November Projects, October Projects, and September Projects 2024: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

Here is the new thread:
November Projects 2024, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group 




Dear users, dear authors,
here is the new thread for the September projects.
You can read the earlier posts at the link:
August Projects 2024 and July Projects 2024: the Crazypatterns Crafting Group

👍

The mosaic squares and coasters are great! And the colors are so vibrant. What kind of yarn is that?

Thank you for the feedback.

This is crocheted with Katia BW yarn and Rainbow BW yarn from Hobbii.

....they really turned out beautifully. 
I’m just not in the mood for crocheting or knitting right now—I just can’t find the right project. 
The wall hanging only grew by two knots today 🙈 
It kind of annoys me that I have to watch this tutorial on my tablet; I only ever need a bit of the video, then pause it again so I can keep knotting. But then I can’t listen to music or a podcast in between... because you just can’t do both on one tablet. 
And I’d rather spare myself having the radio on in the background; news once a day is enough. I have to protect myself from all the “negative” stuff. But I don’t want to go completely without it either. 
It’s actually bedtime, but the dog needs to go out again, and it’s pouring and thundering like crazy here right now. 🥴 

Listening to music or podcasts on your phone?
I’m so glad I have my Alexa. Everything works with voice commands.

I’m also avoiding the news. I only spend 30 minutes a day on Twitter—otherwise, I start worrying about the future on every level (climate, politics, health, and so much more).

I’m just hanging out here a bit, too. I’m just looking for inspiration, but nothing’s really sparking my interest. 

I have my long-term project—one a day. So it doesn’t turn into a UFO👽.

Yeah, too much information from the internet isn’t healthy

I just found the picture frame while tidying up.

Now it finally has a place

So I’ve finished a UFO after a little over 2 years.



Oh wow Steffi, that’s amazing—crocheted both the frame and that gorgeous lettering! I love it!

And Petra, the blanket is turning out so great! How long does it take you to sew one square? 
I only just noticed that you’re sewing onto batting, and then the backing fabric is right behind it? What kind of batting is it? Thickness? 

Andrea, I haven’t had any yarn from Katia yet; I also order from Hobbii. Are you joining in on the bingo too? 

Bingo? I’m totally out of the loop. Could you please bring me up to speed? Thanks :-)

@Anja—I bought the H640 iron-on batting. I talked to my neighbor; she’s sewn a lot of blankets already. Since I’m a beginner, I find ironing it onto a single layer of fabric works pretty well—that way it’s less likely to slip, and I’m already busy enough trying not to sew any wrinkles into it.

Also, our local craft store doesn’t have a very wide selection. The 640 is 5 mm thick. I’ve done some browsing in the meantime, and there’s a wide variety of batting in different thicknesses. I find that interesting, but I’m quite happy with mine.

As for how long it takes me to sew—I can’t say. I aim to complete one square a day. So, one day to sew the square—and now I have 25 of them. Now I’ve started sewing on the backing and the batting. Depending on how many seams I sew—sometimes lines, crosses, spirals, etc.—that takes some time, too. Here, too, I’d like to finish one a day. I sew several times a day—basically as a reward in between other tasks 😊😂

But the journey is the destination, and that’s still a long way off.

Bingo? Please enlighten me, too.

Hobbii hosts a bingo game on Wednesdays. You can win yarn and gift cards. I haven’t signed up yet, though.
Are you subscribed to the Hobbii newsletter? They often promote the bingo there.
And I also think it’s really great when people dare to take on a quilt like that. 

Ah, from Hobbii. Thanks for the quick heads-up. No, I’m not signed up there.

But I like Bingo.

My blanket will be made from used fabrics—shirts, bedding, and tablecloths—and some well-aged fabrics I bought many years ago

Bingo is on Tuesdays from 8–9 p.m.
On Wednesdays, there’s some kind of shopping center event on Facebook or Instagram—I’m not exactly sure, since I don’t have either. 

😂 And I was starting to think I’d completely lost track of the days of the week....
So, Tuesday....

If possible, log in 5 minutes early; otherwise, you might not be able to get in due to server overload. There are already about 12,000 people participating.
6 rounds with 2 bingo cards each—it’s all automatic; you don’t have to do anything, just get lucky.
And that’s tough with 6 prizes and 10–12 thousand players....

Meanwhile, I’m always crocheting. Sometimes I read along in the chat (unfortunately, it goes by really fast). It’s entertaining: some people celebrate with the winners, while others grumble about why they never win. 


...it’s done 😊
My first macramé project—not perfect, but it was good practice. I’m not quite happy with the ends of the twisted finishes yet; I’m sure I’ll come up with something.
Now I’m going to take the dog for a walk and then rest; tonight I’ll help my son move some furniture. We’re supposed to pick up a sofa. Hope it goes smoothly without any “stress” 😁
Mr. Post will be delivering some new yarn in the next few days. I’m not quite sure yet what I want to knit or crochet, though. I’ll wait to see what the yarn looks like in person and then let myself be inspired 😉

Oh wow! 🤩
Wooden beads on it too? 

...maybe a kind of dreamcatcher using the middle three long strands???? So, an extra knot and then connect them 🤷
I’m going to “let my creativity run wild” tonight and see what comes of it 😂 

wow Steffi, that already looks really great. And in two colors, too. I like it.

Back in the day we used to knot plant hangers; I still remember a couple of knots, or knotting those friendship bracelets.

What I’d like to try soon are these dotting tools, painting stones with dots. I already have all the materials. I’ll report back or post pictures when the time comes.

have a pleasant week, everyone
best wishes

Macramé is completely new territory for me. I’ve never done it before. But I really like Steffi’s macramé work, too. I especially love the idea with the branch.

Andrea, I’m curious to see your stones. I painted some for the garden last summer. It was fun. I’m looking forward to seeing your polka-dot ones. 

Hey Petra, your stones look really pretty, too. That’s a great idea with the flowers. I like them.

Your stones look really cheerful. But I’m also very excited to see your creations, dear Andrea.
I was out and about yesterday and picked up a few “decorative bits and bobs.” I saw these wrapped stones online and think they’re really pretty. I have two larger suitable stones lying around in my workshop. 2 meters of thicker copper-colored wire hopped into my basket yesterday. 😀
And my new yarn arrived yesterday. Unfortunately, I’ll have to contact customer service 🤷 because one skein is different from the others. The color gradient isn’t smooth. The color batch and lot are identical, and yet it doesn’t match. I even rewound a skein yesterday just to see if it might have “those” spots too, but “nope.” 

Hey there, I’m checking in again!
My latest projects were a baby blanket and a toilet paper roll shark (see pictures).
Other than that, I crocheted a few wind spinners for the nursing home and a little pumpkin.
Right now, I’m knitting a soul warmer using Mrsgreenwool’s woven pattern. 

@Mel - Your shark is really funny

@Steffi - I’m excited to see your stones. I like decorating stones

I crocheted around stones many years ago

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@Mel: Your shark looks really funny, and that bunny blanket is just great.
@Petra: Your stones look very pretty when crocheted around.

You can see my painted stones in a separate thread. I’m still in the practice phase.

Maybe I’ll paint some to look like ladybugs.

Macramé… I used to do that, too—back in the day, those knotted owls were all the rage, way back when. And hanging flower baskets—I was still living with my parents then.
The wall decoration is pretty.

I’ve also crocheted around stones before; someone had requested that. But mine weren’t quite as delicate.

I really like the colorful stones, too.
I have two here that some friends painted for me—I really enjoy picking them up every now and then.

The shark is awesome; I just love those crazy toilet paper holder covers.

We’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors lately, enjoying the weather—today we were at Lake Sorpe; we took the boat one way and walked back.

Have a great start to the week, everyone.....
I got a little creative over the weekend 😊 

One is already hung up 😁
And I’ve also cast on a little knitting project to work on in my spare time. Plus, I’m continuing on the Ten-Stitch Blanket.... and no, it’s not the pattern sold here, but the original. I can’t understand why the designer is still selling the pattern—after all, it’s been pointed out to her countless times 🤷 Apparently, she knits two stitches differently or something....
I’m going to take another stroll through the fall scenery now; maybe I’ll find one or two more stones that want to be decorated 😁 

Good morning to you all, and have a great start to the new week

Steffi, you’re very creative. It looks great. How big is the rock? I paint rocks.

We’re already a big, diverse, creative group here—keep it up :-)

Lots of love, Andrea

Hi Andrea... 
I just measured it 😀 It’s 13 x 10 cm, but it’s fairly flat.... 
I think I’ll make a quick detour to the gravel pit this evening, kind of discreetly while walking the dog.... They aren’t “working” in the front area, there are no machines there, and that huge hole filled with groundwater (it’s the size of a swimming pool) is far enough away... For the dog too 😁 I’m sure I’ll find a nice stone there. 
Now back to the kitchen again. I already made soup this morning, in the 5-liter “commercial pot” 😂 Whatever we don’t eat today will go into the freezer in portions... Even though I don’t actually like beef soup 🙈

sTEFFI, that turned out to be a great arrangement! Awesome!
How lucky that you have a gravel pit nearby—back then I had to buy a bag of stones at the hardware store, and they weren’t very round or flat.
I’ve crocheted around stones before, too—I have no idea where they ended up...

  Other than that, Steff got me hooked on the 10-stitch blanket—I’m making one too, but with leftover yarn (since I don’t know if I’ll stick with it...). It would be nice if I could turn it into a jacket; I don’t need a blanket.

  Other than that, I’m crocheting a granny-square sweater and a jacket, and the sewing machine is waiting too. I’m just having a hard time getting myself to sew right now. Lack of motivation & feeling a bit run-down physically after the last chemo.
I’m still happy with my crown pillow—I have it in bed, and it’s sooooo comfortable; maybe I should make another one....

  I LOVE beef soup—I like it best with semolina dumplings, bone marrow dumplings, egg custard, or soup noodles.... Yum, now I’m craving soup...
Plus, it practically cooks itself—soup for lazy people. 

It’s starting to feel like Christmas in my “Creative Workshop”....
I’ll send you a little update for now 😁
A bit of decorative glitter is still to come... 

Looking forward to tonight 😊—then I’ll have some peace and quiet to get back to crafting. 

Hey Steffi, that stone really is quite an impressive size. That’s great—I’d love to have a gravel pit like that nearby, too.
I bought some casting compound and I’m going to cast the stones myself using this silicone mold.
Your macramé pieces look lovely, but I wouldn’t have the patience for that anymore. We used to do a lot of that back in the day (hanging flower baskets, necklaces with beads knotted in...). I still know how to do those knots from back then. Just like those friendship bracelets.

But… we’re not running out of ideas anytime soon, are we? It’s great to get so much inspiration here and to be able to marvel at your creations time and time again—and every piece is different. Such variety!

I love soups—mmh, that makes me hungry just thinking about it; I can practically smell it from here.

Best wishes :-)

Andrea, are you casting stones? Please tell us more. 

I haven’t tried it myself yet, Anja. But when the time comes, I’ll be sure to let you know.

I have a silicone mold like that and have actually tried casting with it before. However, the stones were too small for my project, and I suspect that the plaster/concrete mix I used wasn’t the right material for casting.

Unfortunately, it didn’t really work out for me. Maybe I should try it again..... 

Petra , I bought this Keraflott. It’s probably similar to what used to be called Keramofix. It doesn’t bubble and is a nice white color.
I still have various casting molds from the DM days (not silicone). Maybe this will work with Keraflott too. I’ll give it a try when I get the chance. I’m already itching to get started.
But right now, I still have a crochet commission to finish. In between, I’m also doing some beading and other crafts.

It never gets boring around here.

Jeans Upcycling



First, I sewed the denim squares together, then embroidered them by hand



Now let’s see how it goes from here

Hey everyone...
Just a quick question 😁 Didn’t we used to have something like a “flea market” here on CP where books and such were offered? I just can’t seem to find it anymore 🙈
I currently have over 1.2 kg of hand-dyed sock yarn—more or less “leftovers”.... I don’t knit socks, just shawls, so I end up with up to 60 g left over, or sometimes even a whole 100 g....
If any of you are interested.... just let me know.... 

Hey, maybe this is what you’re looking for? Try entering this text as the keyword in the “Search the Forum” box at the top right:

Book Flea Market for Everyone





The acorn production is underway.... 

Petra, the stars on the jeans are awesome! I’d already noticed that on P...., with a heart. I want to make that too. Someday.

  I got the idea for the crown pillows because I bought one at one of those “secondhand” shops. After a few washes, it got all clumpy, so I decided to replace the filling. Now it’s like new again *yay*.
There was some real junk in there—see for yourselves. On the right are the clumps; on the left is what I put in instead: 

@Mel – it turned out really beautiful. Are there more to come? Maybe in different colors?

I added some felted rose hips yesterday

No, Petra, but I’d like to use it as part of a Christmas scene. Then arrange the whole thing inside a lantern 

I’m trying something new... 



An old book with a fabric cover



Let’s see what it turns out to be

Successful book and blouse upcycling

What a lovely idea ☺️....
The nutcracker, too 😊
I’m working on the knot. It was actually supposed to be a Christmas tree, but somehow I just couldn’t stop last night 😂
Now it’s turning into… I have no idea—I’ll just go with the flow. I have more than enough yarn for it. 


Mel, the Nutcracker looks exactly like my ex-boss—I’m cracking up right now! 

Petra, I didn’t get the part about the book. Fabric wrapped around an old book? Why? What kind of book is it? A diary? 

Steffi, it doesn’t matter what it turns out to be—it looks great! 

I made a cushion for the outdoor cat house. Fabric from an old parasol, foam cut out of an old guest mattress. 
I’m glad it fits and closes properly, but it’s not exactly perfect. I don’t know—I measure carefully, and yet this is what happens: one side was too wide, one too narrow, one too short, and one too long. Phew. That’s why the corners aren’t so precise either. Well, it serves its purpose, but I still haven’t figured out how far to sew when joining pieces like this (probably not all the way into the other seam?). 
 

@Anja—it’s just some book from a public bookcase. I was referring to the colorful hardcover book cover.

Fabric on fabric—because I like it. So far, I’ve always sewn small pillows from my embroidery projects. This time, it’s like a picture. 



Oh, okay Petra.
I actually saw a post online yesterday where someone took the insides out of some books, covered them with fabric, sewed a zipper in between, and used it as a purse. I thought you might have done that too.

I got 24 little doilies.
What can I do with them besides sewing them onto something?

My aunt sewed a curtain from them. 

But she used different sizes and sewed fabric in between in some places. 

I also really like pillows with these little pieces. 

The number 24 just screams “Advent calendar.” Maybe sew it onto fabric pouches or glue it onto paper bags?

Pretty doilies. Maybe crochet them all together into one big doily. Place a round one in the center and arrange all the others in a circle.
Or crochet each doily onto a wooden or metal ring for window decor or as a dreamcatcher. Those are some of my ideas.

@Libelle, if my nutcracker looks like your ex-boss, was that ex-boss maybe Jean Pütz?😂

😂🤩😂 Yeah, Jean Pütz is actually getting even closer to the Nutcracker. I sent a screenshot of your work to a former coworker, and he immediately asked if I’d crocheted my ex-boss. 

After finishing a UFO on Thursday, I started something new yesterday.

I’ve noticed that fall is my favorite time of year for crafting. There aren’t as many ideas and possibilities for new projects at Christmas or Easter.

What’s your favorite time of year for crafting?

Happy Halloween 🎃👻🍬👻🍬

Oh, that’s so cute, Petra ♡

Yeah, summer just isn’t my thing—my hands always get so sweaty. Fall is my favorite season anyway.

I like to crochet in the spring and summer. Those are also my go-to bright colors, even though I really like the autumn trees with their colorful foliage—but they’re too dark for crocheting.
Christmas works well with green, white, and red, too.

Andrea, you need a decent LED lamp. Then it’ll work great. 

Nah, Anja, don’t worry about it. :-) I have a nice, bright floor lamp.

I just meant that dark colors aren’t really my thing. I like working with bright colors (pastels, neon, bold bright colors, etc.)

Oh, I see Andrea 😇
You could also make something nice and pastel-colored out of cozy yarn. Mohair or something like that. 

Hello? It’s so quiet here. 

Yeahhhh..... It’s really quiet here.... I guess everyone’s doing some fall cleaning in the garden or something 🤷
I’m currently knitting a sweater with a circular yoke worked from the top down. It’s just so hard to knit right now. The yarn actually glides pretty well over the needle—I’m using my favorite needles—but somehow it’s just not going right. I still have a few rounds of the pattern left to go, and then it’ll get “boring”—just nice and steady knit stitches round after round.... 

Hi, my dear! 
What ever happened to your 10-STITCH blanket? 

Yesterday, for the first time in 3 weeks, I worked on my Granny RVO again. With the baby kitten around, I didn’t get anything done. 

Yes, it’s been very quiet. I’m not knitting or crocheting at all right now. I’m busy at the sewing machine.

I’ve shown my work in other posts.

Fall and a new blanket. The first blanket is on hold for now, since I’m not entirely satisfied with the result.

And we need a picnic blanket for the summer. 

Anja, just like Babykatz—have you had a new addition to the family?

I just read that too. A baby kitten, how cute. We'd love a photo, Anja.

Petra, the picnic blanket is really pretty.


Have a great weekend, everyone
It's pretty windy here

Yes, I'm too old for babies; now I'm becoming a cat lady. 🤪
Though kittens are exhausting too. What energy and playfulness. A mix of sweet and phew. 
But when she lies with me and cuddles, she fills the holes in my soul... 🥰

Oh, a chubby little bundle, all black

They’re so cute when they’re that small and probably everywhere. Better put your yarn somewhere safe.

For me, today was UFO time. One less..... 

Oh wow, Petra! How do you manage to make it fit the glass perfectly? Elastic?

No, measure and sew, very close and tight. And then sew again, just a little, if it’s too loose. 

Another one, finished for a while now

Anja, things are definitely anything but boring for you right now.
Your new companion is so cute.

At the supermarket, they put a display of yarn in fall colors right in my way—of course, I couldn’t just walk past it.
So I picked up two balls of yarn and crocheted this pumpkin—as if there weren’t already enough of them lying around here.



This is just part of my pumpkin decor—actually, I really have enough already. But for me, it’s like an addiction—I just have to crochet at least one more.




Otherwise, I spend more time at the sewing machine, or we’re out and about somewhere.

My husband still has a few days off, and whenever he does, he always wants to do something. This year, he’s really restless.

Last month, for example, we saw the Walter Moers exhibition at the Ludwig-Galerie in Oberhausen, and “Planet Ocean” at the Gasometer.
At the theater, there was *Der kleine Horrorladen*, and in the Sauerland region, we took a boat across Lake Sorpe and then walked back.
We went to Lake Möhnesee and spent a few days by the sea in Holland.
We also built a workbench in the garage and bought a few chairs from the ’60s that we’d like to restore.
I’d be happy if things could calm down a bit around here again…

Haha Claudia, Petra had a pumpkin phase too, after all... 🎃
If you’re having fun, go for it. 

Claudia, you’ve been very active there. But I think it’s nice to plan activities with family or friends and discover interesting things together.

It’s similar for me with the pumpkins. This year, I tried my hand at sewing one—it’s still in my craft basket waiting to be finished—and another made from an old sweater. I still need to practice this version until I’m happy with it. But I’m saving that for next fall.

After finishing the lantern, I continued working on my blanket yesterday

Are you embroidering that by hand, Petra?

Yes, the motifs are hand-stitched. Then I’ll add some Xs by hand to a few colorful fabrics.

  Then the backing fabric, and sew everything together—with the sewing machine.

And then, using the sewing machine again, sew the small squares to the back along with the Xs and possibly frame other squares as well, also with the sewing machine.

That’s my plan for now.

But things are getting pretty crowded around the sewing machine. I’ll have to roll everything up really neatly...... 

I’ve actually managed to knit a few rounds over the last few evenings.... 


The dark yarn is a multi-strand yarn—three strands of wool and one strand of dark green silk. I’m not too fond of the stitch definition yet, but I know the yarn will look better after washing. This time, I actually knitted a gauge swatch 😁
And I was at the sewing machine—the things we do for the cat 😂
Not pretty, but unusual... I needed a place for “Miss Senile” to sleep really fast. 

It used to be a pillow 😁
The sewing machine and I still aren’t going to be friends 🤷

You’re showing off such lovely projects. If I could ever make everything I like, I’d have to live to be over 100 years old. 😅
I’m currently knitting a summer dress. The back is already finished. Now I’m working on the front. 

Steffi, your sweater is going to be something special again. It already looks great. 

And your cat bed—was it accepted and occupied right away?

Galadriel-60—a summer dress, worked from the bottom up? Lace pattern and cable pattern? It looks great 

For me, this evening there was a sheep and a cupcake on my blanket. Now I’m browsing for a new motif... maybe a cow.... 

Thanks. Yes, the dress is knitted from the bottom up. I’m using a gradient yarn with a glitter thread, so it gets lighter toward the top. You can’t really see it that clearly in the picture. 

Petra, that already looks pretty bulky. Will you still be able to get it through your sewing machine? I imagine it’ll be quite a feat to get a straight seam in there.
But the blanket is sure to turn out great, and you’ve already made good progress.

Steffi, that looks awesome. WOW!

Galadriel, what a wonderful color—it goes great with the playful pattern.
Almost all of us know what it’s like to have way too many projects on our list. 🤣


It was my sister’s birthday, and I’d crocheted her a blanket. I don’t even remember if I’ve shown it here before… it’s been finished for a while and was just waiting to be given to her.
She really loved it.

Oh man, you guys were creative again. All I can say is WOW.

I just tried something out to pass the time.
Based on a video tutorial:

Christmas stars. The brown one looks like a cinnamon star with icing.
I’m sure there will be more. They’re quick to crochet.

Claudia, the blanket is great. Is it crocheted in one piece or made of individual squares?

Sewing on the sewing machine works pretty well if you roll the blanket up to the right and have plenty of room to slide it on the left. It would be great to have a sewing machine recessed into a large table, but it works pretty well this way, too.

Andrea, your stars are beautiful. Do they include post double crochet stitches? Are you hanging them up, or using them as coasters? I can also imagine them as gift tags for Christmas mail. 

I think Claudia ’s blanket is Tunisian crochet or Entrelac. Not sure if they’re the same thing. With that technique, you crochet the individual squares all at once, so they’re in one piece.
The border is interesting. Are those muffins?

Thanks, Petra —yes, there are post double crochets in there: vRStb and hRStb. Maybe I’ll crochet two stars at a time, sew them together, and hang them in the window. They’re just the right size as coasters, but a bit too big as ornaments—though I could use thin yarn for that. I’ll give that a try. I think they’d look cute. Once starched, they could be used as gift tags or tree ornaments.

Petra, when I picture the amount of fabric lying in front of the machine—isn’t that bound to be bulky and pretty stiff?
I’ve been imagining a blanket made from old jeans for a while now, but I’m still a bit intimidated by the idea.
While on vacation in the U.S., we saw lots of these blankets at markets—some were real works of art. Too bad they don’t fit in a suitcase… because the prices are pretty steep.

By the way, Andrea is right—that’s Tunisian entrelac.
You start with a square, and then crochet directly across diagonally or in a staircase pattern. Only the stitches from one square are on the hook at a time.

Yes, Andrea, those are muffins to top it off—I thought they were really cute.

I really like your stars. They’d be lovely as gift decorations or for a door wreath…
Christmas still seems so far away to me right now, but it really isn’t that far off anymore.

We were out and about in Cologne yesterday and picked up a small sideboard and a ladder shelf from the ’60s—we’ll be restoring those over the next few weeks.
Then we’ll just need to replace our dining set so everything in the living room matches again.
We’ll have to be patient until we find the right pieces—you just can’t find them at a furniture store. But we think it’s worth it.

Claudia - the journey is the destination. I mean when it comes to finding things. I think it’s exciting to keep looking and searching. Isn’t that part of it? 

I’d rather stroll through flea markets or walk through the streets to find the right thing. I wouldn’t really look for it online, although by now there are lots of sites where you can find older things. 

I imagine jeans for a blanket would be stiff to sew, so I’d look into whether and how that works. But I have cotton fabrics, and for fleece I used a fleece blanket that had been living in the closet. But I was also surprised by how soft, warm, and thin this blanket is. Really no problem to sew. 

For my 1st blanket (currently a UFO), I sewed in a thick fleece for the 1st square. At that size, that probably wouldn’t be manageable under the sewing machine. 

I really like your muffins as a border. I haven’t tried Tunisian crochet yet. But it sounds good that you always crochet it right on. 

Things are getting wintery over here 😂

I was browsing at Tedi 🙈 and discovered 7-cm wooden rings and macramé cord. So, I tied a star/snowflake last night.
I had to go to the optometrist for a new pair of glasses. Let’s just say, after the eye exam, she didn’t really want to sell me a pair, so now I have an appointment with the ophthalmologist 😕 Until then, I’ll try not to let it get to me... 

Steffi, your star turned out beautifully. The glittery yarn makes it perfect for Christmas.

Hope you can get an appointment with the eye doctor soon.

I’m still using my embroidery needle.

[image removed]

A 👽 UFO



And the finished project



My cookie jar for the Advent season

I really like this—it would be perfect right now 😊 I’ve planned to bake my first batch of cookies tomorrow morning 😁 homemade, of course.... The dough is already resting in the fridge. 

Steffi, what are you baking for whom? I’m in the mood for cookies—a little Christmassy, but not too much 🤣

Chocolate-coconut... Chocolate cookie dough on the outside and a coconut filling on the inside... Heidesand cookies are always a good option too... 

To all you sewing ladies out there,

I ordered some sewing machine needles and there was this little booklet included called “Needle ABC.” I still haven’t quite figured out the different gauges, but what completely blew my mind was this tip: It’s best to change the needle after every sewing project, or at the latest after 8 hours of sewing with the same needle.

Whaaaaat? That would mean endless wear and tear. Huh? 

A good needle is important. I’ve learned that by now.

I was sewing and ended up with an unsightly seam. I adjusted the thread tension a bit, and it got better—though it still wasn’t quite right. I kept sewing. Suddenly, the thread started looping all over the place. I was desperate. 

Then I watched a video about proper thread tension on the sewing machine. It explained that when a needle gets dull or develops a small irregularity, the thread can no longer be sewn properly. The needle gets caught on these tiny snags, and that’s when those big loops form, just like what happened to me. 

I changed the needle, and the seam was perfect. 

Does 8 hours of sewing mean it’s time to replace the needle? Just try it out to see how long your seam looks good without any loops forming.

But a sharp, undamaged needle is important—that was explained really well in the video. 

Good to know. I don’t sew that often, but I didn’t realize the needle could get dull? Learned something new again.
Thanks for the info.

Petra, you’re absolutely right that “the journey is the destination,” and I like flea markets too… but I tend to find mostly small trinkets there.

I haven’t seen a single piece of furniture there that suits us yet. When we find something online, it’s unfortunately rarely nearby.

We once went to Cologne, but the shelf didn’t fit in the car because the sellers had measured it wrong. We ended up taking a walk along the Rhine and tried to make the best of it.
This time, though, everything worked out well—it was exactly as described.

You’re right—cotton fabrics aren’t as stiff as denim, of course; I hadn’t thought of that. But I have this image in my head, and that’s denim with open seams…
Oh well, let’s just leave it at that for now.

By the way, your cookie jar is great, too.
This past weekend we were at my in-laws’ place, helping them bring the plants inside. In their mid-80s, that kind of thing is hard for them now.
Our balcony is now winter-ready, too—everything that’s sensitive to the cold is protected.


Steffi, good luck at the eye doctor. Getting appointments isn’t so easy these days.

I’ve had a pre-dough for gingerbread based on an old recipe sitting in the fridge for a while now; it’s supposed to rest for 3 months before baking. 
This is my first time doing this, and I’m already curious to see how it turns out. This week, I’m planning to make stollen; they’re supposed to rest for six weeks before being sliced. We had them last year too, and they were really delicious.
Chocolate and coconut sounds very tasty as well.

Anja, you really do notice the difference with the needles. Petra described it well—if the seam looks uneven, changing the needle usually helps. But I only change it when the machine starts acting up—usually the needle lasts longer than specified. How long the needle works well also depends a lot on the fabric you’re using.

Before the weekend, I sewed two more doorstops from fabric scraps, which I painted with acrylic paint. The dark one was the prototype and is staying here; the light one is being given away today.

Wow, they’re awesome Claudia ♡ 
I like the dark one better with the round cheeks. 

Let the dough rest for 3 months? Huh? What’s supposed to be in there that won’t go bad by then??? 

Claudia I'm curious about your gingerbread dough. Will that be something with my Lievito Madre? 

Stollen is on my plan for the 1st Sunday of Advent too. But I have a recipe that can be eaten right after baking. That way I can bake another batch during Advent if we eat everything too quickly. 

Your doorstoppers are fun. The recipient will definitely be very happy. 

I'm planning something new. Something small for in between. I printed something out and am puzzling over where a pattern piece begins and where it ends. I want to sew tomorrow. 

Here’s the new thread:
November 2024 Projects, Part 2: the Crazypatterns Craft Group