April Projects and March Projects 2022, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Continue writing here:
May Projects 2022: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group 

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 3 of the March projects. Have fun with it.
You can read the earlier posts at the link:
March Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group (No Advertising)

I crocheted a hairband again.
Let’s see if I can make it a little deeper.

*decorate - autocorrect *grumble*

Hello everyone…

I’m amazed at how hard-working you all are, but I’m sure you feel the same way I do: pack some yarn and needles in your luggage and head for the sun—that’s the way to get some crafting done.

Marion, I’ve already commented on your doll clothes, and now these pants—they look lovely.

Monika, the blanket and the washcloths turned out beautifully; I’m really taken with the orange color.

Marlene, who is the hairband for? For a little girl, I could really see adding a small crocheted appliqué (a flower, ladybug, etc.); for adults, maybe sew on a little flower made of small, color-coordinated beads—or just leave it as is. Those are just my thoughts.

I’m still working on my pillows, and yes, that chenille yarn—as wonderfully soft as it is—is a pain to knit and crochet with, grr… so it’s a challenge I brought on myself. However, I’m now working on No. 6, which is the last pillow, but you wouldn’t believe how excited I am to put my new ideas into action afterward.

Well, I wish you all a sunny day....

The hairband is for adult women.
I’ve now started embroidering cross-stitches on it in the center using brown yarn.

Ines, I know all about coming up with new ideas. I’m sitting in the garden with my coffee, forcing myself to write my hat pattern. I’ve started three projects so far—a hat, a jacket, and shoes for the doll. Everything’s ready; only the write-up is still missing.

  Before I get to work on the flower beds in the garden, I’ll take a picture of the hat and show it to you.

Marlene, I’m curious to see your headband. 

Crocheting a summer hat like this for the doll is quick, and my cotton stash is slowly dwindling. 

Another little item for the kindergarten children 

Now I’m off to fertilize my roses. Rain is expected in two days 

Petra, you’re incredibly hard at work on these doll projects. The hat looks absolutely adorable, and the colors are sooo beautiful. Yeah, it can definitely be addictive. I’ll be getting back to my dolls soon, too. I’m in a similar boat to you. I have several projects almost finished, but writing them up feels like a chore...

Right now, I’m having so much fun making washcloths. Yeah, Ines, I like the orange one best too, but it’s already taken. Right now I’m working on a new design… I’ll post a photo when it’s done.

I’ve spent almost all of the last few days outside—it was sooo nice to enjoy spring. Tomorrow it’ll be cloudy again, and the day after tomorrow it’s finally supposed to rain. We really need the rain.

Progress on the hairband:



Your doll’s hat looks so cute, Petra
.

Wow, Petra, that doll got a really snazzy hat—I love it.

Marlene, that hairband has a pretty pattern, too.

Marlene, I like your stars. They’re so even. Are those regular single crochet stitches, or a special pattern? 

The stars and the middle stripe are embroidered, Petra.

Oh, nice, Marlene—that hairband looks great.

Petra, what a hat! Now summer can come—that would also be perfect for the “big dolls,” you know, for the beach, sun, and sea, haha… at least that’s how I picture it.
Starting multiple projects at once—I used to do that too, because some things just wouldn’t let me rest, not even in bed. These days, I lay out the materials for 2–3 projects, but I work through them one by one. The thought occurred to me very quickly: it’s Mother’s Day, after all, so I’ve quickly squeezed in a project to design a little something, but this time it really is the exception, haha…

Monika, I’m excited to see your new design—you always have such great ideas.

Today I can finally show off my pillows, too. Phew, was I glad when I’d sewn them all together yesterday, because chenille yarn is especially fuzzier when you’re sewing, and afterward I was more or less sneezing and vacuuming nonstop. I think they turned out pretty well, and best of all, the colors match the rest of the decor perfectly.
Still, you won’t believe it—between the two colors of chenille yarn—same wool, same length, and blah blah—there’s a 1–1.5 cm difference between the pillows.


I hope you all have a nice day; it’s already raining here—the garden’s happy about it, but I’m less so—I have to take the dog out now.

Ines, your pillows turned out absolutely beautiful. They go perfectly with your seating set.

You finished them very quickly once again.

I’ve had that happen to me too—the same yarn turning out differently, even with cotton.

It’s raining here now, too. Nature needs it.

At least we were able to enjoy the garden in glorious weather over the last few days.

Those stars really make a difference on the headband, Marlene. It looks so pretty now.

Ines, you’ve been busy again! Your pillows look very cozy—I really like them. I admire working with chenille. I just can’t get the hang of it at all. I’m not a fan of all that fuzzy stuff either. I’ve also realized now that yarns aren’t always the same. You especially can’t rely on yardage at all, because the results can be completely different. I wouldn’t have thought so.

For now, I’ve finished my heart shawls—the pattern will follow. Today I actually already got orders for them from a friend. She was really excited and wants to give them as Easter gifts.

The new motif is now just the way I want it on the third try. As soon as the shawl is finished, I’ll show it to you.

It’s raining here now, too—finally. That’ll make everything sprout even more.

Ines, I really like your pillows. I’ve kept putting this yarn aside and haven’t dared to use it yet, even though I really like it—both to the touch and to look at.

They must feel super soft to the touch.

Good morning,

Thanks for your feedback on my cushions—yes, they really are cozy. I’ve actually already knitted and crocheted a few pieces with this yarn, but this time there was more fluff than usual. There are certainly differences in quality.

That’s great, Monika—you’ve already found takers for your little shawls.

You lovely busy little bees! 

I just cracked up over your typos. I’d also been wondering what else we could do to the hairband.... *ponders, racks brain* But then it all made sense with the embellishing. Petra’s typo after that, asking whether they’re “feste Mädchen” (probably meant “single crochet stitches”).... *roaring with laughter and slapping my thighs* Sorry Petra, but that’s just too funny!

It reminds me of my Alexa (which I treated myself to at a bargain price for Christmas)—the things she understands, hilarious. She was supposed to remind me that in my game a gemstone would be ready after an hour, and she was supposed to say: “Sapphire ready.” She reminded me just as my husband came in: “Sack of beer ready.” We were cracking up, because he works for a brewery and we thought that’s the latest thing for the environment, what with the glass and bottle shortage everywhere right now: we’re going to pack all drinks in sacks from now on! *laughs* 

Other than that, my crafting is at a standstill—again... After a brief burst of enthusiasm a week ago—the knitting mill arrived—I produced an amazing 2 cords (okay, and before that a few failed attempts with holes), only to realize they were too long, so I had to unravel the crocheted mesh I’d started specially for it, and THEN I immediately didn’t feel like it anymore (my frustration tolerance really isn’t very high *sigh).
 
On top of that, my old granny square blanket got in the way, simply taking the liberty of coming undone in 3 places. My repair attempts failed, so I thought, “WHATEVER,” I’ll just make a new one, and I LOVE grannies. But it was soooo tedious to unravel the old blanket (it had been washed several times already, and the stitches really fought back when I was unraveling them), and I had to sneeze so much that the blanket is now taking a break too. 
And isn’t it awful that I don’t feel like crafting and at the same time I’m horribly bored? Is there such a thing as crafting depression? 

You’re all so hard at work! I took a break from crocheting for a while and kept working on the embroidery for my granddaughter (the last one!).
But now I wanted to get back to crocheting. In keeping with the spring season, I created the “Flower Child: Cherry Blossom”:

It can at least make you feel depressed when nothing seems to work out, Anja.

I’m using some leftover yarn to make a hat for myself.

Oh, Anja, it’s such a delight to read your posts here again. Sooo funny about the bag of beer.
Those slumps will pass, you’ll see. Without this forum, I might not be as motivated to stick with it either. Sometimes there are other things that are fun, too. And then the crafting comes back on its own.

Ruth, you’re so tireless with your creativity, and you create such beautiful little things. This is enchanting again and perfect for spring.

I’m excited to see your hat, Marlene. It’s definitely going to be beautifully colorful.

I’ve just finished my next shawl. After making three different versions of the dove of peace, I realized I liked the first one best after all. I’ve discovered a passion for designing relief motifs. It actually happened by chance...

Marlene, I’m curious to see how the hat will turn out.

Great motif Monika!
The bright blue one is a real eye-catcher.

  I picked up my crochet hook again yesterday and am trying my hand at a cat cave. I wanted to freestyle at first, but it started to ripple quickly. Then I found a free English pattern and am giving that a try now. I’m planning a visit to the animal shelter on Tuesday to look at cats. I haven’t had one in 20 years. I’m a little nervous. I didn’t want one before because I was afraid it would bother me when I wasn’t feeling well. Most people with anxiety swear by their “cat therapy” — petting them and listening to their purring. I need to take a chance without my mind constantly talking me out of it; otherwise, you’ll never have any joyful experiences.
  So now I’m finally putting some yarn to use that I’ve probably had for 10 years — I got it at a discount store once and never knew what to do with it. Sigh, I hope I stick with it until it’s finished. My arthritic thumb is already complaining, but whatever.

Did it snow where you are today, too? 

Yes, Anja, all day long. But the weather couldn’t keep me from taking a trip into town. Garden Days. It was lovely to stroll past the market stalls

Yes, Anja, it snowed here too, but it’ll probably be gone again in the next few days—thankfully.
That’s a great idea to get a cat. They really can be so healing. They sense exactly what you need right now. It’ll definitely do you good, and you’ll find the right one.

I’m currently working on fulfilling some requests and have finished two more heart-shaped scarves. I still have a few more to knit before Easter. I’m going to squeeze those in now, even though I actually wanted to do something else.



Well, what can I say… no sooner have I used up a few balls of yarn than I’m already running out! I was surprised to realize I’m missing the right kind of cotton for pot holders—and now they’re on my wish list. Oh no!! I almost went ahead and placed a yarn order right then and there! But I was very good and stayed strong. That means I’m actually paying shipping costs this time. It still ended up being quite a lot, though. When the package arrives, I’ll show it to you. You’ll be amazed—such beautiful colors. There’s so much you can do with them.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

My laptop is sabotaging me and won’t let me
upload a pattern.

My hat is finished:

Good morning.....

Monika, I had to smile right away when I read about the missing yarn—the same thing happened to me over the weekend. I’m currently planning to crochet a few projects again, and sure enough, the yarn that’s supposed to match in color and thickness isn’t enough or isn’t in stock, so I HAD to order some, and lo and behold, because I wanted to save on shipping costs, a bigger package of yarn will now be arriving for me this week—oh dear! Luckily, no one will see it, haha.......
I really like your dove of peace—it’s a statement at a time like this and will definitely go over well.

Petra, I would have loved to join you on your market trip; I always find garden stalls soooo lovely. Well, I hope something like that happens here in the next few weeks, too.

Anja, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you today /
(Tuesday) regarding the cat—is the little den ready? So the kitty can move right in and make itself at home. Sorry, I have no idea if you can just take a little animal like that home right away. It’s more or less unusual here; you’re supposed to have had several interactions with the chosen animal first. I’m completely clueless about that.

In the meantime, I had to crochet something small, and since I needed a little something to give as a gift, I made a little tin that can be used in many ways—for example, for a few chocolates, for sugar cubes, as a lantern, and so on... I have a few jars I’d like to crochet covers for, but plastic bottles work great too.




I hope you have a relaxing Tuesday—it’s been raining here nonstop since yesterday evening… typical April weather, but luckily it’s not all snow, haha

Ines, your jar looks great. Very elegant. A lovely idea for packaging. I could also see it working well in the bathroom for cotton balls, etc.

I’ve also decorated a jar—it’s a bit childlike, not as elegant as Ines’s jar. It’s for the baked bunnies. To take along for my grandson. 

Good morning!

No, I’m not planning to bring the cat along just yet. First, it’s all about getting to know each other. Plus, nothing’s set up here yet. I need to buy some supplies first.
  I finished the basket yesterday. I followed the pattern, even though I used thicker yarn—it’s a little wavy; 10 fewer stitches would have been better. And I’d somehow imagined it would “stand up” better. I’ve stuffed a pillow inside for now—I don’t know if a cat would still fit in there.
See for yourself: 

Good morning :)

I’m jumping in to comment again! :)

@Marlene: Your hairband turned out beautifully. I really love it. Especially with the little stars on it—it’s really great!

@Ines: I totally get the thing with the chenille yarn—it’s really exhausting... Personally, I’ve often given up and started something new when it got too frustrating for me.... But it was worth it. The pillows turned out amazing!

@Petra: I love the doll hat! I think I need to make one for Leo’s little one, too—he’d definitely be thrilled :-) (The little one already has a whole big drawer in the closet full of stuff.) And the bunny on the jar is really cute, too!

  @Monika: Oh, those scarves are so cute :) Both—the dove and the heart! They turned out really great! Some people are going to be really happy this Easter!

@Anja: Don’t worry, a cat will definitely fit in there! They fit EVERYWHERE anyway :-)

@Ruth: Oh, what an adorable little doll!

I hope I didn’t forget anyone. If I did—please forgive me.

I haven’t been able to do much crafting lately, since—in addition to work and family—I’ve been spending a lot of time with my grandma, who had surgery and needs someone to be there for her.
Last night, though, I sewed a set for my friends’ baby.
Do you guys remember the crocheted mobile with the balloons? I found some fabric that matched and thought I just HAD to make something out of it :)

  The baby was born on the 31st and is still in the ICU (heart defect). I hope the set (somewhere between sizes 62 and 68) will fit roughly when the baby is allowed to come home in about 4–5 weeks. If not, I’ll just make another set. 

(As is usually the case with my photos: a late-night snapshot)

...oh man, you can’t even see the balloons in the small picture. Here’s a zoomed-in view of one of the animals:

Just saying hello to everyone again.

The Cherry Blossom Child, the colorful hat, the crocheted tin, the painted(?) tin with a bunny, the cute baby set, and the colorful cat cave all turned out beautifully.

I really like everything.

I also really like Monika’s potholders or washcloths—I got to test-knit them.

Here are my pieces; I altered one of them a bit myself.

Wow, you’re all so hard at work! I’m impressed by how quickly you’ve created such beautiful things again.

Marlene, I’d love to see what your hat looks like when you’re wearing it. The mix of patterns is definitely very pretty.

Ines, thanks for the feedback! A customer asked me if she could sell the scarves with the dove of peace and donate the proceeds. I think that’s a great idea.
You’ve come up with another lovely idea, and you’ve even incorporated the reuse of jars and such. I hope you enjoy your yarn bundle. Mine is coming tomorrow or the day after… can’t wait.

Petra, your glass decoration looks cute. How did you make it?

Anja, I like your cat cave—and I’m sure your new roommate does too. Cats do like it nice and cozy—and snug, too. I can totally picture her in there. Congratulations on sticking with it so well! Your kitty’s already having a positive effect on you.

Tina, thanks to you, too, for the feedback. :)
That baby set you sewed turned out so cute—a really lovely design. I hope that little angel gets to go home very soon. I’m also a child who had a heart condition and spent a long time in the hospital. And as you can see, 68 years later, I’m still as fit as a fiddle. That’s what I wish for the little one, too.

Marion, first of all, thank you so much for test knitting. Your shawls look beautiful, and so do the colors. You did a great job bringing the doily idea to life—it looks really elegant.

I’ve been busy and have almost finished two more heart-shaped shawls. There are quite a few people waiting to receive them as gifts. Now I’m waiting for the new yarn, and then I’ll start on the pot holders—another dream come true. My son and his wife are also going to get the peace dove pot holders.

Right now I’m working on a new idea, and at the same time I’m finishing the doll pants with the feet attached. I still have quite a bit to do by May for Juna’s birthday. That way, things never get boring—which is nice.

Have a lovely, woolly day, everyone. It’s cold and wet here. Tomorrow is supposed to be spring-like and warm—I’m already looking forward to it.

Marlene, the cat cave turned out really well. I think the color is great, too—it’s bold.

The fabric in the baby set is so beautiful. Yeah, without the close-up, I would have completely missed the balloons. Let’s both keep our fingers crossed for the little fighter so he gets well soon and can go home.

Monika, I painted this jar lid using Bine Brändle’s markers. 

I just finished my first craft project using the Knitting Mill. 



A small shoulder bag for walks. Tissues and my cell phone (camera) fit perfectly inside.

It was a bit of a bumpy start, but then it went smoothly.

Petra, that looks great. You have some fantastic ideas. The glass painting, too—it looks really professional.

The cat cave is by Anja and Petra—but I like it, too :)

I also have a knitting dolly—actually, two versions. However, both are completely hand-operated and don’t have a crank.

The set is so cute, Tina :)

Marion, oooh, how lovely! Whenever I see projects like this, I wish I could knit, too.
But since I barely have time for crocheting and sewing as it is... yeah :D

Monika, I can’t wait to see your pants!
And thanks for the kind words.

Petra, what’s a “knitting mill”? Is it like an automatic knitting dolly?
The bag is great, anyway!

I think I’ll finish up my new pattern today (just need to put the finishing touches on it) and wrestle with the photos. We’ll see if I can get it done :)
After that, I’ll have to decide whether to finally sew the little dress for an expectant big sister (to match the set for the baby brother on the way) or whether to crochet something.
Oh man :D 

I’m currently reusing the yarn from an old sweater.
Since I can’t completely unravel it, let’s see if I can turn it into a sleeveless vest:

Marlene, I already like your vest—it’s sure to look great when it’s finished.

Now let me share my excitement with you all. Yay, the yarn package just arrived—here’s a photo of the beautiful contents. Now I can get started on my first pot holders.


These are the types and colors


And here are all the skeins.

Unfortunately, the last two heart-shaped shawls I knitted ended up with their new owner before I could take a picture of them. Now I’m working on a new project—(no, not the pants yet)—which is also almost finished. I’ll probably post a photo tomorrow.

Have a great day, everyone.

Wow, Monika, you’ve picked out some beautiful colors again. So cheerful and colorful. That’s a treat for the eyes, and it’s sure to be fun to crochet something pretty with them. 

Yes, Petra, I’m really looking forward to knitting. I have a few ideas and some projects I’d like to tackle. It’s great for pot holders and other pretty things, too. :)

Thanks, Moni :)

What beautiful yarn you treated yourself to :)

Hi,

Petra, that little bag for quick trips—I like the idea, and I like how you made it, too. Until now, I’ve always just stuffed everything into my jacket pockets when I’m out walking the dog; this would be a great alternative.

Marlene, I’m curious to see your vest.

Tina, I also think the baby set is very nice—there are such wonderful fabrics and accessories available now.

Marion, you got to test-knit again; the shawls all turned out beautifully, including the heart design in tapestry.
I’ll be getting back to you soon to put your crocheting skills to the test, haha… you already know a little bit about it in advance.

Monika, I love the colors of your yarn. My yarn package also arrived yesterday—as I’d already mentioned, I just HAD to reorder… why the box ended up being a bit bigger, I have no idea, haha…


I snapped a photo of one skein of each color for you.
I still have another project on my needles, and next week my needles will be taking a break… so I’ll have to be patient before I can start working with the new yarn.
On Monday, we’re heading to Seiffen for four days at a wellness hotel—a gift from family and friends to celebrate our “silver wedding anniversary”—and I’m really looking forward to it. And nothing’s happening over Easter either; we’ll have guests staying for several days.

I wish you all a relaxing Friday and a wonderful weekend—hope you aren’t experiencing such a storm…

Ines, I hope you have a wonderful time in Seiffen. That town has been at the top of my wish list for quite a while—ever since our daughter brought us a pyramid from Seiffen as a Christmas gift. I’d have to save up a little money before I could make a trip like that, though… Enjoy your Easter visit, too—aside from the early Easter service, we don’t have anything else planned yet.

By the way: What are you going to make with your new yarn? You’ve picked out some beautiful colors.

Ines, your colors are wonderful. I like these too. I’m curious to see what you’ll make with them. I also wish you a great and relaxing vacation. A vacation without any yarn at all? I can’t even imagine that—haha.

Marlene, your vest looks interesting with the lace pattern on both sides. I hope everything works out the way you envision it.

  I found another UFO while tidying up, and tonight I’m going to dig through my many boxes to see if I still have a skein of that yarn somewhere; if so, I’ll keep working on it, otherwise I’ll unfortunately have to rip it out.

Now I’m off to church—today we’re making palm branches for Sunday’s service. The afternoon event hasn’t taken place for two years. I’m looking forward to it.

Wow, Ines, beautiful yarn! I actually still have this exact yarn from Woll-Butt lying around (in shades of brown), and I already have an idea for what to make with it. I’m excited to see what you create with it. I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing vacation.

I hope you all have a great time with whatever you’re planning.

My new project was also finished yesterday—the “For You” guest towel. It’s going to be a birthday gift, along with a matching washcloth.

3 patterns, 3 designers:







The second dove of peace is almost finished too, in the same color (used up the leftover yarn)

Hey there, just checking in briefly.
Do you remember the crocheted cat cave? 
Human: Awww, the cat can snuggle right in there. 
Cat: Nope.

Yeah, Anja, cats are just individualists and have a mind of their own... Crochet something for yourself—she’ll definitely claim it for herself!😊

Hi everyone,

it’s been a while since I checked in here, and just like that, so many great things have been created again.

Monika, your yarn bundle has such gorgeous colors again. That thicker yarn is perfect for potholders. I can’t wait to see it.
Your guest towel together with the washcloth is sure to go down really well with the recipient—I like it, anyway.

Ines, your yarn looks great and has such a beautiful sheen. I’m sure you’ll make something lovely with it.
I also wish you a relaxing wellness weekend. Enjoy it and unwind.

I’m now working on the last commissioned bunny. It’ll be finished just in time for Easter. I’ll post a picture later.
After that, I can finally crochet something for myself again. I’m really looking forward to that.
I still have 4 days of vacation left.
On Sunday, I went to afternoon dancing again. Today was all about shopping.
Tomorrow I’ll do a little more shopping; the kids are coming to visit over Easter. Wonderful.

Then I wish everyone a lovely Easter

best wishes from me

Wow, Christina, those are some really pretty shawls you’ve knitted. You really nailed that dove of peace—it looks great in this color! Feel free to upload it to the gallery, too.  By the way, I’m currently knitting them—along with the heart motif—into pot holders to give as gifts.

Anja, that’s typical of cats. They have a mind of their own, and as I can see, she likes to sit on it. So your “den” just has a slightly different use. :) I’m sure you’ll show us your new housemate from the front, right?

Andrea, I wish you a wonderful holiday with your kids. I see you’re really enjoying life right now, with everything that comes with it. That’s great!

I’ll show you my pot holders when they’re done. Spring is in the air these days, and tomorrow we’ll be enjoying the garden for the first time.

Warm regards
Monika

Progress report on my vest:

I have something to show again, too. My bunnies are now finally finished on time, and I can now focus on new projects—for myself.
But it’s always fun to work on this AL.

Thank you, Monika, I wish you a happy Easter too, and the same to everyone else here in the forum.
Have fun with your grandchildren, hunting eggs in the garden, and much more.

Andrea, those bunnies turned out really cute! I’m sure someone will be very happy to receive them. 

The bunnies are so cute. One prettier than the next.

Marlene, your jacket is going to be lovely. Top down? Pattern at the front, knit at the back? 

Yes, Petra—stockinette stitch on the back and lace pattern on the front.
If there’s enough yarn, I’ll add sleeves. Those will alternate between stockinette stitch and lace pattern.

Forgot to mention: The jacket is knitted from the top down.

Wow, Andrea, those are such cute bunnies. They’re sure to bring a lot of joy when given as gifts.

Marlene, it’s great to see how your jacket is coming along.

I wish you all a wonderful Easter with your loved ones.

So cute, Andrea ♡

You’ve got such a cutie there, Anja! Is that a male cat or a female cat? 🐱 

Anja, that kitty is absolutely gorgeous—it looks like she’s found the perfect little basket for herself.
😀🐱

This is a girl. Yes, she’s found her places now. ♡

Oh Anja, she’s really a cutie — impossible not to fall in love with her right away. I’m sure you’ll have lots of joy with her.

Have a wonderful Easter with your loved ones!

She’s a real cutie! She was already outside yesterday on Day 6 and came back like a good girl. There’s just one thing I didn’t think about—ticks. Yuck! I’m so grossed out by them, especially because of the health risks (you know, that anxiety disorder…). I’ve already managed to snag two yesterday and today because they were scurrying so busily across a patch of white fur. So I went to the vet to buy stuff to keep all kinds of creepy-crawlies away. But since the sweetie sleeps in bed with me (on her own blanket)... I can’t really keep her out, since I spend most of my time in my room. I’m not as grossed out by spiders as I am by ticks, especially since the latter can inject nasty stuff into you. It’s totally like exposure therapy with the cat, on so many levels.

I can report positively, though, that I fall asleep much faster since she’s been here and I sleep more deeply, too. Even if she usually decides around 5 or 6 that she urgently needs to lie on top of me to be even closer to me.
And I don’t have as much time to mope anymore, because there’s action here. :-)

Thank you all. The bunnies were a huge hit.

Anja , you have such a cute kitty. She’ll take good care of you, and it’s nice to know that you’re doing well. A kitty like that has such a calming effect with her purring.
I’m more of a cat person myself—not so much a dog person. You really need to have time for a pet like that, and we just don’t have enough of that.
How old is your kitty?

Well, have a wonderful Easter holiday, everyone, whoever you’re spending it with. Take some time to relax.

Anja, that sounds great. Yes, cats are the best therapists. Someone once told me that they actually have healing powers when they lie on certain parts of your body. She’s definitely good for you, and that’s what matters most. Dealing with the ticks can also be therapeutic. Facing your fears is definitely better than always running away from them—I know that from my own experience. You’re doing a great job, by the way.

I wish you all a wonderful Easter holiday. Enjoy the time.

I’ve finished a few things now and will show them to you. Now I’m back to working on the doll clothes.

First up are the pot holders made from the new, thicker cotton—a dove of peace and a heart; that’s how they were requested in these colors.



And here’s a guest towel that says “For You,” along with the matching heart-shaped washcloth—made from cotton (Woll Butt) from Ina’s first swap package, by the way.



And then there are the doll pants with feet attached.

Inspired by your enthusiasm for sewing, I created a sewing tutorial for doll dresses over the Easter holiday. The pros among you might throw your hands up in horror because some parts aren’t done by the book.  But my goal was to ensure that even absolute beginners and those who aren’t keen on sewing can achieve a beautiful result quickly and easily. The stretchy fabric is my secret weapon here, because it forgives some imperfections, so you don’t need darts or complicated sewing patterns. You don’t even necessarily need a sewing machine. 

Good morning.....

I’m chiming in again :),
you’ve all been so hard at work again.....

Marlene, I’m curious to see the vest—it looks promising.

Yes, Petra, I managed to go without yarn during my short vacation, though that was more or less due to my stiff shoulder; once we got home, the needles were clacking away again, haha....

Christina, you’ve also made some lovely washcloths—I really like them. I highly recommend a trip to Seiffen; the town itself is special, with lots and lots of little shops selling wood carvings—which is typical of Seiffen—but it’s also ideal for hiking.

Monika, I think the guest towel is great, and it’s actually given me an idea of my own—though I’ll have to see if I can actually pull it off. I imagine something like that looking very decorative in a guest bathroom or restroom… but I’ll tackle my other projects first.

Oh, Anja, animals are just wonderful—whether they’re cats or dogs. I’m more of a dog person; I grew up with them……it’s nice to read how much the cat is doing for you. By the way, as a tip for yourself against ticks and when the cat sleeps in your bed: rubbing a little tea tree oil on yourself is a wonderful home remedy and has helped me so far whenever the little Yorkie has wandered into my bed during our vacation stay. You might end up smelling like a koala, but the critters don’t like the smell—YET.

Ruth, to be honest, I think your sewn doll clothes are really great—and luckily, these little dolls don’t tug at their clothes, so it doesn’t matter if a seam or two isn’t quite right. I think even older “doll moms” can let their creativity run wild and make their own clothes following your pattern. I did that when I was about 10 years old, back then still by hand, until my grandma introduced me to her sewing machine.

Now I have a few more pictures of Seiffen for you—my daughter had organized the whole trip for us, and so we were in for a surprise as soon as we arrived. The getaway was called “Time for Two,” and our room was set up accordingly


Here’s the church in Seiffen


and another photo that’s more or less a bit of a laugh—I personally thought it was so ugly, but it must be a big hit…


My finished projects will be coming soon—I’ve had to squeeze in a few small commissions in between.
Have a sunny day!

You've made some great doll items again!

Ines, is that supposed to be Drosten? 

Ines, thank you so much for the pictures from Seiffen. I agree with you: I’d rather take a detour to avoid those guys and the mushrooms… But I already noticed this many years ago in South America: Unfortunately, modern “art” crafts can no longer keep up with traditional ones, and the older people who still mastered the techniques are slowly passing away. 

Anja, yessss, the Drosten—I guess that’s supposed to be the big hit, but well, not for me—there were so many nicer things to buy.

But even the cat keeps its distance from tea tree oil, right? 😇

Wow, a lot has happened here again.

Ruth, you did such a great job with those tiny outfits for the dolls… You’re just an expert at making those really tiny things.

Ines, that’s really a great idea for a guest bathroom or restroom. By the way, I might have knitted the second set using some of your Butt yarn that was in the first swap package.
Wow, what a beautiful photo of your room—it’s decorated with such love. Yes, that kind of time together is something you need every now and then.

I’m back to full speed making clothes for the doll babies. I’ve made a new pair of pants with feet attached for Juna’s baby.



And these ones are almost done, too. They’ll be for Tommi (50 cm). I’m sure they’ll fit a newborn, too. Sternchen will get a pair, of course.

Your footed baby pants are great, Monika! Do you add little heels to them? I can’t tell from the pictures. Well, in any case, your babies will never have cold feet.

Oh my, you’ve all been so busy! And you’ve made such amazing things.

I’ve spent the last two weeks just moping and shedding tears. Miss Daughter has managed it: my husband has left me. He believes her outrageous lies. Well, and above all, she’s using our granddaughter as leverage.
Now I have my little Luna, and things are looking up again. I’ll be participating more here again, too.

I did some knitting over Easter. Two washcloths for me and a little cloth for Luna. I started on the little sweater, but she beat me to it.

      

@ Anja
Our cat Benny didn’t like tea tree oil at all. Whenever he was supposed to go outside but didn’t want to, all I had to do was grab the little bottle and Benny was gone.

I’m so glad your kitten is doing you so much good. What’s your cutie’s name?

Marlies her name from the animal shelter was "Yasi," and we couldn't think of anything better. I always call her "Kitty"—she listens to both equally badly. *grin* 

Marlies, I'll send you a PM in a moment about the topic of husbands. 

Oops, I can’t even keep up with admiring all your amazing creations.
I’m always reading along diligently. But I don’t have anything to show yet myself. I’m still thinking about
what to crochet next.

Anja : How about the name “Schnurri” for your kitty?

Monika: You’re always incredibly fast with your stitches. Everything looks great.

How do you guys always get the edge on the knitted washcloths to turn out so nicely?
Do you knit the stitches at the end, or do you just slip them and knit them in the next row?

Have a nice evening!

I’m working on the first sleeve of my jacket—though it’s more of a little jacket.

That’s looking really good already, Marlene.

Cats only hear what they want to hear anyway, Anja…wink. It was the same with our Benny.

Way back when, I also sewed baby clothes by hand (under Grandma’s guidance). These days, I wouldn’t have the patience for it anymore. Hats off to you, Ruth.

I really like your cuddly pillows, Ines.

Andrea, your bunnies are really funny. They’re sure to bring a lot of joy to their new owners.

Luna’s Puli is finished
It took a while because my hands are starting to go numb again. They don’t really like knitting.
I always wonder how you manage to do it all so quickly, Monika.

Next, I have to switch back to crocheting. That goes faster for me anyway…laughs.

Ruth, yes, the little pants naturally have a variation of the mowi heel for the feet. It looks so cute in such a tiny size.

Marlies, how nice to have you back here again. :) I just admired your baby, little Luna. She’s sooo cute!
You know, sometimes you just have to let go when someone or something isn’t good for you, even if they’re your closest relatives. You handled that well with Luna.
As for knitting, I’m much faster at it than I am at crocheting. Knitting doesn’t bother my arms at all, but when I crochet, my joints start to hurt after a while. Everyone just has their own preferences.

Andrea, the edges on the knitted washcloths look just as good with both versions. I tried both and couldn’t really decide. The fact that the edge looks good is also thanks to the pattern.

Marlene, your jacket is really coming along nicely.

I’ve finished the pants for Tommi and already have the next pair on the needles—this time for Sternchen. She’s a few centimeters smaller, and you can really tell the difference in the legs. I’ll post photos in the next few days. I also have a hooded jacket for Juna’s little baby on the needles.

Now I hope you all have a lovely evening with your needlework.

Now I can show you the two pairs of pants, complete with feet.

The pants for Sternchen—she’s 46 cm tall.






And here are the pants for Tommi—a whopping 50 cm tall.

A lovely afternoon to you all,

I can show a few little things again too.
The variegated yarn from the last swap package is currently being crocheted up.
Then two new coasters in entrelac technique from leftover yarn.

I’ve been knitting again. It’s going to be half a cover for my long seat cushion on the hallway bench.
I’m sitting on the balcony right now, still enjoying the sun.

Andrea, you’ve made some lovely things again. I really like everything, especially the coasters. And the colors for the seat cushion are great, too.

I’m almost done with the little hooded jacket. I’ll post photos tomorrow. Another pair of pants with feet attached will also be finished by tomorrow. All of this will go to Juna’s baby doll. The only thing missing is a diaper. That’s coming soon, too.

Cute Owl Andrea ♡

Thank you all.

Oh, and the little owl is a pattern by Schneckenkind. Crocheted with a 1.75 mm hook.
I’m going to crochet another one with Catania yarn for a size comparison. I’d already crocheted one, but my son snatched it away from me.

Those are really cheerful colors on your seat cushions, Andrea. I’d go with those too.

The colors of the Bobbel yarn are great. The finished piece is sure to look amazing. I’d knit a blanket for my babies out of it.

So... I did it:

Great fresh spring color, Marlene. The airy pattern too. Will you make a pattern for it? I’d buy it. Though I’d make the jacket longer for myself. 

The pattern is in the works, Anja.
 
Making it longer or bigger is no problem.

You’ve conjured up a really lovely, springlike jacket there, Marlene!

And you’re putting together a whole baby collection, Monika! I think the pants for Tommi with the “knee patches” are especially cute.

Andrea, you’ve been busy too. I’m really looking forward to seeing your seat cushion. The colors certainly look very promising.

I’ve also finished a cushion in the meantime—a reading pillow:


I love pillows in this shape because you can read comfortably in any position. There are usually sewing patterns for these, but I’ve written a crochet pattern instead. I was able to use up a lot of leftover yarn from my temperature blanket—I just had to buy the black yarn to go with it.

And now I’m starting on a crochet pattern from here: Rimajas’ gnomes. I’m going to turn them into Snow White’s seven dwarfs. This is another great way to use up small amounts of leftover yarn.

A very nice jacket in a fresh spring color, Marlene. Does it have buttons, or does it stay open?

Ruth, your reading pillow looks great—such beautiful colors. What do you use to stuff it so it doesn’t get squished?

Thanks, Marlies :)
The jacket stays open.

The owl is so cute, Andrea :)

Marlene, your jacket looks very elegant in that spring color. It turned out beautifully.

Ruth, your pillow looks great, so nice and colorful. I would have thought it was knitted. That pattern would definitely work for that, anyway.

As for my collection for the dolls, it’s actually going to be several pieces that all go together. Except for the diaper, I’ve finished everything so far—for 5 little doll babies.

Here are the last pair of pants for the little ones and a hooded jacket to go with them.



I’m also going to knit a pair of pants with feet attached for Sternchen—that way I’ll have several sizes. Rosalie is getting a matching hooded jacket now. It’s already on the needles.

Did you hit the turbo again, Monika?
That little set looks great. Is it for the 35-size kids? I really like it, but I’m not sure if I can pull it off.

You’re right, Marlies. Monika has switched on the super-turbo again.
I really like this mini set, too. It looks so tiny and enchanting.
I can’t make it look as nice as Monika does.
When I get the chance, I’ll try my hand at one of her ALs, but first I need to finish the little projects I’ve started.

Ruth I snapped up the reading bone, although I’ll probably use it as a pillow.
Since summer is approaching, I’m making it in cotton.

Marlies, I stuffed mine with a pillow insert (from IKEA). It’s important to stuff it really tightly.
WOW, Monika, you’re really super fast. You’ve got to show us all the babies together in their new outfits sometime. 

A sunny hello to everyone!

A few more days have passed, and you’ve all been so hard at work—I’ve just been admiring your new creations.

Andrea, your seat cushions and the owl—the colors are really popping, and they just invite you to take a seat. I’m always amazed at how small a hook you use; the owl looks so delicate with it.

Marlene, I really like your jacket, too—you had a great eye for that color.

Ruth, the reading pillow is such a great idea; I’d only ever thought of them as gaming pillows before. Here, too, the colors really harmonize well with the black. I’d already been admiring it in the new arrivals section.

And Monika, you were really in full swing—so many lovely doll accessories! A “gallery” featuring all those dressed-up dolls would definitely be worth seeing.

I’ve been crafting a bit myself and turned all three doggies into pot holders—haha… how that sounds…




Since yesterday, I’ve been knitting a shirt for myself—it’s going to be a simple, straight cut with cut-on sleeves. I’m knitting with Egyptian cotton, and let me tell you, I could hardly stop—this yarn is so lovely to work with.
Here’s a picture of how it’s coming along so far....


I won’t get much done today, because our little grandson is coming over soon with his parents, and we’ll be enjoying the sun, going for a little walk, and firing up the grill in the evening.

Wishing you all a sunny May Day.

Thanks, Ruth, for the info.

Your pattern is great, Ines. I’d love to have a sweater like that.
Do you already have a pattern for the first dog? I have to have it—it looks just like “my” Frieda.

I hope you all have a wonderful rest of May Day.

Marlies, you can definitely manage that little suit for the 35 cm doll. It’s not that hard if you’ve knitted before. The hardest part is always the design and adjustments. Sometimes you just have to rip it out and start over.

Andrea, I’m absolutely sure you can do it, too. :)

Anja, your reading pillow looks great with those colors. Keep at it! Your kitty might like it, too.

Ruth, I’m actually going to take a photo of them all together with their outfits. It looks really cute.

My goodness, Ines, your dog-shaped pot holders are truly works of art—each one more beautiful and perfect than the last. I really admire that kind of work. Your shirt is turning out beautifully, too. By the way, I used this yarn to knit my second set of guest towels and washcloths. It looks very elegant. Especially nice for a shirt. Enjoy spending time with your grandson and his parents.

It doesn’t seem to be going that fast to me—so much for “turbo.” But I’m happy about every piece I see growing. Right now, I’m working on a hooded jacket for Rosalie. The orange pants suit her best. And now she’s getting a matching raglan jacket to go with them. The hood will be knitted on at the end.



Have a wonderful Sunday in May, everyone.

Continue writing here: 
May Projects 2022: the Crazypatterns Handicraft Group