February Projects 2022 + January Projects 2022, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

So here is Part 2 of the February projects:
February Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 3 of the January projects.

You can read the earlier posts at the link.
January Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Hello everyone...
Sonja, I hope you got some good news today. Take good care of yourself.

Marlene, what a lovely idea with the double-sided bookmark. 

I still haven’t managed to knit a single decent stitch—it’s been a few days now. Hopefully my sweater doesn’t turn into a UFO 🙈 I just can’t bring myself to pick up those pesky stitches from the edge.... 
I can still make excuses with my craft project, but it’s a bummer that there are only a few pieces left that I need to fold and glue. I’m sure I’ll finish it tonight.... 
And in a few days, the yarn swap package will arrive.... and I’ve firmly resolved to finish knitting the sweater first and only then start something new.... at least, that’s the plan 😇
I’m going to make a few more dragon pieces now 🐉

Marlies, it’s so sweet that the little dog is being so well protected by his new owner. And it’s a huge compliment that your husband praised it, too. You can really be proud of that. By the way, there’s no sign of spring here. It’s super unpleasant outside.

Dear Sonja, none of us has sunshine all the time. But even this will pass. I hope you all get back on your feet soon and that your joy in life grows. What knitting needles can do… I know that too.

Marlene, little cute things like a bookmark are a lovely way to use up leftover yarn and bring joy.

Steffi, you can look forward to the swap package as early as tomorrow. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend for you. :)

I’ve almost finished the first bunny washcloth. Just need to add the border. At least now I can show you the color combination—perfect for Easter.




Today I picked out some yarn for the little sleeping bag for the doll baby. It’s just too much to watch her shiver like that. ;-) In the meantime, I’ve wrapped her up in a blanket. Let yourself be surprised. The sleeping bag will surely be finished soon. I’m already looking forward to knitting it.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Sonja, get well soon, everyone!

Monika, I really like your color combination.

We stopped by briefly today for an 80th birthday party. They served a Spanish liqueur mixed with milk. It was, contrary to expectations, very tasty.

We had bright sunshine all day today. It was really unusual. Now let’s wait and see what the storm/hurricane brings.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Take care.

Great color combo, Monika! I really like it too. 

Wishing you a speedy recovery too, Sonja! 

The bookmark by Marlene is absolutely adorable♡

I made a hat today; photo coming in daylight. 

Steffi I’m stuck on my cardigan too. I want to use up leftover yarn, but I don’t know how to continue. For days I’ve been staring at the leftovers and can’t think of anything. I can’t picture at all what it will look like in the end (even though I’ve already sketched it out with colored pencils). The left side is lime yellow. Do I make the right side gray now, or do I knit up the rest of the yellow first and then continue with gray? What looks better? And when does the khaki come into play, and will the berry-colored yarn even be used? Ugh... 

Thank you all so much for the good wishes and kind words! Today was already much better, morale-wise :-) Working from home went wonderfully, and now the weekend is just around the corner anyway—hurray.

Steffi, you’ll probably really need to set yourself a deadline for the sweater; the longer you put it off, the less motivated you’ll feel. Well, at least that’s how it is for me. And over time, you successfully push it out of your mind that you even have something unfinished lying around ;-) That’s a recipe for a UFO. In your case, it would be a total shame—the sweater was already looking really great!

Christina, I’m so glad your grandson is doing well! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the rest of the family gets through this just as well.

Monika, those are really cheerful Easter colors—they go together so well. Are you making both washcloths the same color, or are you making two different ones?

Marlies, the liqueur with milk sounds a little weird at first, but I’m glad you liked it :-) Hopefully the storm won’t be too bad.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend, filled with lots of things that make you happy!

I hope you get well soon too, Sonja.

Yes, using up leftover yarn is a great thing when you don't like the big project. Moni

Thanks, Anja :)

That cute bookmark is a great idea—I’ll keep that in mind!

Monika, I keep wondering how you manage to get things done so quickly! I’m already proud that it took me four to five days for each of the bunnies… By the way, your color combination really looks very fresh and spring-like. What kind of yarn did you use? I just couldn’t resist and, despite all my good intentions, started another DF shawl for a neighbor’s 80th birthday. The little jacket for Selina is still waiting—I’m having a hard time with the shape and measurements. Should I set the sleeves in straight or use raglan…

Good morning, I’m checking in again. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been busy renovating the living and dining area—there was 45m² of vinyl to lay, wallpapering to do, and so on. Now everything is back in its place, and I can get back to more enjoyable things like crafts.
But you’ve all been very busy.
  Monika, I’m always amazed at how quickly you can work on your DF projects, and I really like the dishcloths—the colors are beautiful, too.
I also really liked Marlene’s bookmark idea. 
Marlies, I think I know what delicious drink you had—Liqueur 43 with milk. That was kind of a trendy drink here two years ago; am I right?
Steffi, yeah, I know that feeling of “Oh, I just don’t feel like it right now,” but as Sonja already wrote, set a deadline and keep going—that helps.
Anja, I really like your idea about coloring in the shades—I’m curious to see what you come up with.

  Oh, Sonja, that really isn’t nice—I hope everything’s back to normal by now.

I don’t have anything to show yet today, but I’ll do that next week, because all the individual pieces I need to sew together are still sitting in the basket.

I wish you all a pleasant weekend—we’re having some serious wind, storms, and rain here, perfect weather for spending the day with yarn and needles. 

Ines, that was exactly the liqueur. I’d never heard of it before and was very skeptical. But I wanted to give it a try anyway. The birthday boy was happy that I liked his concoction.

It’s blowing really hard here and raining again. A day for cozying up on the sofa, but unfortunately, the mood here has taken a turn for the worse. I dared to have my own opinion. Big mistake.

I wish you all a peaceful weekend without any storm damage.

Oh, Marlies....
Then I wish you the strength to stick with it. I know from my own experience how much energy that takes..... By now, I’ve managed to distance myself from it pretty well—I just go into “my room” and do some crafts, crochet, or knit.... I just leave him be....

  Anja, I think the idea with the jacket is nice.... Have you decided yet how you want to continue knitting it? And if you knit yellow and gray in stripes as they transition.... so first a very small one in gray and more in yellow, and then more and more gray as the yellow decreases.....
🤔I wrote that down somewhere, row by row....

Ines.... renovating 🙈 I still have the kitchen ahead of me. From the ceiling to the floor, including a bit of concrete work because we have to “enlarge” the kitchen drain a little.... I’m already dreading it.
But I’ll still make time for crafts 😇

Hmm, Marlies, I know what it’s like when you dare to speak your mind—it can really take a lot of courage sometimes, but you shouldn’t back down.

Steffi, I’m actually a fan of renovations, but this time it wasn’t so great here—the rooms were still full, and we had to lift, push, and clear everything out. The result is impressive, though, and then all the effort is quickly forgotten.
There’s always so much to do in the kitchen—I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it all works out well.

Now it’s time for some crafting, hoping the wind dies down a bit later, because I still need to take the dog for a walk.

I always have strong opinions, which, unfortunately, my three roommates usually don’t share. But there’s no way I’d stay silent because of that. I don’t know why the others don’t just do what I say—most of the time, I’m right anyway. 😁 

Anja.... I believe you 😉
It’s not a bad thing in itself to disagree with someone.... It just depends on “how much of a drama” is made out of it and how hurtful the person becomes toward the other person.... and believe me, there are people who have taken it to “perfection.” So it’s wiser to just give in, keep your thoughts to yourself… just for the sake of peace....  

Tonight, ta-da... I’m going to pick up the stitches. Just going for a quick walk first—hopefully we won’t get blown away; it’s storming so hard it could probably knock the St. Bernard off its paws 🐾🐾 😂
but “Murmel” has to go out one more time. Playing inside isn’t an option 😂🤷😂
And after that, I’ll curl up on the sofa with a cappuccino and knit… once the stitches are on, it knits up super fast… 

We had a huge fight the day before yesterday. I cried for two hours. I just can’t keep my mouth shut. Especially not when things get stupid or unfair. 🤺

I’m trying my hand at felt shoes again. My first attempt was a total failure. I wanted size 45, but after washing, they ended up being size 36. 



Now they’re in the washing machine, playing with the tennis balls 

Petra, that's why I've never dared to try felting. You work on it for hours and then the size doesn't fit...

But I have accidentally felted something before. It was a traditional jacket of mine that I washed too hot. My daughter, who was 4 at the time, was then able to wear it.


In the meantime, I've finished something again too, fitting for Valentine's Day: little Cupid:

I hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

This time it worked out, and the shoes fit. I’m so glad… and my sweetheart even more so. Finally, warm feet





But Ruth, when it came to the jacket, you were really lucky—and thank goodness you had the idea to put it on your daughter. I then gave my first attempt away, because unfortunately, it didn’t fit me either. 

Ruth.... well, if you hadn’t mentioned that, I would never have guessed that the jacket wasn’t meant for your daughter.... 
Your little Cupid is cute 😍

Felted slippers are also still on my “want to try” list for this year. I think I might even still have some yarn lying around 🤔

Today I’m going to make my second attempt at picking up those pesky stitches—I didn’t like how it turned out yesterday 🤷 so today I’ll try the whole thing again.... 

Hey there, here’s the hat. I ended up liking the left side better than the right—the pattern didn’t show up as well because I was knitting with two different strands of yarn. Then I cut up some worn-out cozy socks and sewed them in as a lining so it wouldn’t scratch my forehead and the wind wouldn’t blow through the stitches. 

Anja, I like what I see. And your yarn cake is so neat. Mine always look all tousled. How do you make it look so pretty?

Look, completely tousled :-( 

Petra, you have to be really patient when cutting these out and maybe wrap them a little more tightly.
Mine looked like that at first, too.

Thanks, Ruth—I’ll try making a pom-pom again for my next hat. I’ve actually been thinking about buying one of those pom-pom makers. It’s supposed to make the process really quick and easy.

Does anyone here have one of these little helpers? I always cut a circle out of cardboard and pull the yarn through it with a needle.  

I actually have one of these; I used it to make the Advent wreath with all the green pom-poms. It really does go pretty quickly, and the threads are nice and even.... But since then, it’s been sitting in some box.... And with the cardboard, you can also vary the size of the pom-poms more....  

I think that when using a cardboard circle, you’re tempted not to wrap the yarn quite as tightly if you make the inner circle too small, because eventually the yarn won’t fit through the hole in the circle anymore. And if you make the inner circle too large, the pom-pom tends to fall apart easily when you cut it. The pom-pom makers consist of two semicircles, so that works better.

Petra I have Rico’s pom-pom makers—they’re the best I’ve ever tried! Super easy to use, 4 sizes, and I love making pom-poms with them. And yes, wrap as much yarn around them as you can, with the template mentioned above, until it can just barely still be clipped shut. Then trim. I always play “hairdresser” then, turning the ball in all directions and snipping off quite a bit more. 


I wanted to buy some stitch stoppers and then saw something from a company and thought, “Huh? Those are basically just those spiral hair ties.” I have tons of them, so I cut one into four equal pieces, and presto: upcycling—see for yourself: 

I like your upcycling project 👍
I only have the wrapping templates in two sizes... but I don’t really need them...
And wrapping isn’t actually as fiddly as it is with a cardboard circle...🤔

Anja, how do you clip your templates together? I have the ones from Prym, but I’m not entirely happy with them, and in one set, the smallest feet have broken off, so they can’t be clipped together properly anymore. The pom-pom also didn’t turn out as nice and round as I would have liked (did I tie it off too loosely?)

Steffi, I hope your St. Bernard wasn’t swept off its paws (what a great expression!). I saw footage on TV from northern and eastern Germany… We’re supposed to have a storm here over the next few days, too, but apparently it won’t be too bad. Hopefully, picking up the stitches worked out this time! That’s not exactly my favorite thing to do either. 

Christina, they’re twisted like a corkscrew. 

Thank you for your tips on pom-pom makers. I’ll check online and at the craft store. Maybe they can offer some advice there. I’m not really an “online shopper.”

Have a great day. I’m going to get ready for work now. Actually, I’d rather stay on the couch and crochet.....

That Cupid turned out so cute, Ruth.

I use those pom-pom thingies with the little feet too. I also got a metal pack from an acquaintance, but haven’t done anything with it yet.

Your stitch stoppers are handy, Anja, and that yarn color is really gorgeous.

Marion, your tunic turned out chic.

Wow, everyone, there’s quite a buzz here! Just two days away, and there are whole novels to read and lots of beautiful new things to admire.

I especially like Marion’s tunic—it caught my eye right away. I’d love to wear that myself; I’m totally in love with it. That’s such a fantastic yarn—it creates such beautiful stripes. Awesome!! I had no idea you were so into home renovations, too. ;-)

Sonja, regarding your question—there’s a second washcloth in different colors.

By the way, thanks to everyone for the feedback on the bunny washcloths!
Christina, regarding your question about which yarn I used—it’s Drops Safran, 160 m/50g.
As for your question about the sleeves on the jacket—I like both raglan and straight-set-in sleeves. It’s not always an easy decision for me either. It depends on which pattern I want to use where in the knitted piece.

Ines, you’re hard at work again. Renovating—that’s something I have absolutely no desire to do.
I don’t actually think I’m that fast with my projects, at least in my opinion. I just treat myself to 1–2 hours during the day and in the evening while watching movies—though those are usually just audio dramas. ;-)

Marlies, I wish you peace and harmony at home and hope the storm spares you. I also think it’s important to have your own opinion. I didn’t have a good experience with always giving in during my first marriage. But now I’ve been in a happy relationship for 34 years, where everyone is allowed to have their own opinion and express it. I couldn’t do without that anymore.

Steffi, I’m looking forward to seeing your sweater.

Petra, I’m also really bad at felting shoes. For one thing, they usually turn out too small, and on top of that, they don’t have a very nice shape. I’m definitely no pro at this. Your shoes turned out really well the second time around, though. I’m sure you’ll find a use for the smaller ones.

Anja, your hat looks great, and the pom-pom is really perfect. I cut out some cardboard templates for this—just like Petra. I haven’t tried the finished ones yet. I just checked out am… and ordered a set right away—from the Ayasee brand; it comes with 4 pieces. Thanks for the tip. The inner reinforcement in your hat is also a great idea. That’ll keep your ears warmer.

Ruth, if the jacket was still usable for your daughter, that’s at least a good solution.
Your little Cupid turned out very cute—and it’s a great idea.

Today I finished the sleeping bag for my little baby—little Merle. I’m totally in love with the little one; she looks sooo cute in it.

Monika, your little Merle is really cute. I understand why you want to keep her after all.
The sleeping bag pattern turned out beautifully—it goes perfectly with your yarn.

I’m glad you like my tunic, too.

No sooner do I turn my back on you... just kidding 😉

So many great things again.

I’m trying my hand at a tulip:

I’m curious to see what your tulip looks like when it’s finished.
I finished making my “Diva” last night.... 

It’ll be moving out soon 😇—a little “dragon warrior” is already looking forward to it.
I definitely like the blue one better, but since “she” is going in a girl’s room, those colors fit better there.... 

Kudos to Steffi—the Diva is great too, and the colors are perfect for a girl’s room.
Marion, your tunic turned out great; I already got to admire it today. Your post is even green😉
Monika, little Merle is absolutely adorable; I’d love to have her move in with me too, but I think my two little dolls from my childhood are just fine at my mom’s. After all, she’s the one who knitted clothes for them. 😊
Ruth, I’ve already admired the little angel too—it turned out absolutely enchanting.
  Tomorrow, if my head cooperates, I’ll upload my photos and show you my latest craft project. I say “head” because I spent 6.5 hours today working on a graphic for my latest project—I actually wanted to crochet the first few rows, but nah, I need to take a break today.
As soon as there’s a little bit to see, I’ll share it with you.

Have a lovely evening, everyone. 

Thanks, Ines. :) You’re really building up the suspense with your new project. I’m looking forward to seeing your photo.

Steffi, I personally like the female dragon even better—those colors are just more my style. It turned out absolutely beautiful. A real monster of a project.

Marlene, that’s something completely new. A tulip—I’m curious to see it.

I really like your Diva, Steffi.

I’d been thinking about what to do with the leftover yellow yarn—so I ended up making a tulip, Moni.

Thanks.... 
Now I can just calmly fall into bed.... 
😁 I’ve got the stitches on the needle.... and picked them up nice and evenly 😂 happy 
The side piece will knit up really quickly then. Then I just need to pick up stitches for the lower cuff, and then it’s time for the swap-package yarn.... a sweater in purple.... 💖

Thanks for the info, Monika! The baby looks so cute and happy in his warm, colorfully patterned sleeping bag. Did you knit it with sock yarn?

Steffi, I admire your perseverance with the kites! I like crafts too, but I wouldn’t have the patience—or the space!—for such big projects.
It’s great that you’ve picked up the stitches now and the project won’t become a UFO! I can’t wait to see the finished product! And do you already have a clear idea of what the purple sweater will look like?

Marion, I actually wrote a comment about your tunic this afternoon, but for some reason it didn’t make it to the forum! I think it’s great and would wear it right away. How much yarn did you use for it? I still have several balls of yarn lying around that haven’t been put to use yet…

Wow, Steffi, I think it’s great that you want to knit that purple sweater now. That yarn was just meant for you—it was just too thin for me. You’re moving super fast with your sweater production.

Christina, the yarn from the sleeping bag is a wool-polyester blend, but it’s not sock yarn. The yellow one was a single skein with a similar blend and thickness. I’ll probably knit some more doll clothes from the colorful yarn—it’s great for mixing and matching. Merle still needs quite a few more outfits, after all.

Good morning,

I’m already getting excited, since DHL announced the swap package for today, lol. I’m just curious to see if I’ll be able to figure out right away what to make with the yarn I pick out… I’m amazed that you all already know so quickly, but well, maybe I’ll feel the same way when I see the yarn…
Actually, this should have gone in the other thread, but there are swap partners here too, haha.

Today I can finally show off my finished project: a bunny doorstop.


Yeah, Monika, sometimes you have to keep things a little mysterious—I’ll just say this much: it’s going to be a rug, and I’ll show you part of the design already. I’m starting on it today; I asked for this yarn for my birthday, and even crocheting the gauge was a pleasure—the yarn has a great texture and works up beautifully.


It’s windy and damp and cold here again today, so you really can only devote yourself to your favorite pastime.

I hope you all have a pleasant day.

Hey Ines....
DHL really rushed that delivery 😁
I’m curious to see what you find for yourself—sometimes you just have to see and feel a yarn, and then the idea comes all on its own.....

The doorstopper bunny is totally cute.... I could use one of those too, but my dog would always keep it safe on her “blanket”
and the “cat” already looks great....
I was just outside with my dog for about 2 hours.... 
I knew you could get drunk, but did you know you can also “eat yourself into a stupor”? 🙈 I picked up these cherry chocolates yesterday while shopping.... Oh boy, I had such a hangover this morning—and there are still some left 🙈😂🙈
😂 A little wind and some rain are actually pretty nice.... 

Good morning

Steffi, your diva really turned out great. You’re always so fast, whether knitting or crafting.
I’m sure your sweater will be finished in no time too. Your swap-yarn sweater is sure to have an unusual pattern again.

Marlene, the tulip has just the right color, and I’m excited to see the result too.

Monika, every now and then you just have to renovate. I’m more of the helper then. This time it was a new wooden ceiling. I did at least fasten some boards; my husband did most of it.

Ines, your doorstop is so sweet with its carrots. The chart for your rug already looks great, 
it’s sure to be an eye-catcher.
No wonder you didn’t feel like doing anything else yesterday, but the work was worth it. 

Christina, I used one whole 200 g skein for my tunic and another 20 g of wool from the second one. I’m surprised myself that it’s so little. The wool is 4-ply and has 820 m of yardage.

Thanks for your feedback on the tunic; I also noticed that I turned green.
Luckily not in the face, ha ha,

Now I’m still thinking about what to put on the needles next.

Hi Marion....
I have a 3-ply yarn cake, 200g/1000m....🤔 Do you think that would be enough for a tunic? 
🙈 Either I need to work faster, or I just need more time.... I have soooo many ideas right now. 
I don’t really have a plan yet for that gorgeous bright green yarn with the glitter... 

Hi Steffi,
I think that depends on the size and the pattern. But it might be enough without sleeves.

Why don’t you take a look at some of the patterns here (e.g., “Colorful Fuzz”)—many of them include size, quantity, and meter measurements.

There are surely a few other designers here who provide that information as well.

You’re so creative—I’m sure you’ll come up with something suitable if one bobble isn’t quite enough. 

Hi Steffi,

hmm, the announcement was for today, but it looks like the package won’t arrive until tomorrow after all—that’s no big deal and still pretty much on schedule.... I received several packages today, and with each one I thought, “No, that can’t be it”—they were all pretty small, lol..... Just wanted to mention that briefly; I’ll definitely unpack it tomorrow.

It was always like that with the doorstops for me, too—my daughter’s little Yorkie “loved” everything, but now he’s rarely with us—which works out fine, because our dog doesn’t care; she’s rarely in the apartment, just to pick up treats, and otherwise, unfortunately, she’s in a kennel, which was unavoidable since she’d shared her apartment with her mom, and her mom came to us as a kennel dog. I would have preferred to have her upstairs, but we didn’t want to separate the dogs.

The rug is definitely going to turn out great.

My tulip is taking shape. I already have the flower:

Spring is coming.... The first tulip is in sight 💖💖💖

I'm currently continuing to knit my sweater.... I've finally finished knitting those annoying rows for now. A whole "world": 4 rows in stockinette stitch, then in the next row knit stitches and knit them together with the stitches 4 rows below... that creates a kind of "roll". Like a tuck, just much smaller. ... 
Now there are 4 more rows of slipped stitches and then the batwing sleeve.... 

Wow, Steffi, that looks super complicated! The pattern is very unique, and I like the color. 

Actually, it’s not that complicated at all… the pattern is very well written. And the pattern is a slip stitch pattern… It’s just picking up stitches from the edges that’s annoying. I really don’t like that. Now it’s time for stockinette stitch, with decreases for the left shoulder… Every 5th row, so it knits up pretty quickly 😇😁

I finished a little something today.

This is the cutest little thing I’ve seen today 💖💖💖💖

Oh. Thank you, Steffi 😊😍😘

Oh, Marion, the shoes were finished really quickly after all—they’re lovely, too. Wim often wears his little shoes as well; they go so well with the hat I knitted for him.

.....I have to rip it out.....
I picked up the stitches so nicely and counted them carefully while picking them up, but apparently not while knitting them off.... Now I have to rip it all out again... I’m missing 5 stitches.... At first I thought I could just work them in somehow.... Um, no—they’re not missing in the middle, but at the end of the cast-on edge.... 

I’ve already thought about whether I can solve this another way, but I just couldn’t come up with anything....
This is really annoying me right now—why didn’t I notice this sooner.... after more than 10 rows 😤 
And now I have to knit that stupid tuck again, too.... 
First, a cappuccino, and then I’ll focus on knitting this time. 🙈

Wow, there are so many beautiful things to admire again. :)

Ines, your doorstop bunny turned out amazing. It would fit right in at my place, too. It looks pretty big and is a really cute eye-catcher.
You’re crocheting a rug? Wow! How big is it going to be? It already looks very promising—and like a mammoth project. Apparently, you love big projects too, because as I’ve read, you’ve still got a blanket to work on. Great! There’s quite a lot to see here.

Marion, I’m sure you’re really enjoying the new wooden ceilings now. I like that sort of thing too, but not the actual DIY work. I’ve fallen so in love with your tunic that I’m thinking about knitting one myself. Because if it uses so little yarn, that would be a great way to use up my lovely fine yarn. Right now, though, I’m working on other things.
Your baby booties are too cute. I’m going to knit something like that in tiny sizes for my babies.

Marlene, your tulip has come at just the right time for the start of spring. It’s sure to coax the other tulips out of the ground.

Steffi, your sweater looks really complicated with all those pieces that need to be put together. And as I can see, it really isn’t that easy. It’s really frustrating when it doesn’t fit right. It wouldn’t be for me right now, since I don’t have the patience for it. At least not at the moment.

I’m really in my element right now—designing doll clothes. First, I have to get Merle dressed, then it’s Sternchen and Tommi’s turn. Maybe I’ll make something for the two of them in matching styles.

By the way, I’ve already started the slipover for Linja using sock yarn. It’s fun to knit. It’s a great little side project to do in the evening while watching or listening to a movie. ;-)

.... I really admired Marion’s little booties and quietly thought to myself what a shame it is that I don’t have anyone who would wear them..... And today 💖💖💖💖 my sister wrote to me that I’m going to be an aunt again....
  Actually, the two of them had already come to terms with the fact that it would just be Alex, and now, after 4 years, it was apparently the “right” time....
That’s the best news of the day 💖💖💖💖

Oh Steffi, how lovely — as an aunt, you’ll surely get to knit one thing or another too.

Monika, the rug is supposed to be about 80 x 150 m.
I’m wondering what would work best to make it a little more slip-resistant. Do you have any tips?

Yes, Ines… somehow I’m already looking forward to it…

A rug… You could simply put a non-slip rug underlay underneath it or use liquid latex… though that certainly also depends on the material and on the surface it’s lying on… 
Maybe I’ll get around to crocheting a rug again too. I’d have the yarn for it… a cone of “rug yarn” weighing 2.5 kg… 🙈😁🙈 in an inconspicuous, subtle grey mélange… 

Steffi, that’s so nice—it looks like there’s going to be a baby after all, and maybe you can knit something for it.

Ines, I also have some of that non-slip rug underlay by the metre under the rugs I knotted myself many years ago. It works great.

Monika, I’m already looking forward to seeing what new thing you’ve finished for our babies.  I’m already excited to see your tunic, whenever it comes along.  I really enjoyed making it—it definitely won’t be the last one. 

My latest project in DF is a birthday gift for a neighbor’s 80th birthday:

.    

That’s very pretty, Christina—the birthday girl will definitely be delighted!

Wow, Steffi, I’m so happy for you that you’ll soon get to knit for such a little angel. That’s always a highlight. And I’m sure you have more than enough ideas. It’s a dream come true!

Oh, Ines, that’s a really great size for a rug, and you’ve got quite a bit of work ahead of you. To make it slip-resistant, there are surely lots of options for what you can sew underneath it. As far as I know, there are special products available for that. You’ll find plenty of ideas online.

Yeah, Marion, I’m really taken with that tunic you made. I love wearing things like that. Maybe it’ll be a summer garden project. You finished yours pretty quickly. Our babies will be next soon, too. Now I have to get Merle some clothes first, so she at least has the basics.

Christina, your cloths look absolutely fantastic, especially in those colors. Are you giving them away as pot holders?
That reminds me—I still have the second washcloth to finish. I’ll probably send them off in March along with the slipover for Linja’s birthday.

And I finally have something new to show you all. Little Merle got a hat.



And the slipover for Linja is already quite a bit further along, and it won’t be long before it’s finished. It feels super cozy.

So... the first tulip is finished.
I sewed it back together:

Marlene, that looks really cute—it really gets you in the mood for spring.

I probably won’t get around to any crafting today 😕—it’s sunny here today and it’s “sawing season,” so I’m going to throw on my protective gear right away and “enjoy” the weather or something 🤷
Actually, “all” I have to do is stack the wood... from the bank behind the house into the “storage area,” and I’m sure one or two pieces will have to be cut a little smaller because otherwise I won’t be able to get them up the bank 🙈

Right now, I can’t quite keep up with reading everything. You’re all so hardworking.

Christina, that’s a great gift. She’ll definitely be very happy with it.

I haven’t been able to get anything done because I’ve been so busy taking care of someone who’s sick. I’ve started a few projects, but I’m just lacking the time and peace and quiet right now.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay healthy.

Best regards
Marlies

Thanks, Steffi :)
I’ve been putting off using the hammer drill for weeks.
But the shelves aren’t going to attach themselves to the wall.

I hope everyone who’s affected gets well soon, Marlies.

Ugh, *HATE* this!
I just spent an hour struggling with it—now my knitting is flying into the corner again!

I’m knitting a cardigan where you first work the left front panel and attach the sleeve right away with increases. Then you’re supposed to knit the right front panel in reverse. I have a hard time with stuff like this—mirroring something, doing it the other way around—my brain just freezes up.
So I sketched it out on a notepad, dividing it into three parts (cardigan-pocket-cardigan). Before, the stitch count was 18-12-14, so now it had to be 14-12-18. So far, so good. THEN I bound off stitches 15–26, and that’s when the drama started—I’d already had this issue with the left front panel, because you had to continue working according to the pattern (seed stitch) if you wanted to reinsert the stitches you’d knitted up to that point for the pocket. It worked—and it didn’t. I then wondered if I could basically knit and, after binding off, not finish the row but immediately insert the pocket so the pattern would line up. No matter what I tried, it just wouldn’t fit!
And now, after an hour of fiddling and unraveling (5 times!!!!), I decided to cheat. Because after Section 2 (pocket), it just wasn’t right, so right after knitting together the last stitch of the pocket and the first stitch of the cardigan, I knitted one stitch from the next stitch (because then the pattern was right again) and at the end of the row, I knit two stitches together. BAM!
  But stuff like this drives me crazy, because I always think I’m too dumb and don’t get something or am making a mistake in my thinking. I try to figure it out logically, but logic doesn’t get me anywhere either. Oh well, guess I’ll just have to cheat. It really makes my head spin when there were 44 sts before and 44 sts after—why is the pattern acting up like this? I just don’t get it. Argh!!!!

  Now I’ve lost all motivation for today. And from all the fuss, my back’s seized up. First, I’m going to roll out with the Blackroll, and then I’ll put a hot water bottle on my back muscles.

When the joy of knitting turns into knitting frustration... 

Oh, Anja, you poor thing. But maybe today just isn’t your lucky day.

I wanted to knit a hat, too. First attempt—too small. Second attempt—also failed. The pattern isn’t suitable for a hat. Now it’s turned into a doll’s loop/cowl / headband. 




I’m not satisfied, but at least it didn’t turn into a UFO. I still have way too many of those lying around.

Anja.... Are you knitting the small seed stitch pattern? You know, one knit stitch, one purl stitch? Then that can’t be right! You wrote that you’re supposed to knit one stitch from the pocket and one from the front piece together? 
With seed stitch, my grandma explained to me that I should divide the stitches into even and odd numbers.... Odd-numbered stitches are always knit stitches and the even-numbered ones are purl stitches.... so 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. are knit stitches and  2, 4, 6, 8, etc. are purl stitches.... It always helps me to check whether the pattern could line up when I need to increase or decrease.... 
Decrease stitches 15–26..... stitch 15 is a knit stitch through to stitch 26, a purl stitch.... if you knit two together now, it won’t line up anymore.... 
Your way of fudging it was already right.👍
Petra, I like the pattern of your cowl. Too bad it won’t work for a hat....

I only knitted a few rows today. I’m working on the shoulder decreases; every 6th row is a decrease row.... that way it knits up relatively quickly, always up to a decrease row and then a little break  😇 

Oh, what a shame, Petra! The pattern looks really interesting, but it doesn’t really stand out as a loop (since it’s rolled up).

Tomorrow’s a new day—new luck! 

Steffi, I think it might be right after all, because even though I decrease 12 stitches, I cast on 14 stitches for the bag—so the two decreases when knitting them together are already factored in.
But it still wasn’t right. 🐘💨
And yes, a small pearl stitch pattern. 

I’ve drawn it out now 🙈..... 
This should work....
 “Stuff like this” always bugs me; I just “have” to know why it doesn’t work....  
It only stops working if  an odd number of stitches is decreased....  
I’m going to bed now 🙈

Good morning, everyone. The early bird catches the worm... so this morning I dug out my yarn and needles again to knit. And guess what I realized: I used the wrong needles yesterday. The needle size wasn’t right—maybe that’s why my stitch pattern was too tight and the hat didn’t fit. 

Thanks Anja for mentioning the rolled edge, because it really isn’t good for this pattern. Now I’m starting over with a different cuff, larger needles, and new yarn. 

The excitement is building...... 

Steffi, thank you so much for your effort! It all looks totally logical and clear. And as I said, my stitch count was correct both before and after, and yet the pattern still didn’t work. I don’t get it. It’s just like real life: you think, “This should work this way or that way now,” and life goes: NOPE.

Petra, I’m looking forward to the fresh start. 

It drives me crazy, too, when something just won’t work out, Anja.

Now that I’ve finished the second tulip, this sewing project has reminded me why I prefer to knit or crochet larger (preferably one-piece) items.

Anja, I can totally relate to your frustration… that kind of thing really gets under my skin, too! I hope your enthusiasm for knitting comes back very soon—it would be such a shame otherwise!

Yes, Marlene, if only there weren’t all that sewing involved with knitted and crocheted items—like sewing on an animal’s snout or attaching arms, legs, and ears. I find embroidering eyes, noses, and mouths even worse—I’ve actually thrown my work into a corner before because I just didn’t like how it looked.

Well, Dino number two is now finished too!

 

Here’s the first one:

 

Oh my, I totally get that frustration you feel every now and then... and the lack of motivation that comes with it...

Sometimes nothing just works out! You try and try, but somehow your brain’s all tied up in knots, or things just keep going wrong... and your motivation keeps dropping and dropping...

It usually helps me if I just toss everything into the corner and sleep on it for a night or two. Most of the time, things work out again :)

@Marlene: The flowers are so great! Are they a gift or meant as decor for your home?
I’m sure everyone can relate to the sewing thing… Hardly anyone actually enjoys it.

@Christina: The pot holders are super cute! :) Julian’s going to be so happy :D

I was also veeeery busy last week and managed to finish the mobile in record time—just in time for my best friend’s baby shower! (I was actually planning to have it done by April, when she’s due.)
Since I finished it at night and gave it to her the very next day, I only have a somewhat so-so photo :D

She was really happy :)

Now I can finally get back to sewing Leo’s sweater, which has been cut out for a long time and is just waiting to be finished.

The little tulips are meant as decorations for the home, Tina.

Oh, what a wonderful mobile! I would have been so happy to have that, too ♥︎

The tulips are very pretty, and I get the sewing part, too—phew!

The dinosaurs are absolutely adorable, too.

  Yesterday I had a brief urge to “crochet some letters again.” Then I remembered that I already had some. Some were just the front side, others both sides, but they weren’t sewn together or stuffed yet. I did the latter for the letter “R,” and then I lost interest again. I wanted to start mass-producing them and selling them at some point, but hey, I know I’m not good at sticking with things. No idea what I’ll end up doing with these randomly created letters.

Strangely enough, crocheting is easier with my arthritic thumb than knitting. That’s why I’m only doing short bursts with the knitting needles right now. 

Anja, you can use the existing letters to form words. For example, “HOME,” “SPRING” (it’s a bit long), “OH NO”

Personally, I think “cookie” is a nice word—I like it.

  I just put my bread in the oven. Now there’ll be a little something to eat.

My hat isn’t turning out the way I wanted, but I’ll finish it anyway. Then I’ll show you a picture. 

Okay, I have A, H, M, N, O, R

RAHMON

OH MAN

HAM RON

MOH NAR

HOMA
etc.—I’m sure there’ll be a huge demand for these 😁

Ramon..... 😍
That’s my son’s name 😇🙈😇

I’m totally wiped right now—I’ve been sawing firewood, and now I have to get changed quickly and somehow manage to take the dog for a walk 🙈 and she’s got so much energy today.... 

I can still find “Oma” and “Ohr.” But you’re right—there isn’t much you can do with the letters yet.

So let’s grab our hooks and crochet the right ones.

Here’s my second attempt at the pattern



It still pulls together despite the large hooks. It’s actually a shame—it looked so nice at the beginning.

Hello everyone, 
You’ve all been super busy again. 

Christina, your little lamps turned out really beautiful again. 

Tina, the mobile is gorgeous—something different. So far, I’ve mostly seen clouds, owls, etc., but the balloons really add something special.

Petra, oh, what a shame that the pattern is pulling so much; it’s actually very pretty. I don’t know whether it would help to use smaller needles for the border and then fairly large needles for the pattern after all. 

Anja, oh dear, crocheting letters—I’m curious to see what words you’ll create.

I’m still working on my huge rug; a little more than the first third is finished. I’ll take a photo one of these days.

I hope you all have a storm-free evening. 

Ines, I’m curious to see your rug.

Thanks for the tip about the larger needles. It might be worth a try.

It’s still a bit windy here, but not too bad. The last two days were really rough.

Christina, your washcloths are great. Julian will be happy to wash up (or have someone wash him). The colors go great with the dinosaur motifs. Maybe I missed it, but are there 4 washcloths, or 2 in double-face and extra thick?

Just popping in for a quick look.

I’m only making slow progress on my projects bit by bit, which makes me admire your amazing creations all the more.

The balloon mobile looks really great. I’ve also been thinking that you could hang a single one in the window or from the ceiling. It’s a great eye-catcher.

The crocheted tulips look pretty and bring a touch of spring into the home.
I bought myself a bouquet of roses today, too—I needed a little color and some spring spirit with all that stormy weather outside.

Monika, your slipover looks interesting in those colors. Pair it with a white blouse underneath, and you’ve got a perfect outfit for going out.
Sometimes a ball of yarn looks kind of silly at first glance, but once it’s worked up, it creates such beautiful color patterns.

The knitting pattern on the hat looks very pretty, but complicated.

Well, I definitely won’t be able to crochet many rows on the bunny’s pants. I’m too exhausted today.

Hope you all have a storm-free evening for your crafts **wave wave**

Petra, since Julian asked for a baking book for Christmas, I knitted these dinosaurs as potholders in double-face to go with it. The front and back are shown for each one. He’ll get the second one when the book finally comes out in Switzerland.  

Hi everyone!

I have something new to show you again. My first bunnies are finished. I ran out of blue, so this one ended up being green.

Your two bunnies are so cute. I couldn’t manage something like that. I’d also lack the patience for so many little pieces.

Easter is coming—you can really tell 

Andrea, your two bunnies turned out sooo cute.

It doesn’t always have to be blue—both colors are very pretty.

Thank you so much for your feedback.

My colleague wanted a bunny in pink and one in blue. But she’s also okay with green (it’s for a boy and a girl).

Have a wonderful evening, everyone!

Awesome bunnies—I love bunnies ♥︎

I like the Hasis, too! Mine is still waiting for a little cosmetic surgery (unfortunately, it’s no good as a cat toy!)

Oh, you’ve created some amazing things. I haven’t been able to get anything done lately.

But Anton and I made something today for his Carnival costume 



A respirator 

Andrea.... those two are super cute....
Sandra... How cool is that 🙈. Anton has a truly one-of-a-kind piece, and they even crafted it together.....

I’m currently “jumping” back and forth between knitting and crafting. I actually wanted to work on a commission... but the print quality is so terrible that I can now toss a whole 32 pages of paper in the trash. That’s what happens when you “tell” the printer, “Go ahead, I’m just going to vacuum for a minute...” Now I have to see if I can somehow edit the file so the lines are black instead of light gray.
Anyway, I ended up having to finish another pattern....

Wow, I wouldn’t have the patience for that. But I think it’s great what comes out after folding. I also admired the kites. Just wow

Sandra, your ideas for Anton are great. I think a respirator is incredibly important. I’m sure there’s a kids’ carnival at the preschool. I hope so for Anton.

  I’ve finished the birthday present for our grandson. He’ll be turning 8 on Friday. How time flies.

Now I’m sewing a matching little gift bag to go with it. I got the little ball as a sample so I can make sure I get all the colors right. 

Here is the new thread:
February Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Handicrafts Group