October Projects + September Projects + August Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

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October 2022 Projects, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Dear users, dear authors,
here is the new thread. Enjoy!

You can read the earlier posts via the link:
August 2022 Projects + July Projects, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Now I can finally show you the progress on my tunic. I’ve even finished one armhole already. The second is on the needle. After that, it’ll be easier to continue and of course faster. Here’s what it looks like now:



The bag for Juna I’ll show you again as well. In my swap group, I found someone who makes embroidered patches like these. I’ve now got one in exactly the right matching color - for now I’ve just laid it on top. It looks sooo great, and now she’ll have a bag that can’t be mixed up. Interesting - I’m just noticing that the colors match my tunic exactly.



Today I’m having a day for the soul. I wrote in a separate thread about what exactly that looks like - here is the link. Maybe I’ll inspire you to treat yourself to a day like that too. It’s doing me a lot of good right now. I’ve just gone and got some chocolate too. :))

Wow, Marion, you’re already so far along!! I’ve caught up a bit now too — after the sleeves, I’ve now managed 14 rounds on the body. I also spent a lot of time working on the tunic today. It’s just so much fun. It’s almost boring now without a stitch pattern, but it’s relaxing.

I won’t have much time over the next few days since we’re going to visit the children in a week. There’s still quite a bit to prepare and finish up. I’ll definitely take the tunic with me and knit on it during the journey.

How do you make the sleeves drape better? They seem to stick out quite a bit right now. I also think the neckline is pretty wide.

Right now, I’ve put all my planned projects on hold and am crocheting a comfort blanket for our nursing home. Since there’s only one there, it’s important to me that it gets finished quickly.  

What is a fidget blanket?

Hi Anja,

A fidget blanket is often made for people with Alzheimer’s. In my case, it’s lovely and colorful and has a few things you can touch or stroke. You can simply keep yourself busy with them.
Where I live, we call it “nesteln” (fidgeting). The blankets are also warm and not too large, so you can also lay them over your knees.
These blankets are already a few years old and were donated to the retirement home, where they were well received.

Mel, I’m curious to see your blanket and will be happy if you show it to us here.

So now I know what a fiddly blanket is, too—they look really nice, Marion. And the tunic is coming along nicely; I really love the colors—they’d be right up my alley.

Monika, I think your colors are beautiful, too, but I’m not really the “pink type” when it comes to myself, since I have fairly fair skin. The bag for Luna is gorgeous.

These sort of sensory blankets are definitely great for using up leftover yarn, too. Are there any things you need to keep in mind, for example regarding materials or anything like that? With toys, you have to follow CE standards, after all.  Isn’t it similar for items intended for people with dementia?

I recently came across some yarn from our first swap package and had an idea for how to use it. Here’s the result: a small door wreath that’s now hanging on my apartment door:

The blankets are really great. And I’m sure they’re exciting and entertaining to make.

Ruth, your door wreath is so adorable. It turned out really well—and all those ice cream sticks you’ve been saving have finally found a use. 

Marion, the blankets are great!
Ruth,
please note that the attached pieces must be sewn on very securely, as people with dementia can often exert unexpected strength. Also, avoid using small colorful beads or similar items, as these could be mistaken for candy and bitten off. I crochet them entirely from acrylic yarn and cotton scraps, in case they’re ever given to someone with a wool allergy.
I’m not aware of any requirement for a CE marking. I haven’t encountered any issues regarding this at any of the care facilities I know of.

The blankets are absolutely gorgeous!

Dear Nadeleule, there’s still no first name under your signature. I just can’t seem to remember names—sorry.
Thanks for the tips.

And how do we get the blankets to the people who need them? Should we check with nursing homes? 

In my case, it’s simple—I work directly in the care home as a housekeeping assistant in the residential groups.
But you can always ask the care homes whether there’s a need; some care homes also put out calls from time to time.

I find the topic of fidget blankets very interesting. Marion, yours look beautiful. That would be great for babies or toddlers, too.

Ruth, I’ve already admired your pretty door wreath in the yarn swap thread. It’s very decoratively designed.

Mel (Nadeleule), we’ve now added our first names to our signatures here. That makes it much easier to address each other by name. It’s optional, of course. :)

My tunic is in the final stages—yay! I’m now working on the pattern at the bottom. The stockinette stitch section in the middle dragged on for quite a while (and was a bit boring). But it was also nice to work on in the evenings while watching movies.

Have a wonderful summery weekend, everyone!

I really like your wreath, Ruth.

Here’s an update on my glove:

When my email program shows that there are new posts here in the forum, the display eventually cuts off the letters, and Mel/Nadeleule always appears like this for me: “Your forum post was from Nadele” And I always wondered who Nadele was, hehe. 

I’ve already finished the first glove:

The color gradient is really beautiful

Thanks, Petra :)

Marlene, that already looks great!

I’ve added my name now, Anja—that’s funny about the name abbreviation 😅

My fidget blanket is coming along; of course, I’ll post a photo when it’s finished

Marlene, is that a glove with the fingers sticking out?

My tunic is almost finished now. But since we’re heading to Ravensburg to visit the kids on Thursday, I probably won’t be able to quite finish it. But there’s only about 8–9 cm left.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a mistake in the instructions for the middle rounds—Marion’s and mine turned out too short. I’m trying to make up for it right now at the bottom of the pattern. In any case, the result is already looking really good. I have a pair of Bermuda shorts that match the middle section perfectly. Maybe I’ll even get a chance to wear them this year.

Wow, your tunic looks great. Fingers crossed that it'll be finished in time.

I spruced up a street find. 

Before - slate tiles



After - decoupage



Now it's decorating my garden

Wow, Petra, that looks fantastic! I’m always amazed at the beautiful things that can be made from “old things.”

Yes, Moni—it’s a fingerless glove.
Your tunic looks really chic.

Nice idea with the slate slab, Petra.
I did decoupage a very long time ago.

Hi girls,

phew, I can’t get anything done. First, a finger started hurting again (my thumb’s fine right now, but now it’s my ring finger), and yesterday a sick hedgehog wandered into my garden. I thought it was one of “mine” (I mark some of them with nail polish), but it was a newcomer. In the evening. Phone call odyssey: Hedgehog Rescue, my vet (sick with COVID), Wildlife Rescue, Vet 1, Vet 2, Vet 1 canceled again because Vet 2 was at the clinic for another emergency. A 15-km drive through the darkness with the little hedgehog gasping for air. The vet deliberates: put it out of its misery or give it a try? The little hedgehog curls up—a good sign—and gets cortisone, antibiotics, and saline solution injected under the skin to combat dehydration. I’m pumped full of adrenaline, awake until 2 a.m. A crazy thunderstorm with heavy rain breaks out. I go downstairs, raise the blinds, and move the hedgehog from the patio into the garage. Even more adrenaline because lightning flashes nearby and the thunder is so loud that I almost have a heart attack. Awake until 4 a.m. At 6 a.m., the cat wakes me up—just wanted to meow and then leaves again. *snort* Shovel down some cornflakes and sleep again from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Quickly eat a piece of toast, off to my vet—they see me right away with little Schnaufi (who, surprisingly, made it through the night). More antibiotics and cortisone, and I get some rich food to mix with water and some pills, then drive back home. Taking the day off because I’m totally wiped out. Headache, burning eyes… Checking on the little hedgehog every 30 minutes; just now he gratefully took the rich food mixed with water from a syringe (without the needle, of course).
  Yesterday I spent 86 euros at the emergency vet; my vet (a super-nice assistant) is only charging me 17 euros for the meds, with no treatment fees. Very nice of them!

Well, that’s how it goes when you can’t help wanting to rescue poor creatures, right? Keep your fingers crossed that he/she pulls through, so it wasn’t all for nothing. 

Great, Anja, your dedication to the little hedgehog. Really, really wonderful!!!
It can be stressful at times, but you do everything for the little animals.
I hope and wish for you that your efforts have paid off and that he gets well again.

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your little hedgehog—hope he gets well in time for winter. 

Oh, so you had quite a turbulent night, Anja. That sounds like quite an adventure. I’m just as crazy myself when animals aren’t doing well.

I once heard from a wildlife caretaker that wild animals are treated for free at the vet. Maybe your vet knows about this. It really surprised me.

In any case, I hope the little hedgehog gets back on its feet. I think it’s absolutely wonderful that you have such a big heart for animals and are doing such amazing work. Hats off to you!

Sure, I’d be happy to. My daughters don’t want to be fussed over, so I have lots of love to spare. I like Stachelchen. He’s been sleeping deeply and soundly for 2 or 3 hours now, which is good; I hope he sleeps his way back to health. I also had the idea of carefully putting some coconut oil on his swollen nose. Coconut oil is fungicidal and antibacterial, and it won’t hurt if he licks it off. He didn’t even wake up when I carefully applied the oil with a cotton swab. Later I’m going to the supermarket, I need fresh hay, I want to make him a fresh box, and then I hope he might eat something. Otherwise there’s this high-energy feed dissolved in water, but first he has to wake up. 

Well, the emergency vet didn’t know about the free treatment. I asked how it works with wild animals, whether I’d only have to cover the meds, and she was a bit indignant. She said she has to run a practice and has costs, and when the wildlife rescue brings in animals, they can’t always pay either; she has outstanding receivables in the four figures from volunteers. I do understand that, in a way. But I think it’s a shame, because it will discourage people who make the effort to bring animals to the vet from doing it. And not everyone can afford it. I did gulp a bit at the prices, but oh well... 

Despite too little sleep, I wasn’t able to take a nap. I can’t do that. Falling asleep is always a problem in general. Letting go and all that. I’m glad it’s finally getting cooler now. This constant heat has really worn me out physically. 

That sounds promising—I’m sure you’ll be able to nurse him back to health.
Yes, vet bills are already astronomical, and they’re supposed to go up starting in October. I can already see many animals ending up in shelters or being abandoned.
I’ve had three kittens myself for four weeks now—they’re about four months old, though I’m not exactly sure; they’re from a feral cat. She gave birth to them in a friend’s barn, and then they were running around the yard. The neighbors wanted to take them to the cat shelter, so I said, “Before that happens, I’ll take them,” and I also didn’t want the siblings to be separated. I wanted another one anyway—now I have three little darlings :-) So far, I’ve only ever had strays and foundlings.
 
I’m also soooo glad it’s finally getting cooler—the heat outside, plus my own hot flashes, was really getting to me. I can fall asleep, but whenever a wave of heat hits, I wake right back up.

All the best to you, Anja, and your little hedgehog

I’m glad the little hedgehog is feeling better. Sleep is always good.

I cleaned an old window at lunchtime today and added some lettering. Now I just need to find a nice spot where it doesn’t rain so much 

Wow, Petra, I like that—it’s a great idea.

You’ve all finished some great projects again 

So, I’ve also finished something for the dinosaur birthday:


The little stegosaurus is made from yarn swapped with Monika

And I’ve also finished a triceratops. 


Then I had another idea for a birthday game: I tried making a dinosaur ice egg.  


Stuff a small plastic dino into a balloon, fill it with water, and put it in the freezer.  Once the egg is frozen, tear off the balloon, and then the kids can free the dino with a little hammer. But only if the weather is nice and they’re outside 😉

I hope you all have a lovely evening 

@ Sandra:
Great idea! And if the weather’s bad, the dinosaur eggs will just have to thaw in warm water ;-))

Oh wow, Petra, you have such beautiful handwriting! That looks great on the window. What did you use to write it?

Sandra, you have some great ideas, too! And I see you’ve transformed the yarn I couldn’t do anything with into something really pretty.

I’m feeling kind of the same way Anja sometimes does. I’m anything but happy with my tunic right now. By the way, Marion feels the same way.

The pattern specified far too few rounds for the stockinette section in the middle. I estimate there need to be about twice as many. So I tried to make up for those rounds at the bottom with more stitch pattern. But when I look at it now, I don’t really like it. The bottom part has far too much pattern. That would mean... unfortunately, unraveling it all the way back to the stockinette section and continuing from there. So many hours of knitting wasted! Grrrrrr..... This is what the tunic looks like now.

What do you think? Leave it as it is or unravel it? It’s the Aosta tunic from bunte_fussel. You can see the original there.



In any case, I’m definitely going to take it a bit slower from now on, because my arm has been hurting for the last few days. That meant a break from knitting. That was easy enough, since we were visiting my granddaughters and I didn’t get around to it anyway. To be honest, I’d really have to push myself to knit this big piece all over again.

Monika, even if it’s hard for you: unravel it again. If you’re unhappy with it, you’ll never enjoy wearing the tunic. That would be such a shame!
And if it’s any consolation: I just went through the exact same thing with my illusion knitting scarf.  I discovered (unfortunately very late) a mistake that really couldn’t be ignored and had to unravel 160 rows! I’ve caught up on half of them by now. 

Oh dear, unraveling is no fun at all. For me, it was just 74 stitches and about 10 rows yesterday morning, then I realized I didn’t like the pattern at all.

Monika, have you tried the tunic on yet? Or just on the mannequin? If you don’t like how it looks on you in the mirror either, then you’d better unravel it. It would really be a shame for the yarn and all the work. And if I keep knitting even though I’m unhappy with it, it usually turns into a UFO.

Monika, haha—no, my handwriting isn’t that nice. That’s a copy, and I stuck the paper behind the glass and then traced over it with an Edding chalk marker. You can always wash it off and redesign it.

Sandra, your birthday ideas are all great. I’d love to be there—just tucked away in a little corner—and watch the kids.

Anja, how’s your little hedgehog doing? Ever since ours is no longer around, I’ve had a real slug infestation in the flower beds. Those disgusting things are terrible. 

Well, you guys are really encouraging me… oh dear. And just last night, I actually picked up the stitches again—which was a lot of work—and kept knitting. My husband said it looks great just the way it is and that he’d leave it like that.

Then I took a long, hard look at the photo and decided to finish knitting it after all. Of course I’ll wear it, and I’m looking forward to it—next summer. I’ll probably knit one more row of eyelets at the very bottom and then call it done.

The colors stay in the same order, and I like that, too. But no—if I unravel all of this now, it’ll just turn into a UFO. And the yarn’s too good to waste on that.

Anyway, that’s not going to happen to me again. I wrote to the designer, but she replied (to Marion as well) that she doesn’t see any mistakes. So we can both still count—and there are definitely too few rounds in the middle section. With about twice that number, it would be about right.

Back to your little hedgehogs… we didn’t see ours at all this year, just his “traces.” ;-) So it seems he was doing just fine. We hardly had any snails, since it was way too dry. Now that it’s fall, we’ll start feeding our little hedgehog again. The food is already ready… but we’ll wait until it gets cooler. For now, he’s still finding enough to eat on his own.

Anja, I’m also curious to know how your little hedgehog is doing.

Is it time for a major unraveling spree here? 😕😤😲
Well, I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling frustrated.

I’ve since lengthened my tunic by almost 50 rounds in stockinette stitch and am back to the lace pattern. I’ll extend that too and hope it finally fits.
It definitely looks better now.
I thought it over before I unraveled it. But you’re right—if you don’t like it, you won’t want to wear it.

Monika, good luck with the final push! 

I finally did it! I unraveled it all the way down to where the pattern started at the bottom. Now I’m knitting another 50 rounds, and then the pattern will start at the bottom. I just didn’t like it—you were right after all.

I wish you all a wonderful evening.

Monika, don’t get upset—be glad that you overcame your inner slacker and unravelled it. You’ll see, it’s worth it! Otherwise, you just won’t enjoy the tunic. And really, when it comes to handcrafts, the journey is the destination, isn’t it?

So, I actually wanted to keep knitting that scarf, but then I got a request from my grandson for Halloween:

The horror clown might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but my grandson loves it! The best part: the head, hands, and collar are crocheted with glow-in-the-dark yarn and light up in the dark. Of course, that was a huge hit!

Uuuuuhhh, that looks creepy, Ruth. Nah, I’m really not into all that spooky stuff at all. I don’t even get what the kids find so great about it. But whatever—I don’t have to love it. ;-) We didn’t celebrate Halloween when I was a kid, nor did my son when he was little—thank goodness.

The tunic is coming along in the middle section now, and I’m going to finish knitting it. Then I can finally move on to other things. To be honest, I’ve had enough of tunics for now. There’s nothing worse than working from a pattern where the measurements are off. Many hours of work go down the drain.

Now I wish you all a lovely evening. The rainy season has started here, and it’s getting cozy again in the warm living room.

Hi ladies, 

I took the little hedgehog to the vet after 4 days (I had to drive a bit farther for that), and the wildlife rescue center took him in from there. They were able to inject him with saline solution daily (I would’ve had to go to the vet every day for that), and he could do inhalation therapy there. Then he was handed over to another caretaker, and when she thought she’d take him to the vet again, he passed away in the waiting room. All that money and effort for nothing, unfortunately. 

I also picked out a pattern yesterday that keeps coming up again and again, and now I want to make it. 
I’m still so inconsistent when it comes to finishing things. I’d rather start something new. 
I’d bought a sewn crown pillow in a shop that employs people with disabilities. I wanted to knit a version of it, but as always, on the final stretch I ran out of motivation (okay, I wasn’t doing well physically or mentally either, so it got put aside again, and now I find it hard to continue). I always have to work when I feel like it; otherwise I just don’t get started. So, basically, I still need to knit 2 squares and sew them together, and then sew the whole structure together. I already have 11 squares, and I’ve already joined 5 of them. So once again I’m “just” before the finish, argh! 

Now I first have to think about which yarn I’m going to use for the new jacket; that alone will drive me to despair again, because I want/have to use up leftover yarn and then I can’t decide... which colors... better colorful or muted or both... I’m too much in my head; it used to be easier for me to decide that by gut feeling. 
Maybe I’d like to use yarn that I’ve already started something with, but then that work would also have been for nothing. Based on a blanket pattern, I made it narrower so I could make a long jacket out of it, but I have zero idea how to continue from there. Ugh. 

Other than that, trouble with my ears. Since my ear surgery, my hearing has been really bad; it might still improve, but nobody knows. That’s also affecting me in everyday life. At least the sounds are slowly getting better now; before, everything sounded like it was coming through an old gramophone. Then I’m having trouble with the optician: 374 euros for computer glasses, but with them I can’t see anything on the screen with my right eye. I’ve already been there 3 times and they’re annoyed — hey, what am I? I keep driving there, time, gas, and then they’re still nasty to me. I was a customer there for 30 years, but ever since the boss has been away more than he’s there (nearly retired), the service has gone to hell. And one of them doesn’t like me, and I can’t deal with that. After all this time I’ll have to look for a new optician, but I don’t want a chain (Apollo, Fielmann, etc.). 

Other than that, insomnia (thanks, menopause, tired as hell and then you lie there with burning eyes and can’t fall asleep). 

Unfortunately I don’t have anything better to report, except that I saw a dragonfly yesterday; I love dragonflies! 

Good morning,

It’s so quiet here... I bought the pattern and wanted to check the customer product photos again, because I had especially liked two projects by one customer there, but now her photos are gone. What a bummer—she had made it with long sleeves, and I wanted to take inspiration from that, but now it’s gone. I wonder how something like that happens? Maybe someone unregisters from CP and the photos disappear too? Now I’m a bit frustrated because I had even asked what kind of yarn she used. Such a shame! 

Oh, Anja, that doesn’t sound good at all. First of all, I hope you feel better soon—in every way, of course. It’s really sad when you’ve cared for a little animal like that and even spent money on it, only for it not to make it after all. But at least it was spared the long winter. If hedgehogs aren’t in good shape now, they won’t make it through the winter.
Yeah, it’s strange that photos from customers are disappearing. I’ve never experienced that before, but I’m sure there’s a reason. Why don’t you just ask the author?

I can tell that the sudden cold is really getting to me, but at least there’s warm, wooly clothing. :)

My tunic is coming along—I’m already back at the bottom of the pattern. It’s going to look really great this time. Here’s a progress update:

Oh Anja, that doesn’t sound good at all. Sad for the little hedgehog, but you did your best.
Wishing you a speedy recovery too, of course.

Monika, you’ve already made great progress again on your tunic. It already looks wonderful.
So snuggle up nicely on the sofa and get some rest.

We’re going away to the Harz Mountains for a few days today. My cough is bothering me again, and I have a sore throat. It had already eased off, but now it’s come back. I really don’t need this right now. Maybe a change of air will work wonders.

everyone have a lovely, cozy Sunday

I finally finished my illusion scarf over that dreary weekend. It wasn’t easy to photograph at all:



Can you recognize the Munich skyline? (If you click on the picture, it’ll get a little bigger and you’ll be able to see more.)
But I think shadow knitting works better for items you see in their entirety—like the back of a jacket, for example, or a shawl or a pillow. After all, a scarf is always wrapped around your neck, so you can’t really make out the pattern that well. But it was a lot of fun and very easy to do. I’m curious to see what my daughter thinks. She wears a lot of jeans, so it should actually go well with them.

Ruth, you sure were quick with that scarf.
If you enlarge the picture, you can see it better. It turned out beautifully, and I’m sure your daughter loves it.
You’re right—unfortunately, you can’t see the motifs very well here. They don’t really show up well on a scarf.

I also took advantage of the cool weather and finally finished my annoying tunic. 

Andrea, I hope you have a wonderful vacation. Enjoy it as much as you can.

Ruth, your scarf looks great, but it’s really not that easy to make out. At least knitting it was fun.

Marion, your tunic looks really great. I’m sure you’ll love wearing it. It’s definitely a pain, that’s true. I’ll be glad when it’s finished, too, because I’ve knitted the entire pattern at the bottom twice by now. I won’t be knitting the bottom edge with picot—I’ll see how it goes. With so many stitches, it’s too time-consuming for me.

Have a great week, everyone!

Hi,
I just wanted to check in one last time before I head off on vacation.
There’s been quite a bit to read and look at here again.
Marion, you’ve finished the tunic now, and even though it gave you a bit more trouble, it turned out really beautiful.

Monika, you’ll also be able to enjoy your finished tunic soon—though it’s really a shame when a pattern causes as much frustration as it did for you and Marion.

Ruth, I really like the scarf; even though the “image” doesn’t really stand out on such a narrow piece, you still had fun knitting it—that’s great.

I crocheted a few “long-lasting” flowers for my friend—I really wanted to finish them before my vacation, so I ended up working quite late on Saturday, but that’s okay; her birthday is coming up in October, so I’m not under any time pressure. Here’s the result....


For now, I’m off to warmer climes—I feel just like Monika: the cold came too quickly for me, and it’s just not my thing.
Wishing all of you here a wonderful time.

Wow, Ines, your flower arrangement looks fantastic! I’m thrilled! This bouquet will last forever—it’ll bring joy even in winter.

Now I wish you a wonderful vacation. Enjoy it! I’m a little envious of you… it’s only 8–9 degrees here today. But it’ll get a bit warmer in the next few days.

I wish you all a wonderful day!

I’m going to finish my tunic today—it’s time for some new projects. I’ve already picked out some swap yarn to make a loop scarf for myself. I could really use one right now.

Good morning.... from the chilly north.... 
I don't even know what to admire first: the tunic, the scarf with the skyline, the flowers..... 
I'm feeling a bit burned out on yarn-related things right now. Even though it's only a few more pattern repeats / 21 rows and the second front piece of my jacket/vest will be off the needles. 
So I dug out my paper again for now, and this card came out of it....

For my best friend, who’s getting married on Friday, and a shooting star is exactly right 😊

Those are really beautiful tunics you’ve knitted there, Marion and Monika! It’s just a shame that it’s getting too chilly for them now. Although: with a shirt in a matching color underneath, I can definitely see myself wearing one.

Giving away crocheted flowers like these is always a great idea, Ines! I do that every now and then, too—though usually just a single flower, which I then attach to the gift package as an extra decoration.

I admire your skill with all kinds of crafting techniques, Steffi! Unfortunately, I’m not very good with paper. Mine never turn out precise enough and are always a little crooked. Well, you don’t have to be good at everything! In any case, your card turned out great—a real little work of art!

I’ve finished crocheting another Halloween decoration—this time less spooky than the horror clown: the three little witches on their brooms probably won’t scare anyone!

Wow, Steffi, how did you paint these amazing cards? I’m amazed!

Ruth, I love your little witches—they make such a beautiful decoration. It just goes to show that everyone has their own special talents. I also admire your small projects.

My tunic will definitely take until tomorrow. Yesterday I started a gauge swatch for a new project—using swap yarn. More on that once I really get started. And I also picked out some really nice, soft sock yarn for a loop scarf. I do have some already, but they’re either too thick or the colors don’t go with everything. So I’ve got something completely simple to work on in the meantime. I really need that after finishing the tunic.

After that, I’ll start thinking about a sweater for Linja. Unfortunately, I don’t have any measurements yet—I’ll get those from her parents later.

Marion, your tunic looks great. Will you wear it with a shirt on cooler days too?

Ruth, your witches are cute. Great decorations for Halloween

I finished something for my fall decorations and now have room for another 40 grams of scraps in the box.

Petra, I like the pumpkin house—it’s so colorful. What are you putting inside it?

I can now show off my finished tunic. I haven’t woven in the loose ends yet. I knitted it extra long on purpose because I really like that look. I really like it now. I still need to steam the edges a bit so they don’t curl up. Now summer can come… or I’ll wear it with a shirt underneath. By the way, the tunic flares out more at the bottom—I just realized that’s not very visible in this photo. I’ll take a new photo after steaming it.

That turned out super chic.... Monika. It was definitely worth sticking with it. Very nice colors.
And the pumpkin house is a great idea—so cheerful and colorful.
Today I sewed on the second front piece of the jacket/vest; tomorrow I’ll pick up stitches for the trim, then wash and block it...

I like the pumpkin house, Petra! Can you take the roof off to put something inside, or is it just for decoration?

Monika, all that unraveling was definitely worth it—the tunic turned out great. I couldn’t wait until summer to wear it. With a shirt underneath, you’ll be able to wear it for much longer.

The house is just for decoration

Monika the tunic has great colors 🎨

Good morning

Andrea and Ines, I hope you both continue to have a wonderful vacation.
Ines, your flowers turned out beautifully; the birthday girl will surely be delighted.

Steffi, your card looks amazing—a real masterpiece. I don’t think I’d have the patience for something like that.
I haven’t quite figured out how you do it yet. 

Ruth, your Halloween witches are also a lovely decoration idea. I like them better than your horror monster.

Petra, I’ve already spotted the pumpkin house too and am thinking about making one myself. It turned out really nice and is perfect for decorating with pumpkins and autumn materials. I’m sure you’ll come up with something special again.

Monika, great—you’ve finished the tunic too. It really turned out beautifully. The idea with the bottom edge is definitely a good one.
I’ve washed mine in the meantime and I’m not entirely happy with the picot edge. I won’t be steaming it. The finish looks nice, but it’s very impractical. I’m going to knit the bottom edge in garter stitch as well.

I like the tunic for summer; I prefer to wear it without a shirt underneath.

I

Good morning.....
Thanks for the compliments... The card itself is printed on cardstock; there are two pages, so there isn’t much to cut out, then you color it, cut it out, and put it together.... There’s a tutorial by Hattifant on YouTube 😇
Last night I made two triskeles.... As soon as I finished the first one, the cat went wild running through the house 😂🙈 I didn’t know paper balls could be so sturdy.... Luckily, it was just a test piece and wasn’t colored yet...
 My second one....
Now I’m going to take a quick walk and then cast on some stitches... 285 stitches from the edge, for the border of my current knitting project. 

Wow, Steffi, you make some really interesting things. You’re really spicing up our thread because these are mostly things that nobody else shows here. I’ve never seen balls like that before either. Yeah, and I kind of lack the patience for something like that, too.

Thank you so much for the feedback on my tunic. Whether I’ll wear it just yet… we’ll see. It would definitely look great with leggings underneath and a shirt. But I’m definitely looking forward to wearing it often next summer. I’m totally in love with this color combination. And to be honest, right now I don’t feel motivated to make another tunic. Maybe that’ll come back next spring. This one took too much time, patience, and nerves. ;-)

For now, I wish you all a lovely sunny day—just like the one we’re having here right now.

You’ve all been busy again.
I tried my hand at the little Christmas bags. Pattern by Elke Eder.


It’s really fun.

Thanks, Monika...
Christmas pouch... that looks great—how much can fit in there?

I’ve almost finished my jacket/vest; just a few rows of “sleeves” left.
Here’s what it looks like now....

I might have to “reinforce” the back panel—it gapes in the middle when I wear it. Let’s see how it looks after washing. Can I use interfacing or something similar for that?
Has anyone here ever made their own buttons by stretching thread over a metal ring? I just discovered a book that I really like. It has such beautiful buttons in it. The downside is that it’s from Japan! According to the reviews, though, the fact that it’s in Japanese shouldn’t be a problem because all the buttons are explained step by step with pictures....
Now I’m “unsure”—the book itself costs just under 20€ plus 12€ for shipping... 

This word prompt is driving me crazy 😂.... No, there aren’t supposed to be any machines in Andrea’s Christmas bag.... I just wanted to ask how many treats fit in there....

Wow, that jacket looks fantastic 

Steffi what I find even funnier is that your jacket “cries” in the middle when you wear it. *squeal* Wonderful!  

I’m also working on a jacket, but unfortunately the needle is too short now (I mean the cable), and while I do have one that’s 150 cm long, BUT since I always have fifty projects on the go at once, I have no idea where the long needle is. Hmpf. 
The Knitpro screw-on needle tips are all out and about, too. So I just reordered some cables and another size 5 knitting needle. But it’ll take a while for them to arrive. While I was at it, I noticed that Knitpro now has Wellness needles. The cables come in a gorgeous turquoise, as do the cable end stoppers, and the needles are engraved with something yoga-ish and words like CALM or ENJOYMENT. Great idea, but the needles cost a full 5 euros more than the ones without all the bells and whistles. 

Other than that, I’ve been dealing with a cervical spine blockage for a week now. It hurts and I feel dizzy. I’ve already taken some ibuprofen today and taken the next few days off—I can’t be sick again, and I still have some vacation time left. I’m doing exercises and applying heat; the physical therapist asked if I’d had a shot of schnapps because it smelled like alcohol. But it was just that mountain pine stuff on my neck. Tssss! 

Anja, get well soon!

Oh Steffi, it’s all good. We all just had a good laugh.😂
When crocheted with Catania, the little bag measures 10 x 10 cm (which is starting to be a bit too big for me personally). I’m going to crochet it again with thinner yarn and then compare the two.
So it definitely holds quite a bit.

Your jacket looks so pretty. Too bad it bulges in the middle.

I’m still crocheting my shawl. I’m curious to see how the color change turns out.

Oh my, Anja. It’s never boring with you. Always something new. Get well soon. Hang in there.

Thanks, everyone!
No, it definitely won’t get boring. 

Oh, Anja.... We could “team up” 🙈 I’ve got lower back issues... for two weeks now... I could go and have it adjusted, but I don’t want to do that again already... 
See, I didn’t even notice that my jacket was crying.... 😂
I was actually planning to reorganize my room in the next few days and “empty out” the yarn cabinet. I’m curious to see what else is hidden in there. The plan is to go from 10 bulging drawers down to just two or three… that’s the plan, anyway.... 

Yeah, Steffi I get it—though realigning the lumbar spine is still okay, the cervical spine is also really dangerous.
Why tidy up, and where would you put all that yarn anyway? I’ve given up on that plan because I want to keep the yarn—I don’t have anywhere else to put it. My goal now is to use it creatively and not buy any new yarn. We won’t be able to afford it much longer anyway.

How are you all doing otherwise? Are you managing to stay positive with all the crap going on in the world? 

Most of the yarn will probably be put up for adoption 🙈 
I’ve already given away a lot before, because tastes change and the yarn just doesn’t “fit” anymore.... 
Of the two huge drawers full of cotton, only a very small portion will remain, and there’s been a box of merino wool, extra thick—wonderfully thick winter yarn—sitting there for at least three years (I haven’t looked inside it in that long). But it just won’t tell me what it wants to become.... 
And then there are also quite a few balls and skeins of lace yarn, some even with matching patterns.... From really expensive brands. 
But why should it just sit here when it could be dancing across the needles somewhere else?

I try to stay as far away from everything “out there” as possible. It doesn’t always work, but constantly listening to the news and the like is currently exceeding my “tolerance limit.” I listen to the news at lunchtime, and that’s enough for me. 
I have my four-legged friends, my household… that’s enough for me right now. 

Good evening,

I’ve made a bit more progress. Time for a little break now.
I’m curious to see how the black color change turns out.

Hugs, Andrea

Andrea, I’m curious about that too. The colors are really quite different. Do they blend into one another? I’m looking forward to the next picture. Your stitch pattern looks varied, too.

I’ve happily parted with two skeins of yarn, but I still have so much lying around that won’t tell me what it wants to become. 

I’m glad to hear that, Petra.

The yarn is wound in a block, so there are no color transitions that blend into one another. It’s crocheted just as it is on the skein. That was intentional.

It was supposed to be a scarf at first, but then I decided on this triangular shawl (AL from here), but since the rows keep getting longer, I’m not sure if the black strip will be enough for one row. I hadn’t thought of that beforehand. Oh well.

I was so happy that the nice lady there wound the skein for me right then and there.
Ordered—wound—picked up—brought home—crocheted. It was such a wonderful feeling.
I already love this shawl.

I’ve been sewing again—a commission from my grandson. During the Queen’s funeral, he saw the Queen’s Guards with their bearskin hats and wanted a uniform like that for his favorite teddy bear.
And here it is:

And here’s the teddy wearing it:

Wow! That looks fabulous, Ruth!

Oh Ruth... how cute is that? 😍
It turned out great! Your grandson will definitely be thrilled, and you sewed it so quickly... 

I’m currently trying my hand at crocheting a bag....
The zipper is crocheted right into the bag. I just thought it was a great idea—I had to give it a try. 

Now I’m crocheting the body first—I’ve already finished the bag flap—so later on, you won’t even see the zipper anymore (I still had this one lying around; it’s not exactly the prettiest 🙈) 

Such amazing creations have been made here again—you’re all fantastic!

Andrea, that little Christmas pouch is very pretty. I’m sure you already know who’s getting it, right? And your doilies look great, too.

Steffi, your vest/jacket—a masterpiece! I thought the bit about your back screaming was the funniest.

Ruth, you keep spoiling your grandchildren by granting their wishes again and again. You really did a great job with it.

To everyone with “back pain” or other discomforts, I wish you a speedy recovery. I’ll add myself to that list—I had a somewhat unpleasant dental procedure yesterday, and I’m still feeling the effects.

I’ve finished something else, too. I knitted myself a cowl on the side using very soft sock yarn. I needed it a bit tighter and in different colors than usual.





My next project is a hat made from swap yarn. I don’t know yet who’ll get it. First, I’ll finish knitting it.

And then I’ll be working on doll clothes using the beautiful, colorful yarn from the swap package. After that, it’ll be Juna and Linja’s turn—one needs a sweater, the other a cardigan. I already have the measurements.

I wish everyone who’s sick a speedy recovery.

You’ve all made some great things again.

The kids’ birthday party on Sunday was a blast. My decorations were a hit:



And the games turned out well, too. The dinosaur bone hunt was a particular highlight... and afterward, we had to put together a puzzle:


I didn’t finish crocheting the dinosaur. But I need a little dino break for now. That’s why I crocheted some wrist warmers for work. It gets pretty cold in the office.

Oh my gosh, Sandra, I still have to finish those wrist warmers from last year. One was already done; the other’s in the home stretch.... phew...
The sun is shining today, so it’s pouring right into my room (I’m working from home today)—it’s 23.8°C in here without the heater! But then again, I work up quite a sweat in my room during the summer, too.

  I got a new supply of craft supplies, so I can switch the second sleeve of the jacket to the larger needle. My husband thought I’d ordered guitar strings—the packages look exactly the same when he orders stuff. Only in my case, they’re knitting needle cables. The Mindful Edition from Knit Pro is pretty. 

Sandra, you always throw such special birthday parties—those are great photos. I’m wearing wrist warmers at the computer, too; my hands are usually cold, so they really help.

Anja, I’m done with Knit Pro—no matter what it is. I’ve lost so many needles that I’ve had enough. I’ve especially had bad experiences with the cables. Hope it works out better for you with the new ones. Let us know how it goes.

The hat is finally finished. I don’t know yet who’s getting it. First, I’ll show it to the people I had in mind. Otherwise, I’ll keep it for myself.

Hey there.....
Well, I only knit with Knit Pro needles, and I’ve never had one break. Okay, if you have a lot of stitches on the needle, it’s a good idea to check regularly to make sure the cable is still secure. But I usually notice it while I’m knitting—the stitches get a little snagged....
  While on vacation, I also bought some size 3 needles; I can’t get them here at the yarn shop—“they always break so quickly, and then people come in to complain about them”....
I like them, especially the wooden ones....
Yesterday I knitted the second sleeve for the “Heul Vest.” Now it can go in the wash on Monday and then dry flat. … and woe betide her if she’s still crying then 😂
The beautiful brown yarn from the swap package is already freshly wound up in the craft box, waiting to hop onto the needles…

Hahaha, Steffi’s “cry jacket”! Hilarious!

Well, I haven’t had any problems with the needles or the cables so far. You just have to tighten them properly with the matching metal bits. Nothing’s broken for me yet, but then again, I knit with sizes 4 and up. I’ve tried out all the different kinds by now—metal, wood, plastic, round, square. I like them all. I’d really love to get some of those needles where the cables twist along with them, but they’re way too expensive. I’ve already forgotten what they’re called.

Monika , that hat is pretty. Who’s it for? 

These are from Chiagoo 🙈—I have one of them. For knitting lace shawls or for “artistic” knitting, because when you use very fine yarn, you end up with an endless number of stitches on the needle.... They’re really nice—the knitting doesn’t twist at all.... 

Anja, I’ll show the hat to my girlfriend and my daughter-in-law. If neither of them wants it, I’ll keep it for myself.

Ladies, how do you think this coat was knitted? 3 pieces or??? 
I think it’s so great! 

Look what I just found on bonprix: Long knit cardiganhttps://www.bonprix.de/produkt/longstrickjacke-cappuccino-meliert-964236/?landmark=Entry&typ=SoM&anbieter=Share&aktion=SocialMedia&version=ADA&bkkz=260000000

Halfway done. It’s going to be a pillow for my son. The Hulk character 

Petra: The pillow already looks great. I’m curious to see how it’ll look when it’s finished.

Monika, I really like the hat, too. I love the colors.

I’ve finished a gift for a silver wedding anniversary.


The color of the wreath doesn’t really show up right in the photo. It’s actual silver...

We’ve had the house to ourselves since yesterday. Anton is staying with my parents until tomorrow. 😃 We’re enjoying it, but first I still have a lot of ironing to do.

I wish you all a wonderful long weekend 

Good morning, Anja.... I just took a look at the jacket. It looks more like it was worked in one piece 🤔 I only see seams on the sides, but not at the shoulders. And then increases for the “sleeves”? 

Thanks, Steffi! 
I think there are actually 3 parts. A large rectangle across the top and 2 smaller rectangles attached to the bottom (see the center seam on the lower part), and there must be some increases there, since it bulges out so much at the bottom. 

This might get a little complicated....🙈
Maybe you can “find” a pattern that’s at least somewhat similar??? 

Nope, I think I’ve got it now. You’re right—one piece, then folded over at the bottom. That creates both the sleeve and the center seam, which explains the bulge. 

Ugh, I tried to lay it out with a blanket, but that doesn’t work. So I guess it’ll have to be two rectangles after all. Who knows. I don’t feel like thinking about it anymore—it’s been on my mind for 24 hours now. 

Hi everyone,
You’ve all been so busy again. Such pretty things.

Here’s my progress.
The black color change at the end of the round was nice. It fit perfectly.

Hello, everyone.

Anja: I wish you the best of luck with your crafting

Andrea: The shawl looks great.

I’ve finished a yarn swap project 


The yarn was practically begging me from the box to turn it into a pillow. There’s still some left. That could become a scarf. We’ll see 

Wow, Andrea, that was spot on!

Sandra, that looks so cozy. ♡ 

Andrea, was that yarn cake wound specifically for this shawl? How exciting

Sandra, your pillow looks very cozy.

Continue writing here:
October Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Handicraft Group (No Advertising)