End of June / Summer – How’s it going? (No advertising)

Dear users, dear authors,
June is almost over, but summer isn’t over yet. :-)
How’s it going? How’s your crafting coming along? What about your UFOs? Your yarn stash? When are you heading off on vacation?
Let me know.

Hi,

well, the UFOs are still UFOs. I’m not really getting anywhere with new projects either.
My yarn stash is growing steadily because, somehow, nothing’s moving forward.

Am Saturday I’m going on vacation. 15 days...... Thank goodness. I’m really
ready for a vacation.

Best regards, Heike

I won’t be on vacation until the end of August—but that has the advantage that I’ll still have it ahead of me when everyone else at work has already had theirs. Plus, I’d like to stay home for a day here and there in between so we can do things with the kids.

I’m not adding any more UFOs right now. I consider THAT a success. But maybe that’s also because it’s too hot for me to do crafts during the day at the moment. It’s fine in the evenings, though—I’m still working on the blanket for my daughter, which is growing slowly but surely.

My yarn stash is waiting for the next yarn delivery. I don’t want to be left without new UFOs if it suddenly gets a bit cooler—it should arrive today, or tomorrow at the latest....
This time, my husband is looking forward to it more than I am, because the yarn is for a project he’s been wanting to do.

Otherwise, everything’s going great. The kids are healthy, and starting next week, it’s summer break for us. The weather is perfect for swimming, and at work, things are going smoothly without too much stress or too many overtime hours.

Vacation—what’s that?? You’ve got it good!
But I really can’t complain, because after all, we have mountains and gorgeous lakes practically right on our doorstep here :-)). There’s just one problem: knitting underwater is a bit difficult—grinnssss

The UFOs are just UFOs—I usually come up with something else again, or there’s a project that’s more important than a UFO like that—do you know that too? At the moment, writing patterns isn’t coming so easily to me, probably because there’s already so much in my head waiting to be put into practice, and my new yarns in the shop... My fingers are itching all over ;-)

Wishing everyone a wonderful summer!
Best regards,
Traudelina

A vacation in the sense of traveling isn’t in the cards.
But when the weather’s nice, I enjoy “balcony life.”

The view of the titmice and sparrows going about their business right from my workspace makes up for it.

I’ve got UFOs flying around here.
I’m continuing to work on some of them, while for others I’m thinking about how to proceed.

I don’t really go on vacations in the sense of traveling either. But actually, I live where others go on vacation. I’m surrounded by forests, mountains, streams, and meadows, and I take full advantage of that. Since I’ve been a full-time freelancer for two months now, I can manage my time however I want and spend a lot of time outdoors. As a side effect, that means I haven’t made much progress on my UFOs :-)

We’re heading to Greece in early September, and at the end of October we’re taking a cruise from New York to Barbados. I’m really looking forward to it.
I only have one UFO left here; I’m working on—or rather, calculating and recalculating—a new project.

With all the holidays, we’ve gotten so used to these short weeks that we’re going to keep it up for a bit longer and squeeze in an occasional day off here and there over the next little while. We’ll be going on a real vacation in September… 3 weeks in Canada in an RV. It’s going to be great and relaxing.

My yarn stash is shrinking right now—I’ve been spending a lot of time at a hospital bedside, crocheting shawls from my stash on the side. As a result, the UFOs are being left untouched, and unfortunately, there are still quite a few of them.

Oh, Canada—that brings back memories from what feels like an eternity ago.
May I ask which province you’re heading to, Petra?

Canada is so amazing. We once took a trip starting in Vancouver, through the Rockies, all the way up to the Alaska border, and then back by boat to Victoria Island. It was fantastic.

Things aren’t going so well for me right now. I’m just in a bit of a slump—I don’t really feel like starting any new projects.

I’ve already been on vacation, and since my husband’s company is shut down for the holidays, we’re spending a few nice days at home.

Best regards, Petra

Yeah, I’m in a bit of a creative slump right now.
Isn’t that funny? You’re working on a pattern, and while you’re at it, a few ideas pop into your head about what you could make next. I quickly jot them down in my little notebook.
Then I finish the pattern, suddenly think all the ideas I wrote down are silly, and sit there with nothing coming to mind. Hmmpf.

I only have two real UFOs: a crocheted vest I started for myself, where I ran out of yarn and can’t find any more of it. I’ll have to take the time to look for a matching yarn to finish it. And my patchwork jacket—that must be a UFO—I’m using up all my blue and green scraps bit by bit.

Vaaacation, yessss, in August. We’ll be spending a few days in Holland, visiting our Dutch relatives, whom we really like.

Best wishes, Caro

Good morning!

I have tons of ideas, plenty of yarn too (and UFOs as well...), but unfortunately also a ton of work on the new house, with the kids, etc...
My second-youngest starts the “big kids' kindergarten group” on August 10—which is desperately needed, partly so the youngest can have a proper midday nap regularly...and then I’ll finally have time again for proper patterns…
Actually, I’d also wanted to take part in the color challenge—my pattern is two-thirds done, but I just haven’t been able to get anything done on it these past few days…
Otherwise, I’m pretty happy with sales—they’re steadily trickling in, and the fact that they’re keeping up despite the often nice weather makes me feel really positive, even if it’s just one or two sales a day… I still haven’t given up on my dream of making it through a full year without a single day with zero sales.

I’m about to post the third part of my CAL, which is going really well, so the participants can keep going—they’re already champing at the bit *laughs*

Best, Nina

My trip back then took me from Vancouver to Jasper, Banff, and various other cities, and then back to Vancouver.

Maybe someday it’ll work out, and I’ll be able to go there with my daughter this time.

As for ideas for patterns: I’ve been tinkering with one for months now.

@Traudi

If I lived where you live, I’d never need to go on vacation again. ;-)


I don’t have any UFOs—they’re all WIPs (works in progress). I just finished the summer poncho for the color challenge (yee-hah!) and have cast on for my next project.
  It’s going to be a shawl for a CAL.

My vacation isn’t until late August/early September—10 days at Lake Chiemsee. ☺️

@Michaela
Sounds good. So you're feeling fit again??
I'm looking forward to our meetup here in our vacation region
Best regards
Traudelina

What is a CAL?

My UFOs are still blissfully dreaming; at least I took another look at them…
I’m hoping for those cooler days that are on the way, so I’ll have more energy for crafting again!

@Traudi 

Well, not quite fully fit yet, but I’m getting there. ;-) 
I’m looking forward to it too. 

@Christina

A CAL is a crochet-a-long; in German that basically means “crocheting together.” 
There’s also a knitting version. 
It works like this: lots of people knit or crochet together following a pattern.  
Online, the pattern is released in parts and then worked step by step. Photos of the progress are then shared via social networks like Facebook. :-) 

Hi Michaela

That sounds exciting… Who’s participating in a project like this? Is it open to anyone interested, or just a select group? I’ve never heard of it before (I’m not on Facebook either).

Still wishing you continued good recovery!

Best wishes, Christina

@Christina, until recently, I’d never heard of CAL either—I only found out about it through ZwergnaseBaer. Then it didn’t take long at all before I joined your group (even though I’m not a big fan of Facebook and don’t really know my way around it).
What can I say—I’m jumping right in, even though I don’t really have time. But it relaxes me, and I look forward to a new pattern every day (which, by the way, is PERFECT in my eyes—and I always thought mine were pretty good).
So, the group is closed now; it’s best if you get in touch with Nina (ZwergnaseBaer).
In short, it’s just fun—and what could be better?

Have a nice evening! Best regards, Petra

@Christina

It is organized in a group in the vast majority of cases, for example on Facebook, or in crafting forums.
On Facebook, it’s common for the pattern to be accessible only to members of the relevant group. 

@cteateowl, Banff is such a beautiful city. A dreamlike setting

Good morning. Vacation has been over since today. We spent 1.5 weeks in Breisgau. It was very beautiful and relaxing, just much too hot. As someone from northern Germany, I'm not really used to 35 degrees. 
I had a new project with me, a baby blanket. I managed about 12 rows. So not really much. Now I'm back home and turning my attention to my bigger project. A music box shaped like a car. We'll see. 
But I only have a total of 18 more days of work anyway, and then I still have my last vacation days first, and then maternity leave.
 A strange feeling. But then there will be more time for nesting. 

@Arni
Wishing you all the best, and enjoy the time!