January Projects 2022 + December Projects 2021, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Continue writing here:
January Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 3 of the crafting group. Have fun with it.

You can read the earlier posts at the link.
December Projects 2021, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Anja, it’s always a good idea to learn something new and keep your mind sharp. I’ve always been interested in sign language, too. I just don’t have the time because so many other things take priority. I’ve had those moments where I’ve had a sudden mental blank, but luckily that doesn’t happen often. What I have a hard time remembering are names. I also have trouble finding my way around underground parking garages. Petra’s idea of taking photos with a cell phone is a great one.

Oh, Anja, it’s so wonderful when the child inside us is still alive and we let that child shine. I’m just like you in that regard. I also get totally excited about dandelions and soap bubbles. And I love building snowmen, even if they don’t have to be that big anymore. And yes, sledding is fun, too. And one more thing—flying kites! I love that. And your sense of humor, too!
By the way, your jacket looks pretty complicated. You’re already quite far along with it. Keep at it!

I’m almost done with the first sleeve, but I won’t post a picture until I’m finished with the second one.

I’ll have a little less time to be here over the next few days. My granddaughters are coming to visit us on Wednesday with their parents. I’m really looking forward to it!

Monika, I loved flying kites as a kid. And whenever the neighbor kids built a snowman, I’d always take a picture with it. :-) The year before last, they built a 2-meter-tall one—it was amazing.

My crochet pattern looks really complicated at first glance, and since the pattern is in English, I was hesitant to start the project at first. But the jacket is sooo beautiful—I just had to give it a try. The pattern is actually super easy, though—I didn’t expect that the combination of just two stitches would make such a big difference. Just 11 more rows, then the rectangle is done. Then you have to fold and sew it somehow, and then you crochet something onto it, and then comes the collar, and then the sleeves. I’m really motivated right now, so I’m sticking with it—especially since I really need to work on my perseverance. It’s starting to stress me out to have so many UFOs lying around here. This way, there’ll never be any fewer. I got another big ball of yarn for Christmas, and now I have even more yarn. Phew!
Unfortunately, my arthritic thumb acts up when I knit or crochet too much. That’s really annoying. I always try to take a break that’s just as long as I worked before, but I guess that’s not enough. Hmpf!

Other than that, what’s wrong with the weather? It’s 13 degrees right now. I don’t want this. Where was the promised snow anyway??? Huh?! I’ve got the fan on right now because I’m having hot flashes again. I bought a neck fan. I’ll try it out later.

So, girls, the holidays are over—hopefully you’ll be posting more here again now. I missed you... ♡♡♡

 

Anja, you’re right—feel free to give us a little scolding ;-) I’ve been so busy with so many things over the last few weeks that I’ve gotten a bit lazy about writing. And obviously, a lot of others feel the same way. But your call to action has prompted me to at least check in briefly now :-)
By the way, your forgetfulness sounds very familiar to me, unfortunately. I have that too :-(I’d actually started to worry seriously about it and Googled things like early-onset Alzheimer’s and other similarly terrifying conditions. But it seems to be a completely normal symptom of menopause. So apparently I’m already going through that too (even though I’m still soooo young!!!). Now I’m really hoping there’ll be a little upswing between the menopausal forgetfulness and old-age dementia. And if not, at least I won’t remember that I ever wished for that, hahahaha :-)

This week, for the first time, I had the pleasure of working from home for two whole mornings during the school break. Thanks to various toys that aunts, uncles, and grandparents brought for Christmas, my girls played together very peacefully the whole time, and I was able to work completely undisturbed. I hadn’t expected that—it was really great.

Today we’re heading over to some friends’ place for two days to celebrate New Year’s Eve together. So I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year and a wonderful start to the new year! Let’s hope the good things stick around and everything else gets better :-)

And it’s so nice that we have each other here—I just had to say that again!

Yes, Sonja, you’re right. It’s really nice that we have each other here. I appreciate that very much, too. I wish you, your family, and your friends a happy start to the new year.

Anja, that’s great that you’re already putting your New Year’s resolutions into action by sticking with your lovely project. Just look forward to wearing it and having others admire this great jacket. That’ll keep you motivated. I’m already excited to see what your jacket looks like when it’s finished.

Yeah, you’re right about the weather. We’re having spring-like weather here too, unfortunately with rain. In a few days, it’s supposed to turn back to winter—I much prefer that right now.

Yesterday, my son and his family came to visit us. We enjoyed spending time with them, especially with Linja and Juna. It was such a lovely day! The girls got their mouse-themed loop scarves and were really happy about them. First, they put them on as hats, and that’s when we realized they also work great as headbands. When we were at the playground, they wore their hats along with the loop scarves. It looked sooo cute! I was totally thrilled.

Next up, Linja is getting a new sweater for her birthday. Her current ones are slowly reaching the end of their life. I’m already looking forward to designing and knitting it.

I can’t show you my jacket yet, because I had to unravel the first sleeve. I miscalculated the decreases. What a bummer! Grrrr.... But now I’m almost done again. Tomorrow I’ll take a photo of how it’s coming along.

Have a great time ringing in 2022, everyone.

Monika why good resolutions already? I was undisciplined for decades, after all. This isn’t a resolution for 2022, but more of a general restructuring to bring more order into life. 

Right now I’m alternating between the scarf for my friend and the crocheted jacket. Now I thought, one more quadrant on the scarf and then I’ll be finished, nope, then it still won’t be long enough. Darn! AND I messed up the pattern, the triangles 2x in the same direction. Probably nobody will notice when it’s worn, but I’m annoyed that I wasn’t paying attention. Once again... I’m trying to tell myself now that it was intentional, to give the design that special something... 😎😊😉



My neck is acting up today, something’s pinched. For now I’ve got the blazing-hot hot-water bottle on my neck. 

Oh, Anja, that’s so frustrating. Unraveling is never fun, especially when you think you’re almost done.

I hope you feel better soon in any case. I hope the hot water bottle helps you. 

Petra I actually didn’t want to unravel it at all, hmpf! Since I always have such a hard time deciding, I asked the random generator whether I should unravel it or not, and it said YES. *sigh* So I obediently unraveled it and made a mistake again right in the 2nd row! Unraveled it again and have put it aside for now, because now I’m annoyed. 

Monika I’m also terrible with names. I always have to go through the ABCs and try to figure them out that way. On Monday I ran into a colleague (whom I don’t see very often) and a former volleyball teammate. It took 12 hours and going through the ABCs twice before I remembered the names. 🤔💭

Oh yeah, names—you’re right, Anja.
I only remember them if I hear and read them often enough.

My DF-Loop is on hold.
I’ve started my first Valentine’s Day project.
It’s going to be a table runner:

Marlene, that’s a lovely idea for a Valentine’s Day table runner. It already looks very promising.

Anja, I’m familiar with those “mistakes.” I don’t think I would have unraveled it, but I also know how frustrating it feels to have to make that decision. I’m currently working on an unraveling project with my jacket, too. Now I have to check if the sleeve fits right before I bind off. Anyway, I knitted it twice because I’d miscalculated.

As for discipline… well, I’m still working on that, too. Unfortunately, I tend to do that as well. But I’ve gotten much better. I don’t have any UFOs anymore, thanks to those UFO threads that ran here for a long time.

Wishing you all a happy start to the new year.

The weather is gorgeous here. We’re going to take a long walk first and then meet a friend for coffee.

My latest projects from 2021. I finished knitting the hat today, and I sewed the little pigs this morning—they’ll be given away as good-luck charms.

   

Anja, even though unraveling is a pain, be glad you did it! You’d probably have been constantly annoyed by it. That’s how it is for me, anyway. Pieces where I’ve “generously” overlooked mistakes usually end up sitting somewhere in my closet.

A table runner like this in filet crochet goes relatively quickly, Marlene. You’ll surely be able to get back to working on your loop scarf soon. Or have you lost interest?

You’ve been very hard at work, Petra! Your sewn little pigs are super cute! Something different for a change!

The year is over and—ta-da!—here it is: my finished temperature blanket! It turned out to be 2 m long and 1.40 m wide, and it’s wonderfully cozy. I also really like the color pattern, which depended on the temperature at noon each day. I have a few colorful bits of leftover yarn left. Let’s see what I can make with them...

To everyone reading this, I wish you all the best for 2022—happiness, success, great ideas, and, of course, good health!

Oh wow, Petra, those are some pretty things you’re showing us here. The baby hat and booties are absolutely adorable. And your ideas for New Year’s Eve with the little pig are great, too.

Ruth, your blanket looks fantastic. Now I can picture the temperature blanket even better. It’s roughly the same on the front and back, but completely different in the middle. It’s huge, though. You can wrap yourself up in it perfectly now.

Taking a photo of my jacket with the finished sleeve wasn’t that easy, because the body is pinned in place with such big safety pins. Here’s the photo. Since I’m running pretty low on yarn, I’ve added the dusty pink yarn for the cuffs. It’s turning into a scrap project, so to speak.

It’s over—the new year can only get better 😂



Have a great start to the new year, everyone 🎊🎉

I sincerely wish everyone a happy, peaceful year, good health, serenity, and lots of colorful ideas! Thank you for being here!

Thanks, Christina
All the best to you too for the coming year. Are you having a white New Year’s Eve?
A beautiful picture 

Ruth repeating the name really does help. By the way, I’m Anja. 😇

Turbo-Moni has struck again and been busy. This is ANJA writing to you, by the way.✏ 

Petra, I (Anja) send you greetings and want to tell you that your little pigs are very cute. I’m sure they’re called Anja & Anja and not Klaus & Klaus? 
You’re so lucky that someone plays something with you. Nobody plays with me—Anja. 

Ruth, it’s still Anja here! Your temperature blanket looks really good and has become a real giant. 

Christina, thanks for the good wishes, I agree: it’s great that you all exist. 

So Ruth, what’s my name? 😂😎

********

The year is now coming to an end, 🔚
my hands are aching. 👐
From all the crocheting, sewing, knitting 🧵
and from sending yarn packages. 🧶
The world outside wasn’t kind, 😒
what would I do if I didn’t have you all? 💨
You’re a source of kind words, ♨️
if only there were more of your kind! 🧦
With you all, I’ll power through 2022 too, 🏗
together we’ll grow old and crusty. 👵 

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Oh, Anja, that’s so beautifully written. Nobody is playing with me either. But I chose it this way. My child is in bed and my husband is with friends (I didn’t feel like going). I’m enjoying the peace and quiet, a great movie—Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella—and a delicious red wine

Ruth: Your blanket is huge and looks amazing.

Marlene: Your table runner already looks great. Nice idea.

Christina: The photo looks great. Soooo romantic.

Monika: Your jacket looks great and is a fantastic way to use up scraps.

I wish you all a Happy New Year. It’s almost time. I’ll see—if the neighbors are standing outside, I might step outside for a bit

ANJA, we just can’t forget you! You’re one of a kind.

Monika, you’re already well on your way with your jacket again.  Do you always do the sleeves first? I always do them last.

Christina, that’s a beautiful winter photo
It’s very warm here—they said it’s the warmest New Year’s Eve since 1920. But I’m not really into snow anyway; I’m always afraid of slipping.

I don’t think my blanket is that huge. That’s exactly how I wanted it.  You can figure out in advance how big it’ll be and choose the pattern accordingly. That way, I can also use it as a bedspread on the bed or the couch. Tonight was its first real use, even though it wasn’t that cold. But I’m such a cold-weather wimp anyway...

Best wishes to all of you for 2022.

The pattern practically works itself:

A cheerful hello to everyone on this first new day of the year,

I hope you all slid into the new year well! Now we have 365 exciting, brand-new days ahead of us again. Each one has the chance to become a very special one for us. It always depends on what we make of it. In any case, we are confident and optimistic and make the best of every day!

Thank you so much for always writing such lovely posts here in the forum and for showing your creations and ideas. I often looked at the things and quietly read along. It’s impossible to go back and comment on all the wonderful creations, but every single one is something special and was crafted with lots of love and care.

Things have been a little quieter around me lately. My son, his pregnant wife, and their 3-year-old son had Covid in December. That was very hard on me, because as a mother you always worry. But now everything has been safely gotten through and everyone is doing well again. Right on time for the turn of the year, we can all look forward to a wonderful new year. The most special thing will probably be the birth of our granddaughter at the beginning of March. Everyone is very excited :-)

*****************

Craft-wise, I’ve only knitted felted slippers lately. I knitted models with a heart. Here’s an example:





My temperature blanket is finished too. It’s meant to go on a reclining lounger by my garden pond in the summer. The loungers always look so boring. And with such beautiful bright colors, it’s sure to be an eye-catcher. I already laid it out as a test in the summer.



And on the sides it should overlap by 10 cm, with the fringes hanging down. At least that’s how I picture it in my mind’s eye. But it’s still winter and I can’t try it out, because all the furniture is in winter storage. So you’ll just have to look at the blanket like this. I still have to weave in a few ends. Maybe I’ll make a solid-colored cushion cover to go with it, perhaps one in yellow or turquoise. We’ll see.



Since I have 2 reclining loungers, I need 2 throws, of course. The other one—in pastel colors—is still in progress. I still have a few months, after all :-)

Next I’m going to knit a baby blanket for the stroller in PINK :-) The yarn has been ordered (Drops Baby Merino). I hope it really is as soft as I’d like and that it’s the right shade too.

I wish you all a lovely January 1st! Enjoy the peace and quiet and the time for your crafts.

Warm regards from Ina

Oh, I just can’t let this page go without commenting…

I also think Ruth’s temperature blanket is really, really beautiful! Big, colorful, and cheerful.
And I like Anja’s poem, too! Did you write that yourself? You’re really talented!
And Marlene’s table runner with hearts is also a joy to look at. Once it’s finished, blocked, and placed on a darker background, it’ll be a real eye-catcher.
Petra’s hat and booties are absolutely enchanting.
And Christina’s winter scene also invites you to dream.

Everything is soooo beautiful!

Thank you so much for the comments on the winter photo! As it turns out, it actually shows us exactly how we imagine New Year’s Day to be! In reality, we’re enjoying a beautiful early spring day with plenty of sunshine and 10°. I took the photo two years ago on a winter hike.
At five o’clock, we’re heading to the New Year’s concert at our city theater. The program promises a colorful mix, starting with Mozart’s “Eine kleine Nachtmusik.” Of course, the traditional aperitif afterward is canceled, just as it was this morning after the church service. It’s strange having to wish each other a Happy New Year from a distance like this!

Dear Christina, I hope you have a great time tonight. Just enjoy whatever you can!

A cheerful hello from me to everyone as well,
First, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you all a healthy New Year. Let’s all look forward to this year with optimism—may COVID leave us behind and may everyone be able to live their life the way they want again....

For me, the last two weeks have been anything but peaceful. On December 30, our little grandson was born, and like any new grandparents, we immediately fell head over heels in love with little Wim. Today, both of them were able to leave the hospital, so we’ll be able to visit the little one soon.

I really love all of your creations,
Ruth, your blanket is such a riot of color.
I also immediately pictured Ina’s solid-colored pillows as I was reading.... yes, and Ina, your felted items are once again so beautiful.
Monika, I love the colors of your jacket and how fast you are again.
I really like all the other projects too; I’d especially like to mention Petra’s little booties and hat. As a new grandma, I’m allowed to knit or crochet a few things after all, and I’d like both.
Next week I’ll be able to show something again; I’m currently crocheting a table runner for my ancient dining room table.

My dears, enjoy the rest of New Year’s Day and tomorrow, Sunday. 

Congratulations, dear Ines, on your first grandchild.

I wish little Wim all the best in life and his parents a happy family life. A lot is changing for the young parents now. It’s going to be an exciting and wonderful time. And for you as grandparents, it will be a whirlwind and an exciting time as well. You’ll all be there to guide this new little one through life as he grows into your family circle.

Warm regards, Ina 

Dear Ines, congratulations on your first grandchild. All the best to the little family. 

Being a grandma is wonderful. You’ll have wonderful hours and moments. I’m very happy for you. 

Dear Ines

I’d also like to offer my warmest congratulations on your first grandchild. Hopefully he lives close to you so you can see him often and watch him grow. Unfortunately, we only get to see Selina every few weeks, even though she’s the only grandchild born here in Switzerland—but they don’t exactly live right around the corner.

I haven’t even shown you my latest DF project yet:


 

Apparently, the two girls were very happy!

Oh, Ines, how wonderful—congratulations on your first grandchild! Wim is such a sweet name. Now the eager wait is finally over, and you can get to know each other, cuddle, and enjoy the time together!

Christina, you’ve made a really cool llama there!

Ruth, your temperature blanket looks amazing! Such a riot of colors—it’s gorgeous :-)

Moni, that’s great that you can use up some leftovers for the jacket. Have you finished it yet?

Marlene, the table runner is a lovely idea for a Valentine’s pattern! It’ll be a real eye-catcher on a beautifully set table.

Ina, luckily your family is doing well again! Of course you were worried. I really hope we’ll all be able to enjoy more carefree times again soon. 
Your temperature blanket turned out like a dream too; in summer it will make a wonderfully bright display by your pond. I hope we’ll get to see another photo then!

I knitted a washcloth for a little baby. The older sister is now getting a loop scarf with the same pattern.



Kindergarten and school start again for us tomorrow. To everyone who is also getting back to everyday life tomorrow, I wish you a good start! And if you still have a bit of time off—have some lovely, relaxing days :-)

Hi Ines,

My very best congratulations on your grandchild from me too. Enjoy this time, because they grow up so fast.
Now you can knit/crochet all kinds of baby things

Best regards

I managed to finish the Filzies for my dad just in time.
He was very happy with them. I only knitted the “Rolli” part onto them.
Personally, I wasn’t satisfied with the result—I hadn’t been able to get the right yarn and had to improvise with something else.

Thank you, Ina, for the Filzies. 





Happy Oma, dear Ina! Wim reminded me of Wum & Wendelin...

Yeah, I came up with the poem myself—I was just a little bored.

I kept at my crochet cardigan, but my efforts weren’t rewarded... It was supposed to be a rectangle, and even though I followed the pattern (albeit with different yarn), it’s not big enough. Darn. But I didn’t realize it until I was putting it together. It’s too tight around the bottom. Darn! All that work and patience for nothing... :-(

Oh, wow—I haven’t checked in here for two days and there’s sooooo much to read and look at!
It’s Turbo-Moni here again. And I’d also like to start by wishing you all a wonderful New Year filled with many happy moments—and may we continue to have such great conversations here as we have been.
By the way, we had amazing fireworks all around us on New Year’s Eve. Yesterday I treated myself to a little rest.

Anja, your poem is fantastic and puts a smile on my face. :) Thanks for that!
The jacket looks great—congrats on sticking with it. I’d still wear it. Maybe you’re being a little too hard on yourself.

Sandra, we don’t really care much about New Year’s Eve either. We watched movies and almost forgot the year was changing. ;-)

Ruth, I just did the sleeves first this time because I’m not sure if I have enough yarn. This way, I can knit the rest in one piece now. By the way, it’s spring here too, and I’m enjoying the sun.

Marlene, your table runner is really taking shape.

Ina, it’s going to be such a joy with your granddaughter. She’ll be a Pisces, too—how lovely! And I’m sure you’ll come up with plenty of ideas for things to knit or crochet for her, right? It’s always a very special occasion when a new little one comes into the world. My two girls were here after Christmas, and they’ve already grown again. It goes by way too fast.
Your felt shoes with hearts look gorgeous—they’re something truly special.
And wow, I really like your temperature blanket—just looking at it puts me in a good mood.

Ines, I’d like to congratulate you wholeheartedly on becoming a new grandma. What a joy! Little Wim arrived in the old year after all. That means in future he can celebrate New Year’s Eve and his birthday together.  Awesome! How did his parents come up with that name? I’m hearing it for the first time.

Christina, you’ve been busy again. The shawl with the llama looks great.

Sonja, the shawl with the bunnies is absolutely adorable! I’m instantly in love with both of them. That would make a perfect Easter gift for the two girls. You’re just so fast—I can’t keep up. I really wonder when you find the time to do all this—despite work, the kids, and the household.

Andrea, the felted items turned out absolutely beautiful. It’s really special that you’ve taken up knitting again. Wow!! Now that you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can definitely keep going. There are plenty of ideas out there.

I (Monika) have now finished both sleeves on my jacket, after having to unravel one of them. Now I can use the rest of the yarn for the body, and I’m curious to see how long it’ll end up being. Tomorrow I’ll take a photo of how it’s coming along.

My next projects will be a sweater for Linja and a triangular shawl for my friend who asked for one. Both have to be finished by mid-March. And in between, I’ll crochet a few nests for a bird rescuer who cares for little birds that have fallen out of their nests. And knowing me, there will probably be plenty of other little things popping up here and there that I’ll think of as I go along.

Have a great start to the week, everyone!

Oh Anja, I totally missed your poem earlier. Of course, I caught up on it right away and laughed my head off—I’m already looking forward to getting rancid together :-) :-) :-) As for your jacket, I think it’s absolutely perfect just the way it is. You’re so slim, it can definitely fit snugly!

Petra, I just discovered your super-cute little pigs too—they’re such charming good-luck charms!

Andrea, it’s great that you were able to make your dad so happy!

Monika, as always, you have an incredible amount on your plate—and you’ll probably finish everything faster than expected, as usual :-) I can’t wait to see the photo of the jacket.

Hey everyone....
Wishing you all a truly wonderful New Year.
So much has “happened” here—it’s so nice to see everything you’ve knitted, sewn, and crocheted. So many truly special “creations.”
 If I had more “energy,” I’d write a lot more. I’m slowly getting back into everyday life and can start the new year.....

My sweater is almost finished, and like you, Monika, I knitted the sleeves in between.... 
Now it just needs a few more rows of ribbing, and then I can bind off. 
I’m supposed to wash it tomorrow. I’m actually supposed to put virgin wool in the washing machine. 20 degrees on the wool cycle. I washed the gauge swatch, too. But there’s a huge difference between throwing a gauge swatch in there and the whole sweater.... Anyway, the gauge swatch came out nice and “soft.” 

Dear Ines,

all the best to your little grandchild, and congratulations to you.

Best regards, Marlies

I wish you all a Happy New Year.

As I’ve seen, you’ve all been very creative and hard at work.

Ines, congratulations again on your grandchild.

I’ve been busy too and finally tried double knitting at the end of the year.

What can I say—I got the hang of it.
After some initial difficulties
I can show you my result here.



. 

The hat looks great and is definitely nice and warm....
And be careful—double-faced knitting is addictive 🙈😂🙈

My sweater is washed.... and it looks amazing. I can wear it tomorrow 😍

Thanks for assuming I’m slim. 😆
I’m a size 46 on top and a 42 on the bottom. No, the jacket really is too tight—it’s simply 30 cm too narrow. It’s supposed to be fun to wear, so I’ll have to start over from scratch. I don’t feel like it! I’ll work on something else in the meantime. The scarf for my friend still isn’t finished either… If I wait much longer, it’ll be spring, and then she won’t need it anymore.

Oh, Anja, that’s really frustrating that the jacket turned out too small. But the pattern looks great.
I guess you’ll just have to start over.

Steffi, thanks for the compliment.
I’ll probably knit another hat. It was actually supposed to be the simple one based on Sonja’s pattern.   However, I had some initial difficulties with the number of stitches and the pattern.
After unraveling it three times, I just got fed up. So I made up my own pattern to match my stitches.

I’ll still knit Sonja’s hat, though—now that I know how to do it right.

Have a great week.

Marion, it’s great that you’ve joined the DF Club too! The hat turned out beautifully, and I like the color combination as well, even though brown and beige aren’t really my colors.

Anja, I can relate to your frustration—I’d feel the same way! Start by doing something that brings you joy and can be finished quickly so you can experience that sense of accomplishment… By the way, I thought your poem was wonderful—thank you!

Dear all, thank you for your congratulations—I’m totally in love with the little one, too, and I already got a little order from my daughter yesterday 😊
Sonja, your bunny washcloths are now on my wish list; somehow I have to manage them with DF... they’re so cute.

So Anja, looking at your picture, you wouldn’t think there’s a size 46 hiding up top, but I’d rather frog it again—otherwise it’ll just sit in the closet forever.

Marion, your hat—I think it’s so beautiful, and if I can’t manage DF, I’ll come over for an explanation 🙃

Andrea, I’m still planning to make some felties, too, but right now there are so many other things to do that I only get to do crafts in the evenings.

But I hope my table runner will be finished this week, and then I can show something again.
Until then, I wish you all a wonderful week.

Steffi, I always wash my woolen items on the wool cycle too, but at 30 degrees. Everything has come out fine so far. It’s interesting that you knit your sweater with the sleeves the same way I knit my jacket. Will you show us your sweater too?

Marion, that’s a great result for your first project with DF. I’m amazed, because your yarn is pretty thick, too. That hat really looks great. Practice really does make perfect here—mine kept getting better over time.

Anja, a size 42 on the lower half is totally normal; lots of people, if not most, have that. Me, too, by the way. ;-) Yeah, it’s really annoying to have to redo something—I could tell you a thing or two about that.

Ines, that’s great that you get to knit for the little one now. What kind of project is it, anyway (I’m not curious at all, of course).

Sonja, right now I’m anything but a speed demon. Yesterday I knitted 15 cm of the body on the jacket and then realized there was a mistake I couldn’t possibly leave in there. So today I unraveled it all and started over. This jacket is really turning into an “unravel-and-reknit” jacket, since I’ve already knitted one of the sleeves twice. Grrrr..... I’d already thought about working on something else in the meantime, but I’d rather not. For now, I want to finish this jacket, and then I’ll work on a few little nests so those cheeky little birds have a home in the spring. Once those are done, I’ll tackle the sweater and the triangular shawl—at the same time.

Have a great week, everyone!

You’ve all been so hard at work again and have made such great things.
I’m not quite as productive right now, but I can show you a little pig. I gave two of them away today. My neighbor was thrilled, and my husband said, “Oh, a little pig.”

But what a really cute little piggy 😍

Ines, congratulations from me too on your grandson.... how wonderful that you can make the little one happy with something knitted.
With the DF, you “have to” get the hang of it a bit, but Sonja explained it really well.

Monika, this was actually the first time I’ve put something knitted in the washing machine. The Kauni yarn was so scratchy while I was knitting that I thought, “The sweater looks pretty, but you can’t wear it like this.” Now it’s all “fluffy” and hardly any wind gets through, even though the yarn is pretty thin at 400 m/100 g. Good thing I have more of it 🙈😂🙈.
Right now I’m knitting from my stash, so sometimes one color is running pretty low. In that case, it makes sense to knit the sleeves first and then maybe adjust the length of the sweater or knit a pattern into it. Better than cutting corners on the sleeves. But the held stitches from the sleeves often annoy me while knitting, too.
  The next one will be knitted completely differently.... First the center front, then I’ll start knitting the top, bottom, and sides with short rows. 

At the very top of my “yarn wish list” is Kauni Solid 😍
I used about 230g of the dark gray for this sweater, size M/L.... 

I really like the yoke on your sweater, Steffi :)

I’ve finished my table runner now.
Just need to block it and take some photos. I’ll do that tomorrow.

Now I’m going to knit a little more on my loop scarf.
I still need about 5 rounds on that.

My table runner:



Now I’ll continue knitting the loop.

....your table runner turned out cute. 
For me, today is going to be a day of rest. I'm totally tired and my legs hurt... but I'm used to that... so lunch in a bit, then sleep for an hour, and after that knit... The gauge swatch for a summer sweater. 

Hello everyone,
you can really tell here that everyone is in the mood for crafts again after the holidays and for a little chat in a cozy setting. It’s been raining here for four days in a row now, so I’m looking for a change of pace here at the computer. I really should go outside and exercise. But I’m just too lazy, so I’ll blame it on the weather.

@Christina
Your llamas made me smile the moment I saw them. Looking at your pot holders, you immediately think of those peaceful, calm animals with their beautiful fur. I also love the fresh colors. And then there’s the double-face knitting—which I can’t do myself—so I admire it all the more.

@Sonja
Those little washcloths with bunnies in the flower meadow are enchanting! If I could knit double-face, I’d want to make exactly these. But unfortunately, I’m not very good at it. I’ve tried a few times, holding the two strands in my left hand, but it just doesn’t work for me.

@Andrea
The felt boots for your dad turned out great! And now he always has warm feet—what more could you want? Plus, it’s a very special Christmas gift because it shows how much you care about your dad.

@Monika
Your cardigan, which you’ve just started, is already looking great. And you’ve got so many new knitting ideas again: a sweater for your granddaughter, a triangular shawl, nests for the animals—you’re really very hardworking.

@Steffi
I can understand your skepticism about washing a wool sweater. I always feel the same way. What it says on the label is one thing. I’m not actually sitting in the washing machine. And you only get one shot at it. Most of the time, I don’t dare and end up washing it by hand. You’re so enthusiastic about the Kauni yarn—which feels a bit coarse at first but becomes so wonderfully soft and warm after washing. I had to Google it right away. Your sweater with the yoke looks absolutely great! The yoke really stands out against the dark background.

@Marion
Congratulations on learning how to knit DB! That’s great. I haven’t quite got the hang of it (yet). In any case, the hat turned out really nice for a first try. This opens up a whole new world of possibilities… with all the beautiful patterns Sonja designs.

@Ines
I completely understand your joy and excitement about little Wim. Every grandma feels that way. And it just gets better! You get to be a part of your grandson’s life and watch him grow and develop. And you can spoil him, too, because, well, you’re just the grandma. The parents get the stress of the sleepless nights. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that you’ll learn to knit DB and then be able to make such pretty things for the little one.

@Marlies
Your lucky piggy will surely bring your neighbor good luck in the new year. It just can’t be any other way. A lovely little gift to bring along.

@Marlene
Your table runner looks very decorative. It looks especially good on the dark table and when you look down at it from above. That way, you can admire the whole pattern. It turned out very nicely.

@Ina
I don’t have anything new to show. I’m waiting for the pink yarn I ordered for the baby blanket I’m planning to make. Until then, I’m busy at the computer. In the evenings, I’m continuing to crochet my pastel-colored temperature blanket… but only because the other yarn hasn’t arrived yet. I just can’t go without a little crafting in the evenings.

I wish you all a wonderful day.

Warm regards, Ina

I hope your legs feel better soon, Steffi.

Thanks, Ina :)

Thanks, Marlene.... it’ll be back to normal in a day or two, then things will calm down again.... and a day’s “break” isn’t such a bad thing.
Today there was another party at the bird feeders.... The great spotted woodpecker family was here, and the bullfinch family also paid us a visit again 😂
... but I can’t get a good photo of them. They’re too far away.... Because of the cats, I can’t place or hang the feeders too close to the house. I don’t want them to even get the idea of using the house as cover—that way, the cat has to cross an open area first  

Hahaha, I just stumbled across the “Dompf-aff” and thought, what kind of weird monkey is that? Rereading it helped ;-)

Steffi, I also hope your legs get better soon. Yeah, a forced break like that can be good sometimes. Still, I hope the pain goes away quickly. You can always take a break on your own terms :-) Your sweater is a dream!!! And if it’s even fluffier and softer after washing, it’s sure to become your new favorite piece!?

Marlene, your table runner turned out really pretty. It’s a great decoration, not just for Valentine’s Day, but for any romantic dinner for two :-)

Marlies, yes, it’s a little piggy—and what a cutie! It’s sure to bring good luck to whoever gets it!

Marion, I’ve already admired your hat in the gallery. That’s a great first DF project—it already looks absolutely perfect. I’m curious to see if you’ll catch the DF bug too...

Anja, if the jacket really doesn’t fit, you’ll have no choice but to start from scratch. But I’d do the same as you—work on something else in the meantime. When something just isn’t working out at all, it’s gone and, uh, fallen out of favor for the time being :-)

Monika, oh boy, so much unraveling… I’m sending you lots of motivation so you can finish the jacket soon despite the circumstances—and so it doesn’t turn into a UFO. After that, you can start on the little bird’s nests with a clear conscience.

Ina, I don’t really feel like going outside either. It’s not getting very light out here at all. And you exercise regularly—at least with your fingers :-) :-) :-)

I wish you all a wonderful day, too!

When I saw Marlene’s post, I wondered what those strange things were in the gallery under her comment... Japanese gloves. That looks really interesting. I wanted to make them right away, but NO!!!! First, I need to finish my own second pair—they’re tying up two needles (I cast on two at the same time so I can distribute the leftover yarn more tastefully). Then I noticed you have a lot of those Japanese names in your patterns, so I Googled them. Awesome stuff! Now I’ve marked two projects in my calendar—one that reminds me of my friend’s scarf and the other of the gloves. Those are now mandatory, and the optional project is the cross-knit jacket. From now on, discipline is the order of the day!!! So that projects finally get finished and needles get freed up. Every time I look, there’s a yawning emptiness in my knitting needle box—even though I have about 60 of them. 🙈

And speaking of discipline: I’m about to get my daily 30 minutes of exercise. I can choose between going for a walk or working out with Gabi Fastner on YouTube. 👟 Yesterday, after just 12 minutes, I thought I was going to die ☠ in front of the TV—man, there are some really fit people out there!
For the rest of the session, I just walked in place 👣 and, every now and then, mustered my last bit of strength to raise my arms 💪—a final burst of energy, so to speak. Afterward, I just flopped onto the bed in shorts 🩳 and a tank top and let the fan blow on me until I got cold. 🌬
My cells go into shock every time I want to/have to/should move. 
To motivate myself, I just ordered a top, some leggings, a Pilates ring, and a resistance band from Tchibo—I’ll treat myself to them for my birthday next week. At least I’ll be dressed nicely in case I don’t survive this workout. Pray for me—the workout is about to start... 

Keeping my fingers crossed for you....
I admire you—no one could have convinced me to do gymnastics like that.
Instead, I walk my dog 4 km every day.... Okay, today’s walk was a bit short, but “Murmel” walked more. We were doing recall training.... It works so well with the homemade treats 😂

Sonja... I just laughed until I cried.... “Dompf-aff” is great.... I wonder what it would look like?  

Speaking of birds, Steffi—this morning a blue tit complained that the bird feeder wasn’t out.
It contains, among other things, chopped walnuts and hazelnuts. The suet ball didn’t interest it.

Thanks, Sonja.
That’s right—it fits many romantic situations.

In small scale, the gloves do actually look a bit strange, Anja.
I’m looking up the Japanese terms on Wadoku. I’m thinking about which of the suggestions might work and will then choose the appropriate word.

Speaking of “motivation”—I’m waiting for some so I can mount my shelves on the kitchen wall.
That means I’ll have to get out the hammer drill.

Oh yeah, tinkering… Hanging up shelves… Count me in!
I really love that. A few years ago, I was at the flea market with my husband and he was looking at a cordless screwdriver… He asked me what I thought of it… I thought it was a good idea, so he bought it… Saying, “Then you’ll have your own.” I was like, “Yeah, a cordless screwdriver—I’m so happy!” The shopkeeper looked so dumbfounded—you really should’ve taken a picture of that look 😂
My scooter is spending the winter in my workshop right now, so I’m taking a break for the time being… 

That was my spring project last year—a birdhouse. It was even occupied. First-time occupants, so to speak. 

I just cast on my new project.... Two-color, a slip-stitch pattern....
Somehow the dark yarn seems thinner than the light one.... Both are merino, 400m/100g.... The light one has a much looser twist than the gray one...
Do you think that’ll “even out” after washing? 
A gauge swatch would make sense to test this with washing, but then I wouldn’t have enough yarn left for the sweater 🤔

The birthday gift for my girlfriend in Norway is ready to be sent:

I don't think Steffi, that it will even out.

Very nice, Christina! 🐷

...and another cute little piggy...

I unraveled some more yesterday... I’m starting over with a different yarn 🙈
That’s what happens when you only want to knit from your stash...

Steffi, I know what you mean... That’s really a challenge... That’s why it’s not getting any less for me... it’s so hard! 

I “found” some yarn 😂 
 and even enough of it, in the right color too.... 


Purple and silver-gray.... 
By the way, this will be the center front panel.... a few more rows of increases and then decreases again; theoretically, it should make a rectangle, then I’ll knit on the top and bottom for the cuffs and neckline, and along the edges I’ll work short rows for the sides and the sleeve.... So far, it’s been fun to knit. I just hope the size turns out right....
Just like with Anja's jacket (which I really like), you can only really check it “properly” once the piece is finished..... 

Just two more rounds, then bind off, and my DF-Loop will be finished:

😍😍😍. That turned out beautifully.... I love the colors. 

Once again, there’s plenty to read and look at here. You’ve all been very busy over the last two days.

Marlies, your little piggy is absolutely adorable. What a lovely gift. :)

Steffi, your sweater looks really great with that fantastic pattern.
Your birdhouse is a luxury villa! Wow, I wonder if the little birds realize they’re moving into something truly special?
Knitting a slip stitch pattern with two different types of yarn—I’m not so sure about that. I wouldn’t dare try it. I really like the colors of the yarn you picked out—and the pattern is just amazing! Awesome! I love slip stitches too; you can do so much with them.

Marlene, I really like your table runner as well. And you’ve even finished the cowl already. Wow! And I was only away from here for two days.

Ina, it’s great to see you back here reading along. Your baby blanket for your new granddaughter is sure to be adorable, just like everything you make. Knitting for a girl is so much fun—there are so many possibilities.

Sonja, you’re so incredibly hardworking—it never ceases to amaze me. Every piece is to die for. No, the cardigan won’t become a UFO—it’ll be finished soon. :)

Anja, you’re not trying to tell us that all 60 or so needles are tied up with UFOs, are you? Well, then you’re sure to be crowned UFO Queen this year. ;-)
Oh dear, gymnastics isn’t exactly my favorite hobby either. I’d much rather go for a walk with Nordic walking poles—if the weather gets me outside, that is. Otherwise, I give the trampoline a workout every now and then for a few minutes. I have to admit, I’m more flexible in the summer than I am now.

Christina, that little piggy is so cute. I haven’t worked with sponge yarn yet—I don’t even like the feel of it.

So, now I can show you my cardigan, which is almost finished. I’ve actually knitted some parts of it twice. Tonight I’ll knit the bottom cuff, and then all that’s left is the buttons and weaving in the ends. It feels soooo cozy and warm that I’m really looking forward to wearing it. The pink and dark purple alpaca yarn is from Ina’s yarn swap. Since I didn’t have enough, I added a skein of gray and a skein of dusty pink merino wool. So it’s a real leftover-skein project. Maybe the person who donated the yarn is here with us?



Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Monika, your jacket is turning out great. I really like the colors. And the striped design, too. 

Thanks, Steffi and Moni :)
The loop scarf was almost finished even before I started on the table runner.
Now I’m trying my hand at egg cozies. Let’s see if my animal-themed idea works out.

Thanks, Petra. The stripes happened as I was knitting, simply depending on how far the yarn would go.

Just a few more rows on the bottom cuff, then the finishing touches—and I’ll be able to wear it. Perfect for these temperatures. I was still missing a pink one among my winter cardigans. And since I gave away a cardigan that my daughter-in-law liked so much, I now have a replacement. I gave my blue poncho made from sock yarn to Uta (the children’s book author). She really liked it. :) So I was able to make two people happy again.

Marlene, I’m looking forward to seeing your egg cozies.

I’m going to rip out something I knitted that I didn’t really like anymore (the chair cover) and then crochet the nests out of it. But first things first:

I have to finish the cardigan. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

So, everyone, my jacket is finished... yay! :) I tried it on today—it fits great.
(The thread in the sleeve—those are my row markers from the decreases.)
Unfortunately, the lighting isn’t great for taking photos today. I wanted to show it to you anyway.



Now, though, I’m missing the color-coordinated buttons. I’ll probably have to go get some, since I don’t have any in dark purple.

Good morning—I’ve finally found some time again today to contribute here.
It’s so easy to fall behind with all of you, haha…
Thanks for your congratulations on our grandson…

I don’t even know where to start right now, but first of all, Marlene’s loop caught my eye. I really like the pattern itself, since I’m not usually into such playful motifs on clothing.

I find Steffi’s work-in-progress interesting and am already looking forward to seeing the result—I can’t quite picture it right now, though I’ve heard of this method of knitting a sweater before. I hope I read that correctly.

Monika, your jacket is already finished—it’s amazing how fast you always are. You asked what I’m allowed to knit for my grandson… well, my daughter has a mind of her own when it comes to that, which is only right. I’d knitted two cozy blankets before the birth, but they’d already gone to their new home before I could take any pictures.
Hats, mittens, and little booties are always a hit. She doesn’t want me to knit any other clothes for him YET—haha—maybe that’ll come later.

I started making hats in December and have now taken a picture of three of them. They’re knitted in simple brioche stitch.

And the day before yesterday, my table runner finally got finished—I had to reorder some yarn for this because, unfortunately, I didn’t have enough, and the delivery took quite a while this time.


Now I finally have a table decoration that matches my dining room decor.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

I’d like to say a cheerful hello to everyone—

it’s Sunday today, and I’m taking some time for you all. There’s always so much to marvel at and comment on. During the week, I’m often too busy for that.

@Anja
I think your resolution—30 minutes of exercise in front of the TV every day—is very commendable. Gabi Fastner speaks so beautifully and calmly. I often exercise with her, too. She does it every day, so of course she’s so good at it. Some of the exercises are too difficult for me, too, but I don’t set the bar too high. The hardest part is actually doing it and not finding an excuse not to. Now that you’re so well-equipped and dress specifically for it, it’s definitely easier to stay motivated.

@Steffi
If you walk 4 km with your dog every day, that’s great! Everyone who has a dog automatically gets fresh air every day and works out their heart, circulation, legs, etc. You don’t need to feel guilty about not getting enough exercise. And afterward, you’ve truly earned your free time with your yarn.

I think your DIY skills are really impressive! There’s so much you can do. The birdhouse looks so beautiful—if I were a little birdie, I’d definitely want to move in there. Everything is designed, built, and decorated so lovingly and with such attention to detail. It’s really great—I’m truly impressed!

The project you’ve started with the silver and purple looks exciting. Right now, it still looks like a shawl. But you mentioned that in the end, it’s supposed to be something with sleeves that you can wear. We’re curious to see how it turns out. Since both threads run along the back of the work, it’ll be nice and thick and warm.

@Christina
The dish scrubber piggy looks cute, doesn’t it? It’s actually almost too cute to dip into water and scrub dirty dishes with. Like Monika, I’m not a fan of this yarn. I just don’t like the feel of it—it’s too plastic-like. But that’s a matter of taste. You and your friend like it—what more could you want?

@Marlene
Your DF loop has turned out to be quite an eye-catcher—especially because of the colors. It looks so fresh with the light green and the lilac. Was it a cotton yarn or something with acrylic? I’m only asking because I find that some wools are visually better suited for DF, since the stitches blend together more—they appear softer, somehow. With other yarns like cotton, each stitch stands out more, and that can sometimes detract from the “visual appeal” of the DF.

@Monika
Your new cardigan looks cozy and warm. It makes you want to slip right into it. Once you have the right buttons, you can put it on and feel completely at ease in it. It’s very generous of you to give away things you’ve made yourself when you realize they really like them. Not everyone would be so generous. But in the end, you can’t take anything with you, so at least you know that someone else is getting a lot of joy out of your work.

@Ines
I think your hat collection is great! I picked one out right away. I’d go with the white one because it stands out the most in the darkness outside, and because I like the pom-pom on that one best. The knitted brioche stitch is perfect for a hat. And with the pom-pom, it looks playful and modern. Hopefully the pom-poms aren’t made of real fur—otherwise, you’re sure to get criticism from animal rights activists.

I once used a pom-pom like that on a hat and showed it off. It didn’t go over well at all. But a plastic fur pom-pom just doesn’t look as nice.

The gray table runner looks promising, too. Gray goes with everything, after all.

@Ina
I’m currently knitting a baby blanket for my grandchild, who’s due in early March. I’ve got to get a move on. After waiting two weeks for the right yarn, I can finally get started. At first I had some that was too thin once knitted up, BUT it was the right color—light pink. So I ordered a new, thicker one. It’s here now, but the shade is more vibrant—a true pink. They asked for a soft pink, but that’s not available in a thicker weight. Ultimately, when it comes to a baby blanket, I think the quality of the yarn (and the fact that it’s machine-washable) is more important than the exact shade. Maybe I’ll knit another one in a different shade. But first, I have to finish this one.

I’ve already knitted and washed the gauge swatch and calculated the number of stitches. All the prep work is now done. Today I can really get down to knitting.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Warm regards from Ina

Just a quick note from me again.......

Ina, when I finished writing, I thought, “Maybe I should have mentioned that it’s faux fur”......I don’t like real fur, but I did spend quite a while looking for pom-poms that I liked the look of, and the white hat is mine, too—I love it.
But you can at least use pink yarn; my Carolin doesn’t like blue, which makes it a bit tricky—she prefers olive green, terra, or curry; those are her colors for Wim.

Ina, you always take so much time to reply to everyone! *love it*

The scarf for my friend is still on hold—spring is coming soon, uhhhh...

I’ve started a little jacket for the teddy bear, and since I’m a bit tired of the pink yarn for now, I’m going to make the crochet jacket again with a different yarn. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough for this one, though… If worse comes to worst, I’ll have to order some more on eBay (the yarn isn’t made anymore, but you can still find it there). That narrow strip has already swallowed up 2 x 50 g. Oh oh 

Wow, Ines, your hat collection looks great. It really makes a difference to have a fur pom-pom. I have a hat like that, too, but with a plastic pom-pom that looks great. I used to hate it when my mom was so obsessed with getting a real fur coat. Even back then, I felt sorry for the animals that have to die for it and don’t have a good life leading up to that.
Your table runner looks great, too. Knitting for your grandson may come later, when he needs his first cardigan. Maybe a stuffed animal from Grandma would be nice, too...

Ina, thanks for your kind words! :) I basically have you to thank for the cardigan, because without that swap package that was going around, I wouldn’t have had the yarn. I wore it briefly yesterday morning and actually didn’t want to take it off—it’s that cozy. But now I’m waiting for the buttons I found in the swap group.
Your baby blanket is definitely going to be absolutely adorable. I’m already looking forward to seeing your first picture of it.

Oh Anja, you have a teddy bear, too! How lovely! A little project like that is always the most fun for me, too—it’s done so quickly. I like the yarn for your cardigan even better than the one for the first one. It looks great.

I’m currently working on making little nests for the baby birds that fall out of their nests. The second one is almost done—I’ll take some photos then.

Since it’s pretty tiring to crochet with such thick yarn (2 strands), I’m going to design and start working on the triangular shawl for my friend today. I’m really looking forward to it. She’ll love it.

I wish you all a wonderful Sunday!

Hey there...

Monika, the jacket turned out absolutely beautiful. It looks really cozy, too.

Anja, I really like the color of your jacket—it will definitely suit you well.

Ines, your hats are great. Brioche stitch—I tried knitting that once, ages ago. It was supposed to be a long jacket; maybe I shouldn’t have started with black. After about 10 rows, I was completely thrown off and never tried it again....

Tomorrow I have to go “shopping”—I need craft paper! I was browsing the internet again and discovered paper crafts.... I’ve already bought the first pattern—I just need the right paper now 🙈😍🙈
Actually, that’s probably for the best—otherwise, I still wouldn’t have finished the front center panel. 

Now I’m knitting the back, and then I’ll pick up stitches on the sides, knit the front section up, cast on additional stitches for the shoulders, and knit the back down..... The pattern is a bit “confusing”—at least for me right now 🙈  

Steffi, the pattern already looks really great, but I can’t quite picture what it’ll look like when it’s finished. I’m excited to see it! I’m also curious about your craft project. What are you making?

...it’s going to be a dragon—or rather, a dragon’s head—about 53 cm tall and 38 cm wide, including the horns... and I have no idea where I’ll hang it once it’s finished. I have to print out 16 DIN A4 sheets, cut out all the individual pieces, fold them, and glue them together.... 
Just like those craft sheets they used to include in some kids’ magazines—I loved those....
I’ve already knitted the back piece up to halfway today.... Let’s see how far I get tomorrow.... Now it’s time for a little sleep—my alarm goes off at 7:10.... 

😂😂😂😂 “unmanly” 😂😂😂😂
Stupid word recognition..... 

Steffi, that pattern looks pretty complicated, and I can’t even imagine what it’ll look like when it’s finished. I’m definitely curious to see it!
The name is finally spelled correctly on the second pot holder, so I’ll be able to start something new soon.
I’ve also learned something new: I’d never heard of “papercrafts” before. My paper crafting is limited to packaging and envelopes…

Hello everyone,

I never cease to be amazed by your creativity. Specifically, I’m amazed by the dragon head Steffi plans to make—53 cm tall and 18 cm wide. Just printing out 16 A4 sheets and putting them together would take a lot of dedication. But then again, you do enjoy making such intricate things. We’re excited to see it. Where will the dragon head go, anyway? I can’t even imagine having space for it in my place right now. But I’m sure you didn’t choose it without a good reason.

@Ines
Oh dear, the whole color thing—I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way about three years ago. For the new baby boy on the way, the parents gave me exactly the same color scheme that your daughter and her husband are hoping for. Olive, mustard, curry, terra—all muted, earthy colors. They don’t want anything bright. Classic blue or even light blue used to be in style. If you look at fashion for little boys today, you’ll find exactly the colors your family wants.

I eventually came to terms with it and even grew to like it. It’s not about what WE like, but what the parents like. Take a look—this is what “mustard” can look like: a little poncho for Oskar made of beautiful, soft wool.



@Anja
I think your yarn is really interesting. It has such beautiful colors and looks so soft. It must be fun to crochet with it. Unfortunately, crocheting still uses up more yarn than knitting.

@Ina
I’m feeling a little down today. I started my baby blanket full of enthusiasm. And now that it’s one-third done, I realize that the border pattern and the inner pattern of the blanket don’t match up—at least in terms of stitch height. The gauge swatch was too small for me to have noticed that there. Now I know better. And since I’m a perfectionist, I now have to rip it all out and start over. I can’t just fool myself, after all.

And because I’ve been knitting that (wrong) blanket so diligently, my right wrist is aching today. I’ve put some pain relief ointment on it and wrapped it up. Now I have to take a two-day break. And then I’ll start over! Grrrh.

So, since I’m doing absolutely nothing wool-related, I packed up all the Christmas stuff today and now have more space and breathing room again.

I wish you all a wonderful day.

Warm regards from Ina

Steffi, you’ve really taken on a big project there. That’s going to be a huge dragon head! It could make a little boy very happy.

Ina, I really like the mustard color, too. The poncho looks really great. I also had to accept that my granddaughters’ parents don’t like pink. Even though I would have loved to…
They also tend to prefer muted colors for their girls. I can understand that, though, because when I was younger, I had completely different tastes than my mom did back then. And as you say, the parents have to like it, not necessarily us.
OMG, Ina, that’s really frustrating—having to unravel a whole third of the finished baby blanket. But I know how that feels. If I don’t like something, I have to start over too, otherwise I won’t enjoy it later. But the blanket is definitely going to turn out beautiful and absolutely perfect.
To be honest, taking a break from crafting would feel like a punishment to me. But if my hand won’t cooperate anymore, I guess there’s no other choice.

I’ve now finished almost three nests for the little birds. I kept crocheting yesterday because I finally want to get it done. There will be four nests in total, and then they’ll be on their way. Here’s a photo of how it looks right now:

Ina.... Get well soon—I hope you’re getting through your break okay.
That thing with the blanket is really more than just annoying.

Monika, I had no idea that so many nests were needed. But to be honest, I’ve never really looked into it.
It’s great that you’re helping out.

  I couldn’t possibly crochet or knit anything I don’t like myself. So a blanket in a certain color that I absolutely hate would end up in some UFO corner of mine—the very farthest one.
  Tomorrow afternoon I actually have to go out and get some “suitable” paper. I actually wanted to do that today already… but it got “dark” so quickly this afternoon that I went for a walk with the dog until 4 p.m., and then it was too late for me to head out… 
I only need two colors, 10 sheets each—I didn’t realize it would be so “difficult.” There are hardly any craft stores left… and this time, I want to see the colors in person first and not order “blind”… 

Got a call today—I can get my booster shot tomorrow. On my birthday, boo-hoo. Especially since I’m always so scared and have to pop a sedative beforehand. It’s a real nightmare for people with panic attacks. :-( 

Oh, Anja, you poor thing—that’s no way to spend your birthday... Hopefully it’ll turn out better than feared! I’d give my arm for you if I could. Fingers crossed and a big, encouraging shout-out! Maybe it’ll help a little if you keep imagining how, once it’s all over, you’ll share the story with us in your usual self-deprecating, super-funny way.

Marlene, I really like your loop scarf. The colors practically smell like spring!

Steffi, your birdhouse is a dream! Oh, I’d move in there right away. Beautiful! The pattern on your jacket is great! I’m just not quite sure yet how that piece will turn into a jacket. But you’re known for these kinds of special patterns, and hopefully you’ll show us your progress :-) And I’m excited to see your giant dragon. The things people come up with... :-)

Monika, what a cozy jacket you’ve made again! Since winter is now in full swing, you’ll be able to really put it to good use as soon as you have the buttons. And I never cease to admire your hard work and dedication to the animals! Hopefully, with those beautiful nests, the little birds can be nursed back to health!

Ines, your table runner turned out really beautiful. If I had to wait for yarn in the middle of a project so I could keep working, I’d be super impatient—wow. I hope you handled it better than I would have! I think it’s great that you accept your daughter’s taste and wishes. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that, over time, you’ll get to knit even more things for little Wim.

Ina, how frustrating that the patterns didn’t match up. And now you’re even in pain from knitting—arrrgh! I can understand why you unraveled it all—maybe there was just a tiny bit of anger involved? It definitely would have been for me. No, a lot of frustration, to be more precise ;-) Get well soon!

My loop scarf—which is still meant to be sent as a gift for the “big” sister of a newborn baby—is finally finished. It matches the washcloth for the baby.





It took a long time because I’ve been pretty short on time lately and haven’t gotten much knitting done. Now I’m going to treat myself to a few days off and read a book again :-)

Have a nice evening!

Thank you so much, Sonja ♡ 

And you always write such lovely comments about everyone’s projects, too! ♡♡

A very warm and encouraging greeting from me, too...
Anja, you can do it 👍

I just tried to sketch out the knitting pattern—I’m only allowed to post photos of my own work, after all... 

The dragon hasn’t even been started yet, and it’s already found a home.... My son (27) has already signed up 🙈 Maybe I should print it out in triplicate right away.... because if little Alex sees it, I’m done for 😇
Sonja, that loop scarf is so cute..... Unfortunately, I don’t have anyone here who would wear it—well, I would wear it, but then everyone always gives me such weird looks. 😂

Anja, good luck! You can do it, so just go for it!

After a few days’ break, I’m back here again.

You’re all always so quick—so much has already happened again.

Sonja , your new bunny loop scarf must have been a great gift; it’s perfect for little girls.

Marlene , your heart-patterned table runner turned out beautifully. I also really like the colors of your loop scarf—it already looks like spring.

Ines , your table runner looks really elegant. I’ve already had the chance to admire your hats—I really like them all. I’m glad you get to knit something for little Wim. I’m sure you’ll show it to us here.

Anja , I like the colors for the new jacket, too. I just didn’t quite understand—is that the teddy jacket or yours? Good luck getting your booster—you’ll handle it easily.

Monika , your new jacket is already finished again. It turned out really nice with the striped pattern. . You know, pink isn’t my color—if it were me, I would’ve gone with blue.
The little birds are surely happy about your new nests again.

Steffi , you picked out great colors for your new sweater. I really like the slipped-stitch pattern, too. Your sweater is sure to look great when it’s finished.
A few years ago, I knitted one myself using the same technique. I still have it in my closet. I almost think this style is coming back into fashion. ????


.
, .

I can show you my latest project—I got to test-knit for Petra. I really like it.
   

Hey Marion....
I wonder if that sweater will come back into style.... no idea 🙈 I just really liked it.
Actually, I was looking for a sweater with a round yoke and then I “stumbled upon” this one. ... so I ended up buying two patterns 😇
I’d also like to knit and crochet for little ones. They’re such cute little things 💖
Whether it’s a baby blanket, a loop scarf, a hat, or booties.....
I once knitted a christening gown, in lace, very classic.... in MerinoLace, natural. With a bonnet and booties. It’s just never been worn; it’s tucked away safely, wrapped in tissue paper inside a box....

Steffi, now I can picture what your sweater will look like. Wow—I already really like the cut alone. Now I can make sense of the pattern, too. It’s going to be a really pretty piece. I could already tell your dragon would find an owner in no time. You’ll probably have to make two of them, whether you like it or not.
If you’d like to knit for little ones, I have a tip for you. Get yourself a cute doll and knit some clothes for it. That’s what I did, too. Even as a kid, I loved dressing up and undressing dolls. Now I make the clothes myself and have fun doing it.

Just a quick note about the nests. I’m in two Facebook groups where many people who care for wild animals are urgently asking for nests and similar items. I had no idea before just how many people there are who do this voluntarily and with so much love. My contribution here and there is just a tiny part of that. The nests I’m sending now are going to someone who specializes in hand-rearing young birds that have fallen out of their nests.

Anja, I hope you’ve gotten through everything okay and can still celebrate your birthday with joy. I also joined the ranks of well-wishers in your birthday thread. That way, you’ll have a little joy reading all the birthday wishes.

Sonja, you have my utmost admiration. I’m truly speechless at the cute designs you always conjure up. The bunnies are absolutely adorable. My two girls will get the washcloths with these designs for Easter. My fingers are already itching to knit. If they hadn’t just gotten some loop scarves, I would’ve started on those too. It’s always a joy to browse through your shop. You really do deserve a break, as hardworking as you are—especially on top of your job, kids, and household chores.

Marion, your little Mäx has gotten some new clothes again. He looks sooooo cute in them. I really love the color combination, too. Your sweater looks really interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it before.

I’ll finish my cardigan today, because the purple buttons from my swap arrived in the mail. They fit perfectly, which makes me very happy. Tomorrow I’ll be able to wear the cardigan, and I’m really looking forward to it.

The fourth nest is almost done, too—just a few more rows to go. Tomorrow I’ll take a photo of them all together.

And if I can manage it today, I’ll start on the shawl for my friend. I came up with the pattern today and am going to try it out to see how it looks. Right now I’m really disciplined and am finishing one thing after another (pat on the back).

Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Wow, you’ve posted so much here since my last post—I can’t possibly comment on everything that’s been created in the meantime!
So just a few words about the latest projects. (No hard feelings to the others!)

That bunny loop is absolutely adorable, Sonja! I could also imagine that motif on an Easter basket or a little gift bag for Easter. Or as a motif on the front of a sweater like the one Steffi’s knitting right now—maybe even as a reversible sweater? Oh, your projects are so inspiring!

The hat and booties for the baby doll are also sooo cute, Marion! It doesn’t always have to be light blue and pink, as others have already mentioned above!

And Monika is knitting and crocheting nonstop as usual: first she finished the jacket in record time, now nests, then a shawl right after that... It’s impossible to keep up!

I have something new to show you, too: I used the light blue yarn from the swap to create a winter landscape with an igloo, penguins, and a snowman. 

Ruth,

that was such a great idea of yours with the yarn swap. The decorations turned out beautifully, especially the igloo.

Ruth, your igloo turned out so cute. I can totally see this being great for kids to play with, paired with little dolls and winter animals.

Steffi, I’m excited to see your sweater. It sounds like a huge project—it’ll be a while before you’re done.

I’ve already moved on to the next pattern and have a thousand ideas for what I could make with it.

  I’ve finished a headband, and now I’m experimenting with little booties. 

Ruth, I just saw that beautiful snowy landscape you created in the yarn swap thread. A cozy igloo—what a brilliant idea. Those cute penguins definitely won’t be cold there. A picture to fall in love with!

Petra, your new pattern looks great. It resembles my pattern for the baby dress. I had to search for that pattern for a long time—it’s a very old one from a 60-year-old children’s jacket. You can make all sorts of things with it. I’ll send photos of my nests tomorrow. It’s hard to take good photos today—the weather is pretty gloomy.

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

Ruth.... Your snow scene is great! The igloo idea goes perfectly with the yarn.

Petra.... the pattern is really beautiful. It has such a lovely texture.

I love patterns; I have a few books with old patterns on my shelf here. “Grandma’s Knitting Secrets” or Lisl Fanderl’s “Rural Knitting.”
It’s even fun just to flip through them.... 

Your snowy landscape is great, Ruth. I’ve already added it to my wish list.

Your pattern is very pretty, Petra. What’s it called?

I just started working on Max. For me, though, it’ll be a Mini-Frieda and a gift for a friend and neighbor.

Yes, old books often feature great patterns. I found mine in the book “Brigitte Stricken 2” from 1983.

It also has some really lovely lace trims. I’d like to combine these with a scarf… someday. 

I also have one of those ancient books—which is very precious to me—that’s full of fantastic patterns. I love experimenting with them and using them to create new ones. The tips in there can’t be found in any book today either. Knitting patterns from the 1950s and much more.

Now I’ve finished the four nests—here are the photos.




And I’ve already started the shawl for my friend. Here’s what it looks like so far.

Continue writing here:
January 2022 Projects, Part 2: the Crazypatterns handicraft group