Bazillus

One of the kid’s classmates seemed to be in need of a Boo Boo doll, so last December Bazillus moved in with him. From that moment on, he became a constant companion—going to school every day with his new owner, tucked into a backpack, sitting through lessons, and quietly munching away on any worries that came his way.

By now, he’s with a second grader turned third grader, and it’s safe to say Bazillus has seen a lot. Between bedtime cuddles, long days in a school bag, and all the adventures (and germs) of public places, he’s definitely lived a full and rather demanding life—his name really suits him these days. Maybe it’s time I took a new photo, because he’s clearly been through a lot and doesn’t quite look as fresh as he once did.

This is what Bazillus looked like when he was younger:

The Boo Boo

The whole monster story started back in 2010. The kid spotted one in a shop window and immediately wanted it – really wanted it. It was sewn, with a zipper for a mouth, and next to it was a little note explaining that this creature’s job was to gobble up children’s worries and sorrows. What surprised me most was how strongly he reacted. He’d never been interested in stuffed animals before – not even as a baby. Suddenly he would not let go of the idea of this “boo boo doll.”

So I improvised.

Since I don’t sew, I bought some cheap cotton yarn in whatever colors I could find (not exactly pretty ones, but it didn’t matter) and started to crochet. Long story short – the kid couldn’t have cared less about the colors. Before I had woven in the last thread, Boo Boo was claimed, carried upstairs, and instantly became part of the family. To this day, he won’t go to bed without him. Boo Boo is held close all night, comes along for sleepovers, and even joins us downstairs for breakfast.

And he really did take his job seriously. Whenever there was a worry, the kid would write it down and feed the little note into the toy’s mouth. Sometimes it took a while – especially with bigger worries, like when my dad was in the hospital – but somehow, Boo Boo always managed in the end. Every worry, sooner or later, found a way to a happy ending.

If you’re curious about the original version we saw in that shop window back then, try searching for “Sorgenfresser.”boo boo häkelmonster

The Horse

A cousin and his wife just had a baby girl – Beatriz – and for her baptism, I’m planning to give her a little handmade horse. As I’m looking at it now, I keep wondering if I should add a bright red ribbon around its neck… it feels just a bit pale as it is, and a pop of color might bring it to life.

On the other hand, I really like how simple and soft it looks. It’s made entirely from cotton, inside and out, so it’s easy to wash and completely safe—nothing to worry about if it becomes a well-loved, well-chewed companion. I keep going back and forth, but maybe that’s part of the process. In the end, I just hope she’ll love it as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

Albertha & friend

Looks like I’m not quite done with the little people after all—here are two more to add to the collection. It’s still foggy and gray outside; I honestly don’t remember seeing the sun for at least a week. Consequently, the kid insisted that the little people get dressed—he said it’s far too cold to run around naked.

So here they are: Albertha, on the right, the very first doll to get a proper name, and her nameless friend. The kid came up with Albertha himself, inspired by his two favorite teams: Alba Berlin (basketball) and Hertha BSC (soccer). Al-Ber-tha – Apparently, he has two hearts in his chest—one for each team—and both fight for attention at the same time! Or – to quote J. W. von Goethe – “two souls, alas, are housed within his breast, and each will wrestle for the mastery there.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself 😉

Even on these foggy, gray days, little people keep life playful and even a bit magical.

Bunny? Done.

It took me quite a while, longer than I expected, but the bunny is finally finished. Every little stitch, every turn of the hook, and all the adjustments along the way took time, patience, and a fair bit of trial and error. But seeing it all come together in the end—the shape, the little quirks, the personality I tried to give it—makes the effort feel completely worth it. The bunny is done at last, ready to hop into the world and bring a little bit of handmade charm wherever it goes.