December Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Here is the new thread:
January Projects 2023: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group. 

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the December projects.
You can find earlier posts in the link.
December Projects 2022 + November Projects 2022, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group
Have fun.

If there’s a problem anywhere, it would be better if you sent me a private message. I read all the threads, but it can sometimes take a while for me to get through them all. If in doubt, a private message is faster. 

I guess you might be a little shocked at first when you read comments like that.... but it’s good to have you here, dear Josefa....

Thanks, Steffi. That’s kind of you.

@Ines, support may have finished work for the day; I don’t think much more will be done there today, and probably not on Sat/Sun either.
But you can send me the link to the pattern by PM, and then I can forward it directly to support.

Oh, Ines, your set turned out so adorable. It’s really a shame that your daughter doesn’t appreciate handcrafts that much. It’s terrible that you’re being attacked like this, especially since you can’t even contact the authors. I had no idea you could post comments here without being logged in. I’d report it to CP Support, just like Josefa already suggested.

Josefa, you must have a long workday if you’re reading all these comments here. Wow! I imagine that’s pretty exhausting. After all, you have a personal life outside of CP, too.

Oh yes, Ines, with all the hustle and bustle I forgot to say how super cute the set is!!! With the appliqués and the gloves—sweet as can be! How old is your grandson? 

Someone has to read all the comments on the forum, after all. 

With all this “excitement”...
Yessss, that set is so cute...

I’m still working on my blanket... Round 77, just under 1 m on each side. 

Steffi, your blanket is really something to behold. I admire your patience. The pattern looks absolutely amazing. If I crocheted that much, I’d already be having problems with my wrist. I always need to take a break. It’s different with knitting.

...Right now, I’m “only” crocheting two rounds in the evening, though sometimes—when I just can’t settle down—I do three. There are still 43 rounds to go 🙈
I’ll definitely be ordering more yarn. I do still have some Kauni yarn, but it’s in different colors, and I don’t want to use those in the blanket....
So I’m “treating” myself to some yarn for Christmas 🎄🎄🎄

Steffi, isn’t the blanket too heavy?

Right now it weighs about 600g.... I like it when they have a little “weight” to them and don’t just “flutter” around.... 

Steffi, I’m really taken with your blanket—is that a pattern from here?

@Josefa, I wrote to support yesterday, but unfortunately, in my initial shock at so much malice, I deleted the pattern.

@everyone, thanks for your kind words—that reassures me a little.
Stealing patterns really isn’t my thing.

hello, you yarn mice,

I just read that here too. An accusation like that is not a nice thing to do, and very upsetting. But when it gets personal, it’s inhumane and disrespectful.

Ines, we’re here for you, and we know that you and all of us here are honest people and would never do something like that. We enjoy the fun of it, and right now you’re delighting us with your big mosaic blanket project, which is “growing” day by day.
You’re one step ahead of me there, because I haven’t crocheted squares in that size yet. Compliments.

The set with the appliqués looks really cute.

Have a lovely weekend, everyone. I really need to finally bake some cookies.

Lots of love, Andrea

Andrea,
it’s not me but Steffi who’s making this gorgeous blanket—I’m absolutely thrilled with it. I think I’ll treat myself to the pattern—buy it and make one for myself.

@Ines,
Today is Saturday, so support might not be able to do much because it’s the weekend.
Too bad you deleted the pattern right away.

support says the inappropriate comments were deleted yesterday, but by that time your pattern had already been disabled. 

Thanks, Josefa, for the info. I’ve decided to remove the pattern, even though I don’t feel I’m at fault and still haven’t found anything comparable—but who knows, maybe similar comments will pop up again.
It actually just makes me angry and sad at the same time.
Nevertheless, thank you so much for your efforts and those of the support team—you’re doing a really great job....but now off to the weekend—have a peaceful Third Sunday of Advent...

I’m going to get my needles glowing now...

Please talk to support and don’t just leave out the pattern entirely.

Could you please discuss such matters directly with support in the future, instead of posting them in the craft group? This doesn’t really belong in the craft group. 

Well, Josefa, she probably needed some human encouragement, so in that respect she was well supported here with us in the group.
Ines, I also think you should put the pattern back up; otherwise, ugliness will prevail in the world. 

Oh, Ines, that’s really the last straw… What on earth got into that commenter?
I’m constantly shocked by how unrestrainedly certain people vent their aggression online—it often feels like a full-blown witch hunt. Don’t let that ruin your Advent season—to calm your nerves, enjoy a hot chocolate or a spiced Christmas tea and a few delicious cookies!

@Josefa, that’s fine—I’ll handle it that way in the future.

  Christina and Anja, exactly—sometimes you just need a little encouragement. I’ve since put those thoughts aside, treated myself to Steffi’s blanket pattern, and am considering whether I should try mosaic crochet on a small scale first, because at first glance it looks like, “Oh no, I’ll never manage this,” especially since I haven’t worked from English patterns yet—but well, you can only learn from it.
Right now, though, it’s my grandson’s turn—he loves the Meerkat Detectives, so I want to make him a few hand puppets for his first birthday. I’ll have to get a move on—Wimi’s birthday is on December 30—but I’ve made a start, and we’ll see how I get along. 

@Anja,
human encouragement is important—that’s certainly true—but if you need a technical solution, send me a direct message or email.

Oh wow, Ines, your grandson is already turning one? It feels like he was just born a few weeks ago. I can’t believe how fast time has flown by. This is going to be a wonderful time for you to really enjoy as a grandma. The little ones learn something new every day—it’s really exciting to watch. You’re also lucky that he lives close by.

I’ve now finished another Christmas gift—a hat for a friend. I’m still working on some wrist warmers; she’ll be getting those, too. She’s a special friend whom we’ve known for a very long time and who’s been there for us so many times when we needed her. Of course, the same goes the other way around.

Here’s what the hat looks like—these are her colors. The yarn changes colors on its own. You can wear the hat as a beanie or in other ways.






Next week, Linja’s sweater should finally be finished. If I can manage it, my son will also get wrist warmers and my daughter-in-law will get a hat. We usually only give Christmas gifts to the kids, but a surprise like this is sure to be well-received.

Have a relaxing third Sunday of Advent with your loved ones—including Josefa.

Yes, Monika, where has the time gone? But you’re right—we’re enjoying our little guy.
The hat is very nice; I really love the colors for winter.

Oh, those little surprises—they’re just a must. Our daughter picked out a necklace with a “W” and actually knows what she’s getting, but now I found a personalized makeup bag on e...y—I just need to fill it up, and that’ll be her surprise. I actually wanted to crochet her a scarf too; I’m not sure if I’ll manage it—that’ll take a few late nights and some hard work.

Monika, the hat turned out really nice. I’d really like those colors, too.

I also finished a knitting commission this morning.

A hat in rainbow colors. As usual, the client was my grandson. He’ll get it at lunchtime today. Just in time for the snow that’s been falling from the sky since yesterday. 




He likes big pom-poms—really big ones. I ordered a pom-pom maker from the craft store—there have been delivery issues—I’ve been waiting for at least four weeks now. So I just made one myself again using a cardboard template. 





Have a wonderful 3rd Sunday of Advent!

Petra, I really like your colorful hat, too. It’s just right for a boy. And the color combination couldn’t be better. By the way, my husband loves big pom-poms, too. I actually knitted a hat like that for him once. I’ve had the pom-pom maker for a long time, and I have to say, it’s just great. I can make any pom-pom with it, big or small.

I wish you all a cozy Third Sunday of Advent. We’re heading over to see some friends in a little while.

I’d wear that hat too, Petra :)

My stole is growing slowly but steadily.

The elastic inserts in Lisa’s boots are now both sewn in.
Hopefully that’s enough sewing to last me for the next few months.

Petra, the colors of that hat are gorgeous. They go perfectly with the snow—your grandson won’t go unnoticed.

Have a lovely afternoon on the third Sunday of Advent; we’re about to meet up with friends and take a leisurely stroll through our town’s little Christmas market, which is always organized with such care. 

Monika and Petra, you’ve made some great hats. They’re all very different, but each one is beautiful in its own way. The colors of your hat, Monika, remind me of glacier ice. And the cheerful, bright colors of your hat, Petra, are just right for a boy! And look forward to the pom-pom maker—it really makes the process much faster and easier.

I made a pom-pom today, too.  My grandson asked for a Santa Claus costume for his favorite teddy bear. I finished it today:
(That’s the beard over the top part!)

Your grandson is going to be so happy, Ruth.

That looks so cozy, Ruth, I’d love to wear it myself (okay, a little small). 
What’s the round white thing?

My poor teddy doesn’t have anything to wear at all. ☹️🧸

That’s the beard, Anja!😆

A beard! You really thought of everything! ♡

A Christmas costume for the teddy bear 😍 How cute is that....
My blanket is growing very slowly right now.... One full round is 4 meters 🙈😲😁 There are still 40 rows to go... so roughly 25 cm more edge length... 
Let’s see if I can manage to crochet a round or two today. My restlessness is pretty “huge” today—I’ve been like this since I got up. First, I’ll take Emely for a walk, and then I’ll rummage through my stash to see what I still have lying around for a little Christmas gift. I was thinking of a wall hanging, also crocheted in mosaic stitch, with a Christmas motif... 

Argh Steffi, that restlessness... very unpleasant, especially when you don’t know what it’s trying to tell you. 
Especially because it’s the opposite of what you want, namely peace and quiet. 

I have to buy myself lunch (ready-made lasagna from the fresh food counter, just finish it in the oven) and I’m putting it off again until it becomes time-critical. The same avoidance routines every time, ugh. 

Yesterday I didn’t get around to knitting. Over the weekend I saw something on Pinterest again that inspired me, and because I didn’t want to buy a pattern, I experimented myself. It was very entertaining, fun, and challenged the brain cells (I had to draw something, then build a paper model, and then adapt that for crocheting). It was something different for a change. 

....going for a walk “helped” a little....
Distracting myself with housework works a bit too 🙈 although I could definitely write a book about it.... “I’ll just do some housework, or else the chaos will run rampant” 😂
Last week I wanted to clean the oven.... after half an hour, complete chaos had broken out... It all ended with the fact that now the faucet on the sink is “new” (I was annoyed that the gasket was porous and there were limescale marks all around it), the oven had to wait a day, and after the cleaning bucket tipped over, the floor was sparkling clean, too.
  How on earth do you go about doing housework in an “organized” way....
Here’s a quick photo of my blanket....

That’s wonderful, Steffi—I admire your patience... Let’s see if and when I dare to give it a try; I’ll have to look for/buy some suitable yarn :)

Oh dear, that sounds like total chaos—it must have been a “spring cleaning”; I’d be annoyed too.

Housework isn’t really something you enjoy doing either. I can’t really keep up with it either......

Steffi, your blanket is turning out gorgeous and beautiful. 

New project—felt shoes for the man of my heart. Now I’m working on the second pair.

Wow, there’s a lot going on here!

Ruth, that Christmas costume for the teddy bear is such a lovely idea. I could definitely see myself doing that too. He must look so cute in it. He even gets a beard. Your grandson really gives you some great ideas.

Steffi, I truly admire your patience and diligence. My hand would fall off if I were crocheting such big projects that fast. Your blanket looks absolutely gorgeous.
I’m familiar with those household clean-up chaos sessions, too. Luckily, I haven’t had one in a while.

Anja, being creative yourself is really fun—and yes, it’s good for your brain.

Petra, your slippers look great in those colors. You’re knitting them in size 46? That must be a huge shoe before felting.

My needles are working overtime right now because I have to finish a few things by Christmas. Here are the wrist warmers for my friend. I’m going to knit a hat to go with them using the same yarn—it’ll be thicker than the other one. That way, she’ll have one for the really cold days and one for days above 0 degrees.

Monika, your friend has something to look forward to—those wrist warmers look warm… I’d love to have them right now, because it’s really cold here—we’re not used to mornings at -12 °C anymore, brrr.

I’m already dreading taking the dog out later; Petra’s felt mittens would come in handy then, too.

I’m still working on the hand puppets for Wim right now; I’d almost finished the first one, but it slipped off my wrist, so I had to unravel it and start over with fewer stitches. Even after doing a gauge swatch, measuring, etc., they were still very loose.

Oh my, Ines, -12 degrees—that’s really something! Here, it’s finally warmed up a bit to 2 degrees below zero with freezing rain. That’s anything but fun. I’m glad I don’t have to go outside.

I’m really looking forward to seeing your hand puppets. I also had to rip out my wrist warmers because they didn’t fit—that happens sometimes with new projects. Be patient; your hand puppets are sure to turn out very cute.

Steffi, your blanket is really growing by the day. The bigger it gets, the more I like it.

Petra, those felted shoes for your husband are huge even before felting. Will you show them to us after they’re felted, too?

Monika, I’d love those wrist warmers for your friend, too.  That’s my color! What kind of yarn is that?

Ines, I’m really looking forward to seeing your hand puppets, too. I’ve made quite a few of them myself. Mine turned out rather small because they’re meant to fit on children’s hands. But an adult with large hands would have a hard time using them.

I’ve finally finished something too: my seasonal door wreath, which I’ve been crocheting on here and there. Now that the year is coming to an end, it’s finally done. I actually wanted to give it away, but now I’m torn— I’m not sure if I’d rather keep it for myself. 

Oh wow, Ruth, your annual wreath looks absolutely gorgeous! I really like it. I’d actually keep it for myself. It has so many pretty details. I wonder if anyone else will appreciate all the work that went into it?

I knitted the wrist warmers with a blended yarn that’s 30% wool. I still have some left in my stash—I got it from a swap group. It’s nice and thick and warm, with a yardage of 107 m/50 g.

After a night of freezing rain, it’s snowing here today. I’m thrilled by our beautiful snowy landscape.

My tripod arrived today—I got it by chance.
There was a “What do you need?” giveaway on a Facebook page, and I received this tripod as a gift.

Of course you’re keeping Ruth! What’s that between the snowman and the butterfly? 

Carnival... I see streamers and a mask...

It turned out absolutely beautiful 😍... 

Ahhhh! Everything looks so small on my phone, even when I zoom in...

I made a few little Christmas trees—they’re quick to make—and used some branches from the garden. Boom, little gifts for the neighbors (for those who were helpful neighbors this year).

🙈. My attic project “for the neighbors who ‘donated’ the branches”....
They turned out cute.
I still need to tidy up the kitchen a bit—I went shopping today, and until everything is somehow “processed” or put away, there’s just a bit of chaos in the kitchen.... In about half an hour, I’ll have time to crochet, too....

Ruth, I already admired your annual wreath yesterday—it’s so detailed! I’d definitely keep that one for myself; there must be hours of work that went into it.
Hmm, my hand puppet isn’t—or won’t be—spectacular. While babysitting my grandson, I first entertained the little guy with finger puppets, and since he likes the meerkats from Kika, I thought I’d give it a try.

Anja, I’ve also decorated twigs with little Christmas ornaments—no Christmas trees yet, but I was able to use up a few scraps that way.

Monika, yes, the winter landscape looks really beautiful, but it’s been -8 to -12 °C here for days now—that’s not really my thing, but I guess that’s just winter.

I wish everyone a wonderful 4th Sunday of Advent; we’re going to a Christmas market in the Ore Mountains this weekend—they’re always so lovely.

Yes, it sure does look pretty when everything is covered in snow... But if, like me, you have trouble walking, you’ll be glad when the snow melts and you can go outside again. 

Marlene, congratulations on that wonderful gift. You were really lucky.

Anja, your gifts for the neighbors are a great idea. Little things like that are nice for every now and then.

We went for a walk in the winter landscape today—it’s truly a dream. Even if you have to walk veeeery carefully. This weekend, it’s all about baking and knitting. I’m looking forward to it.

Have a wonderful 4th Sunday of Advent, everyone, and make yourselves comfortable.

Thanks, Moni :)
I hadn’t expected anyone to respond at all.
But less than 5 minutes later, someone offered me the tripod.

Meanwhile, my stole is still growing.
It’ll probably be something for next year—that sounds sooo far away—even though it’s not that long from now.

Ruth, your wreath turned out great. So many little details—a cycle that comes full circle every year. 

Monika, your wrist warmers have beautiful colors. I’m working on the last pair with a cable pattern right now—but I already have another idea for the next ones. I’m really enjoying it at the moment, and I have plenty of people who want them. 

The felted slippers for my sweetheart have been through the washing machine. They fit like they were made just for him 🤣

I tried darning last year’s pair with felting wool and washed them all together again. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. How do you darn or repair holes in your felted slippers? 

Petra, your felted items for your sweetheart look great. I’ve never repaired felt before.

I’d be interested in learning how, too. I’ve now finished the hat for my girlfriend—it’s a set consisting of a hat and wrist warmers. The package will be on its way on Monday, along with the washcloths. She loves those, too.

I’ve been thinking about knitting felted slippers for quite a while now.
But I’m unsure about the size.
It’s a bit different from non-felted items, after all.

Yeah, about the size after washing… My first pair shrunk so much that what was supposed to be size 46 ended up being size 37. I ended up giving them away. I didn’t try to figure out whether it was the yarn or the pattern.

I’m now using a different brand and a different pattern.

  Now I have an order in size 40.5. This is going to be exciting again.

@monika—is that a glittery thread in your yarn? That’s a very nice gift for your friend.

Wow... from 46 to 37.
That’s what I call a “slight shrinkage.”

That was power-shrinking Petra! 

I'm frustrated. It was such a lovely knitting afternoon, the sun was shining, and I was making good progress on a sweater. Everything was correct too, but now I can't get any further. It's a pattern from Ravelry, so I had to write to the designer. I always feel so stupid then, because others before me have obviously figured out how it works. In any case, I was supposed to end with a WS row, not cut the yarn, but then continue with the WS row, but that doesn't work because of the yarn; I HAVE to continue with the RS row, argh. Lots and lots of pictures in the pattern, but nothing that helps. Things like that really annoy me. I need progress photos, especially when I have to turn or join something! 

I'm going to keep working on my shawls now; there I don't have to think or count. 

Wow, you’ve created some beautiful things....
I’ve only worked with felting wool twice so far—it turned into two hats... While I was knitting, my sister asked me if I wanted to knit a sleeping bag for the cat 🙈😂🙈
  I can still crochet two more rounds on my blanket, then I’ll have to take a break for now. I’ve run out of yarn. It’ll take a little while (about two weeks) before I can continue. Just 30 more rounds 😲😊
Anja.... what happens next with your sweater? Could it be that you’re supposed to knit with a second skein now? A friend of mine once knitted a sweater using two skeins, always knitting two “right side rows” and two “wrong side rows”.... So, knit up to a wrong side row, then switch to Ball B to knit the wrong side row, slip the stitches back, and knit another wrong side row with Ball A... Do the same for the right side rows...
Let me know when you hear back from the designer... 

Yeah, if that’s the case, we should write that down too. I want to work smoothly and not have to guess or write emails.

I’m not doing anything right now because the cat is sleeping on me. She always has such great timing, doesn’t she? I’m hungry, and I’ll need to use the bathroom soon. The water bottle is way out of reach. 🤯 And then she’s lying right across my legs—that can’t be comfortable for her, and it’s not for me either. A 4 kg cat... phew 

🙈 The cat “knows” what’s good for us… simply because she’s “the cat.” When I’m too restless for her, she’ll just plop herself right on top of me—it’s impossible to avoid 🤷
So I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the designer gets back to you soon… and that you can continue to enjoy your knitting time… 

Petra, this yarn has really thin, colorful strands in it—it looks a bit like glitter. You can see it even more clearly on a light-colored yarn. I think this yarn is really great for hats and wrist warmers.

Anja, I’ve had experiences like that too. I hope you’ll be able to get back to it soon. Yes, cats give their humans good energy. So it can happen that they keep you from doing something. Just enjoy it, at least for a while. What looks uncomfortable to us is probably normal for cats. I’ve seen them in the most impossible positions in photos... amazing.

Have a wonderful rest of the 4th Sunday of Advent, everyone. I’ve now made it to the sleeves on Linja’s sweater. The sweater seems huge to me, but those are the measurements the mother gave me. Kids grow up so fast… just yesterday she was a baby, and soon she’ll be 7 years old.

The designer hasn’t responded. But when I woke up this morning, I wondered if I’d simply mixed up left and right—or if the designer had. Because if I continue where the thread is hanging (logically), then I can keep going. However, on the diagram, she writes “re” and “li” VT, as you’re looking at the drawing. But I thought she meant it the way I’ll be wearing the piece. Oh wait, that’s how it’s drawn too—I misunderstood something about “RT” and “RS.” Orrrrrr, I was totally on the wrong track. Man, I’m so glad I set the project aside for two days to clear my head and get some perspective. These are the moments when I always feel a little dumb... :-(

Good thing you spotted the mistake. In our knitting group, we call that “your left or my left?” I always find terms like that tricky…
But now you can just relax and keep knitting. 👍
I’m taking a break from crocheting at round 90—the yarn is currently sold out, at least one color of it, with a delivery time of about 2–3 weeks.
  Let’s see if something “small” might hop onto my knitting needles....
I still have a box of thicker merino yarn 🤔 

I also still have some merino yarn—I still don’t know what to do with it... 

Mine is for size 5 needles.... actually way too thick for me....
Maybe it’ll be a vest or something—I don’t want to knit another scarf or something like that again 🙈
A few years ago, I crocheted a scarf collar by Petra Perle; for some reason, I still have quite a bit of yarn left over from it, and I’m wondering if I can knit a sweater out of it. So, I’d use the crocheted part to make the round yoke and then pick up stitches from it onto the knitting needles...
I’ll dig it out tomorrow—it’s hiding somewhere in the closet. Then I’ll put it on the dress form and get to work 😊


Now the blanket is taking a two-week break for now....
The side length is now 110 cm.... and the pattern is still very easy to crochet.... 
I’ve now ordered the purple/blue, the gray gradient, and one in solid light gray... The latter is “responsible” for why it’s taking so long 🙈. 

Steffi, your blanket is going to be a dream. I’d be so impatient waiting for the new yarn to arrive—I’d hardly be able to stand it. 

Yes, Steffi, I also think your blanket is simply a dream. It looks like a work of art. I really like it.

That blanket is a dream, Steffi—I admire your perseverance. But with such a beautiful result, it’s definitely worth it.

Your blanket is a real eye-catcher, Steffi.

I know the pattern for my stole by heart now.
Which is pretty handy when I’m traveling by bus or train.

And another Christmas gift is finished. The request was for a headband with earflaps. 

That’s a really nice headband, Petra. Although I always wear mine over my ears too, even without the ear flaps. Are you done making wrist warmers? 

It’s quiet around here. Is everyone in the final stretch with Christmas crafts and meal prep? What are you having to eat? Are you expecting guests? 

I treated myself to another pattern, specifically to use up leftover yarn. The others’ results look like designer pieces, and mine are just so ugly. OK, the other ladies picked out their yarn beforehand and sorted it by color so the transitions would look nice, while I just reach into a bag or drawer and take whatever comes out. So it’s not exactly harmonious. Actually, not at all. Oh well, but it’s fun—that’s the main thing. 
I have to force myself to take a one-hour break after every hour of knitting. My hands are already hurting and my neck is stiff again, so I’ll do some housework and a few exercises in between. 

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas. 

I also think that having fun should come first, Anja.

I couldn’t even say how long I can knit or crochet in one sitting.
I don’t look at the clock when I’m doing that.

After all, having fun is the “most important” part of crafting....

We just finished eating; I picked up my son this morning.... He would have come on his scooter otherwise, but with the rain, that’s not really necessary 😊
Otherwise, everything’s quiet around here....


I wish you all
a cozy, merry Christmas 🎄. It’s so nice to have you all here....

Anja, I think the ear flaps on the headband are also meant to keep the neck a little warm. Let’s see if he’s happy with it; it’s being given as a gift today. 

I’m still knitting wrist warmers—with a new pattern. My neighbor wants another pair, and my cousin has also asked if I’d like to..... There’s plenty of yarn in the house, after all. 

Everything is ready here now. The bread is in the oven; now we just have to wait for the guests to arrive. The weather here is more like Easter 🤣

Have a wonderful Christmas, everyone, and enjoy yourselves. 

Weather—that reminds me of a saying my mother always used to say:

“Christmas in the clover—Easter in the snow.”

So, now that the gifts have been unwrapped, I can finally show you a photo of my grandson’s teddy bear in a Santa Claus costume:

This is the perfect Christmas bear....
So cute.

Since my blanket has to take a break, I’ve started working on a loop in the meantime 🙈 I’ve unraveled it twice—the first time the colors didn’t match, and the second time I just didn’t like the pattern anymore.
  Now I have “Blanket 2” on my crochet hook 😊 I’ve decided to use my single skeins of hand-dyed sock yarn for it.
I started with light gray Alpakka (from the last swap package) and a solid-colored glitter yarn.... 

Ruth, that Christmas costume is amazing!!!

Steffi, you were really searching high and low for that blanket. But it looks absolutely fantastic, too. How did you manage to work with the two colors?

I unraveled that ugly sleeve again and combined the colors differently—it looks better now. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have worn the piece again. Though I’m still having second thoughts—it’s very thick, knitted with two strands of yarn. And now, with these mild temperatures and my hot flashes… Oh well.

I went overboard with knitting on vacation. For once, my arthritic thumb is cooperating, but my index finger seems overworked and inflamed. Now resting would be the thing to do, but I really don’t feel like it. That’s a bummer.

Plus, I wanted to finish a jacket I’d started, but now, a year later, I don’t like it at all anymore. That happens to me quite often. I’ve also been told that I wear very little handmade clothing—and that’s true. After a while, I hardly like any of it anymore. Is it just me, or does this happen to you too? 

I guess I’m not the only one who feels this way about homemade items.... I have two huge boxes full of knitted shawls and the like that I’ve never even worn. I just enjoy knitting them… and sometimes I just give some away. I can’t store everything, after all 🙈, and I also have quite a few sweaters, jackets, and the like that I just don’t like anymore once they’re finished 🤷
But knitting and crocheting were fun… 

The principle of mosaic crochet is actually “simple”—you only crochet one color per row.... there are only single crochets and double crochets... the single crochets are always worked into the back loop, and the double crochets are always worked into the front loop one round below..... 

This is what it looks like from the back..... One color per round.... 
I’m “working” on my blanket following the written pattern, which says, for example, 2 single crochets, 3 double crochets, etc.... The pattern “forms” through the double crochets, because they cover the single crochets from the previous round.... 

That sounds exciting. I need to look for a simple pattern for pot holders or something like that, to practice and see if it’s fun.  

Wow, Petra, a headband with earflaps—that looks great!

Oh, Ruth, what a cute teddy bear in a Christmas outfit. Your grandson sure has some funny ideas.

Steffi, your starting square for Blanket 2 already looks very promising, and the yarn looks so fluffy. If crocheting didn’t strain my wrists so much, I might try my hand at something like that too. But to be honest, I prefer knitting—it’s faster for me.

Anja, I’ve been there too—there were times when I didn’t like the clothes I made myself anymore. But that was mostly because of the cut. Luckily, I have a grateful recipient—my daughter-in-law. She was really happy to get them. Otherwise, I tend to like the things I knit for a very long time. But I also find that knitting is what I enjoy the most. And giving things away, too.

The sweater for Linja is finally finished. It turned out a little too big—I’m curious to see if it fits her already. But at least it’s better than being too small.



And I’ll finish the wrist warmers for my son today. Luckily, I still have one more day before I have to give them to him.

I hope you all have a wonderful time with yarn and needles on Boxing Day.

Moni, Linja will definitely grow into it. 

I found something on YouTube to try mosaic crochet. Yeah, you can do it, but all that counting wouldn’t be for me. I have a repeating pattern now, but I really wouldn’t need any more counting than that. On the other hand, if the blanket is as huge as Steffi, ’s, then after umpteen rows you probably know the pattern by heart anyway, if one row takes forever. 

These are supposed to become potholders, but you have to make them 4 times, because 2 are crocheted together each time. Oof. 

Ta-daaa, done—a double-sided pot holder. Unfortunately, I don’t feel like making another one. 🙈

Hey, that looks great 😍
All this “counting” distracts me from “weird” thoughts 🙈😁🙈
I’m so glad I “made it through” Christmas. ... I definitely don’t need another one like this year. The next one will be better—at least the run-up to Christmas; I’ve already got the crochet Advent calendar all planned out. Can’t wait 😁🙈
Tomorrow, “finally,” it’s back to the daily grind, and I can go at my own pace, everything back to normal as usual....
  On Wednesday, I’m going to visit my mom, along with my sister, her boyfriend, and “little” Alex.... everything’s already planned, so the trip there will “work out” just fine....
Now just one more round of crocheting, and then off to bed. 

Monika, your granddaughter will definitely be happy with that. And better too big than just right or too small.

Anja, it would be a shame if you didn’t crochet the fourth one, too. You usually need two pot holders in the kitchen at the same time. And they’re so beautifully colorful—they really brighten your mood while cooking.

  I crocheted a little house just before Christmas. Now it just needs some decorations, but I’m still undecided. 



And the pair of wrist warmers my neighbor asked for are finished. 

Wow, Anja, your pot holder looks great! It’s definitely worth crocheting a second one. They’ll both come in handy in the kitchen.

Petra, you can still do something with the little house. How about embroidering a window and a door on it, for example? Your wrist warmers look great, too.

Yeah, I figured Linja would grow into it by then. Now I’m wondering if I should wait to give her the sweater for her birthday in March… It’s just too much all at once right now.

Unfortunately, they won’t be coming to visit us because the whole family is sick. That’s really too bad, but there’s nothing we can do about it. I’ll probably have to pack the gifts into one big package and send them off. We might be able to visit during the first week of January, but only if the situation improves. So there’s still hope.

At the last minute, I knitted these wrist warmers for my son. He might be able to use them at the office—or while riding his bike.

Since I didn’t feel like crocheting the same colors again, I used different ones. You have to join two pieces together to make one, so that means making four pieces for a pair. And I wanted some variety. But then they just DON’T match at all, except that they have the same pattern. Oh well, I’ve grown to like it now that I know it by heart.

Then I started unraveling an unfinished cardigan and am now freestyling a long knitted coat out of it. It’s keeping me entertained because I’m knitting it in a patchwork style. I started at lunchtime today and have already made quite a bit of progress.

I just got upset with my daughters again. They don’t want my advice, but I’m an overprotective mom. I’m already holding back a lot, but when one of them changes the sheets just because there are bloodstains from a bleeding mole, that’s when my alarm bells start ringing. Then they always have this condescending attitude, saying I’m always overreacting and getting on their nerves. But all I did was give her a tip: that you have to wait 12 months to see a dermatologist (they’re scarce where we live), and that she can upload a photo to her health insurance provider, and a dermatologist will look at it within 48 hours and tell her whether it’s harmless or if she needs to get it checked out right away. But instead of hearing, “Oh, great idea, thanks, Mom,” no—I just get that damn annoyed reaction. I always feel so out of place, as if we were speaking different languages. First I get really angry, and then really sad. I envy other moms who are important to their kids. 

I’m usually in favor of “leaving people alone” when someone’s annoyed, Anja.

Other moms have their own problems with their kids, too.
They just might not show it as (directly).

Finished another little project. It was fun.

Andrea, you always do such a great job with these cute little things. They look like little doll bags. By the way, I hope you feel better soon. Take some time to relax and enjoy the time you have to yourself. Crocheting is definitely good therapy.

I’m working on a new project, but I can’t show it yet. I’m just trying out a few things for now.

Wishing you all a happy and, hopefully, healthy New Year.

Thank you, Monika. I’ll definitely need a little more time—I’m still not quite back to my usual self.
My little Puppi will get the bags. Even crocheting is tiring. Anyway, I was able to finish them.

2. Pot holders finished. Two more in progress. At least the ones I’m working on now will match. It’s just too boring for me to crochet the same thing four times. 

Andrea, what do you have? 

Anja, I’ve been struggling with a bad cold for two weeks now. I’m feeling a little better, but that stupid cough and lack of appetite are killing me—especially since I’m super hungry when my husband whips up all that delicious food.

Your pot holders look amazing. Have you caught the mosaic crochet fever too? I’d tried that pattern before, too. You did a great job, and you stuck with it.

Well, fireworks are going off all over the place outside—have a great New Year’s Eve

, and see you next year....🎈✨🎇⏲🗓🥳☘🍄🐞

Anja, I really like the new colors. Both sides don’t have to look exactly the same. They should match your kitchen’s color scheme, but not be identical. That way, it won’t get boring.

Andrea, I hope you feel better soon. Yeah, especially now at Christmas, when everything smells and tastes so delicious. That’s too bad. I hope you feel better soon, and I’m sure your husband will cook you something extra special then.

  I’m currently working on my 12th pair of wrist warmers. These ones are for me. In pink. The first one is already done, and I hope I can finish the second one today. Although, it was almost 20 degrees here today, so you don’t really need wrist warmers........

Have a great start to the new year 

Andrea, I hope you get well soon.

Petra, yes, I’ve also been thinking about what we’ll do with our wool projects given climate change—in the long run, everything will just get too sweaty...
  Potholders for the kitchen—they’d be dark gray and apricot (terracotta tiles). We’ll see. I don’t have enough gray. Today, another 10 skeins of bright yellow arrived. And then I decided not to buy any wool for 365 days. Phew. Let’s see how long I can stick with it. I think Monika managed that once before, didn’t she? 

Here is the new thread:
January Projects 2023: the Crazypatterns Handicrafts Group.