March Projects + February Projects 2023, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Craft Group

Here is the new thread
March Projects 2023, Part 2. (No advertising)
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Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 3 of the February projects.
Have fun with it.
You can read the earlier posts at the link:
February Projects 2023, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group 

Today I tried on my Karl for the first time. I was really curious: does it fit? Did I calculate everything correctly? Yes, it fits perfectly!
Now I just still can’t decide which side should be the front and which the back. So for now, I’ve continued knitting the patches at the bottom and will do the neckline later. 

Do you notice this too—when you click “Like” on a post, the text first appears in red and then turns green? 

Yes. I noticed it yesterday.

I think it’s great.

Anja, if the weather’s right, I’ll show you what the Karl looks like when I wear it. It’s really easy to knit because you just keep adding one patch after another.
For me, the “Like” button only turns green when I click on it.

Oh Ruth, then I’m really looking forward to seeing your photo once it’s completely finished. A photo of you wearing it would be great, too. Mine fits wonderfully as well.

When does the Like button turn red?

When I click on it.
Not anymore—the text turns green right away now. Maybe the internet is too slow?

Well, okay, but if it turns green right now instead of red, there’s no point in pointing out the issue to the tech team.
Let me know when it turns red again—preferably via PM.

Karl 4 is cast on—with these colors. It’s going to be a 70th birthday gift.

Yes, Monika, I’ll definitely take a photo of myself wearing it. I hope some of the other “Karl enthusiasts” will post some too. Then we’ll post a collage of all our “Karls”😊

I’ll be ready to show off the Karl 4 soon, too. I’ve changed the order a bit. I still have parts 8 and 9 left to go, but I’ve already finished two of part 10 and one of part 11. I hope it’ll fit—the yarn was a bit thicker, so I cast on one size smaller. See you later and have a great weekend.
Kind regards, Anja

I’ll take care of it, Josefa. 

Wow, that looks great so far, Cathynit!

Great colors, Cathy 🧡

Hi CathyKnit

Your Karl already looks great.

Monika, I really like your Karl 4—great colors.
Your finished Karl looks great on you.
(SORRY, pink isn’t really my color.)

Ruth, you’ve already come so far too. It turned out very nice.

Ines, I really like the colors on your Karl as well.

Let me show you how far I’ve gotten with Karl 4.
I had to take a break—I was in bed with a cold. I’m slowly starting to feel better.


Where can we see Monis Karl being worn? Because it looks good on her???

Marion I like the colors of your Karl best so far; I would wear it like that. 

I'm in a bit of a patchwork slump right now... 

Wow, things are really getting Karl-post crazy here now, each Karl more beautiful than the last.

CathyKnit, I just admired yours in the gallery. I know that knot-in-the-brain feeling; Andrea helped me a lot with that too. Nice that you’re here as well.

Wow, Marion, that already looks very promising. The color combo is great! For me, your back would be more like the front. I also don’t know yet how I’ll divide up the sides on my turquoise one... I can’t ask, since it’s supposed to be a surprise.

I’m on the 6th patch now and starting the 7th today. A photo of the first 5 will come later.

Anja, in the earlier posts you can see Karl dressed:
February Projects 2023, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group 

Thanks, Monika! My brain’s going too—I’m sure I saw that photo... 🤪

One pattern, yet each one is different. You’ve chosen some great color combinations.

I still haven’t caught the crafting bug—I’m still working on the kids’ kitchen. This morning I tried making a sliced carrot. 

Petra, your carrot is absolutely adorable… if you can say that about a carrot. Great idea—it’s sure to be a hit.

Here’s the start of my Karl 4. But I’m already on Patch 7.

Monika, I like the colors. As someone new to Karl—are the patches knitted or sewn together? 

These are knitted together, so you keep picking up new stitches from the edge. 

Wow, “the Karls” really look great.
I really like “the new one” by Monika. Love the colors....
I actually thought I’d finish the second sleeve today... but that was just a “maybe”.... At first I struggled with picking up stitches from the side edges of the patches—105 stitches. I did the math and came up with 21 stitches per 10 cm.... But getting a nice, clean edge is still hard for me. How do you guys do it?
  Picking up stitches from the sides? With the patches, I’m not supposed to knit an edge stitch and mostly just knit knit stitches....
And then I’d almost finished knitting one side, just before putting it aside, and I’m sitting there looking at it 🤔—somehow it looks so different from the first sleeve 🤔.... Did I knit garter stitch instead of stockinette.... 😤 So I unraveled it all the way back to where I started picking up stitches. I’ll just do both sides of the sleeve tomorrow. One in the morning, then my son will “drop by” for coffee, and then the second one in the evening. 

Turbo-Moni is now just knitting for 24 hours straight, nods off for a second, and then keeps going. ⏱️☀️🌛
Say, Monika! how are your bones holding up? 
AFTER 1 HOUR MY NECK, BACK AND THUMBS ARE KILLING ME! 

This is going to be aaaawesome!
Best regards, Katrin

Hi everyone,
hello and good morning :-)
I’m blown away by all the great comments here on my cast-on Karl No. 2.
Thank you so much!
I can’t find all the places where you commented right now—please excuse me.
Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday and a creative time knitting!
Best regards
Katrin

Question for the moderatoren,
would it be possible to collect the posts about all KARLs, which do seem to have a fan base here, in one thread? And move the existing posts there?

Best regards
KAtrin

Great idea, Kathrin!!!! A dedicated Karl section ♡

Steffi, for our “Karls,” the stitches are picked up from or knitted onto the edge stitches. It’s actually quite simple. Yes, you do have to make sure you knit them on neatly, but it’s basically easy.

Anja, my fingers really love knitting—I have absolutely no problem with it. Yes, right now I’m really hitting the gas. It’s just so much fun. Every free minute, the needles are flying.

Why have a separate “Karl” category? We already have the crafting group here. And right now, a lot of Karls are being knitted there. To be honest, I don’t want another thread where I’d have to post everything twice. This one is totally enough for me. And it’s also exciting to read and see something different every now and then. I’m not a big fan of moving posts from here either. To me, that would feel like this crafting thread is being shut down.... But that’s just my opinion and how I feel.

One idea might be to add “Karl” to the title of the thread—if that’s technically possible. For example, “Karl Fans” or something like that. What do you think?Then a few more Karl fans could join us here.

I’m on Patch 7 now (the second one at the back) and would like to at least start knitting Patch 8 today. I’m really excited to finally see Karl 4 finished. I find it even easier to knit than the first one.

Hi there, I’m back again :)
Petra, your little vegetable basket is growing—it’s very nice.

There’s really been a full-blown “Karl fever” here, but it’s lovely to see all the different color combinations.
Right now, I’m still knitting my Karlos jacket and thinking about starting my Karl afterward, but it’ll take a few more days.
I like all of yours—the one Monika started with green yarn looks really nice color-wise.
I don’t think we actually need a separate thread for this, since we’re already sharing updates here in the group.
But first, let me show you how far I’ve gotten with the jacket. I had to take a break yesterday to give my shoulder a little rest, but I’ll be picking it up again right away.
Jacket from the back


Basically, it looks almost exactly the same from the front—just open, and the neckline is deeper.

I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon.

Wow, Ines, what a beautiful pattern! I really like your Karlos. You’ve done a great job with the color scheme.

I’m going to finish knitting both sides of Patch 8 on the green Karl today. Then I’ll show you how it’s coming along. I think I’ll need your opinion on what should be the front and back. I’m still undecided.

Have a wonderful day, everyone, and take it easy—with or without Karl. ;-)

It’s really interesting how different the Karls look! The jacket is completely symmetrical, so you have to be careful with the color distribution. I just knit away with gradient yarn, however it comes to me. But I think it looks great, too.   I’ve already gotten quite far with mine—I’m (only) missing 3 patches and the border.
In between, I also crocheted a little Easter decoration using paper yarn:

Your Karls really lift your spirits—they’re so colorful.
I love every variation; each Karl has a completely different look.

Ruth, your little baskets are great. When crocheting with paper yarn, you really need to use some strength to make sure the stitch pattern is nice and even—but it’s worth it for the result.

I’m still working on my nativity scene; I’ve finished a donkey and am currently tinkering with the stable—I’ve already had to rip out quite a bit—but I’m on the right track now. I’d actually planned not to buy any new yarn for this, but I’ll probably need a ball for the ox after all—my box of acrylic scraps is now almost entirely colorful, and turquoise or purple just don’t work. I’ve also started an angel, but I’m stuck on that one too… 



The weather has finally been better here over the last few weeks, which I’m really enjoying after the gloomy winter, and I’m more drawn to being outside now. That leaves less time for crocheting.

Ruth, your little Easter baskets look really pretty. Paper yarn—that’s something completely new (to me). But I wouldn’t feel like working with it. For me, it always has to be soft. I’m looking forward to seeing your Karl. You’ve already made great progress on it.

Claudia, your donkey looks great. You did a fantastic job on it.

It’s really wintry here with frost and a bit of snow. That only tempts me outside for short walks. But it’s great weather for knitting.

I’m not familiar with paper yarn either—I imagine it would be quite difficult to crochet with—but the little baskets turned out very pretty. 

I also really like the donkey.

We’ve had snow showers on and off today, so the weather hasn’t been great. 

The little baskets are a great idea for the paper yarn. I “adopted” three skeins of it from last year’s swap package 😊

I just finished the last stitch on my “UFO jacket.” 😊
Tomorrow I’ll wash, stretch, and dry the sleeves.... (Yes, just the sleeves—the body was already “ready to wear” as a vest 🙈)
And then sew them in... I’m so excited to see how it looks when worn. 

Your nativity scene is going to be great, Claudia! Do you have a pattern for it, or are you designing everything yourself? And as for the purple ox… I’m sure there’s a purple cow, right?😉

Monika, I’m also looking forward to seeing your turquoise Karl. I really love turquoise. I could never resist that color.  How are you handling the pattern? Is that a gradient-colored bobble yarn, too?

Yeah, you’re right—crocheting with paper yarn is a bit of a challenge. (That’s why they turned out to be such tiny little baskets 😆)

Ruth, yes, these are several Rellana yarn cakes with a color gradient that I’ve already shown here. It’s the favorite color of the friend who’s getting it.

I’m making the pattern however I feel like it. I knit the edges so that they create a contrast. Sometimes I use the yarn cake from the inside, sometimes from the outside—or from the middle. I have three of these in progress.

Steffi, I’m already curious about your jacket. It’s sure to look absolutely beautiful when it’s finished.

I’ll also be taking photos of Karl 4 today; those will come later. Patch 8 is almost finished on both sides.

Ruth, here’s the yarn I’m using for the turquoise Karl again.

So, here are the photos of Karl 4

This is the front:



And this is the back:



Otherwise, it doesn’t quite match the drawing, but it still looks pretty good.

So, now I’ve finished the angel, too. The stable is coming along nicely; after that, I’ll just need to make the ox.



Ruth, I’m crocheting the nativity scene without a pattern. The purple ox made me chuckle, but no. I’ll probably have to get another ball of yarn for it.

Years ago, I crocheted a hat out of paper yarn, which I found very uncomfortable at the time. But I do like wearing it, and it’s more durable than I thought it would be. I often stuff it in my bag, crumple it up, and it’s even gotten wet—it’s survived it all. I just found this quick photo… so working with this yarn is definitely worth it.



Monika, I find it fascinating to follow the creation of your “Karls”—the current state of things could turn into anything; I wouldn’t expect it to be a piece of clothing at this point.

Wow, Claudia, you’re already so far along. You’ve even finished an angel. That would definitely be worth a pattern, wouldn’t it? There are plenty of people who’d love to crochet that. By the way, great photo of you! :)
Thanks for your feedback on the Karl. You’re right—it doesn’t look like a garment yet.

Hi everyone,
I'm only just getting around to posting today.

@Monika:
Your KARL is going to be absolutely AWESOME! I can't help you decide what should be the front and what should be the back. I just think both sides are cool. ;-)
I also had to google the Rellana Bobbel right away. ;-)
How is this cotton Bobbel with 20% polyamide to knit with?
With pure cotton I have the problem that it gets soooo "floppy" ... Patchwork just doesn't work for me with that at all - stockinette in the round is ok, and short rows (swing knitting) just about work. :-/

@Ines:
Wow - I'm thrilled by the play of colors in the solid-colored(?) yarn!!! *thumbs up*
Looks totally different than in Andrea's photo!
A knitted cardigan (especially for the office ---> cold + drafty) is still on my "scroll" too. *grin* And knitted the way you did it, I think it's suuuuper!

@all:
Thank you for the comments!

Here is my current progress on "Karl's Garden Party" (Karl No. 2:
The wrong patches have been frogged - and I'm done again up to patch 10. ;-)




Best wishes, Katrin

Katrin, Karl 2 is next on my list—it’ll be a mix of vanilla, yellow, and brown. Your color choice is also really beautiful.
For the jacket, I used a thicker yarn and can even knit it two sizes smaller because I followed the specified stitch count. I used Pataya Batik—it has such gorgeous color gradients—and added Pataya Love in matching colors for contrast. By the way, thanks for your compliment.

Monika, I really like the yarn cakes too, but I have to stop buying new yarn for now—haha—I still have way too much to work through, and with only two hands, it’s a shame 😉

Claudia, the angel turned out great too; all these figures would definitely be worth making patterns for.
By the way, you look very likable in your photo.

Katrin, thank you so much for your praise. I’m really glad to hear that. Your Karl 2 really is something to be proud of. It looks absolutely great!
The Rellana bobble yarn with 80% cotton knits up wonderfully. I wouldn’t knit the patchwork patterns with pure cotton either. They also have bobble yarns with 50% cotton—I used some of those for my Karl 1. Just as great! However, I get the impression that the small 100-gram bobble yarn (recycled) I’m using now is firmer and even better suited.

Ines, I’m certainly not short on yarn. But I didn’t have any summer yarn specifically for this project. It was yet another reason to stock up.

Now I’m going to continue with Patch 10... can’t wait.

Hi everyone,

@Ines:
You already have some experience knitting the “Karl,” right? ;-)
That surely saves you from those “brain knots,” like I had with Patches 11 and 12... *slaps forehead*—
but the lovely Andrea helped me out soooo much there!

@Monika:
Thank you, Monika!
Yeah, I’m also really thrilled with the color progression on my Karl. ;-)
That said, I also think the versions here—the ones knitted with really long color gradients—are totally AWESOME.
And for the large patches, that’s exactly the right thing.

Good to know that the 80% cotton yarn knits up better than pure cotton yarn.
I might reconsider that for a summer version.... ??? (Karl No. 5 ???
But first, I have to finish Karl No. 2. ;-)))

Wishing you all a wonderful day &
lots of creative knitting time!
Warm regards
Katrin

Good morning,

Katrin, I only gained experience knitting the Karl pattern by making the jacket, and since I didn’t necessarily want trumpet sleeves, I had to ask Andrea as well. She replied right away, so I might be able to finish the sleeves today. Then there are still two larger patches on the body and a few smaller ones; after that, I’ll crochet around the edges, weave in ends—and then I’ll show you my finished piece.

Monika, you seem to have already made good progress on your second Karl—I’m always amazed at how fast you are.

I wish everyone a wonderful Thursday....

@Ines:
Ahhhhh—good to know that the trumpet sleeves on the Karlos jacket can also be made into “normal”/fitted sleeves! I don’t like those kinds of sleeves myself—and for the office, where I could reeeally use a jacket like that, they’d be unsuitable anyway (it’s “pleasantly cool” and drafty in there now).

Well then, go for it—let those needles clatter away. ;-)
I usually only have 1.5–2 hours in the evening to knit on the couch. ;-)
But I’m thrilled with the beautiful yarn and how great the color gradient is turning out. :-)

Best regards
Katrin

I finished it!!!!!
My patchwork jacket.... 

...only the sleeves are a bit long; if I ever knit this jacket again, I’d use a needle size smaller....

Finally, I was able to start the MKal. Something “smaller” works out pretty well. It’s going to be a scarf with lots of patterns. 

The first few rows are already on the needles....
Now just a little time “in the garden,” and then back to the needles during my lunch break....

Wow, Steffi! It turned out absolutely amazing!!!

Thank you..... 

@Steffi:
A truly GREAT piece!
I hope you have lots of fun wearing it (and I really do have to put that book on my *want-to-have* list after all! LOL)

With things like this, I always knit a test patch with my yarn + needle size (with SoWoi, I have to knit with 2.5 mm needles!)... and then I calculate it for the width/length I need. ;-)
After a few patches, I then check whether it really works. Starting to knit it also always takes up a few mm ...

Best wishes
Katrin

....I think my problem was that I took a very long break in the middle. I’d “stashed” everything together in a craft bag and then just picked it back up and kept knitting.... but sometimes your knitting style changes over time—you knit tighter or looser... The original gauge swatch from the beginning was correct 🙈 but that was already a few years ago 😁
The book includes three versions of the jacket... a cropped version, an A-line version, or a short coat....
Plus a vest, plus two different shawls.... 

The jacket turned out fantastic, Steffi! All that work was really worth it. I know what you mean about the gauge. When I knit, it happens to me all the time that I end up knitting more loosely over time (and it doesn’t even take years—often just a few days are enough!).

My Karl is finished! It took me exactly 3 weeks to complete it. At first I thought I’d have to lengthen it a bit, but that wasn’t necessary at all: it fits perfectly. This is definitely going to be a favorite. See for yourself:

Front:


Back:

And here’s what it looks like when worn:

😍 That looks really good on you. The colors look so cheerful....

WOW—both the jacket and the sweater. They both turned out amazing.

Ruth, did you switch up the colors, or did you have a ball of yarn with color variations?

The coat is great—those are exactly the colors I’d choose, and it looks like such a cozy thing to snuggle into—at least that’s what the picture shows. 

Ruth, that looks fantastic on you! How wonderful that everything fits and looks just as you wanted. ☆☆☆

Petra, that was a color-changing sock yarn, but not a bobble yarn. (I just don’t like the plied yarn.)

Steffi and Ruth, you’ve created some truly wonderful pieces.
As different as they are in style, I really like both of them.

I’ve now finished the stable; all that’s missing is the ox. I’m not sure if I’ll turn this into a pattern—I’ve only jotted down a few brief notes.
Actually, I just wanted to clear out my acrylic yarn box, since I’ve come to dislike crocheting with it.
But I didn’t want to just throw the yarn away either, so now it’s put to good use.
I still have a few colorful scraps and a larger amount of dark green—we’ll see what I make with them. 



Thank you so much for your kind words about my hat photo.

Oh wow, Steffi, I really love your jacket, too.
I also have my “issues” with knitting loosely or tightly—sometimes more, sometimes less.

Ruth, I totally believe you about it being your favorite piece; the Karl turned out beautifully and fits perfectly.

Claudia, your stable turned out great, too—you really worked hard on that. 

Thanks for your compliments on my “Karl.” I’m very happy with it.

Your nativity scene is great, Claudia! And even the stable is crocheted! That dark green yarn would be perfect for a couple of shepherds. 

Katrin , Karl 5 is still on my to-do list for the summer. So far, I’ve knitted both Karls in the summer version. Later on, I’ll also knit one using leftover sock yarn for the winter, but with long sleeves this time. The leggings are also still on my wish list. The yarn from Rellana is definitely very well-suited for the Karls. It’s firm yet still feels fluffy.

Ines , you’re a fast knitter, too. When I think about how you’re also taking care of your grandson, you’ve really gotten quite far. I’m really looking forward to seeing your jacket with straight sleeves. Something like that is still on my wish list, too. Oh my… I’m just imagining my closet full of Karl designs….

Steffi , your patchwork jacket is amazing! The zigzag edges at the bottom and on the sleeves—I really like this version. Now I have an idea of how the sleeves can run straight. You’ve also got a great pattern distribution. I’ll have to consider that for one of my Karls, too.
Your patterned scarf—sooo cool!! I could also imagine that pattern working really well on a round-yoke sweater.

Ruth , wow! I’m blown away by your Karl! And those vibrant colors!! You look absolutely great in it. What kind of sock yarn did you use for this?
I totally get where you’re coming from—my Karls are becoming my favorites too; I already know that. I’m still knitting Karl 4 for myself—in orange, yellow, and turquoise.

Claudia , your nativity scene looks fantastic. I’d definitely write up a pattern for that. Lots of people would be interested in crocheting it. The ox will definitely go great with it. And if you get bored, why not just crochet the Three Wise Men too? :) Shepherds are also a good idea, plus at least one little sheep.

As for the differences in knitting, I feel the same way as you all do. I’ve wondered a few times why my gauge swatches turn out differently even when using the same yarn. It’s reassuring to know you’ve experienced that too.

By the way, with Karl 4, I’m now at the top of the shoulder (Patch 11). He’s really starting to take shape.

Have a lovely evening, everyone, and keep those needles clicking.

@ Steffi Your jacket is awesome! I’d wear it just like that right away.

@ Ruth Your Karl is a dream. Such great colors, and that sweater looks so good on you.

Actually, I just wanted to buy a pack of Styrofoam eggs today...



The yarn in the top left has 390 m/100 g for 2 €. No idea what I’ll make with it, but I liked it.

🤣 Luckily, I’m not the only one with this problem. I just wanted to take a look, and besides Styrofoam eggs, some yarn also appeared in my bag🥴 If it’s the unicorn yarn, it knits up great. Happy crafting👍

Marlies, you sure brought home a nice haul. Yeah, that happens to me a lot, too. You just go in to take a look… and before you know it, some yarn sneaks its way into the bag.

Marlies, the green yarn looks so fresh—it’s a pleasure to work with it.

I’m still working on the “Vegetables and Food” project. Right now, I’m trying my hand at the beetroot leaves  

@ Sallyware  Yes, that’s unicorn yarn. Maybe for an airy summer scarf.

There are already a few things in there that had been planned (even if not for today), for example the feathers, Monika.

The really bright green one is a kind of sponge yarn, Petra. The yellow-green one is for a door wreath, and the other two balls were just so beautifully green and soft...

If only I could do as much as I’d like... I knitted for two hours earlier, and that was definitely too much for my injured shoulder. Oh well, tonight there’s Let's Dance first. So it’s a knitting break anyway.

Have a lovely evening, everyone.

Good morning, everyone.
Well, now I’ve had a whole week to catch up again 😅
Monika, I’m really impressed by how you keep track of who’s working on what here. I find a lot of it remarkable, too. Now that I’m here commenting, I can’t for the life of me remember any of your names. Who’s been working on what? Hallelujah—but I really don’t want to scroll all the way back up; I’m only on my phone. But I think the idea with the purple ox is fun. With lots of green and a little bit of color, I’d make a Christmas tree for the nativity scene. I really like the long-term patch jacket project. And your Karls are going to be awesome! No matter which one, whether colorful or tone-on-tone. Ruth (hey, a name just popped into my head—hope it’s the right one), your Karl4 looks great and suits you perfectly.
Actually, I’m totally blown away that the word “Karl” comes up in every other post here. By the way, yesterday I released Karlos No. 2 onto the World Wide Web. I’m curious to see how he does.
I wish you all a wonderful weekend—keep those needles flying! 😃

Just stopping by again to admire your wonderful creations.
I’m currently revising an older pattern and knitting it again.

Good morning, everyone

Marlene, I really should do that too. I’ve made it a goal to do so once I’m (finally) no longer working.

I’ve cast on a hat and we’ll see if I can make it match my wrist warmers. I love the color so much, and I just can’t stop thinking about the idea. 

Andrea, there’s a little trick if you haven’t checked in here for a while. It only works on a computer, though. I just open this thread twice and can then look at one while comfortably typing in the other. ;-) I’ve already admired your new Karlos 2. Wow, that’s another real eye-catcher. It looks great. For me, though, a jacket has to have buttons in the front, too.

Now I’ll show you here what else I’ve knitted besides my Karls. Anja, I’m sure you know what the color challenge is by now, right? Go to the homepage—there’s a big picture there that’s linked to the whole challenge.

My contribution is this poncho for dolls—in various sizes. I’m now even more in love with my doll kids. They just look so cute in it.



Since my granddaughter will soon be celebrating her 7th birthday—along with mine—I need to get started on her gift. She wants a doll carrier. I’ve already bought a sewing pattern for it and will take a closer look at it.

Once I finish Karl 4 for my friend, I’ll get started on mine. But since I like to have different projects on the go, I’ll also start designing the gift for my little granddaughter, whose birthday is in May. She’s getting a new cardigan.

Now I wish you all a wonderful weekend!

Your dragon patchwork jacket is truly amazing, Andrea! And the color gradient—simply gorgeous! I just love bright colors like that!

So cute, those ponchos for your little ones, Monika! Did every baby get one?

I also took part in the color challenge. I ended up making a makeup bag:

Don’t you think the page for the color challenge turned out great? So colorful and cheerful! It really gets you in the mood for spring!

Marlies, I just had to smile—just going to buy some Styrofoam eggs, yeah, I know the feeling—then I end up standing there staring at the yarn shelf. That’s why certain stores are off-limits for now, but the yarn you got looks great.......

Andrea, your Karlos 2 is sooooo beautiful again—I’ve added it to my wish list. But here, too, I’ll start with Karlos 1, then a Karl, and then I’ll see.

I also think your color projects are very pretty; the page has turned out beautifully—you have to admit, such lovely colors really get you in the mood for spring.

Yes, Monika, I actually knit pretty fast too, but right now my shoulder needs a break every now and then—though I’m finally getting my massages. Well, and I have Wim around almost every day—at 1 year and 2 months old, he keeps us on our toes; he’s such a whirlwind. But we’re really enjoying it.

Today, though, I’ll be knitting again—we have some time just for ourselves today, and the weather is more suited for the couch and knitting needles, so…
have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Ruth, your makeup bag is a great idea for the color challenge. Yes, I think the overall look is fantastic, too. I wouldn’t have thought you could create such beautiful pieces with just these four colors. I’ve only knitted the ponchos twice so far—I haven’t had time for more.

Ines, has your Wim already been in this world for 14 months? My goodness, time sure flies! This is the most exhausting time—there’s so much to discover. But it’s also a very beautiful time that you should really enjoy. It’s great that you have him with you so often.

My contribution to the color challenge is a tapestry pouch that can also be used as a storage basket.

The color campaign is awesome 😍 👍

I did a little tidying up in my yarn closet today 🙈 While doing so, I found three large skeins each of the “Patch Jacket” yarn. Now I’m actually wondering whether I should knit the jacket again in a “short” version with the colors swapped 🤔 or use a different color for the Patrol????
Somehow, patch knitting is fun....
Yesterday, the first part (of 6) of the MKAL came off the needles. 

It’s supposed to be a scarf 🙈—the second part has the same shape, and somehow the whole thing is supposed to end up rectangular 😂 
If I place the tips “together,” I could take half the stitches from each of parts 1 and 2 onto one needle and then knit them “together” until it forms a rectangle.... 

Hey everyone,
.... uhhhh, I’m just working my way through all the replies right now... and thank you all for the kind comments.
I’ve successfully knitted the first shoulder patch on my KARL, and I’m now on the second one. :-)
It’s coming along. :-)))

@all:
I know all too well about those (forced) breaks—and my knitting varies from day to day, too. :-/
I “copied” a PW sweater for which I didn’t have the original pattern… and my sleeves didn’t turn out right. It’s sitting in my knitting basket now; I don’t really like my third attempt at the sleeves either. I don’t feel like knitting any further on it… :-(((

@Ruth:
Your Karl is GREAT, and it looks sooo good on you.
And I love it when things are colorful and bright, too. ;-)
And that makeup bag looks GREAT, too. I think this kind of crocheting might just get me hooked…;-)))

@Andrea:
Wooooooooooooooow—you’re so fast. Karlos No. 2 looks absolutely gorgeous!!!
It’s going straight onto my “wallpaper roll” *laughs*
Yours looks so CLASSY!

@Steffi:
That shawl is turning out mega-gorgeous too!

You’ve all made such great things. Please forgive me if I’ve forgotten anyone.
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend

Best wishes
Katrin

Dear Ruth, how do you attach the zipper to the crocheted piece? Is there fabric sewn inside?
I’m thinking about buying one of those tailor’s awls—one of those little poking things you use to make holes in fabric—so I can crochet through it and through the zipper. Or would a thin crochet hook work too?

  The same jacket again, Steffi? Reversed colors sounds good. I’d add a third color to give the eye some variety.

I dove back into my jacket last night. After an hour, I was motivated again, especially since I’m in the home stretch on the middle section. The patches at the top are just small ones now, so that should go quickly. Then some big ones again, because I want the jacket to be longer. I’m going to stick with it for now. (I hope :-)

Other than that, I crocheted a mandala that’s supposed to be stretched over a ring—of course, I don’t have the right ring size. So I’ll have to order something again, ugh.
Maybe I’ll start on a lantern today (I have the right rings for that), or should I work on my granny triangle shawls instead? (Three of them are supposed to be sewn together neatly to make a jacket)
Oh man, way too many options and I can’t make up my mind, ugh!

Christina, what happened to your patchwork sweater? I’d love to know how far along it is.

The color challenge is sooooo beautiful! I would NEVER have combined those four colors myself, but it really works. And when you see what the others have made with them, it’s wonderful! 

Anja, my patchwork sweater is just sitting there, waiting for better times! And now Knit Day has been rescheduled so that I can’t participate, which means the sweater will have to wait even longer. (These scheduling conflicts really annoy me!)

Anja, I sewed the zipper in by hand using regular sewing thread. I think that’s the easiest way, especially since the zipper on this little pouch isn’t that long. Everything else is just a never-ending faff. Theoretically, you could probably do it with a sewing machine too, but I’m not very good at that.
Otherwise, you could also try Googling “crocheting in a zipper”—there are several suggestions out there.

My nautical pillow is finished. I put it together using four dishcloth patterns and crocheted everything together yesterday.



Among others, the patterns were by a-mano and Froschoma_Mona, who both always write great patterns.

Great idea, Marlies! I don’t recognize the motif in the bottom left corner. What is it?

That’s a steering wheel, Anja. Despite several attempts, I unfortunately couldn’t make it any clearer.
Once I’ve finished crocheting my Easter egg (at a snail’s pace), I plan to make a 40 x 60 cm pillow. That’ll be six motifs. I haven’t decided what to use yet—maybe flowers.

Wow, it seems like a real Karl craze has broken out here! Ruth, I personally like yours best in terms of color, but all the others are beautiful too!
The pieces for the color challenge all turned out really nice as well!
I’m currently working through my yarn scraps and have knitted a hooded slipover from 300g of thick gradient-colored yarn and scraps of thick beige yarn. 

You’ve really managed to put those scraps to great use. It looks fantastic. The neckline with the hood looks interesting.

I’m still working on my kids’ kitchen, too, but the scraps are disappearing rather slowly. 



I tried my hand at making a beetroot



My hat is also finished now, but the light for photos wasn’t great yesterday. It just wouldn’t get light out there again. 

Petra, that’s a delicious and healthy way to use up leftovers!

Hey everyone,

you’re all working so hard.
Right now, I only get to knit in the evenings while watching TV on the couch… but my Karl is coming along (hopefully the right way this time?).
The shoulder patches (11) are done—they look just like they do in the pattern. ;-)
I’ve also finished patch 12. I still have to knit the one on the opposite side. Then come the neckline patches (13) and 14 for the back.
Yep—and then it’s on to the sleeves. ;-)
I really like the color gradient. I haven’t decided yet which side will be the front and which will be the back. ;-)
Wishing you all lots of creative knitting,
Katrin

Marlies, that’s a great idea—turning the dishcloths into a pillow. And the colors match the theme perfectly!

Petra, you’ve made a beautiful slipover out of your leftover yarn.

Yes, and the items for the kids’ kitchen look almost real. You don’t use up that many scraps, but it goes quickly. You can always work on it here and there. 

Katrin, your Karl is already coming along nicely. I really like the colors. I like it colorful, as you can see from mine. I think that if you have gray hair, you have to add a little color somewhere else 🙂.
I knitted myself some matching wrist warmers from the leftover yarn from the Karl. (There will probably be a pattern for those, too.)

You’ve all really been hard at work.

I gave this bag a try. I’m thrilled with it. The crochet pattern is perfect for doing while watching TV.
Before-and-after photo

 

That bag is so cute....
And the vegetables are seriously awesome...

Last night I actually started a second project. While “tidying up,” I stumbled upon some really great yarn 😁 

I’m knitting the Patch Jacket again in a hip-length version 😇

Good morning, and a happy Women’s Day to everyone! So many great creations have been made here again in the meantime.
Petra’s vegetables—completely calorie-free, yet they still look delicious.
Marlies’s nautical pillow—also a great idea.
Then there’s Mel’s hoodie,
Katrin’s “Karl”.......
Andrea’s bag, and Steffi is already hard at work on a new project again....

What I’m really excited about are Ruth’s wrist warmers—that way, you can use up those leftover yarn scraps right away.

I’ve finished my Karlos jacket; as for the photo of me, my husband had to help out—haha, he’s not much of a photographer

Jacket front


Jacket back


Now I have Karl 2 on my needles, this time in shades of yellow. But today I decided to knit the Karlos again using really thick, colorful yarn—it went so smoothly that I’ll have to make another thick jacket, smile.

Ines, that jacket looks really great on you. The brown tones look so warm and cozy—awesome! And you’re already working on the next one, with the one after that already planned.
And Steffi has started another patchwork jacket.
Yeah, patchwork is definitely addictive!

Ines, the jacket is really beautiful.

Steffi, that color combo is right up my alley.

Andrea, the bag is awesome. Is it always crocheted in one color per row? Such a great pattern.

Ruth, your wrist warmers—great. That way you can knit up your leftover yarn right away. Very practical.

My hat is finished now too, and I’m happy with it. Too bad I only had one ball of yarn. I would have liked a scarf to go with it.

Hello everyone,
A lot has happened here again.

Let’s see if I still remember everything.

Petra, your vegetables for the kids’ kitchen turned out beautifully, and I really like your hat with the matching wrist warmers, too.

  Monika, I really like your new Karl—those are totally my colors. I’m sure you’ve made great progress by now.

Ruth, your little baskets and your pouch from the color challenge turned out beautifully. I’ve already admired your amazing Karl in the gallery. It’s gorgeous and fits you perfectly. The idea with the wrist warmers is great, too.

  Claudia, your nativity figures all turned out beautifully, too.

Steffi, I really like your patchwork jacket, and the new one is sure to turn out lovely—the colors already look great.

Marlies, you’ve been busy shopping and made a pretty pillow.

  Mel’s jacket is perfect for using up scraps and fits well, too.

Katrin, your Karl has great colors, too—you’ve really made good progress.

Andrea’s bag is also something special—nice pattern.

Ines, I really like your Karlos, too—the colors are beautiful and it suits you very well.

Phew, that’s done. I hope I didn’t forget anyone. In any case, all the pieces shown are very beautiful.

So, now I have something to share too—my Karl No. 4 is finished. I already love it and can’t wait for it to get warmer so I can wear it.

Picture coming up—I just need to send it from my phone.

So, here’s the picture.


One pattern, yet each one is so different.

Marion, I really like your color choices—they go great together

Oh Marion... I really like Karl 😍 The colors go perfectly together.
Very chic!
Tonight I’ll continue knitting my MKAL scarf; part 3 is coming on Friday... it’s just a few more rows, but with a cable-pattern section. If I’m too tired, I’ll take the patch jacket into the living room 😁

Whoa Marion, here’s what you do: take off the sweater, put it in a package and send it to me, thanks. ;-) And Katrin can pack hers in there too *drool*

I’ve got patch frustration. Mine is supposed to be solid-colored around the top, but the wool I still have here is a tiny bit thinner than the other yarn. Shit! If I just use it, it’s too thin, and held double it’s too thick. I thought about buying some carry-along yarn, but then dropped that idea. Now I wanted to test whether it works better if I use a 4.5 needle instead of needle size 4—I do have one, but it’s flying around somewhere again in the huge UFO pile, so I ordered a new one. I hope the stitch pattern will be less tight then, without the patches getting much bigger ARGH, this is so annoying. 
Now I’m just continuing to knit on another cardigan. 
I urgently resolve to finally finish crocheting/knitting some things so I can have all my needles available again for once. By now I have about—brace yourselves—80 knitting needles and about 50 crochet hooks (though I only use 10 of those; I can’t stand the others at all, I could also give them away or donate them sometime). 

You all have my deepest admiration for your stick-with-it diligence! 



 

Good evening

Your Karl projects are wonderful to look at. I’m thrilled. Each color combination is prettier than the last. I envy your perseverance.

Marion: I really like your blue version, too. It already looks interesting pattern-wise.

Petra: Yes, for this bag, each color is crocheted in one row, and at the end of the project, all those chain loops are intertwined, which creates this star pattern.
Maybe I’ll crochet another one.

Best regards, Andrea

Here’s the new thread
March Projects 2023, Part 2.