take priority over posting here regularly. I feel the same way every now and then.

Ruth, your little pig is cute and a great idea. You’re an expert at the little things—that’s great.

Anja, I think it’s great that you’re sticking with it so well right now. I think the scarf looks really great. I really like it so colorful.

I’ll take a photo again tomorrow—I forgot today. I’m going to start the loop scarf for my granddaughter today and the triangular shawl for my friend tomorrow.

My husband and I are planning to bake cookies tomorrow. It’s just more fun when there are two of us. We decided on the spur of the moment.

Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Such beautiful things....
Hello everyone 🌺
I’m currently working on a sweater and have plenty of time to knit right now. Well, as long as Mr. Murphy doesn’t decide he’s the most important cat in the world and demands his massage....
Knitting with Murphy.... 

At least this time he leaves me a bit of the knitting chart 🙈 but that squeaking sound when he runs his claws across the paper 👻
He just knows how to get me to put my needles aside for a moment 😂

Anja, I understand you all too well **** I like your hat.

Ruth, your little pig is so cute that I bought it right away. Now I just need the right yarn.

After the “forced break” due to the funeral and a visit to the Altes Land, I’m feeling a bit under the weather today. By chance, I read on Friday about a vaccination appointment available Saturday at the music school and used that opportunity for my booster shot. I have a bad headache and feel a bit “groggy,” but better that than vegetating in the ICU.

Hugs, Marlies

Get well soon, dear Marlies! My booster will still take a little while; I was only vaccinated 79 days ago. I'm already "looking forward" to it, when I'll have to pop a sedative again beforehand because I'm so scared... 

I'm a little jealous of Monika —a hubby who bakes cookies? Wow! But I can't complain, mine has been cooking for 3 years now. Peer pressure, basically; the other male neighbors all cook too, so he wanted to be able to join in. ;-)

Anja wants a kitty or doggy too! :-( My husband doesn't want any animals, especially not now with Corona; they might bring something home. 

It's getting dark here again already. Everything just feels stupid right now. 

Oh, Anja.... things will get “brighter” again 🌺🌺🌸🌺🏵🌸🌸
Once your medication levels have stabilized again, the 🌞 will come out for you once more. 
My two cats, mother and son, have been living with us since 2009/2010 and have never “brought home” anything that was “bad” for us.... Okay, the usual stuff for outdoor cats, but we treat them regularly anyway—Spot On and deworming.... I’ve always had cats—my first one when I was six.... And whenever one had to “go,” a little furball would usually show up from somewhere, as if it knew there was a warm spot by the stove here and a bowl that’s always full 🙈😂🙈
We had cookies here today, too—vanilla crescents... I baked today; my husband baked the batches last week (and ate them all, too 🙈🤷😂)

Marlies, get well soon from me—hope your headaches and all that are over soon.
I still have to wait until late January/early February before I can get my booster shot.... 

Hi, I’m popping in here briefly again.

You’ve all been very productive once again, writing diligently and posting beautiful pictures here.

I’ve also finished another project.

Steffi totally inspired me with her pretty sweater. Now I’ve actually dared to try my hand at a Norwegian sweater.

Here’s my result—I’m really proud of it.

Very nicely done Marion! ♡

Wow Marion, that sweater turned out beautifully. With a circular yoke. The upper section must have been very varied to knit. 

Marlies, get well soon. Usually the side effects are gone after a day or two. I hope that’s the case for you. 

Anja, soon the seasons will change again. Then the days will start getting longer again. I’m looking forward to that, too. Some days it doesn’t seem to get light here at all. Terrible. But spring will be here soon...... I’m already looking for the first snowdrops in the garden. Unfortunately, no luck yet. 

I started knitting with one of my new yarns yesterday and am knitting a loop scarf. Let’s see how it turns out when it’s finished. It has varying widths. We’ll see—I’m on the last pattern repeat, then I’ll cast off. I definitely really like the pattern and color. 

Petra, your yarn has a gorgeous color combo, I love it! 

Yeah, spring is still nice, but then that awful summer comes around again, and it gets hot again, I hate the heat! I’m already having hot flashes. I just love it right now when another hot flash hits and I can throw the window open and it’s freezing cold - wonderful! Are there walk-in refrigerators? I want one. :-)

Then that neighbor from hell will be moving in soon too ****. He’ll be smoking on the patio, and then I won’t be able to open my windows anymore. And with 2 kids who just don’t go to bed early in the evening. And he’s so loud (you know those cool drivers who always sit in their cars with thumping bass - like that!)  It’s the son of the neighbor who moved away 3 years ago and is now coming back with his wife and 2 kids, so I know what’s in store for me. It’s awful when other people make your life difficult.  

BUT I’m also listening to a talk on mindfulness right now, and he’s just saying that thoughts about the past and worries about the future only cause stress, you’re supposed to enjoy the moment. OK... I’ll try that now.

You guys are amazing! I didn’t check in here for just one day, and already more lovely things have been finished.

Steffi, that’s one handsome cat. Yeah, those velvet paws sure know what they’re doing. At least he’s leaving your yarn alone—that’s already something.

Anja, a husband who cooks—I’m jealous of that. Mine just helped out, which is great in itself. And I have to say one thing: he helps me before and after cooking—chopping the ingredients beforehand and cleaning everything up afterward. That makes me happy to cook.
When I was still having hot flashes, I was glad for the cool weather and wished I could feel cold again. Now that’s over, and I’m enjoying it. I don’t like the summer heat either. My favorite seasons are spring and fall. Yeah, that nice guy you heard from is right. Enjoy the moment—maybe things will turn out better than you think right now.

Marion, I’m amazed! That sweater turned out super cute—wowww!
Back when my son was little, I knitted Norwegian sweaters for the whole family. That was a long time ago… but who knows, maybe I’ll do that again someday. In any case, you were really fast for such a big project.

Marlies, I’m wishing you a speedy recovery, too.

Petra, your loop scarf looks really great—I really like the color combination and the pattern, too.

I’ve just finished the last dishcloth, which I’ll be sending out with two others in the next few days.



The loop for Juna… let’s see if it fits. I’ll probably have to fold it over.



And here’s the start of the loop for Linja with the mouse.



And here’s the yarn for the shawl that’s going to my friend.

Monika..... A loop with a mouse????? Whose pattern is it????
And you’ve switched the turbo on again 

Marion.... the sweater turned out really beautiful 💖
It looks really cheerful. 

Mine is only growing slowly right now... I’m knitting with Kauni, pure new wool, and the "color section" is so awkward to knit.... it gets caught so quickly with the second color, and then the yarn tension isn’t right and I keep having to pick up the strands again. 


I’m halfway there.... tomorrow I’ll see whether I put it on the long cable to try it on; I only have two increase rows in the color section and that seems very little to me, even if it is 320 stitches. It looks so small.... It absolutely has to go on the mannequin tomorrow. 

Petra, is there pink/rose in the color gradient???? That’s quite an "unusual" color combo; usually there’s only turquoise and sand-colored.... 

hello late at night,

you’ve all been busy again. Compliments. You’ve made some very pretty things again.

Unfortunately, I can only pop in here now and then. With my late shift, I don’t get anything done.
I still have a doll crochet order to finish for a coworker. One little doll is almost finished, but crocheting the wig takes time. I still have to make a second little doll; whether I’ll manage that by Christmas, I have no idea.
Pictures will come later.

I also haven’t prepared anything for Christmas yet (baking cookies, Christmas roast, and so on). Somehow I’m running late this year.

Anja, I know that too, that “boom-boom music” from the car; they drive past here too. Smokers also live above us, and every time the cigarette butts end up on our balcony.
And next door you can hear every word, or dogs barking. We just have to live with that. Sometimes it seems louder to me, sometimes not.

Well, hopefully you all had a lovely 3rd Sunday of Advent.
Stay healthy, everyone, and see you around.

best wishes, Andrea

Marion, I love your sweater! I’m a bit hesitant about these colorful patterns because I always feel like I can’t quite get the hang of crossing the yarns and, above all, managing the tension. Although I’ve already knitted quite a few Christmas ornaments using this technique, I wasn’t always completely satisfied with the result: often, the dark color showed through too much. 
You’re all really hard at work. Your cowl, Petra, already looks really good—what kind of material is that?
Steffi, it’s great that your cat is interested in knitting charts, too! Our Nala also likes to use them as a place to rest, which gets a little uncomfortable for me because I can’t see anything anymore… At least she usually leaves my yarn alone now!
I’ll have something to show you again tomorrow. But it’s getting late—good night!

Dear all,

I just wanted to drop by and let you know that I’m always checking in here to see your latest creations.
But most of the time, there’s so much new stuff all at once that I can’t bring myself to leave a comment… Because I don’t want to leave anything uncommented, and I don’t have time for a long comment—especially on my phone.

  So here’s some general praise: Every day, I’m thrilled by everything you’re sharing here! :)

I’ll give it a try anyway!

@Marion, your sweater is absolutely amazing! It makes you want to put it on right away. It looks so wintery and cozy.

@Monika: I really like your neck warmers, too. I’m already really excited to see the one with the mouse.

  @Petra, Anja, and Steffi: What you’ve started there already looks super interesting. I’m looking forward to the results! Both patterns are great!

  @Anja: Oh dear, I can already feel the anticipation for the new neighbors. I hope you all stay calm! :) If worse comes to worst, just put on your new, super-stylish hat and pad it out a bit over your ears :D

@Ruth: Your little piggy is so super cute. I hope it brings you—and all of us—good luck for the coming year!

  I finally—after 11 months—finished my dragon, Jax, the other day! (I’ve diligently added the picture to the gallery)
Now I’m finally “free” again when it comes to crocheting :D That dragon was always weighing on my conscience, and I never started anything new. Now I have a new shawl on my hook—yay! :)
  Other than that, I’ve been enjoying spending time at the sewing machine lately. With the little time I have right now, I’m glad that sewing gives me faster results :)

(Sorry if I’m always complaining here about how little time I have since Leo arrived :D I know other people have kids and everything, too. But I have to admit: I have no idea how other parents manage to fit in knitting, crocheting, and so on—on top of work, kids, keeping the house in order, healthy eating, and everything else... So: Hats off to everyone who’s a bit more organized than I am :D) 

Since the doily won’t cooperate — and I’ll probably have to get some yarn for it first — I started on a DF project: gloves

Autocorrect doesn’t like yarn.

Wonderful, Marlene! “No Yarn at All” That could be the name of the new “Yarn Diet” group! 😆

....I’m in....
When my husband asks, “What did you order this time?”.... nothing at all!!!! 😂😂😂

Hello everyone,

my goodness, there’s quite a buzz going on here......I hope I don’t forget anyone with all these posts.
Now that it’s the pre-Christmas season, there’s really a lot to do, and I had a few orders to fill, so I’ve only been checking in sporadically.

Anja, I think the hat is really nice, and I’m also looking forward to seeing the final result of the scarf.

Ruth, everyone could use a little lucky piggy right now—you’ve done a great job with it again, and you’re known for making such cute little things.

Marion, wow, that sweater—I’ve already had the chance to admire it. Like Christina, I never quite dare to try it myself because of the yarn tension and all that; maybe once I’ve seen it in person, I’ll get the urge to give it a go.

Steffi, your sweater-in-progress also looks promising—I’m really looking forward to seeing it; I like it a lot.

Petra, the colors of the loop scarf go together beautifully, and I think the pattern is lovely, too.

Marlene, yeah, sometimes that’s how it is—you have an idea in your head but can’t quite get the right result. In that case, it’s probably better to work on something else first and then tinker with it again later.

Oh Monika, all your projects going on at once—I used to do that too and would quickly lose track of some of the projects I’d started. Now I don’t juggle so many at once anymore—at least I’m trying not to—though every now and then another craft project does slip in. I really admire you for that.

Well, I hope I’ve named them all—haha—I’m really all over the place right now. For one thing, I’m eagerly awaiting my first grandchild, and then there’s the daily hustle and bustle here, just like for so many people at this time of year… but

I, too, can show off my little dishcloths and washcloths today






that I finished up last week.
Right now I’m knitting hats—one for me and one for my husband—and yesterday our daughter saw the first one, so now we’re adding a third. My son-in-law is still deciding on the color… I’ll let him surprise me.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Steffi, I’m knitting the loop using the pattern from the mouse hat—Sonja’s pattern.
Your sweater already looks great even in the early stages.

Just a quick note today… I still have a lot to do.

Andrea, it’s nice to hear from you again. I’m looking forward to seeing your dolls.

Christina, I’m also looking forward to your photos.

Tina, I’m glad to hear from you, too. Yeah, little kids just need a lot of attention. And that’s a good thing, because you’ll miss this time later on. Enjoy it.

Marlene, DF with a set of double-pointed needles. Wow, I really don’t like that at all. But your project will turn out great.

Anja, your sense of humor again… delightful.

Ines, one of your washcloths looks a lot like mine. The ones with the little feet are just so cute. Such a sweet idea.

When I have something finished to show, I’ll check in again...

Monika, lol, I actually took a closer look at the washcloths you posted here—they really do look alike. What a coincidence....
LG 


The dinosaur brother will have to wait a little longer to be born—the other Christmas gifts aren’t ready yet!

This is Mama Dino by Loop 😍

That’s so cute...
I’m still “struggling” with Fair Isle; it’s unbelievable.... I’m definitely not knitting my next sweater with Kauni. I still have so much of it 🙈
Two in rainbow colors 🌈—I once wanted to knit a blanket in double-face, in the round....
 The pattern is called “Stars, Flowers, Children”… I’ve had it printed out for ages. But maybe it’s easier to knit with “grabby” yarns???? At least the yarn tension stays even that way. 
I’m going to knit a few more rounds (I’ve already done 30 out of 52) 
Have a lovely evening, everyone 🏵🌺🌸

Oh Christina, your dinosaurs are so cute. And so beautifully colorful. They’re sure to bring joy.

Steffi, you’re as hardworking as ever, and your needles are surely already glowing.

I’ll show you the mouse scarf for Linja in the meantime. It turned out really cute.




And since it turned out so nice, I’m going to knit another one for Juna after all, to match the hat she already has. I’ll knit that one out of cotton, too, so it definitely won’t be itchy.

I’ll make something else out of the original sheep scarf—I’m still thinking about what that will be.

At the same time, I’m still working on the design for my friend’s shawl.

Have a great day, everyone!

Hi.... 
Monika, why don’t you make a bag out of the Schafloop.... Then no one else will have one. 

Yesterday my yarn was unexpectedly flying over the needles, and I only need 12 more rounds 😊👍
Okay, when my eyes got too tired and I looked at the clock, it was just past midnight. 🙈 But the audiobook was just too good 😇
and my feet were nicely warmed too, including a “purr-vibration massage” 
Now a quick coffee and then restack a bit of firewood. Better today than somehow at Christmas.... 
and after that, the audiobook is waiting 👍

You’ve made some great things!

Ines, that shawl with the little feet is just too cute!

Christina, I really like the shawl with the dinosaur, too—especially in those colors! My grandson’s name is Julian, too, and he’s crazy about dinosaurs. We’ll see…

And the mouse-themed loop scarf turned out absolutely adorable, Monika! It was a great idea to use the pattern from the hat for the loop scarf. If the other granddaughter gets one, too, she’ll surely wear it with pride.

I’m gradually getting back on track now. The stomach flu really took it out on me more than I thought, and I didn’t get much done with my handwork.
I’ve pulled out my embroidery supplies again. First, I embroidered two Christmas cards (by hand—unfortunately, I don’t have a great machine like Inge’s!), which goes relatively quickly, and I need some more to send out anyway:


And tonight I’d finally like to finish embroidering the picture of my granddaughter. Her birthday is in January, so I want to give it to her then. It’ll actually be finished before Christmas, but at Christmas, the Christ Child brings the presents!

Your cards turned out beautifully. The recipients will be very happy.

I always mean to do some embroidery too. I’d like to embroider a robin one day. Someday..... 

Just taking another quick look in here

Monika, you’re quick again. It’s amazing what you all have created in such a short time. I’m totally behind. But now I have 3 whole days off in a row, so I simply have to get something done, whether it’s needlework or baking cookies—we’ll see.

ruthk, your Christmas cards look absolutely great. I used to make things like that all the time, but right now I just don’t have the time for it.

First I need to finish up my orders, then hopefully I can make something for myself again.



Have a pleasant rest of the week, everyone. Kind regards, Andrea

Well, the embroidery of my granddaughter is finally finished. Now it just needs to be framed, and then there’s another picture of my youngest granddaughter waiting to be embroidered. 

Wow, Ruth! What an incredible amount of work. You’ve been very hard at it, and you can be very proud of yourself. It turned out great, and you have a very sweet granddaughter.

Ruth.... this is amazing—it looks so “real,” just like a photo. ...
How do you do that—all those color shades....

Monika, the loop turned out so cute....

  I just finished knitting the yoke. Tomorrow I’ll set off the sleeves, and then it’ll get boring.
Somehow the gray Kauni looks more like a dark brown because the contrast is so vivid. 

Right now, I’m not really convinced by what I have on my needles 🙈
It looks so “masculine,” doesn’t it? 

Not at all, Steffi! Sure, a man could wear that too, but I’d definitely wear something like that—for example, with black or dark brown jeans. I really like it!

Ruth, your embroidery is so beautiful, a wonderful keepsake. I’m sure you spent countless hours working on it again. 

Steffi, I really like your knitting too; whether for a woman or a man, I think both can wear it. 

Wishing you all a lovely Advent weekend

Steffi, I think it’s good too.

I just found a good-luck charm in an old bag that I crocheted a while back. Back then, I’d crocheted the wing on the wrong way around and got annoyed. But now I feel like it’s waving at me. :-)
And that’s what makes it so special: 

Oh Ruth, looking at that beautiful picture makes me want to give it a try myself. I’ll have to look into where I can get the template made.

Anja, I think that little guy waving is so cute!

Check this out—I just went for a walk around the block, and when I got back, I found a brave little flower right outside my door, defying December: 

@Ines: Your dishcloths and washcloths are great! I always think these kinds of “practical” things—the ones you can actually use—are the best! The little feet are super cute :) 

@Christina: Now I want to make the dinosaurs too :D So awesome! 

@Monika: The mouse neck warmers are a hit!  So beautiful :) Thanks to you all, I always want to learn to knit :) Someday in this life, I’ll manage it too—for sure! 

@Ruth: Your embroidered picture is just unbelievable! 
It’s absolutely amazing! So awesome. One of a kind. It really makes all the work worth it. 

@Steffi: I don’t think it’s masculine at all—it’s super pretty! Just keep going—even if it gets “boring” for you :D 

@Anja: That little bird is sooo cute :) A waving bird. It’s the little mistakes that make handmade projects one of a kind. It doesn’t look wrong at all—it looks special. 
And your little flower find is great!
Unfortunately, nothing is blooming here. 
Ever since the snow melted, everything here has been gray in muddy green/brown. 

I’m still working hard on my new shawl. I’m going to give it to a friend and make a matching baby blanket to go with it, which her baby (due in April) will get :) 
Other than that, I’ve now finished sewing the set for my nephew that he’ll get for Christmas. I’ll upload a picture later. 
(Don’t be surprised if the pictures come separately. I prefer typing on my laptop and uploading pictures from my phone :D) 

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone :) 

Oh, so much has been created here. Christina: I also repurposed the dinosaurs from Sonja’s Dinoloop (but the crochet version) 😃


Ruth: Your embroidered pictures are a dream

Monika: The mouse loop is super cute

Hello there! Unfortunately, I’ve fallen behind here over the last few days... So, for once, I have to throw a general “Wow, you’ve created some beautiful things” into the mix. Even if it’s a bit impersonal, believe me, I’ve admired every piece shown and am thrilled along with you about these lovely creations!

Tina, I totally get what you mean!

  I started a new job on very short notice in December. It’s only a part-time position, but it’s still completely thrown my “normal” weekly routine into disarray. And that’s on top of all the hustle and bustle that December already brings. There were quite a few days without yarn, without healthy meals, and without a tidy house :-) But that’s okay once in a while. Anyway, my new job is off to a really good start—I’m happy about it—and everything else will sort of fall into place on its own.

Tomorrow we’re celebrating Christmas with my mom, my brother, and my sister-in-law, because my brother and his wife are spending the holidays in Hungary with her parents. Unfortunately, my older daughter was in a positive test pool at school this week, so she had to go in for another individual test today. We won’t get the results for another 24–48 hours, which is too late to give the green light for our visit. Now everyone (except my husband and me) has panicked, even though we’re all vaccinated, and we’ll have to kick off our family celebration with a barrage of rapid tests. For my daughter, this will be her fourth test in four days, and she’s really had enough.

Can I just officially say here that I’m sick of “C” and it should just go away already??? My younger daughter recently had the idea that we should all just yell “C” really loud and angrily at the same time—then it’ll get scared and run away. Yeah, that’s exactly what I’d love to do right now!!! Who’s in? Together we can do this :-) :-) :-) So, on the count of three! One, two, three—GRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After the visit, we’re going away for a few days, so unfortunately I won’t be able to write much then. But I’ll try to keep up with what you’re posting.

Now I’m sending an extra warm greeting to everyone who’s sad / stressed / annoyed / or otherwise feeling down. We’re all kind of a little bit like Anja’s lucky charm (which I think is soooo cute)—not perfect, but that’s exactly why we’re so lovable!

Here’s the set I mentioned earlier :) for my nephew for Christmas :)
(The scarf isn’t as crooked as it looks :D it just doesn’t look right in the picture)

I’ll go back to the other items on my computer—it’s just too much of a hassle to do it on my phone :D

P.S.: To my dear sister: if you’re checking this forum to stalk me and you’ve already seen the set—tough luck if the surprise is ruined :p 

Wow, Tina, that’s awesome! What’s that in the top right corner? A loop? 

Thanks :) Yeah, exactly—it’s a loop. Or just a neck warmer or tube scarf, or whatever you want to call it. 

Once again, so many great things.

I swapped my gloves project for a cowl:

The Dino bag turned out great, Sandra! Is that for Anton, or is it going into your “gift stash”?

Wow, Tina, the set for your nephew is gorgeous! How old is he?

Have you given up on the mittens entirely, or will it be a set with a loop scarf and mittens? It’s the same yarn, right?

I’m taking a break from crafts right now. After finishing the embroidery, I need to take care of other things first. There’s still quite a bit to do before Christmas.

It’s the same yarn, Ruth.

This won’t be enough for a set.
I can’t get any more of it either, since the yarn is already quite old.

I’ll knit the gloves sometime using a different yarn.

Sandra, the dinosaur bag turned out great.

Marlene, I really like the combination of those two colors.

I swapped out my knitting needle for an embroidery needle and finished my next gift. I’m giving away a jar full of Guzzle, and the reindeer will go on top of the lid as a little hat



Have a wonderful 4th Sunday of Advent together

Uiii, now I've really lost track here... you all have been incredibly busy! At the moment I'm just spending less time at the PC. There's plenty to do in real life too.

Ruth, I used to make and send such pretty embroidered cards myself too. Now it's simply time for other projects. In any case, that's something very special.
The embroidered picture of your granddaughter is absolutely amazing!! She is such a sweetie, a really lovely picture. She will be thrilled. You really have an incredible amount of patience.

Steffi, your sweater is really taking shape. I think the pattern is neutral; it suits everyone. The main thing is always that you like it.

Anja, your little good-luck birdie is very cute and just right as it is, a special one.
The flower picture in December - wow - that really is something very special too. I'm amazed; I've never seen anything like it before.

Tina, sooner or later your fingers will be itching to try knitting. It's not that hard at all. Your set for your nephew is super sweet. I'm already thinking about whether I should start sewing again too.

Sandra, that's also a good idea, putting the dino on a bag.

Yes, Sonja, you're right. I'll give them a proper telling-off too.... :)
And yes, it's wonderful that all of us - each in our own way - are something special, and that we have a shared space here and can simply be who we are. Have a lovely vacation and get some good rest!

Marlene, your loop scarf looks great. That's double-face, right?

Petra, a lovely idea with the embroidery. Did you design the reindeer yourself?


Dear all, thank you for your feedback on the mouse loop scarf.
Yesterday I finished the second one, the one for Juna. It's the red one. So now both of them will have the loop scarf to match the color of their hats. Here is the photo of both loop scarves from both sides.

Petra, what stitch did you use to embroider that cute reindeer? I love the idea!

Sandra, your bag turned out great. I think the dinosaurs are a wonderful motif, especially for boys!

Marlene, I can’t quite make out what motif is taking shape on your loop yet. The colors are great!

Monika, I completely overlooked your curious little mice at first. They turned out so cute! I never cease to be amazed by how much you manage to get done in such a short time. Everything takes me much longer, but my itchy fingers just won’t let me knit for more than two hours a day—plus, there’s so much else on my to-do list!

I traced the reindeer from a Christmas book. You can do this with a transfer pencil, tracing paper, and an iron.

Then I stitched along the lines using a backstitch.

Monika, your mouse loops turned out so cute—perfect for little girls!

Thanks, Christina and Petra. :) I’m already looking forward to giving these as Christmas gifts.

Petra, that’s a great idea about tracing the patterns,

It’s turning into a kind of diamond pattern, Christina.
When I come up with patterns, I usually end up with something geometric.

I’m feeling a bit frustrated right now... I really like colorful things, and when I’m browsing Pinterest and see awesome projects made from scraps, they always look great. But when I mix and match colors, it always looks like a unicorn threw up.
It just never seems to go together—ugh... 

Anja, try Googling “combining colors.” That’ll help you figure out which combinations look good and which ones don’t

Oh, Anja… did they also mention how many “attempts” it took before it finally worked out???? And we don’t really know if it was actually made entirely in single crochet either… When I want to knit something from my stash, it usually ends up with me taking a piece out of the closet and then ordering something to go with it, because the colors just won’t match no matter what 🙈
I must have cast on 6–7 times recently, and every time the color combination wasn’t pretty enough. So I had to order something right away 😇

Monika, those little mice are just too cute—I totally believe you when you say giving them as gifts is extra fun. I’d love to see the look on the kids’ faces.

Marlene, you’re knitting in exactly “my” colors right now. I love how they work together. I’m curious to see the pattern....

And such beautiful embroidered works of art. I admire how much love and time goes into them....
Last summer, when I was feeling so homesick for Italy, one of my “knitting sisters” gave me something very special..... 

I would have loved to hang this in the hallway.....
My husband just said, “I don’t live in a nursing home, after all.” .... 😤
Now I’m the only one dreaming of Italy 

Steffi I once crocheted a granny shawl out of scraps—using ALL the scraps I had. They were always these tiny, wound-up balls of yarn, and it looked great.

I just had this crazy knitting experience. For years, I’ve been knitting something that actually works exactly the opposite way.🙃 Phew!
So: Apparently, many years ago I learned from a shawl pattern to make increases from the strand between the stitches, and ever since then, I’ve been knitting it the way I learned. But it bugs me because the increase where you pick up the yarn from back to front onto the needle is easy to knit, but the other way around (yarn from front to back) is a mess and a hassle. I thought to myself, “There’s definitely a trick to this—I’ll check out a YouTube tutorial.”
No sooner said than done—they do it exactly the other way around in the video. And if you do it like they do in the video, that fiddly part is actually really easy to knit AND there are no holes. Apparently, that was an intentional effect back when I made my first shawl, and I’ve been doing it that way ever since. Pfffft!
You never stop learning: 

You’ve all been so hard at work and have crafted such beautiful things. Absolutely amazing!!!

I even found my ancient tablecloth, which is now back in use. I embroidered it about 35–40 years ago.



I’d taken a bit of a step back because I just couldn’t take it anymore. My cousin died of cancer at just 60 years old. Then the son of another cousin developed a serious heart condition and had to undergo emergency surgery. No one knows yet how that will turn out. He inherited it from his father, who also died of the same condition in his mid-forties.
Somehow, I just can’t get into the Christmas spirit. Tomorrow I’m heading to the Alte Land. Maybe that’ll take my mind off things a bit. I’ll try to make things cozy for both of us (as long as he lets me).
We’ll go grocery shopping tomorrow. The plan is potato salad and fried fish for Christmas Eve, and duck with red cabbage on Christmas Day. On the second day of Christmas, he’ll head over to our kids’ place. That’ll be another challenge for me once I’m on my own again.

I wish you all a wonderful time—and don’t stress yourselves out.

Hi, Marlies.....
I wish you all the strength in the world from the bottom of my heart....

I still have a really old blanket from my grandma—we embroidered it together back then.... That was over 40 years ago 🙈
  I treasure it like a precious gem. Even though I’ve never been “allowed” to put it out yet, and my husband often asks why I still have that “ugly” thing....
This blanket means so much more to me than he could ever imagine.... 

Steffi, your husband doesn’t seem to be very fond of beautiful handicrafts. That’s such a shame! The ribbon is sooo beautiful!

Marlies, I also wish you lots of strength for the time ahead. 

I’m so sorry to hear that, Marlies.
Why don’t you go visit the kids? Do you think being alone would do you good right now? Or is that exactly what you need right now?

I think those embroidered blankets are really pretty, too, but they just wouldn’t fit in with our style at all. I can understand the men a little there.

It’s just a crappy time overall. That idiot Putin scares me—as if we needed a war on top of a pandemic. I keep thinking I’m in the wrong movie. And right now I’m in a fight with five people at the same time. And this damn menopause—man, I felt so nauseous again today. I’m not looking forward to Christmas either. Because two of the people I’m arguing with are my daughters. And now I need a booster shot as early as January—damn, I thought I still had time. Then the anxiety starts all over again, and the fact that I have to get it. Have you guys gotten your booster shots yet? If so, how did you tolerate it?

.....that’s right.....he really hasn’t!
At least he can accept that I knit in the living room.... 🙈😊🙈
He paid a fortune for his winter hat and is surprised that it doesn’t fit right.... I’d knit him one, a really simple one. Nope... he’d rather run around with cold ears than “humiliate” himself by wearing something I knitted....
Well, that just leaves me more time to knit beautiful things for myself 😍

Thank you so much for your kind words.

I’ve been through the same thing with my “pride and joy,” Steffi. Guys just can’t imagine that something like this has such special meaning. I was surprised that I was allowed to put the blanket on the bed.
A few years ago, he asked for a long, warm scarf. He never even wore it, and I don’t even know if it still exists...

No, Anja, I don’t want to be alone, especially at Christmas, but my three children have decided they don’t have a mother anymore. (They’ve never told me why.) When they come to visit their father, I’m not allowed to be there. If I do happen to be there, I’m ignored. They don’t even say hello.  He can’t stand up to our daughter. She’s the one in charge of her father and brothers. Maybe my husband is just afraid that he won’t be allowed to see our granddaughter anymore if he stands up for me.
The little one will turn three in January. I’ve never seen her and won’t get to know her either. I’ve come to terms with it, but on holidays like this, it all comes back. And when the proud grandpa comes back and gushes about all the things the little one can already do and how much fun he has with her, I might “not be nice.” But he doesn’t even realize that he’s hurting me by doing that.
Then you see all the lovely things here that you could make for such a little one and aren’t allowed to, because I’m the bad one.

I got my booster shot. I had a headache and felt a little wobbly, but I had a lot more problems after the second shot. I think you slowly get used to the vaccine. I guess we’ll have to deal with this every three to six months.

Anja, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that your symptoms improve soon. I’m doing well with my hormone replacement therapy.

Marlies, I’m so sorry!!! There’s a group where affected parents share their experiences—it seems to happen quite often. If you’re interested, I still have the contact email for the group’s founder. Something about “abandoned parents”... 

Dear Marlies, I always find it sad when I hear things like that. I was in a similar situation myself—my sister and I hadn’t had any contact with our mother for ten years. At my grandmother’s (her mother’s) funeral, we met again and just talked without dwelling on everything that had happened. We told each other, “What’s done is done,” and that everyone makes mistakes sometimes. We have a really great relationship now. I also know of a case like yours—the mother first had to become seriously ill and, sadly, passed away shortly afterward before contact was restored.
No matter what happened, I think it’s important to talk about it. Life is too short to spend it arguing. We all make mistakes, but I don’t want to end up saying someday, “If only I had…”
I wish you lots of strength and hope everything works out for the best.

If only they’d just talk… They don’t even see me.
At my mother-in-law’s funeral, my daughter would have loved to push me into the grave too. I’ll never forget that hate-filled look for the rest of my life. Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine.
I heard my daughter say to her father, “I don’t have a mother anymore, and as far as I’m concerned, she can hang dead on a fence somewhere.”
Actually, I’ve got everything under control, but Christmas is (or should be) a special time.

That doesn’t sound nice; I think some things really need to be talked through because I don’t believe that’s what she actually means. You don’t seem to be indifferent to her—hatred is just as much a feeling as love. I’m not just saying all this off the cuff; I know what I’m talking about because I’ve been through enough myself. Maybe you need someone to help mediate.
Make Christmas as wonderful as possible for yourself, with things that are good for YOU—whether your husband likes them or not.
All my love to you

I’m sending you a little sunshine.... 


A burst of color 💖 The view from my window this morning....

Argh! *snorts* I’ve spent hours now trying to knit a twist into a headband. I tried this years ago and didn’t figure out which way to knit the cable needle stitches—and now I’m stuck again. Hours of knitting down the drain! *snort* It always drives me so crazy when I can’t figure something out. I’ve watched three different videos on it now and still don’t get it. So, boom, everything goes into the bag and into the closet. What a waste of time! It was two-color brioche, too—I got all mixed up with the yarn overs, and because everything was so small and tight after the twist, I couldn’t see how the pattern continued. Man, I could’ve used that time to finish the scarf for my friend. *grrrrr*
Sometimes it’s really no fun. Can you relate? 

Oh yeah.... I know that feeling.... 
Most of the time it “happens” to me because I didn’t read properly 🙈
And then I get annoyed because it just won’t do what it’s supposed to, and once I’ve found the mistake, I sometimes end up storming through the house.... 
Then all my “four-legged friends” get out of my way 😂 My husband doesn’t really get it and somehow ends up taking the brunt of it 🤷

I had to look up what a “twist” is first. I still have a lot to learn.....

  I finished up the last of the gifts today. Yesterday, my husband cut down the tree and set it up today. Now it’s standing all decked out in the living room. All the gifts are wrapped. I’m really on schedule this year.

If my daughter doesn’t like this little guy—which I don’t think will happen—then he’ll stay with me. It was really fun to crochet him.

   

Oh dear, there’s a lot to catch up on again…

Just a quick note about the bright color combinations. For me, they always come together quite spontaneously. I just start and then see what might go well with it. Most of it actually comes together while I’m knitting. So far, I’ve never had to unravel anything because I didn’t like the colors. However, I’m sometimes like Steffi in that I have to order more yarn to go with it (well, you always have to have an excuse). ;-)

Steffi, I’d hang up your “Bella Italia” art pieces, even if your husband doesn’t like it. After all, you live there too and need to feel comfortable. Maybe you can work something out with him and set up a little corner just the way you like it. Were you born in Italy? It’s definitely very beautiful there.

Marlies, oh dear, you really aren’t having an easy time of it right now. I know what this is like with my husband’s children. He last saw his son in 1992, when he was 15. Dealing with that really isn’t easy. But there’s still hope that someday there will at least be a conversation.
Don’t give up on trying to start a conversation. Sometimes it’s the grandchildren who can turn things around. That’s how it was with my husband’s daughter. When the little girl was 4, they finally started to get closer. She wanted to get to know her grandpa. I sincerely hope that things turn out that way for you, too. Otherwise, I completely agree with Imelda’s words.

Anja, I wish you peaceful days as well. I didn’t know what a “twist” was either until now. Learned something new again.

So, I’ve now started knitting a cardigan for myself using the yarn from the swap package that Ina circulated here. Let’s see how far I get with it. I’ve dug out some leftover balls of yarn that go well with it, even in terms of quality. So I don’t need to buy anything extra. ;-)

This is how far I’ve gotten so far. Unfortunately, the lighting isn’t great for photos today.



Have a wonderful start to the Christmas weekend, everyone, and make yourselves comfortable.

Hohoho, you busy little bees! 🐝

Yesterday I saw a tutorial where the lady placed her knitting needles side by side and cast on stitches onto both needles; then you pull one needle out, and you’re left with loosely cast-on stitches that you don’t have to tug on. I found it very comfortable to knit that way. Do you guys do that too? 🥢🧶

And I have a question about the price of yarn. I’m a total bargain hunter, and I’m sometimes amazed by the prices. Hand-spun or hand-dyed yarn, in particular, is crazy expensive. I don’t mean to downplay the work that goes into it. My question is, if the yarn looks beautiful and feels nice, would you ever spend twenty bucks on a skein like that? I’ve fallen in love with a skein just like that, but whoa, the price is really something else....

I’ll skip the cheerful Christmas greetings. The mood here at home is still pretty lousy. But I wish you all a peaceful holiday season, and to everyone getting together with family, I’d also like to add, “stay healthy”! 🎄

I’d still like to wish you a “Merry Christmas” 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

In response to your question… I’m also familiar with casting on with both needles, but I don’t always use that method. It just depends on how loose the cast-on can be…

Right now, I knit almost exclusively with hand-dyed yarn—preferably sock weight, 400m/100g, and ideally a merino blend. The most I’ve spent so far is 15€ per skein. If you convert that to 50g of “commercial” yarn, that about covers it.
  I’d pass on twenty…
I have a couple of dyers on Etsy where I order frequently, and I know the quality and price are right there. And I can even have them dye something special for me if I ever need more of a particular color. 

I cast on by knitting the stitches.
So: I make a slip knot and put both needles through it. ** Then I place the yarn between both needles and pull it through.
This creates a new loop, which I place on the left needle ** - ** ... ** and I keep doing this until I have the desired number of stitches.

The advantage of casting on by knitting stitches is that you always have just the right amount of yarn. That’s how I learned to do it, and that’s how I did it for many decades—until I learned the long-tail cast-on in my knitting circle. It’s just looser. But I’ve also cursed plenty of times when the yarn wasn’t long enough and I had to start over from the beginning. 

Anja, I learned to cast on that way too—using two needles—but I haven’t done it in a long time. Yes, that’s right; it makes the first row easier to knit. Most of the time, I do it like Marlene does: I knit the stitches up so they’re loose. I have a good tip for the cross cast-on. For standard yarn weight (up to size 4 needles), I calculate about 10 cm for 10 stitches; for thicker yarn, a little more. Then I factor in the length that needs to be left over. That always works out well for me. Anything that’s too long can just be cut off.

As for yarn prices, it usually comes down to quality. I haven’t had good experiences with cheap yarn, so I’m happy to spend a little more on it. For example, at Finkhof—that’s yarn from organic sheep that aren’t mistreated. You can look up “mulesing” online… ever since I learned about it, I’ve been paying attention to that. Finkhof also uses natural dyes.
Drops yarn is also one of my favorites—whether it’s merino or cotton. It’s good quality (and cruelty-free) and is also quite affordable. That way, I get both things that are important to me.

Steffi, that’s a great tip about hand-dyed yarn. I like using it too, but I’ve rarely knitted with it. It’s really lovely.

Hi everyone,
I can only pop in briefly. Family is coming to visit any minute now. I’m really looking forward to it.

I managed to finish my crochet commission at the last minute. I persevered bravely.
Here’s the result. It was well received.

I haven’t cast on with double needles in a long time either. I usually just use one needle—that’s enough for knitting. I also often end up with a yarn tail that’s too long at the end, but by now I collect my yarn ends as stuffing for sewn hearts, for example.

Thanks, Monika, for the tip about the centimeters. I wrote that down right away—I’ll have to try it out.

So far, I’ve never knitted the cast-on stitches when casting on. I’ll watch a video about that over the holidays.

I cast on a hat earlier, and now I’m knitting and waiting for the Christkind to come. It won’t be long now.

Andrea, your two little dolls turned out cute. The recipient will surely be very happy. 

Andrea the dolls are really fantastic. I can totally believe you had to persevere with them. I once crocheted 2 cuddly mice when a colleague had twins. Mouse 1 was still fun, but I really struggled with Mouse 2. 

Since yesterday I’ve been knitting a headband with a cable. I kept making mistakes and have now cast it on with a solid-colored yarn for the time being, so I can see better how it works and let it become second nature before I dare try the patterned yarn. Once again I’m realizing that patterns where you have to work with concentration just aren’t my thing. Counting rows and so on... I did a lot of cursing yesterday! All that time wasted. On top of that, I’m knitting with a smaller needle as required in the pattern so the stitches are denser and the wind doesn’t blow through it (like it does with my headbands so far, made with a normal needle size *brrrrr*). But knitting with the smaller needle is not exactly relaxing. 

It’s been quiet here on CP...

We had a quiet day yesterday, and I was able to knit comfortably in my cozy corner of the sofa.

My sweetheart got a new warm hat. Knitted with double yarn



And I finished a scarf for the donation box



Now I’m undecided about what to start next.... 

Progress update on my cowl:

Now Christmas is almost over, and we’re approaching the end of the year. I wish you all a truly wonderful end-of-year sprint with your favorite projects.

Andrea, I can totally understand your joy, especially since you’ve had to go without spending Christmas with your family for so many years. Your crochet twins are sooo cute. I feel the same way as Anja. The first one is still fun, but doing the same thing twice would be too boring for me, too.

Anja, keep at it. I know it’s pretty fiddly to knit with a smaller needle. But you’re doing great, and you’ll soon be able to show us your new headband in all its glory.

Petra, the hat and the scarf both look great. I’m always happy when I get to knit something for my sweetheart. He’s always thrilled with it. I just saw your awesome “lucky” coasters. They really turned out great. You’ve been keeping them from us until now.

Marlene, your loop scarf looks almost finished. Great!

So, I’ve made some progress on my jacket too. The raglan section is done, and I started on the first sleeve today. I’ll knit the body after the sleeves, since I don’t know how far the yarn will go. This is what it looked like yesterday.

I’m already excited to see your jacket, Moni.

I’m going to repeat the pattern on the loop one more time, and then I’ll see how it looks in terms of height.
Right now, it could also be used as a headband.

Marlene, that’s the exciting thing about a loop—it can be used in many different ways if it’s a certain height.

The fiddling with the smaller needle was worth it—the headband is nice and warm. However, I can’t wear it on my loose hair; it slides up. 

Good morning!

Anja, your headband looks great and really nice and thick.

Monika: You’ve already made great progress on your jacket again. It’s looking really good already. I’m curious to see what it’ll look like when it’s finished.

Marlene: The pattern on your loop scarf looks great already.

Petra: The hat for your husband looks very warm and nice. I like the scarf, too. What kind of donation box is that?
Did the little guy arrive safely at your daughter's, or is he living with you?

Andrea: Are those little dolls for twins? So cute!

I finished a dragon today. It’s going into my gift box to wait for one of Anton’s friends.

Anja, you’re really stepping it up! Great job! The headband looks fantastic and came together so quickly. Yes, it was definitely worth the effort.

Sandra, the dragon turned out absolutely adorable, just like everything you make. It’s sure to be dearly loved by Anton’s friend.

Wow Sandra another great piece from you. They always look so cute - I wish I enjoyed making things like that...

By the way, my husband thinks the headband is absolutely hideous. He says it looks like a bandage around the forehead. 🤬 But apparently he has a general problem with headbands. I don’t care - I don’t like everything he wears either.
The worst, by the way, are the “cowhide shoes,” as I call them. They’re wooden shoes made from the above-mentioned hide. Soooo incredibly ugly. The neighbors here wear them with passion and think they’re beautiful. Oh well, as they say, tastes differ.

A question outside of crafts. Who among you has hooded eyelids? And who has had or would like to have surgery for them? It’s getting worse and worse for me, I’ve already put the money aside, but fear has held me back so far. And now during the pandemic, I think you have other worries (staying healthy!!!). But if it keeps going like this, soon the skin will hang over my eye so much that I won’t be able to see anything anymore, then it’ll have to be done. My dentist had it done for that reason, because he couldn’t see anymore. It looks really good now. I mean the eyelids, not the dentist himself. 😎

I’m completely overwhelmed again with all my yarn. I’m still dealing with the multicolor problem. I cast something on and then realized I had too few stitches (a jacket knitted sideways, where the number of stitches later becomes the length). I always find it so hard to commit to something unknown... Terrible. Crafts are actually totally therapeutic: engaging, letting go, trust, frustration tolerance.

I was at Edeka early this morning to buy 10 reduced Lindt chocolate Santas. Or as my husband said yesterday: “Christmas bunnies.” 😆🎅🐰

At the shelf there was a man and a woman doing inventory of the Lindt items. I thought they were foreigners; they apparently didn’t understand anything. But then I realized the two of them were deaf. That reminded me again that I’ve always wanted to learn sign language. On the one hand, because I find it interesting how you can speak with your hands, and on the other hand, since people learn foreign languages too, you can also learn something useful for a change. There used to be a course at the university here, but I didn’t dare go because of my panic disorder. I’ll have a look whether you can learn it online. That would be brain training too (learning something new). Yesterday I was briefly afraid that I might have Alzheimer’s. I had ordered something for my daughters and had absolutely no memory of what I had done with it. Complete blackout. You know it from your debit card PIN. You’re standing at the checkout and BANG, the number is erased from your brain. Even when the cashiers assure you that it happens often. I’m always dumbfounded when the brain completely stops working. Once I had to park in a parking garage three days in a row, and on the third day I still remembered the last two parking spaces, but not the current one! I stood there like an idiot and nearly cried, first thinking the car had been stolen. Then I walked through the whole parking garage, pressing the remote over and over until my car finally flashed. In the car I really cried - people with dementia must really feel that helpless, awful!

Anja, your headband turned out great. I like it. And I think the denser and thicker it is, the less the cold wind can whistle through it. Let’s be honest, who really looks good in a headband, hat, or helmet? I certainly don’t, but keeping my head and ears warm just feels good.

When I park my car in a parking garage, I always take a picture of the parking space number and the name of the level. I just can’t seem to remember them. I do have a yellow car—it often stands out from a distance—but better safe than sorry.

Sandra, your dragon is a dream. I’d have a hard time sewing the pieces together myself. Crocheting the individual parts—I can do that. But when it comes to sewing them together—figuring out where each piece goes so it looks good in the end—that’s where I really struggle. That’s when I need help from my sweetheart. He always adjusts the pieces before I sew everything in place with the needle.

My daughter was thrilled with the BB8. Yes, the surprise was a success, and she took him home with her. I’m not sure yet, though, whether he’s found a new home in the bedroom or in my grandson’s room.

Here on CP, I met Christina. She’s active in various organizations in Berlin, and I sent her a big box before Christmas. Since there haven’t been any markets or exhibitions for two years, I’ve accumulated quite a bit. And the scarf is now in the next box, which will go back to Berlin once I’ve knitted or crocheted a few more things.  

So, dear all,
did you all get through the holidays okay? All that eating has to ease up now, but... it was always sooooo delicious.

I’ll check in again too. Wow, you’ve all been busy again in the meantime.

Marlene, your loop scarf looks interesting with those colors. Is that DF?

Monika, you knit like a world champion, and so fast. It definitely looks great already.

Anja, I always have to smile at your choice of words. You speak for all of us and enrich us with your humor.
Yes, the same thing happened to me recently with my EC PIN. Bang, everything gone—what now? I still had my Norwegian PIN in my head, and had hardly used the German PIN. So I tried some sh... and luckily it was right. It was still stored away in the “back of my mind” after all.

I have to deal with droopy eyelids too, but only on one eye; it’s still annoying—when I use mascara, you can hardly see it.
I guess we’re not getting any younger. Aren’t there some kind of tapes for that? Does anyone have a tip?

to everyone: thank you for liking my dolls.
I don’t know whether they were for twins; in any case, my colleague wanted two identical ones of these dolls, and he said they were very happy about them. So the work was worth it, but the hair was quite a time-consuming challenge.

Best regards
Andrea

Sandra, I forgot about your dragon. It looks totally cute. How big did it turn out to be?

Andrea I have those silicone sticky thingies too. You really have to get them in the right spot first. They’ll forgive one correction, but after that something already starts sticking out. BUT if you place them well, they really do help. However, eyeshadow over them doesn’t work so well. When your eyes are open, you can’t see them at all. But with your eyelids lowered, you can see it. Okaaay, the old men have never noticed, but we women SEE THINGS LIKE THAT! In the evening I’m glad when they’re off again. Somehow they itch by the end of the day... And I’m always rubbing my face all over anyway.

And what do you mean, we’re not getting any younger??? We’re not??? Well, as far as being childish goes, I’m definitely not getting older. The inner childlike part (or as my therapist called it: my Pippi Longstocking) is very dominant. Then my daughters are always embarrassed ("act like a 50-year-old for once"). Um - nope! 
But I often think, I hope nobody is watching me when I go splashing full force into a puddle on a walk and enjoy it. Or when I pick dandelion clocks and blow the little parachutes away while making a wish. Or when there are soap bubbles in the store and I HAVE to take some with me because it makes me so happy when I blow them and they shimmer so beautifully. Ahh... 

Thanks to all of you for liking my writing humor so much. That’s so nice to hear. In everyday life, 99% of what I get is grumbling and criticism, so I especially love hearing this from you.

I’m currently crocheting a jacket, and miraculously, the cheapest plastic crochet hook works best because it doesn’t split (or is it spelled “spleist”?) the yarn. 



My multicolored project is stressing me out so much that I’ve put it aside. The scarf for my friend isn’t finished yet either. Just two more sections, and then it should be done. 

Enjoy:
December Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group