Kategorie: gestrickt

lovely egg cozy

Veröffentlicht am von Carina6 Kommentare

It was probably right around Valentine’s day when the stores started selling Easter Chocolate, Easter eggs, Easter jelly beans and Easter candy. There were still another two months to go, but you would get all sorts of Easter decoration at the drug store and Easter greeting cards at the stationary shop. Easter EVERYWHERE! I did my best to ignore all of that until …

… I ran into Crazy Dazy’s  lovely Egg Cozies. And before I knew it I found myself in an armchair knitting a little bunny lady.

The pattern is easy to understand, anyone used to knit in rounds with four (or five) double-pointed knitting needles shouldn’t have a problem to follow. However, this little lady will stay single, a lone wolf … Knitting something that small, those tiny ears, embroidering the minuscule nose, and making a mini pom-pom is definitely not for me. Sadly!

Fortunately, Easter in our house is with hard boiled eggs that do not need a cozy 🙂 Consequently, the lady will either become a stuffed animal and live with the boy or move out …

—

Update in 2019: the pattern is no longer available for free. It can be bought at ravelry.

Small Horse, „Waldorf style“

Veröffentlicht am von Carina19 Kommentare

And then – bam! – a horse appeared. Just like that, out of nowhere! Even better – it came from a Waldorf kindergarten. But let’s start from the beginning:

At the moment, I’m juggling a couple of projects—a colorful African Flower blanket and a new cover for a footstool/ottoman (posts to come!)—but it seems that coming across an unusual or inspiring pattern almost always makes me put everything on hold and start something new. That’s exactly what happened when I stumbled across the homepage of a German Waldorf kindergarten suggesting knit farm animals. I immediately fell for the horse. The pattern is simple, quick, and the finished result is absolutely delightful. Now our little herd has grown to a band of wild horses… and one zebra.

 

horse Waldorf-Kindergarten häkelmonster

The way it works is straightforward: first, you knit the body according to the pattern. It’s all done in one piece with a few increases and decreases, and honestly, it’s quick—done in about an hour. Then you fold it in half and finally join it together, making sure to work in the tail along the way. So far, none of the horses I’ve made have ears or a mane—I’m not a fan of the ears the pattern suggests, and I haven’t figured out a good way to do the mane. But honestly, isn’t it just as loveable even without them?

My own labels

Veröffentlicht am von Carina

Those little labels that say “haekelmonster.com” are an early Christmas present to myself this year, and I have to admit – they bring me an unexpected, almost guilty kind of joy. Every time I attach one to something I’ve made, there’s this thrill, a tingling, goosebump-inducing moment of satisfaction.

I know, I know – it’s pure vanity, a little indulgent, but it feels so good.

There’s something incredibly rewarding about seeing your own mark on a handmade piece, a small, personal signature that says, yes, this came from me. It’s nothing big, but it makes all the time and care I put into creating feel even more special.labels

wrist warmers

Veröffentlicht am von Carina2 Kommentare

This year’s wrist warmers are decked out in classic Christmas colors – rich red, deep green, and soft light grey. With the temperatures as low as they are, it’s definitely cold enough to wear them. I spent the morning carefully packing them all up, and now I’m off to the post office to send them on their way.

There’s so much snow in Berlin at the moment that it actually feels like Christmas! The kind of scene you dream about in holiday stories… if only I had a sleigh to ride through it or a long white beard to complete the festive look 😉

wrist warmers häkelmonster

wrist warmers häkelmonsterAnd the very warm ones:

wrist warmers häkelmonsterBe that as it may, I’ve already started thinking about New Year’s resolutions – do you? One in particular keeps popping into my mind: I really want to learn how to knit Fair Isle properly. There’s something so appealing about the clean, even colorwork it creates. I know it would make wrist warmers (and other projects) so much nicer, without all those pesky loops and tangles on the inside.

I’d love any advice or recommendations – whether it’s a book, a video tutorial, or even a course. Anything that could help me get started and actually understand the technique. Has anyone tried it and fallen in love like I think I will? I’m all ears!

Another Blanket

Veröffentlicht am von Carina2 Kommentare

Another blanket finished! Fall always makes me crave the warmth and comfort of blankets, and this one was no exception. But this time, it’s for a baby boy, which makes it extra special. I made it out of diagonal knitted squares, pieced together from leftover sock yarn. That not only gives the blanket a soft and cozy feel, but also makes it surprisingly sturdy—perfect for when a toddler hopefully drags it around everywhere someday. Each square adds a little bit of charm and character, and together they create a playful, textured pattern that’s as fun to look at as it is to snuggle under.