April Projects and March Projects 2023, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group.

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April Projects 2023, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the March projects. 
You can read the earlier posts at the link.
March Projects + February Projects 2023, Part 3: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group
Have fun.

Thank you for your kind comments on my Karl—I really appreciate them.

This definitely won’t be the last one. It’s so easy to knit, and each one can look different.
I’m already looking forward to seeing the next photos of your Karls.

Have a wonderful evening, and keep those needles clicking!



Marion, your Karl is awesome! Of course it’s addictive!
I picked up my crochet hook again and, after 7 years, crocheted a teddy bear following a pattern (by Sandra Hawlik). 

Hi there, my Karl is finished too. “Figurumspielend.” I knitted it with slightly thicker yarn and a size 3.5 needle—one size smaller than actually required. I shortened the length since I’m not that tall😉. And I made the front neckline smaller. I had the yarn in my stash. A casual piece to throw on—the pattern was great. Thank you so much 🎉
Best regards from Anja

Maybe I’ll make my next big scrap blanket using this method🐑
Kind regards again

Oh Mel, that teddy bear is sooo cute.

Anja, your Karl looks great too—lovely colors, I really like it.

This pattern is perfect for a scrap blanket. 

Hi everyone,
I’m finally getting around to replying here (all at once):
Thank you so much for your compliments. XoXo

@Ruth:
Your wrist warmers are so AWESOME.
And if there’s a pattern for them, I’m in. They’ll go perfectly with my Karl for the (cold) office—perfect. ;-)

@Marion:
Woooooooooow—what an amazing KARL with gorgeous colors!!!
It looks absolutely fantastic. I hope you have lots of fun wearing it—and get plenty of great compliments. :-)
(When I wear my hand-knitted sweaters, which always look a little different from the run-of-the-mill ones, people often ask me WHERE I bought them. And when I say I made it myself, their eyes often go wide...*laughs*)

@Ines:
Your Karlos jacket is also absolutely wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

@Steffi:
That’s really annoying about the yarn... :-/
But maybe you can find something in a matching color that you can alternate with while knitting???
But sometimes that’s really hard.
So, for SoWo, I only knit with 2.5 mm needles so it looks neat. I’m actually a “normal” knitter—but needle size 3 and up for PW with 4-ply yarn.... nooo, that gets too loose for me and just doesn’t work.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that you’ll find a solution you’re happy with!

And last but not least—I’ve made good progress on my Karl, too.
I’ve now decided which side is the front and which is the back, and I’ve almost finished the first patch 15 on the first sleeve. :-)

Here’s the progress up to and including patch 14 (back neckline):
back:




front:


I’m curious to see how everything develops!

Best regards
Katrin

Katrin, your Karl is getting prettier and prettier—you’ve found such beautiful colors; I’d wear it right away, too. 😀

I’m also curious to see what the other Karls look like and who else will be sharing theirs here.

Have a great day, everyone—we’re having April weather here, so it’s perfect for knitting. 

Anja, your “Karl” is perfect for spring.

The colors in Kathrin’s “Karl” are also very harmonious and well-coordinated—really beautiful.

And the little bear—so cute.

I just finished my next hat—knitted from two leftover skeins from a baby blanket—and started my next crochet project half an hour ago, while the bread is still in the oven. 

OMG, there’s been so much shared and written here again!! I can’t even keep up. Everything is sooo beautiful! Since I’ve got a lot going on in my personal life right now that’s keeping me pretty busy, I unfortunately haven’t been able to knit much—or read and write here, for that matter. But now I’m just taking a little time out of my day to do so.

Marlene, your contribution to the color challenge is a great idea. It looks fantastic.

Steffi, the start of your patchwork project with that beautiful pattern looks promising. You’re hard at work on new projects again, as always.

Marlies, that’s such a great idea to combine the scarves into a pillow. I really like that.

Oh Mel, your teddy bear looks so cute—I could just fall in love with it. It’s practically screaming, “Give me a hug!” I also think your hoodie is great. For me, it would have to be one with long sleeves—my arms get cold easily.

Petra, your vegetables for the kids’ kitchen look so delicious, almost like the real thing. The sliced mushrooms and radishes—just brilliant. Someone’s in for a treat. And hats are always a hit...

Katrin, your Karl looks really promising—great colors. I would’ve made the same choice for the side layout, too.

Ruth, that’s a great idea with the wrist warmers. They’re perfect for knitting up leftover yarn. I’m already thinking about all the things you can knit with patches.

Andrea, you’ve crocheted something especially beautiful again. The bag looks amazing and is in my favorite colors. I’ve never seen a star pattern like that before. So beautiful!

Ines, now we get to see you as a model, too. :) The jacket looks great—it suits you very well. Yeah, I can totally relate to you—the next Karl project will be on your needles before you know it.

Marion, your Karl looks stunning in those colors and with that pattern. And it looks fantastic on you. You’re not the only one looking forward to warmer days.

Anja, I’m amazed at how many needles you have!!! I’d totally lose track of them all! I’ve already got… well, about 20–25 in total, but I’m nowhere near your count. The thickest needle I have is a 4.5, but I rarely use it. I usually knit with 3 to 3.5.

Anja (Sallyware), your Karl looks absolutely beautiful in those colors. You did a great job shortening it. I’d also thought about making a scrap blanket, but I’m going with something else.

My Karl will be finished soon, too. I’ve set a goal to have it done by the weekend. It really does look gorgeous. Let yourselves be surprised. By the weekend, I also want to finish sewing the doll carrier for Linja’s birthday (still waiting for some cuff fabric for the straps). And Juna wants a hat for her doll. I’ll just send that along too. Maybe I still have something like that in my stash.

Oops, I hadn’t typed anything here for the continuation yet, and now I won’t be notified by email either. 🧐

I had to take a forced break because I jammed a craft knife into my thumb. 

Anja, get well soon! 

Oh Anja, I hope you feel better soon.

I’ve now finished the 4th patch with Karl 2; tomorrow I’ll start on No. 5. Here’s what I’ve done so far—the back is under the front piece. 
I hope you all have a lovely evening and a pleasant Sunday tomorrow. 

Anja, you really do get yourself into things, oh oh. Well, I hope you get well soon, too.

Ines, that looks great! I’m not quite sure what Karl 2 is right now... You’re definitely working pretty fast.

I finished Karl 4 today. I’ll take some photos tomorrow. It just looks amazing. I’d love to see my friend’s reaction when she unwraps it...

I already have the yarn ready for my next Karl. It’ll be a Karl 4, too. That’s the patch layout I like best right now. I’d like to tackle Karl 5 at some point, but I just can’t quite get into it yet.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and keep those needles clicking. We’re visiting friends tomorrow, so unfortunately I won’t be able to knit.

I’m currently reworking an older project.
This time with 3-ply yarn:

Good morning,

Anja, I hope you feel better soon so you can get back to knitting.

Ines, your Karl 2 is already looking great—the colors match perfectly. You’ve laid it out beautifully, and you’re working quickly again.

Monika, I’m really looking forward to seeing your Karl 4—I love that color so much. You’ve been knitting at a breakneck pace again.

I’d also like to knit Karl 4 again—a warmer version. But I’m still missing some of the right yarn. So unfortunately, that’ll take a little while longer.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

The needles are clacking away......

I’m totally caught up in bunny fever right now.... Easter needs to be prepared for

Thanks for the get-well wishes. ♡

Oh, the Karl really stands out in yellow, too 😍🤩

Thanks, Moni :)

Your Karls look really interesting.

Monika, I really like the colors on your “Karl.” Your friend is definitely going to fall in love with it.

I’m curious to see Ines’s version of “Karl”—yellow is a bold color, but it looks great with the rest of it so far.

My little bunny was supposed to be a window decoration at first, but now it fits perfectly in our bread basket and will be part of our Easter breakfast. 

Oh, Monika, your Karl for your friend looks absolutely great. 😍 👍
She’s definitely going to love it.

Petra, I really like your bunny, too. What a nice idea to put it in the basket. 

Yes, I think that’s a wonderful idea too, Petra. Thanks for the feedback on the Karl.

Yes, Petra, that’s a tunic to fall in love with—I’m also really excited and can’t wait to see how it’s received. Unfortunately, I’ll probably have to wait until the end of April… it’s not so easy to be patient.

Petra, will you even be able to see the pretty little bunny under the rolls? And then it’ll be covered in crumbs. :-( I would put together a kind of picture frame from thin little branches (glue them or wrap them with raffia) and stretch this lovely piece in between, you know, like how you stretch crocheted mandalas into rings? 

Monika, your Karl turned out great. Was yours also flared out so much toward the bottom??? 

My finger is fine again, I can knit again. I “found” another old project, and I’ve been knitting on it for 2 days now. Crazy as always: I think I started it 2 or 3 years ago and absolutely wanted block stripes. And guess what—NOW I don’t think stripes are all that great anymore, ugh, typical me. But I’m too far along to start over again, and I think having a different pattern on the front than on the back would be silly. 
Then today I saw my first cardigan in the closet and thought the pattern was absolutely adorable, and I also remembered that I still have the pattern booklet from 2006 (!!!) somewhere. It’s a bobble pattern over 8 rows, and I tried it out (the pattern didn’t say any stitch count it was divisible by, and I had to figure it out, wow, it took me a while to get there). But then it was too much work for me, because every 3rd row I have to knit 3 stitches out of every 2nd stitch, and in the row after next knit them together again. It does look really great with gradient yarn, but it’s a mystery to me how I managed to stick with it and knit a whole cardigan like that!!!??? So I unraveled the swatch again. 

So, now the bamboo rings for my mandala have finally arrived, and I don’t feel like tying it on. Maybe tomorrow. Me and finishing things—disaster. That makes me all the more fascinated by your discipline, the way you produce things piece by piece. 
I mean, crocheting something from a pattern is one thing, but you also design things. You have to experiment and unravel and so on and so on. I couldn’t do that; I don’t have the patience. 

First I’m going to unravel my last patch; the knitting needle that’s now 0.5 larger has arrived, and I hope I can use it to solve my problem with the yarn held double (looser stitches and not significantly wider). If not, I’ll have to get a carrying thread. But for that I’d have to go to my yarn shop, where I haven’t bought anything in ages, and I’d have to show them my problem (with yarn bought elsewhere). I always feel so obligated toward them. Don’t know why either.  

Monika, your Karl turned out great! I really like the tone-on-tone look. I’m getting compliments everywhere for my colorful one, too.

Your bunny doily turned out cute, Petra. Maybe you’ll add a window decoration to it?

@Anja—that’s the fate of every doily in the bread basket. You don’t notice it until breakfast is over. But I think it’s worth putting one in there.

Yes, the plan was originally a window decoration, but now this one will become a bread cloth. I’m giving the previous one away. My cousin likes it so much, and unfortunately, I no longer have the colors to crochet another one. So she’ll just get mine.

And there will definitely be a window decoration with the bunny, too, and I’ll get a new shawl—just in different colors.

[Image removed]

Mel, your teddy turned out so cuddly.

Your Karls are all great, and you’re working on them so quickly. I haven’t dared to start mine yet.

Monika, your friend is definitely going to do a little happy dance when she unwraps her Karl. I really like the colors, too.

Marlene, your pattern looks great. What are you making?

Petra, I still have a picture of a bunny like that in my closet. My little sister made it for me once.
I think your shawl is fantastic.

Glad to hear your finger is feeling better, Anja. I have a “dangerous” kitchen knife that’s already made contact with quite a few fingers.
Maybe tomorrow . I know that feeling all too well. I’ve got quite a few things lying around that I “just” need to sew or glue together…

Recently, when I went to buy eggs, I picked up some green sponge yarn. Yesterday I finally got around to working on it. Will this pass as a cactus?




Have a great day, everyone.
Best regards, Marlies

Wow..... Things are really hopping here again....

Your creations are great 😍 I wouldn’t even know where to start.... 
💖💖💖💖💖 to everyone....

I’ve been knitting on my MKAL over the last few days.... it’s supposed to be a rectangular scarf.... and I still have no idea how what I’ve knitted so far is supposed to turn out rectangular.... but see for yourselves....

These are Parts 2 and 3....
 and here’s Part 1...... 
Three more parts of the pattern are still to come.... and the yarn has already become noticeably less.... 

Wow..... word recognition 😤 Of course not “parable”....
What I’ve knitted so far.... 🙈

Wow, Steffi, that looks so beautiful! I’m always in awe of the masterpieces you create.

A rectangle… I can’t really picture that yet either.

Hey there, quite a bit has happened here again......

Monika, your Karl is gorgeous—your friend is in for a treat. Now I’m looking forward to seeing your next Karl.

Petra, I really like the bunny and the sheep, too.

Marlies, why shouldn’t that pass for a cactus? It almost looks like a “mother-in-law’s cushion”—just a few more white spines and it would be perfect :)

Steffi, the scarf you’ve started already looks very promising—I see yellow, haha—as a fan of yellow, I really like it.
That’s why my Karl also has yellow and various shades of brown.

Wishing everyone here a lovely day.

Anja, you’re not alone—I also have a few unfinished projects lying around somewhere. I’m not sure yet if they’ll all ever get finished.

Marlis, I also think it’s a cactus; adding a flower would be a good idea.

Steffi, your scarf already looks really nice. I really like the colors, too, and the patterns are very varied. It’s sure to look great when it’s finished.

Ines, have fun with your yellow Karl—I really like it.

I hope everyone enjoys their needlework. 

The Karl craze is really picking up steam here—but the variations being shown are truly beautiful.

The other projects are great, too.

Marlene, that’s a fantastic pattern.

Marlies, your cactus in the picture somehow reminds me of a boxwood that’s been trimmed into shape. There used to be lots of them around here, but most have since fallen victim to the box tree moth.

Steffi, your shawl is a bit like the Karls—it’s hard to picture the final result while you’re in the middle of it. The colors are really great; I’m curious to see how it turns out.

I’m still working through my acrylic scraps; I’ve crocheted two Karl(a)s of a different kind. Yes, that’s actually what they’re called.




I’ve also found the right yarn for the missing ox in the nativity scene, but I don’t feel like continuing with it right now… you know how it is once you’ve set something aside.

Since the weather has finally been a bit better here over the last few days, we’ve been going for walks more often, and this past weekend I managed to get a bullfinch on camera for the very first time. What a wonderful bird.



To wrap things up, here’s a picture of yesterday’s sunset—pure Ruhr Valley romance.

Boxwood! That’s what I thought too, but the word didn’t come to mind. 

Hellooo everyone,

I just can’t keep up here at the moment.
Many thanks to everyone who said such nice things about my KARL. :-)

@Sally:
Your Karl turned out beautifully too - and I liiike it. *ThumbsUp*

@Ines:
Your Karl looks very promising too. (Yellow isn’t my thing - but here it looks really gooood!)

@Monika:
I’m really jealous! The KARL for your friend turned out absolutely fantastic!
She will definitely be thrilled about it! Also 3x *ThumbsUp*

@Anja:
I’m happy for you that your finger is doing better again! I wasn’t quick enough to reply - sorry.
Without fingers, we’re pretty helpless with our hobby ...

@SteffI:
The shawl already looks amazingly beautiful!!! I’m excited to see how it develops?

@everyone else:
You are all super hardworking + creative!!!

My Karl is growing.
On the first sleeve, I’ve finished patch 19. After that, “only” 20 +21 are left. And then the big final patch on the sweater itself ... Looks good for my schedule. ;-)

Creative & diligent knitting/crocheting etc. and
best wishes
Katrin

Try out this braided pattern following a video tutorial

Oh man, I can’t even keep up with reading and admiring everything anymore.

To everyone: The entire “Karl” range of your creations is beautiful, and such a variety of colors. Yellow really stands out, and all the others do too, of course.
That would still be too complicated for me—I envy those of you who can do it.

The little Easter bunny doily and the C2C sheep look so cute.

Unfortunately, I only have time to crochet little things right now (worn out and tired from work).

Monika, the star pattern is called the “Polish Star”—Google it; it’s easy to crochet. You could use this pattern to crochet a little blanket for your dolls. I imagine it would look very pretty.
I’ll try it myself someday too (for the doll’s bed)

Anja, I’m glad your finger is feeling better.

Keep your needles busy, everyone 🧶😉👍☕ G’night

Andrea, your cable pattern is great. I could totally imagine making it this spring with a little flower in it. 

Thank you, Petra. I can totally picture that—exactly—or even as an Easter basket with a handle.

Oh, by the way, that sunset photo—sooooo romantic. An amazing snapshot.

I guess my cactus is actually more of a boxwood… lol.

Today I finished my diamond painting (15 x 15 cm), but it still needs to be smoothed out and framed.

A beautiful picture with vibrant colors. Are you going to add a frame around it? 

Yes, Petra, that’s supposed to be framed. But first, it needs to be smoothed out. I’ll have to see if I still have a suitable frame.

I still have a large sailing ship picture and an “old-timer couple” waiting for me. But there’s a lot of work involved in those. I just don’t have the patience for that right now.

Hey there, I’m back again. There’s really a lot going on here. You’ve all been very busy. :)

Anja, thanks for the feedback on the Karl. Yes, it flares out toward the bottom, which I especially like.
I’m so glad your finger is back in action.

Ruth, thanks to you, too, for the feedback. Yes, I really love this tone-on-tone look. I always decided on the fly how to proceed. That’s how I’m doing it with my Karl now, too. Your colorful one is, of course, also a stunner.

Petra, your little sheep cloth is absolutely charming. Is that going in the bread basket, too? That would be such a shame.

Marlies, go ahead and give the Karl a try. It’s really easy because you’re always knitting one section onto the next. Don’t be afraid—many of us here can help you, and Andrea is always right there to answer questions. Thanks to you, too, for your feedback. Your cactus is a real stunner! You can tell right away what it is—at least, that’s what I think. Adding a little flower inside is actually a great idea.
Your photo turned out really nice, too. That would be too fiddly for me.

Steffi, your scarf looks amazing! A real work of art… I can’t wait to see the final result.

Ines, thanks to you, too, for the feedback. I think my friend will be happy, too—after all, those are her favorite colors.

Claudia, your two colorful Karl(a)s look so funny, like aliens. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. Getting a bullfinch in front of the lens is truly a gift from nature. You were really lucky there. The sunset, too—beautiful.

Katrin, thank you so much for your three thumbs-up for the Karl. I’m sure you’ll make it just as beautiful—and I’m really looking forward to seeing your final result. I think every Karl is one-of-a-kind and beautiful.

Andrea, I’m going to take a closer look at that braided pattern, too. What you’ve crocheted definitely looks great. Thanks for the name of the star pattern. I’ll write it down.
Go ahead and give patch knitting a try. It’s really easy.

Now I can at least show you the beginning of my Karl 4. It’s growing now, too, and I’m already looking forward to the final result.

I need a quick/mini break from knitting right now 😊
...and I made something.... 


For knitting needles—I can hang things on the belt loops.... I attached a piece of foam mat between the jeans and the back panel....
  Now I just need to spruce up the frame a bit 🙈 I’m not very good at cutting straight, so the corners don’t fit together perfectly....
A little decoration and some color....

Hey everyone,

sorry I’m not keeping up with this exactly on time or up to date...

@Marlies:
Your picture looks so cool! :-)

@Monika:
Boooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah—your Karl is going to be sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo beautiful!!!
That yellow (?) bobble at Rellana (?) wasn’t really my thing at all—but now that I see the colors on your project… just sooooooo pretty!

@Steffi:
That idea with the old jeans is super cool!!
I’ll have to keep that in mind. I still have tons of old jeans lying around in my closet.
They were always meant to be used for a sewing or patchwork project… But (due to lack of space!) I still don’t have a sewing machine, and I was about to just throw them away… But maybe I’ll save 1 or 2 now!? ;-)
Anyone who’d like some jeans can let me know. Maybe we can work something out so they don’t end up in the trash. I don’t want any money for them (but if I have to ship them, then just the shipping costs).

Okay, I’m sure I’ve forgotten a lot of people—please forgive me!
Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday evening!
Best regards
Katrin

Steffi, your idea with the jeans is really original. I just wrote to you in the thread where you presented it. I really admire your skill and creativity.

Katrin, thanks for your feedback on the new Karl. Yes, I’m also amazed by the beautiful shades of color in that yellow bobble yarn from Rellana. I’m absolutely thrilled with it. I’ve already made quite a bit of progress, and I’ll take a photo of both sides tomorrow. I’m getting more and more excited to finally wear the Karl.

Have a wonderful Sunday evening, everyone… I’m still wrapping up my birthday celebrations.

Warm regards from Monika

The “yellow” Karl is turning out super chic, too....
Somehow, “my” colors are getting more and more vibrant.... I really like the yellow/orange.
I picked up my knitting needles again this evening and knitted a good chunk of the scarf. 😊
I’ve now knitted Parts 2 and 3, plus a little more than half of Part 4.
Tomorrow I’ll put Part 1 (a triangle) back on the needles and start knitting the rest of Part 4… It’s not many rows, and then it’s time to wait for the next “section” of the pattern… 

I’m still curious to see how Part 1 will be joined to the rest.... 

Good evening,

I finally have time to check in here again.
I’ve been using up my leftover yarn, and this is what I came up with.

I crocheted this for a resident so she can put her TaTü inside and wear the neck pouch around her neck. She always has everything lying on her lap.

Steffi, yellow and orange really is a beautiful combination. Maybe you’ll feel inspired to knit something with these colors, too. Your shawl looks very elegant, anyway.

Andrea, that’s such a sweet idea to crochet a bag like that for a resident. She’ll definitely be very happy about it. It looks great.

Now I’ll show you the progress on Karl 4. That way you can get a better idea of the color combination.

This is the front (presumably):



And this is the back:



I’m currently designing a little doll dress and a baby dress with patches myself. It’s so much fun, and I’m sure it won’t be the only one.

Have fun with your projects. Today I was knitting on the balcony.

Hey everyone,

there’s really a lot going on here. :-)

@Steffi:
Your shawl looks beautiful! I can’t wait to see the final result. :-)))

@Monika:
Woah—that orange KALR is going to be AWESOME!
I’d probably decide the same way you did. Although both sides look absolutely gorgeous!

On my KALR, both sleeves are finished. Now I’m “struggling with the big finishing patch (22)... I’ll have my work cut out for me there.
And the cuffs and the finishing touches are still missing, too.
I’m curious to see HOW FAR my last Zauberball will go??? If things go badly, I’ll have to buy a new one for a few more rows... :-/

Wishing you all lots of busy needle clacking!
Best wishes,
Katrin

Steffi, your scarf is turning out so beautifully! I’m always amazed by your perseverance with projects like this.

Wow, Monika, that looks great! I almost like the back part better than the front.
I can’t wait to see your little dresses.

Katrin, I’m already really excited to see your finished Karl. It’s sure to look absolutely great. A new skein for the last few meters? Maybe you can make do with some leftover yarn in a similar color? Or you could knit something else with the new skein.

Thanks, Marlies. I’m not quite sure yet which side is the front and which is the back. My little dresses—or rather, skirts for now—can be knitted in all sizes. At least that’s how I envision making them. Everything’s possible, from doll skirts to kids’ skirts. You know I like it when there’s plenty of variety.

Thank you, Monika—yes, the resident was very happy with it.
Now another resident wants a little shoulder bag like that, too.

I’m still working through my leftover yarn.

So many great things to see again.

I’ve made a few tweaks to my tablecloth in the meantime.
All I need now is better weather so I can take pictures of it outside.

Andrea, it’s such a joy when the recipient loves the gift. I’m sure you’ll be happy to crochet a second bag just as easily. A really lovely idea.

Marlene, your blanket looks amazing. Those are my colors.

I’m tinkering with patchwork dresses for dolls and babies.

I hope you all have a lot of fun with whatever you’re working on.

Thanks, Moni ;)
Thanks to a few small adjustments in the last few rounds, the blanket has grown another couple of centimeters...

These chest pockets are really practical, too.
With their beautiful colors and patterns, they’re even eye-catching, Andrea.

Marlene, the colors on that blanket are amazing. Great job!

Thanks, Marlene and Monika.
Your blanket has such beautiful colors. Is that a pattern from here?
Where do you usually buy your pretty gradient yarn cakes?

Marlene, your blanket looks great!

I got inspired by spring/summer tops on Pinterest and now have two new designs on my crochet hook. And guess what: yessss, as always, so it doesn’t get boring to look at—I’m making each one twice in different colors.
Today I thought, “Oh, why not work on the patchwork jacket again? There’s not much left,” but then I realized I’d attached the last patch in the wrong spot. Argh! So I unraveled it and started over, and now I’ve already lost interest again. It’s no fun anyway, since I had to use double strands of the contrasting yarn, and it’s such a pain to knit with. And I’m afraid my last ball of the gradient yarn won’t be enough for the remaining patches, but I don’t want to buy more. So I guess the rest will just have to be solid-colored after all.   

Thanks :)
The colors are a custom blend, and I came up with the pattern myself.

I buy my bobbles from Traumgarne.

I’m looking forward to seeing your projects, Anja.

I’m trying really hard to stick with my projects. I’m surrounded by 4 pieces I’ve started. And it’s been like this for 2 weeks now. Until one of them is finished, I won’t start anything new.

I’ve started a loop scarf, a blanket, a window decoration, and ingredients for the kids’ play kitchen.

The bread was finished this morning, now come the chocolate-covered marshmallow treats

[Image removed]

The kids’ kitchen is going to be really great 😍
I currently have three projects: the scarf (Part 5 finally arrived yesterday), an Easter bunny decoration 

And a new frame... 

So, there’s a bit of variety.... 

Yes, variety is good. For me right now, it’s yarn, concrete, and paint that’s providing some variety. And different projects within these three categories.

Your bunny is going to turn out great again.

What are you doing with the frame? Just for decoration? Or does it complement something? 

The frame will be “just” for decoration.... However, so far only “the box” is finished; I
still need to add a decorative trim all around it. But I still have to measure it out and cut it to size 😁 

I like the layout just the way it is.

Andrea, I order my yarn cakes from Rellana—they’re easy to work with.

Steffi, you’re being very creative again. I think the frame is great, too.

My own Karl 4 is coming along, and I’m in the process of designing doll clothes with patches. It’s already taking shape and looks great so far. I’ll post pictures once it’s finished. I’m still experimenting, and I end up unraveling bits here and there. Well, you know how it goes.

Have a wonderful weekend. It’s very stormy here, and it’s raining off and on. Perfect for crafting.

I’m enjoying the weekend with some crafts 🧶👧🥂

Andrea, I just admired the finished bag in the gallery. You’re so fast, and someone’s going to be thrilled with this bag.

Now I’ll show you the progress on my orange-yellow Karl. I’m already head over heels for this little gem.

Front:



Back:

Thank you, Monika.
Your “Karl” already looks very promising in terms of color. I always admire your knitting skills.

Have a pleasant week, everyone

it’s April weather here, yuck.

Best wishes, Andrea

Your Karl is going to be a stunner, Monika!

I took your encouraging words to heart and got started too (Karl 1). Patch 1 is finished, and I have to say: yuck… I don’t like it at all. The gradient yarn I chose looks silly when knitted in stockinette stitch. Even with a contrasting colored stripe. So I’m unraveling it again.
I’m knitting something else with it now, and it looks good with a smooth side.

I’ll need new yarn for Karl then...

Oh, thanks, Andrea and Marlies. :)

Marlies, that’s a good idea to start with Karl 1. I’m sure you can do it. Well, there’s always a reason to buy new yarn. You’re sure to find the right one. Of course, it’s a bummer when you’ve finished Patch 1 and have to unravel everything again. But that’s just how it goes—you want it to turn out right, after all. By the way, thanks to the Karls, I’ve actually grown to like knitting garter stitch. I didn’t really like it that much before.

My Patch doll clothes are growing too… so it’s a matter of trying things out every now and then… and studying.

My Easter Bunny project is finished 😊

I’ve been browsing since yesterday, wondering if I can “find” another pattern I’d like to make… a few are already on my personal wish list. It’s just that these patterns are also pretty “expensive”.... I don’t mean that the patterns are “too expensive”—no, they’re definitely worth it. The effort involved in creating a pattern, whether for crafts, knitting, or crocheting, is very time-consuming. When I say “expensive” here, I’m just talking about my “pocket change” 🙈
So I have to think this through carefully....
  My scarf keeps growing... Part 5 is almost finished—just 10 more rows of 133 stitches each... My “problem” is that the last part won’t arrive until Friday 🙈
So if I finish Part 5 tonight, I’ll probably let myself get “carried away” and buy a new pattern 😂

Your Easter bunnies look really cool, Steffi.

I’m still waiting for the right weather to take a picture of my tablecloth.
There isn’t enough space in my apartment to photograph it properly.

Steffi, your bunnies turned out so great. Are they two separate ones, or are they connected?

I’m going to a felting class tonight. I’m so excited and really looking forward to it. 

There are actually two separate ones... but I glued them together at the “paws”... otherwise the dog always wags the little one right off.... 

At Alex’s (5) request, I made a “confetti bunny.” 🙈
“Not pretty, but rare”.... and absolutely no comparison to the other two...
It’ll be on the table at the next “preschool breakfast.” 

The viewer’s eyes see what makes it special. I think it’s pretty.

You’ll see—the kids will love it

🙈 Then I’ll make the second one, too.... 

I think this is great! 🐇

Steffi, I admire your skill, especially when it comes to crafts. That’s just not my thing at all. I also think the “colorful” bunny is great—it’s just something special.

Now I’ll show you what else I’ve designed besides my own Karl 4. I adopted an old doll from my niece who absolutely needed a little dress. Now she has one—made from patches. It was so much fun to design it and then knit it. Now I’m knitting the second one, just a little shorter. That one’s for my Lena. It’ll fit Sternchen, too.

I spent several hours on the upper side panels—I had to unravel them 5 times until they finally fit right. The fifth time, I accidentally knitted the center panels together… grrrrr. I really had to exercise some patience there. But now it looks absolutely fantastic. I’m currently working on the pattern.







By the way, I’ve fallen in love again… with a doll. I’ll show you that today in a separate thread. Julian is now eagerly waiting for baby clothes. I’d actually given all of them away to my grandchildren.

That’s so cute, Monika.
You could turn that right into a children’s clothing pattern! 

Thanks, Anja :)
Yes, I’m also planning to make a little dress for Juna. She’ll get the same one for her doll, too. For now, I’m knitting the slightly shorter version using leftover sock yarn.

Steffi, I admire your paper crafts. Is that cardstock, or how do you get the figures to stand up?

Monika, you did a great job on that little patchwork dress! Are those scraps from your first Karl?
I’ve also already admired your newest addition to the family in the other thread. By the way, my grandson’s name is Julian, too.

I have something to show you all again today: Anna and Anton, who will be wishing my daughter a happy Mother’s Day.

Monika, the little dress looks interesting. And wearable at any time—I can easily imagine it with a shirt underneath, too. 

Ruth, your little dolls are cute. I’m always amazed at how you can crochet such tiny little pieces.

I’m more into the bigger stuff..... like my eggs. I’m still crocheting around them. There are so many that have ended up in a tin by now, without hangers or with holes and cracks. 

Ruth, you did a great job on both of those—I’d be thrilled to have something like that, too. A really lovely idea. Your daughter will be thrilled to receive something like that from her own mom.
Yes, I knitted that little dress from leftover yarn from my Karl 1 project. Thanks for the feedback.

Petra, I’ll hang up eggs like that next year, too—I won’t have time this year.
The little dress can actually be worn year-round, either on its own in the summer or with a shirt or sweater underneath. I’m starting the second one today; I’ve picked out some leftover sock yarn for it. It’ll be a bit shorter.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

I decided to give cotton socks a try.
Since I misjudged things the first time, I had to start over from the beginning.

I love seeing your creations 😊

On Friday, the final part of the pattern for my scarf arrived, and I still have about 16 rows to go plus binding off.... and I still have no idea what to put on my needles next 🙈
A bunny is still waiting to be cut out, folded, and glued....
@Ruth  it depends on how big the individual pieces are that are being glued together. Most of the time, cardstock is enough for small objects. My printer handles paper up to 220 g/m².... regular copy paper is 80 g/m².... (grams per square meter).  At Kik  I found some paper that’s patterned on just one side, which is perfect for this. 
Just yesterday, I couldn’t resist and bought a pattern for a table lantern.... but first the scarf, then the bunny, and then I’ll need the right paper and a steady hand for cutting... because the lantern is actually designed more for a plotter.... there are some really intricate details to cut out 🤷😊

 
Steffi, speaking of lanterns, it occurs to me that I bought the pattern for a crocheted lantern a while back—I still haven’t gotten around to making it... It’ll definitely be a nice project once it gets warmer.

That reminds me—I still haven’t finished the patchwork jacket, darn it. I’m kind of in the middle of a crochet craze right now. I’d started a crochet top and really wanted to add those flounce sleeves, but it looked absolutely impossible! I think these boho pieces are so chic—they’re always short tops with thin straps, and that’s where the flounces go. Well, I don’t have the figure for a crop top or the arms for a sleeveless top (though at some point, when temperatures go over 26 degrees, I won’t care anyway). So I thought, “Make the sleeves longer—past the *cough* upper arms”—but like I said, that looked really ugly. So, back to square one.

Then I dove into a free pattern from Wollversand—oh my God! I don’t know if it’s written so terribly or if I’m just terrible at understanding it? I’m working on it now. Hopefully it’ll fit in the end—I need a sense of accomplishment. I was totally frustrated after the puff-sleeve disaster.

Marlene, your little socks are so cute. Doesn’t cotton stretch out?

Monika ( with you, I always want to write “Moni” because that’s what my neighbor is called too), what kind of yarn is that little dress made of? You mentioned wearing it in the summer? Cotton’s already too warm for me when it’s hot.

Ruth, that little couple is super cute! Their facial expressions are sooo adorable, and look how cheekily Anna’s swinging her single braid. How do you make their cheeks so cute and rosy?

We just ate some super delicious (but also super expensive) German asparagus. 25 euros for 2 kg. Phew. But it was really delicious, too. I just counted 11 grease stains on my top—Anja’s eating—you can always tell by the stains on my top. Maybe I should crochet myself a bib; that’d be better. 

Thanks, Anja :)
Practical testing will show how the cotton performs.

That “I don’t like it (like that) anymore” thing happens to me when I set a project aside for too long.

I’ve taken it off the needle... My scarf is finished 😊 

I’ll wash it tomorrow and block it a bit.... It turned out really huge. I’m already looking forward to your next MKal.... It was really fun to knit this; the big mystery at the beginning was how the two triangles were supposed to become a rectangular scarf.... 

...not washed yet, but in daylight 😊

...and I still have no idea what I want to knit next... 

Wow, Steffi

your scarf looks amazing. 😍

I love the colors anyway, and the patterns are all really beautiful too.
Now you could also knit a “Karl”—it’s put together using the same principle.

....but without a stitch pattern....🙈
I’ve currently got a second patch jacket on my needles... It’s all just knit stitches, and a patch like that is actually knitted up super quickly...
But soooo boring.
I’m currently rummaging through my stash and “decluttering”.... I’ve still got about 20–30 balls of merino yarn for needle size 4.5–5.... Somehow they’re looking for a new home... They feel so unloved here. It’s just not my needle size 🤷
For now, I’m writing down what’s slumbering in the box, which colors and how much, composition, etc.... And then we’ll see.

Dear Steffi

That’s exactly what I thought too: nothing but knit stitches—so boring! Then I discovered patch knitting, and now I don’t find those same garter stitches boring at all, since there are always decreases to work in. I’m also fascinated by the fact that you can only gradually get a sense of what the finished product will look like—for example, a cozy pair of slippers. I’d never knit such simple pot holders in garter stitch either…

P.S. Among my unfinished projects is a boring garter-stitch square that’s supposed to turn into a cute little bunny before Easter (knitted during hospital visits and train rides)

Marlene, your socks look great with the lace pattern.

Anja, that little dress is made from the same cotton yarn cake as my Karl—so from the leftovers. It’s nice and airy, which makes it perfect for summer. With dolls, it doesn’t matter anyway—they don’t sweat.

Steffi, your mammoth-sized scarf project looks fantastic. A “Karl” would be a piece of cake for you. I know you love a challenge. :)

Christina, I feel exactly the same way as you do. Knitting only knit stitches was always dull and boring for me. But since I started making the “Karls,” that’s changed. The excitement builds with every patch. I hope your husband gets well soon.

I’ve almost finished the little patch dress and the pattern for it. I’ll show you the photo tomorrow. This time I knitted with sock yarn. It looks really cute. After all, all the girl dolls want a colorful little dress like this now. I’ll also design and knit a patch dress for my younger granddaughter. If the older one likes it, she’ll get a skirt. She’s become very picky lately.

I actually always find knitting garter stitch too boring. But with the Karl pattern, that changed right away.
It really is better that way—the pieces are tiny, yet it’s more varied.

That’s why I’ve just knitted another Karl model. Here’s what it looks like.



Wow, Marion, your version of the Karlos jacket looks amazing! Better than the original. You really put in a lot of work. I’m thrilled!

Wow🎉 Your version looks very elegant—absolutely wonderful!
Best regards from Anja

.....I like Karlos this way too 😍😍😍
Very chic.....

Very chic—I can only agree with the previous posters. It turned out great! 

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April Projects 2023, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group