June Projects + May Projects 2023: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group, Part 2.

Continue writing here:
July Projects 2023: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group 

Dear users, dear authors,
so here is Part 2 of the May projects.
You can read the earlier posts at the link:
May Projects 2023: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group 

😀

Only now getting to the second part for May 🤔 .... 
Today I picked up the stitches from the “too-long” cable 😊 It seems to fit after the first few rows. Phew, so no frogging after all... I'm happy 😀 

👍 Good luck!

I’m really looking forward to seeing your results, Steffi. Have fun “braiding”! 😊

Wow, Anja, the blanket turned out great!

With this beautiful weather, I haven’t been able to do much crafting, but I did finish one little thing:
A “Surprise Egg” granny, e.g., for storing pins. 

Thanks!
Grandma is just adorable. I don’t have the patience for such tiny pieces right now🥴. The blankets are more helpful for using up yarn🤣
Best regards from Anja

Yes, that’s true. It’s easier to use up yarn in large pieces. But I just don’t have the patience to stick with large pieces for that long. 😆

I finished another blanket🎉. It’s been sitting around for a few weeks, but today I finally weaved in the loose ends 😚
Best regards

Anja, the Karl blanket is awesome! Are you going to make a pattern out of it?
And what are you going to do with so many blankets?
You just barely finished it before the heat hit. It’s a nightmare having to knit a blanket in these temperatures. *sweating buckets*

The blankets turned out beautifully.

Everyone has their own preferences. One person likes animals, another likes little trinkets. The grandma is fun, decorative, and practical. I always keep my pin there, too.

My daughter only knits blankets, too. The last one was for her brother (that was No. 4). Now two friends and her great-aunt have already asked for a blanket.

For me, it’s scarves and loop scarves. Today I’m finishing up the next one. Casting off and weaving in ends is on the agenda today.

Hi there🎉. Thanks for the feedback. There won’t be a pattern for this—I can’t figure out the steps anymore.🥴 And you can find patterns on how to make the patches in Cherry’s Karlanleitungen👍. Everyone should arrange them however they like. The yarn came from my box of scraps and swap packages 😉.
I give most of the blankets to loved ones on special occasions. But there are some I just can’t bring myself to part with.
Have a wonderful day—warm regards from Anja

I also used some swap yarn...



These three were knitted with the needle trio. It’s going pretty well now.

On Friday, I finally have my orthopedist appointment...can’t wait.

Well then, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, dear Marlies, that he has some “good advice” and can help you quickly.

I unraveled it last night—the cable pattern matched… but I had three stitches too many and didn’t know why; I couldn’t find the mistake. So I unraveled it, and lo and behold, I’d miscounted when picking up the stitches, and I only noticed when I’d almost knitted all the way up to the sleeve. I was able to “fix” it without having to pick up the stitches again... 
Then this morning… Something just wasn’t right 🤔 so I calculated like crazy; I even wrote down a kind of table… after two hours, I finally realized “why.” Being able to read is clearly an advantage.... 
It said: Repeat rows “3&4” 33 times... Of course, I read that as “33 rows” 🙈 
 Bottom line: it fits, and I’m going to knit a few more rows now. 
 Nice and shady.... 

You’ve all been so busy again. I’ve already admired Anja’s blanket, too. Unfortunately, I don’t dare try that myself. I’m more of a crocheter.

The “Surprise Egg Granny” is awesome. Totally funny, and great for small pieces.

I’m currently working on a crocheted blanket with cotton yarn, too. When the sun is shining, I crochet on the balcony; sometimes it gets warm on my lap, but it’s manageable. Once it’s finished, I’ll post a photo for you. I’m itching to show it to you right now, but this time I’m staying strong and finishing it first. Let it be a surprise.

Vacation is over; tomorrow, the serious side of life starts again—work.

Hugs, Andrea

Which Karl pattern do I need for the blanket? 

Hi, it doesn’t really matter. The basic method for making the patches and knitting them together should be clear to everyone by now. I’d already knitted a Karl 4 before.
I went through my leftover yarn and made a sketch (which kept changing)🥴.
Go for it!
Best wishes from Anja

Hi everyone,
I can’t keep up anymore… phew

Thanks so much for the compliments on the KARL. It was resting in between because of the temperatures.
I’ve now cast on a top-down raglan using leftover cotton/linen yarn, and I want to try knitting up my scraps (ZB + Tynne Line) into a summery sweater… It’s still a bit boring right now, since I started with stockinette stitch and Tynne Line in Kitt. Photo to follow. ;-)

@Sally:
Woaaaaaaah, that blanket turned out absolutely AMAZING! And with that needle size, it’s definitely turned out nice and cozy. You never know what the coming winter might bring… ;-)
And the second blanket turned out beautifully, too. Great idea for clearing out the scrap box. ;-)
I hope the recipients appreciate it too? But otherwise, you surely wouldn’t give that to people you care about, right?

@Marlies:
Wishing you the best of luck, too!
Finding a good orthopedist these days is like winning the lottery!

@Libelle11:
So I have the KARL short-sleeve tunic (with very large patches), KARL No. 2 (the asymmetrical one) + KARL No. 4 (not yet started or knitted).
And yes, Sally is right—the way the patches are put together is similar (though not identical, since the number of stitches varies each time). Sally’s blanket looks like the layout for KARL No. 4.
And yes, in principle, you can put this together yourself for ANY size and width. (I’d find basic knowledge of patchwork knitting helpful, especially for the different “ONE” shapes: “TWO” = two squares together, “THREE” = three squares together. Even I got a little “messed up” with Karl No. 2 at one point… But Andrea is always so helpful!!!) Use graph paper, sketch it out, and have a rough idea of how wide each square should be in cm. If needed, make a gauge swatch—yeah, I know it’s a hassle, but the “ONE” piece can then be incorporated directly into the final piece. ;-)
But once you’ve grasped the principle, you can apply or adapt it however you like. ;-)

@Andrea (Bastelfan):
Ohhhh—I’m already really excited about this!
And patchwork crochet should work too. Either with colorful, cheerful GRANNIES.
Do you remember those pot holders from school that were crocheted using center decreases? That would basically be a knitted square. However, you first cast on the number of stitches needed for each side (e.g., 25 - 25 = 50), and then on the wrong side, decrease in the center of every wrong side row until only 3 stitches remain.
I think you could probably make that work with crochet, too...!?

Best regards
Katrin

I finished a UFO... Somehow it had hidden itself away really well. Now it has a face, and maybe it’ll find a new home as early as tomorrow 😊

My sweater is also slowly coming along… I’ll post a photo of it later; you can’t really tell “what” it’s supposed to be yet....

You’ve landed a cute UFO there, Steffi. 😊

I can barely move today because both my shoulders and arms hurt. I had to hyperextend them for the X-ray. But it doesn’t look as bad as I feared. The orthopedist is a real find. He listens and takes his time. We’re now trying physical therapy and one cortisone shot per month for three months—unfortunately, not until July. The doctor said he’s very happy to operate, but everything in its own time, and for me he’d only keep that in mind for later.
The next problem is that my previous physical therapy practice no longer exists. Now I have to see where I can find a new physical therapist. But at least there weren’t yet more new pills.😉

That sounds like a good start.... So, it wasn’t as bad as expected, and the doctor doesn’t want to operate right away. 👍
I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you have just as good an instinct for finding a physical therapist as you did for your orthopedist. 

Get well soon, dear Marlies! 
I'm in pain today too; I think I pinched something while looking out the window. 
I've got a massager under my butt cheek (sciatica), a heating pad on my back, a hot water bottle on my shoulder, and the neck massager is buzzing too.  

Many thanks for the patch tips. 
But I'm in another hobby slump right now. I'm bored stiff, but I don't feel like knitting or crocheting either. It's torture! 

Get well soon to everyone who’s sick. 

Thank you so much! Dear Anja, that sounds terrible. I hope you get well soon, too!

Ugh, I’ve been feeling unmotivated to do any crafts for a few days now, and at the same time I’m soooo bored. How awful that I can’t get excited about anything. 
In the meantime, I’m just collecting pretty pictures of projects on Pinterest. 
I start this and that, but after just a few rows, I’ve already lost interest. 
I have absolutely no idea what I should be working on.  

Soooo, I’ve gotten around my lack of motivation for crafts by knitting instead of crocheting. Hehe!
It’s working so far. :-)
But I just knitted 2 sts together twisted purlwise for the first time in my life. What kind of fiddly crap is that, anyway? 

@Anja / Libelle11,

belated get-well wishes. Sciatica/lower back pain, etc., is always arrrrrghhhhh awful.
Hope you’re feeling better again!?
And losing interest in hobbies—ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I know that feeling too.
Besides the clatter of knitting needles, I have another creative hobby: stamping and messing around with lots of colorful paint. It’s so much fun and really does me soooooooooooooooo much good—BUT right now, I always have to get past my initial reluctance and excuses first. Which I often don’t quite manage to do (and then I get annoyed with myself afterward… grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr). Even though I know it’s good for me.
But once I’ve managed it, I’m happy every single time. :-)))
I don’t think 2 twisted purl stitches are that bad. Check out the “Volksuniversität” on YouTube. I’m sure there are plenty of videos there that show how to do it.
Then I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you to have lots of fun knitting! :-)))

Wishing you all a wonderful Sunday evening!
Best wishes,
Katrin

Oh dear, I hope everyone who’s sick gets well soon. Good luck finding a doctor, and Anja, best of luck with your knit and purl stitches

Best regards, Andrea

@ Anja:
When I have to work twisted purl stitches, I always slip them first and place them twisted onto the left needle. Then I purl them as usual. Similarly, when twisted purl stitches need to be purled together: slip both stitches together, place them the other way round on the left needle, and then purl them together. I find this easier than having to do it “from the back.”

I’m trying to get out of knitting twisted stitches. There are so many other pretty patterns. I like doing a slip-over decrease. 

I need to remember Ruth’s suggestion for next time. 

Do you always have the wrong yarn with you on vacation too? I’m now knitting another cowl from my 2nd Tahiti skein—with a new pattern. 



We have great weather, and in the shade a thin yarn with a simple pattern is easy to knit. 

Anja, what did you pick out to knit? 

...Vacation yarn.... is definitely always the “wrong” yarn, or the needle size doesn’t quite fit—at least not so much that it’s absolutely necessary to visit a local specialty store 😊😁

I didn’t knit a single stitch over the weekend; I was at the flea market on Saturday and Sunday selling stuff. It was totally exhausting but “worth it” 👍
I already “sent out” a yarn order this morning. A little reward is in order.
  Now I just need to clear out the car and clean it up a bit... and then I’ll call it a “weekend.”

And we have a “new addition.” ...

😊😊😊 

Oh, it’s so cute. It looks totally soft and cuddly. 😍😍😍😍

...my cat adopted him 😂 He’s the last one I would have “expected”...
They’re cuddling and grooming each other...
Let’s see where the “puppy” finds a new home. 😁

Huh, why do you want to take that away from the cat?
I think it looks like a little polar bear.

I started a zigzag blanket with 4 different types of yarn that’s been lying around forever. I’ll have to count the stitches right away—I think there’s a stitch missing. 

...do you think that’s a “polar bear cat”???
For now, the little one is staying with me anyway.
But the knitted doll has found a new home. She gets to sit on the sofa with an older woman and will even get matching shoes and a little jacket... 




I used up some leftover yarn again, and this little monkey is the result.

Oh, how tiny. Unfortunately, I don’t have a knack for that.

It turned out absolutely adorable

Very cute monkey ♡ 

Steffi, that puppy turned out absolutely adorable.
All that work was really worth it.

Mel, I like the little monkey, too—I also enjoy crocheting figures in all sorts of sizes. Did you crochet that one from memory, or is there a pattern for it?
I hope you all have lots of fun crafting.
.
Best wishes, Sabine 

A cat with a dog—now that’s something, Steffi.

How big—or how small—is that cute little monkey, Mel?

Thank you all so much!
Sabine, this one was crocheted without a pattern—just like that.
Marlies, it’s about 12 cm tall.

Hey everyone,

I’m not getting anything done on the knitting front right now.... just can’t bring myself to do it.
The RVO I’ve got on the needles is sooooooooooo boring—just stockinette stitch... well, we’ll see—maybe I’ll get back to it tonight while watching TV!???

@Petra:
That looks exciting. I’ll have to check out Thiti online right away. ;-)

Enjoy the sun, and
best regards,
Katrin

I took these two along when I went to my sister-in-law’s for breakfast. She was thrilled.

Marlies, those are really Herzog. I’d be happy with those, too.

Back to square one for me. I just unraveled 16 rows.

I started a sweater and the pattern wasn’t the same on both sides. I’m a little annoyed because I didn’t notice it beforehand. 

Today is World Knitting Day....

Did anyone go to a group knitting session? There was an event in Stuttgart.

I made myself comfortable at home and let my needles clatter away 

I was sitting in the garden under the sunshade, knitting...😊
It was really cozy with my cat and dog, and I had an ice cream every now and then—so it was totally relaxing. 

....now I can show something, too....
I’ve finished knitting the sides of the sweater.... now it’s time for the sleeves, and after that I’ll start on the back and front panels... 

Here’s a bit of the sleeve.... 

The second side....
This yarn knits up soooo well that I went ahead and ordered some more 🙈 I’d sold some yarn from my stash at the flea market and immediately “invested” the proceeds in yarn I like 😊 So now 12 skeins of 100g each are on their way to me.... I think that’s a very good “trade”....
Now, first a “mini-walk” with the dog, and then off to the patio with my knitting. ... 

Hello everyone, first of all, get well soon to everyone who’s sick.

It’s been pretty quiet here the last few days, but some lovely things have still been created. Completely different and very individual. Great.

I finally finished the blanket for the 60th birthday; I really had to push myself to keep working on it these past few days. The merino wool isn’t a summer yarn at all; it just wouldn’t glide properly. And part of the blanket was always lying on top of me… 
But I’m very happy with the result.
The good piece is about 1.20 x 1.80 in size, and surprisingly light.
Hopefully she’ll like it.



In between, I worked with concrete every now and then, in the shade on the balcony—that was a nice change of pace. I’d started the fountain last year; this year, I just made a few adjustments to the water flow. It’s actually supposed to be lit up, but an insect beat me to it and laid its eggs in the empty conduits for the cables—we’ll see if and when the little ones hatch. Until then, it’ll stay dark for now.
Here are a few pictures of the creation process.

The blanket turned out great👍,

That’s a great swap, Steffi. I would have done the same. 😄

The blanket looks great and is sure to be a hit, Claudia. Your fountain turned out fantastic. 👍

Well, I haven’t stopped by here in a while, and so many great things have already been created! I especially admired your fountain, Claudia! That’s a real work of art!

I haven’t been idle in the meantime either. I’m currently in the process of rephotographing the images for the doll dress patterns in my shop. It’s quite a bit of work, especially since I no longer have many of the items and had to gather them from my granddaughters. And I have to crochet some of them all over again. And while I’m at it, I’m going through the patterns and sprucing them up a bit. That’ll keep me busy for the next few months.

But in between, I also have to bring new ideas to life. I still had a ball of glow-in-the-dark yarn at home.  And that’s how a UFO came to be (a real one, not an unfinished object!) with a little green Martian inside.:

That little Martian is so cute, Ruth 😍

Oh Ruth...
You have such amazing ideas—it’s unbelievable 👍

I also admired the fountain. I never would have thought you could sculpt with concrete.... So far, I’ve only used it to pour floors and foundations. 🙈
Do you wear gloves when sculpting? 

Ruth, your alien is awesome. The color is perfect.

Steffi, if you mix in tile adhesive and mix the concrete with only very little water, you can sculpt with it. But it’s no comparison to clay, because it only holds its shape to a very limited extent, and the mixture also takes a really long time to set. It’s a patience game, but in the end it’s nice and sturdy.





For this boat, for example, I first cast the hull in a little planter boat. Then I made the penguin noses later that same day.
Important: the concrete needs to stay damp for about 24 hours, otherwise it crumbles. But it also shouldn’t be wet for the first 6–8 hours, or it will dissolve.
So the noses spent the night in a Tupperware container.
Then I made the bodies and placed the noses.
Another 24-hour break, this time covered with plastic wrap.
Then the penguins got to bathe in a bucket for 2 days because I didn’t have time.
Finally, I poured a thin, runny layer over the hull in the mold and set the penguins into it.
Another 24-hour break.
Then I released the whole thing from the mold, turned it over (careful, something can still break off at this point), and attached the rods to the underside with concrete.
24-hour break…
In my case, it then got to rest in a large tub of water for 2 days so the concrete could cure well. It needs water and time for that. If it dries too quickly, it won’t become properly solid.
Before painting, though, it has to dry out really well, otherwise the paint will peel off again later.

When mixing the dry ingredients, it’s best to wear a dust mask (for me, an old cloth mask…), because when inhaled, the dust reacts with the fluid in your lungs—that’s not very healthy.
And always wear waterproof gloves; that’s very important.
Because the damp mixture is strongly alkaline—caustic. Once I had a hole in my glove without noticing it, and I ended up with an open wound there. The concrete really ate into my skin; it was very unpleasant for a while.
By the way, even the water that fresh concrete sits in for a while is still caustic.
You should also never put fresh concrete scraps into a wastewater pipe. That can get really expensive if the drain gets clogged. I always keep a bucket of water around to clean the tools in. Some material settles there first, and after a few days I pour off the water and put the sludge in the trash.

Actually, I wanted to show you this doorstop.
The cactus is sewn and filled with fabric scraps; for the weight, I poured concrete into an empty plastic container and crocheted around it. For the spines, I knotted in yarn at the end and twisted them together with fabric glue.

Wow, Claudia , look at all the things you’re making. Your fountain looks amazing.
I didn’t know you could sculpt with concrete either. It sounds like a lot of work, and there’s so much to keep in mind. That wouldn’t be for me—besides, I already have so many hobbies; I wouldn’t be able to manage it all.

But kudos for your great work👍. The doorstop is awesome. The ideas you come up with! It looks great—I could totally see it in my apartment.
What an eye-catcher.

Everyone else is hard at work too, of course, and I admire every new creation that’s made and shared here.
I’ve got a bunch of unfinished projects lying around as well. Maybe I’ll manage to finish a few of them on vacation.☺

Wow, that’s really beautiful. You have great ideas. 

A handle cover was requested. Cast-iron skillets get very hot, even on the handle





And since I wasn’t sure about the pattern and density, I made two to test

What a great idea. Personally, I like the top pattern best.
The bottom pattern might be thicker because of the post double crochet, if I’m looking at it right.
I’m sure you’ll let us know how it goes :-)


I think you can tell now that it’s going to be a sweater....

@Claudia.... that sounds pretty “complicated.” ...
The things you’ve been working on there are beautiful. When it comes to concrete, I’d rather stick to construction.... Next up, the kitchen 🙈 if there’s any left 🤷

Claudia, awesome stuff!!! Concrete sounds really dangerous. 

Crocheted two more today. They were tested this week, and both were found to be good. 

One is made with relief double crochet stitches and is also thicker.  But both prevent burnt fingers. 





Now I just need to finish a pasta tin, and then only my sweater will be left. 

@Petra,
what are you doing with that pasta can?

A gift for the toy store. The pasta has to be stored somewhere, and I thought a screw-top jar was too dangerous. 



Oh, I see. Great idea.

I'm currently wavering a bit indecisively between concrete, the sewing machine, and the crochet hook, and I'm not really getting much finished.

A concrete village is currently waiting to be painted. But it still needs to dry thoroughly... in gray, it reminds me far too much of an aircraft carrier right now; that still needs to change. At least it's already been scrubbed down.



Thank you for the kind words, too.

Anja, it's really not as dangerous as it might sound in the description. But a few precautions certainly aren't a bad idea.

Things are going best at the sewing machine right now, though—my mother-in-law said during her last visit that she would really like a new skirt, a slim wool skirt in a tartan pattern. But they aren't available to buy right now, at least not the way she has in mind.
Now she has given me her measurements and I searched online for how to sew that kind of skirt—and then I just tried it out with an inexpensive fabric.
I think it already looks pretty good...
I had never sewn a reinforced waistband, an inserted zipper, or a back vent before, but it worked out better than expected. When we visit next in August, we'll test the fit.





Steffi, your sweater looks promising. I'm excited to see it.

I also find the pan-handle potholders very practical; I'm already wondering whether I should make something like that for an acquaintance who uses those cast-iron pans on his grill.

Claudia, your village looks great. Yeah, at first glance, I thought it was a ship. When it’s finished, I hope you’ll show it to us.

Isn’t a pan handle like that dangerous when grilling? Maybe you make them differently than I do, because mine are pulled tightly over the handle and actually stay there the whole time I’m cooking.

It’s exciting to see all the ideas we have and how we’ll bring them to life.

I’m currently working on an idea involving old records. Right now, I’m gathering up leftover yarn and making some sketches. But first, I’m going to tidy up and iron a load of laundry—down in the basement.

Sooo, my dear hardworking wool friends, here I am again. I just needed a break, including from the internet. Lately I’ve only been on briefly. It’s simply nicer to be outside in nature, without technology.

You’ve conjured up incredibly beautiful things. I just spent an hour reading through the whole thread.

Anja, you must be the specialist for patch blankets. Absolutely fantastic!

Katrin, your Karl in gray and white looks really great. Yes, I know, the big patches always take a while, but the joy is always great with every finished patch.

Ruth, your little figures around the Kinder Surprise eggs all look very pretty. Those are great gift ideas. And your UFO with the little Martian is an absolute smash hit!

Petra, I like the pattern and the colors of your loop scarf. I also like knitting with different patterns and trying out various things. I once knitted this pattern into a cushion cover. The second loop scarf looks just as good. By the way, you have a beautiful garden.
A practical idea is the crocheted cover on the pan handle. I like it. And then the pasta tin - that’s really a hit!

Marlies, your wash mitts look absolutely wonderful! The smooth stripes stand out nicely there too. You did a great job. Knitting with the Trio took some getting used to for me at first too, but now I can’t imagine doing it any other way. I love the longer bamboo needles for that.
For your shoulders and arms, I hope very soon that everything becomes fully mobile and pain-free again.
Your two gnomes are really cute; I can well imagine that they were well received.

Get well soon to you too, Anja - and to everyone who really needs it right now!

Steffi, your little doll is so cute. She reminds me a lot of the one I knitted for my son when he was little. He was so proud of his baby back then ... just as he is now of his two daughters. It’s lovely that she’s already been adopted and is getting lots of love.
I was just about to write “but you’ll have to take good care of your baby animal” - and then he was already adopted by the tomcat. How sweet! He really does look very cuddly and sugary sweet.
Your cable-knit sweater already looks good in its individual pieces. However, I still can’t quite imagine what it will look like when it’s finished. It’s always exciting with you.

Oh Mel, how nice to see you active here again. The little monkey turned out totally cute.

Claudia, your blanket is a real work of art. Wow! I’m really impressed! I also admire your concrete art; the fountain is amazing, and that’s not even all. That would not be for me at all. Putting a large sewn cactus in front of the door is also a really cool idea. I would never have thought of that.

In the meantime, my needles have been busy too. Right now I even have three projects on the needles. I’ll show you the pants for little Julian when they’re finally finished. For the second one, I grabbed the leftover yarn from my friend’s Karl and am knitting a shawl from it, just with knit stitches. That works quite well as a little side project.

What has really captivated me again, though, is the new Karlos. By now I’ve already made quite a lot of progress on it. I just can’t put it down anymore. It was actually supposed to be more of a “side project.” Now you can also see the other colors and combinations with the hand-dyed sock yarn - red is in the front. On the sides, the main color is purple.

Here it is from the front:



And here it is from the back:

I really like the village 😍—I’d love to “decorate” it...
I’m still knitting the sweater. I actually had to reorder some yarn—I don’t have enough of my cinnamon-colored contrast yarn. Yes, I would have had yarn in (quite a few) colors in stock… including matching ones, but I would have had to constantly remind myself that it would have been a “stopgap solution”—even if most likely only I would have seen it that way. And so that the two skeins I needed wouldn’t feel so lonely on their long journey to me, three more “slipped” into the package 😁
 Yesterday was the village flea market, and I could have gotten some sheep’s wool—for free—sheared the day before.... One light-colored and one dark-colored sheep. That really tempted me—I already have a spinning wheel and everything I need for carding… but I don’t have anyone here who could’ve shown me how to turn that “tub of sheep” into yarn 🤷 At least now I know where I can get “pure sheep.” .... 

Hi, girls,
sorry I’m just getting back to you now…
On those hot days, I was just glad my circulation and head weren’t giving me tooooo much trouble. Temperatures over 30° aren’t for me anymore.

You’ve all been sooooo hard at work. And there are so many beautiful things to see.
Claudia, that skirt looks lovely. Fingers crossed that you like it and it fits.
And your concrete projects look interesting. I’m really curious to see WHAT the village will look like when it’s finished. ;-)

Monika , your CARLOS is just amazing!!! It’s already on my long to-do list. ;-)
Thanks for the compliment on the KARL. With these temperatures, it’s still resting in its knitting bag.

Steffi —the sweater already looks sooo beautiful. And I find the construction extremely interesting. ;-)

I’m not being very productive right now.
I bought a little more yarn for my RVO project, which I’ve started with leftover yarn.
I also have to decide HOW I want to handle the transitions with a little slip-stitch pattern.
I had to make sure I finished the short sleeves first, since I wasn’t sure if I’d have enough of my original yarn to make it!???
A photo will follow once I have everything on multiple needles so nothing can slip off. ;-)

I also wish everyone who’s sick or in pain all the best and a speedy recovery.

Warm regards to everyone,
Katrin

Thanks, Katrin, for your feedback on the Karlos. The sock yarn is already quite warm, so I’m only knitting it in the evenings right now.

Buuut… I’m actually starting my fourth project right now. A dear friend’s daughter has a birthday coming up soon and her teddy bear really needs some new clothes. On the spur of the moment, I had the idea to design something for her and give it to her as a birthday present. She’ll be so happy! When I finish something, I’ll send a photo.

Monika, you’ve conjured up another wonderful Karli. Such lovely summer colors. How many Karlis have you made now?
Thanks for your feedback on the wash mitts. Trio knitting is going quite well now; I’m just still having trouble with the cast-on.

I’m still struggling with my wedding cake. I’m really missing a proper craft store here. Now I’m taking cardboard apart (because I don’t have any craft cardstock) so the cake will have stability.

On my knitting needle is a blanket by a-mano. I only work on that in the evenings too, because it’s too hot during the day.

Marlies, thank you for your feedback on the Karlos. That’s the first Karlos (jacket). I’ve knitted a total of three Karls. I wear two of them regularly, and I gave one away. There will be a second Karlos as well, but sometime in the fall or winter. I have other things to work on first.

I have a tip for casting on with Trio. I always cast on entirely on a circular needle and then knit the first round as a row. Then I distribute the stitches across two Trio needles and only then join them into the round. It’s less fiddly, and you can’t even tell when the first round is joined while weaving in the thread end.

Are you making a wedding cake? I hadn’t realized that. What kind of blanket are you knitting?

Petra, for the pot holder, I thought I’d make a double-layered tube that can be slipped loosely over it. When he’s handling his “pot holder,” there’s always something in the way…

Monika, this version really reminds me of a graphic painting. Beautiful, I think.
I’m curious to see how the next ones turn out. It’s still exciting.

Steffi, the combination looks so harmonious—I wouldn’t add anything else to it either… and yes, wool comes from sheep, and they do live in flocks.

Katrin, I’m also a bit slow in these temperatures… and wool just isn’t my thing right now. I feel for you.
I hope the skirt fits, too.

Marlies, the wedding cake sounds interesting.



I’ve been back at the sewing machine, and this shirt is the result. The appliqué is just off the top of my head—sewing isn’t nearly as warm as crocheting, which suits me better right now.

But I did crochet something after all: a cheese wedge.



This cheese platter is a gift that’s going in the mail. A real piece of cheese wouldn’t hold up well, so I had to include at least a fake one as decoration.

@Monika
Thanks for the tip. I’ll do it that way next time. I’ve got one on my needles right now.

I’ve started “Forever Love” by a-mano.

Best regards, Marlies

😂 "Wool comes from sheep, and they live in herds" 😂😂😂
So true... 
Yesterday was "knitting day" 😇
I have the second sweater piece (almost) finished; just a few rows on the sleeve are still missing.... 

This is what it looks like now. Part one is still on the needle, because the front middle pattern still has to be added, and then it will be sewn together. 
I still have enough yarn for the sleeves; the yarn for the middle is already on its way... 

Claudia, that’s a lovely photo of you. The shirt looks great with the appliqué. And the cheese is absolutely amazing—just like the real thing! You’re so talented....

Yeah, Marlies, I think that blanket is the prettiest one, too. If I could clone myself, I’d be working on that one as well.

Steffi, I’m really excited to see your sweater. At least now I can picture it. The sleeves do look a little tight to me, though. That’s probably just an optical illusion.

Have a relaxing day, everyone!

Claudia, the T-shirt bear is a hit! The way he’s looking—adorable! I’d wear one too!

  I finally finished something again—a gift for my neighbor. When I’m making something for others under a time crunch, I actually manage to get things done. It went pretty quickly, too. This cozy yarn feels great and looks awesome, but it’s a pain to crochet with—you can only guess where to insert the hook. 

Anja, your turtle turned out so cute. Yes, this yarn looks really beautiful when crocheted, but I haven’t tried it yet. 

Monika, you’re really caught up in Karl fever! Your Karlos already looks great. Will he get sleeves?

Anja, your turtle is just sooo cute. I wouldn’t want to give that one away at all—I’d rather keep it.

And Steffi, of course, is making something truly extraordinary and complicated again. You definitely shouldn’t shy away from sewing it together. Is the pattern from here?

Claudi, that shirt turned out great—it looks fantastic on you. I don’t really like sewing when it’s warm because I have to do it indoors. Crocheting and knitting can be done on the balcony, though. But in this heat, I tend to stick to smaller projects that come together quickly.
Right now I’m crocheting ice cream scoops for my granddaughter’s ice cream shop. I’m using up a few leftover pastel-colored yarns for that. And I’ve also finished a little narwhal:
I was actually supposed to keep working on revising the doll photos and patterns, but I just had to do something else in between. A whole bunch of new ideas are swirling around in my head...

Anja, your turtle is so cuddly and cute. I can’t work with yarn like that at all—I’m lucky if I even catch the stitches. Even though it looks absolutely beautiful. Congratulations on sticking with it!

Ruth, Karlos is getting sleeves too—pretty wide ones, actually. Right now, it’s too warm for me to knit him. I’d rather knit teddy bear clothes out of cotton. I’m making good progress on that.
Your little whale is absolutely adorable again. Crocheting ice cream scoops is also a great idea. Grandkids often inspire you to do things you wouldn’t have thought of on your own.

Hi girls,

Claudia, your T-shirt with the appliqué turned out beautifully.
The sewing bug is veeeery tempting, but I haven’t caught it (yet)... *laughs*
My sister, on the other hand, sews patchwork blankets and pieces with true passion.
For me, it’s the lack of space that gets in the way...
And the cheese platter with the crocheted Camembert is really funny. ;-)

Steffi —your sweater is turning out absolutely gorgeous. (Though I do think the sleeves are a bit narrow!?)
Beautiful intarsia pattern. (Intarsia really isn’t my thing...)
The construction is at least veeeery interesting. ;-)

Anja, the turtle is funny, too. If you don’t look closely, it looks pretty real. :-)

Ruth — a whale with a unicorn horn is definitely something different.... ;-)

To everyone:
I haven’t tried the Trios needles yet. (I’ve been too stingy so far!)
I knit sleeves and socks (always toe-up) on two 60-cm circular needles. It works brilliantly for me.
But everyone has to find what works best for them!
For my toe-up socks, I use the wrap cast-on across two needles (Wendy Johnson also calls this the Turkish cast-on).
There are quite a few videos on the Volksuniversität YouTube channel.
The very first one here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1axrVV0811I
explains it wonderfully.
I use this cast-on method not only for my toe-up socks, but also when I want to knit in different directions on a garment. That way, I don’t have to pick up stitches; I already have the stitches ready on the second needle. It also works brilliantly as a provisional cast-on. (That way I don’t get tangled up when undoing the crochet cast-on or similar methods!)
Maybe this tip will help you?
I find the Turkish cast-on easier than the figure-eight cast-on (also known as Judy’s Magic Cast-On).

Best regards
Katrin

Soooo, me again ... ;-)
I took the opportunity to photograph my started RVO (free pattern, not from here):

I'm knitting with Tynn Line from Sandnes. I still had 150 g in the color kitt, which I started with.
So I know how much of it I still have for the body, I first knitted up to the sleeve separation, and then the sleeves.



On the sleeve I *borrowed* a small slip-stitch pattern from a sock pattern (also not from here, free pattern). I want to use that to visually separate the color blocks on the body too.



For the body, I also want to knit up the turquoise and a wide block of Regatta Blue.

Best wishes
Katrin

Katrin, what does “primstens” mean? Is that a typo, and should it say “bestens” instead? 

Katrin, I had no idea until now that this was a Turkish cast-on. I use it too when I want to knit in different directions or for the “mouse teeth” pattern. Your sweater is sure to turn out beautiful. That’s super-fine yarn, right?

I’ll have to “remember” that cast-on method… 👍 Very good tip.

I measured the sleeve today… It’s 20 cm when laid flat and without stretching. Just checked—it’s actually exactly as in the pattern 😇

Has anyone here ever knitted with “dog” yarn? 🤔
“My yarn dealer” has Caucasian Shepherd Dog yarn on sale (80% dog hair, 20% wool). It’s supposed to be a very soft, comfortable yarn that has even better “warmth properties” than pure wool. ... They mainly knit gloves and socks with this yarn there.
I really should have added a skein or two to my last order 🙈😂🙈
Just to see and feel it in person... 

Anja, your turtle turned out great. I’ve only ever used that kind of yarn once—never again willingly.

Ruth, your whale is totally cute, and so beautifully staged.
It’s been too warm for me on the balcony the last few days, so I didn’t feel like working with wool… and besides, the sewing machine is set up in the living room right now, and its mere presence is tempting me. Since I don’t have a dedicated workspace for it, I’m using it a lot right now. Tomorrow there’s a fabric market in the neighboring town… I plan to avoid the place. But who knows…

Katrin, the RVO looks so wonderfully vibrant with that turquoise. I love patchwork too, but my simple machine isn’t (unfortunately?) suited for it—it can’t handle large amounts of fabric. On the other hand, I’d have to start collecting fabrics, and that takes up a lot of space too… I’d rather not.

Steffi, just thinking about dogs brings that smell right to my nose. But I’d really love to touch something like that sometime.








My sister is a devoted cat mom and really loves those figures by Rosina Wachtmeister, so I just had to pick up this fabric during my last visit to the craft store. I sewed her a travel pouch out of it and filled it with a few treats, some books, and a reading pillow. She took a fall recently and is currently in the hospital—she broke a vertebra and bruised several others. Now she’s waiting for her surgery… hopefully she can pass the time a bit with the pillow and a book on her lap.

Oh, and by the way: I recently sewed these reading pillows from old seat cushions; now one of them is at my sister’s house. 

....I’d love to have a bag like that, too....
Wishing your sister a speedy recovery. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the surgery goes well.

My dog only “smells” when she’s wet, and only because she’s jumped into some pond again 😕 then it’s bath time anyway.
Dogs often “only” stink because they’re getting the “wrong” food. When mine gets “fast food” (i.e. canned or dry food), she stinks too. But when we’re traveling in the camper, there’s nothing we can do about it; after all, I can’t bring “fresh” food for her for a week or so 🤷

By the way, the yarn I have on my needles right now smells like sheep 😂🙈😂

Claudia, the sewn pouches look fantastic! Here’s a silly question: What’s a reading pillow for? I also wish your sister a speedy recovery.

Steffi, I’ve heard of dog wool, too. It’s supposed to be very soft. Are you knitting with it yet?

I’ve now finished the pants for the teddy bear. I’ll post a photo tomorrow. But he’s still going to get a jacket to go with them.

Unfortunately, I haven’t started knitting these yet 🙈 but they’re at the very top of my “wish list”.... and I really didn’t want to order anything else in the near future... 

Monika, a reading pillow is a kind of neck pillow that lets you read comfortably in all sorts of positions (not just lying on your back, but also on your side, on your stomach, or while sitting). The reading pillow can support your neck, back, arms, knees, or even the book itself. I have several reading pillows and use them mainly in bed and in a lounge chair. Super comfortable and relaxing!

Thanks, Ruth—now I’m a little wiser. :)

The pants for the teddy bear—which is also going to be a gift—are now finished. He’s getting a jacket to go with them. I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with this little guy myself. He looks so cute in his pants.



And his little tail is peeking out from the back.

What a cute little guy! How big is he?

This is an “Energy Bear,” the old version. Without ears, it’s 35 cm; with ears, it’s listed as 40 cm. I wanted to give her this exact one as a gift, because she’s had it since she was a baby. Naturally, it looks well-loved. She’s turning 26 now and still loves teddy bears. Now she’s getting a new little brother to go with hers. :-)

Monika, Ruth has already explained it very well. My sister currently has it half lying on its belly and leans the book against it—that’s the least painful way for her to sit right now.
The teddy looks really cute with pants on.

I ended up going to the fabric market today after all, and of course I couldn’t resist buying some… 



The selection was so varied and extensive—it was pretty much a given that I’d find something there. 

Wow, Claudia, a fabric market—that’s really great. If only I could get motivated to finally work on the fabrics I have lying around...

I like the idea of the reading pillow; I could use one of those, too. 

So, if you have fabric at home.... You can find a pattern for a reading bone pillow here on CP 😁

Fabric market 😍 Is that the “Dutch market”? 
I went there once years ago, it was soooo beautiful, all those patterns, colors, and fabric qualities.... But I just “admired” them, didn’t buy anything. I make all sorts of things, really, but I’ve never actually sat down at the sewing machine. 🤷
I think your “haul” is lovely; do you already have plans for what they might become? 

Monika, you can also crochet a reading pillow (or possibly knit one).
I have a crocheted one and a sewn one at home.

Yes, Ruth, I know. However, I already have so many projects in the works that I don’t have time for this right now. But it’s on my mental to-do list.

Hey everyone,

I’m only just getting around to checking in again. I needed a change of scenery for a few days. ;-)

Anja: Even if it’s only today... “primstens” is simply colloquial for “the very best.” Luckily, the often-annoying autocorrect doesn’t bother me on the computer. On that smart little phone, the strangest things have happened. :-)))

Monika: Thanks for the compliment! :-)
The yarn is “normal” for me - about sock-yarn weight, and I’m knitting with 2.5 mm needles.
The Tynn Line is 220 m/50 g. It knits up quite well thanks to the blend: cotton / linen / viscose. But it also doesn’t have the same thread tension as cotton yarns ...
For summery things, I don’t want to knit with yarns that are too thick (120 m/50 g) ... that would be too warm for me. And I hope that in stockinette stitch it will turn out nice and airy & light. ;-)

Steffi: I’m really looking forward to seeing your finished sweater.
And dog wool - I once saw a TV segment about a young textile engineer who wanted to produce sustainably. I think some company (Pascuali?) already has it in its range too. It’s supposed to be super soft. But I haven’t used it yet because it’s quite expensive.

Claudia: Thank you for your compliment. I’m now “torturing myself” through the body in boring knit rounds until the color change. First turquoise and then regatta blue. And always those slipped-stitch pattern round(s) at the change.
The fabric for this travel bag is AMAZING! And the bag could happily make its way to me too. ;-)
I know all too well what you mean about “collecting.” And when it comes to knitting, that’s why I only buy for specific projects. I’m lucky that there are still some good yarn shops in Berlin.
And I already have one of those “reading bones” from my sister. I read a lot in bed, and that thing is really goooood. My sister called it a neck bone ... ;-)
And of course, best wishes to your sister.
Your fabric haul looks soooo nice. :-)))

I’ll have a look here for a READING BONE to knit. It would be a great idea for scraps that accumulate despite everything. ;-)
What do you stuff it with so it gets nice and firm?

Girls, I wish you a good start to the week and lots of creative fun! :-o

Best wishes
Katrin

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