Currently knitting and baking...

It's beginning to look like christmas here in Germany. We've even had a little bit of snow this week. In between working and finding the perfect christmas decoration, I'm doing a lot of crafting and baking at the moment.

Unfortunately I can't show you all of the knitting and crochet projects I'm working on at the moment because they're mostly gifts for family and friends and I don't want those who read my blog to see their gifts before christmas. However, you can have a look at my knit and crochet gift ideas on pinterest. 

I've almost finished knitting this herringbone cowl, it's a really cool stitch (never seen it before) and you need only 100grams of wool (if you have any leftovers). I chose a different colour because it's a gift to wear with neutral colours. 

I also want to take part in this Knitalong where we are going to knit a cushion with a fair isle Norwegian style pattern. I've ordered the wool for the small cushion from their shop. It's a fantastic. I hope to be able to start knitting soon. 

Besides, it's cookie time!!! I've already made a lot last weekend. 

What is your favourite activity during christmas time? Baking or making gifts? Do you have proposals for home made gifts?
Have a nice time eating cookies, drinking mulled wine at the christmas market and decorating your apartment. Love, Kerstine

Project #16: Coin Bracelet

A few weeks ago I put an idea into action that I've been having in my head for months. This is what I'm showing you today. You may already know about my love of Norway and as I happen to be there several times a year, I've always got some Norwegian crowns lying around waiting to be spent during my next visit. 

I like their design a lot, especially the ones with holes in the middle have always been pretty for me.

So I came up with the idea to use a one-crown-coin for a bracelet. This way I can always carry a memory of the country and our great holidays there with me. It's a special souvenir.

The method I used for the bracelet is nothing special but I have never tried it before, so it was new to me. I used a blue cotton thread from my local craft store and the (very good) instructions from the blog Tippy & Tassel. I tied a clasp to the ends and fixed the ends with clear nail polish to prevent them from opening up.

You could surely use different coins, e. g. the five-crowns-coin which is bigger (see the photos), or even a small key and any robust thread. However, I like my new bracelet a lot and I think this would also make a great gift. Which coin or object would you use for a bracelet? Love, Kerstine.

72 hours in London

I've been to London before but I had totally forgotton how fabulous this city is! I enjoyed last weekend so much! Can't wait to come back!!! I'm totally in love... (that's why there are more photos than words this time). We enjoyed...

...great Italian food and coffee...

...nice old buildings and architecture 

...cosy pubs with great local beer and food...

...the must sees...

 

...the mix of contemporary and historical buildings in the city...

...Shopping in Harrods (a littlte bit)

...English breakfast - yum!!!(we don't have it like this in Germany)...

 Hope you like my photos, they're just snapshots of what I particularly loved.
Which European City do you love and why? Where shoud I go next with my husband?

Love, Kerstine

Projects #14 & 15: Crochet Owl Rattle and Baby Slippers

A few weeks ago I crocheted a baby rattle and some tiny slippers for a friend's new born girl. So here's how they turned out. I found the owl pattern on pinterest and immediately wanted to make it. It can be purchased from Tamara Gaal on Ravelry. I already know that I'll make more of those when there are more babies. It's sooo cute! You need many different yarn colours and a rattle ball which I ordered on the internet.

It was quite easy to make, the only boring thing was sewing all the different parts together in the end. But I can live with that if it turns out to be so cool.

The other present I made were a pair of really nice slippers. I used this pattern but you have to be a little creative here as this is only the pattern for the right shoe (the left one naturally has to be a bit different). For the flower, I just figured something out myself. You find a lot of patterns for flowers on the internet, the ladybird is just a crocheted circle with four red stitches plus two black stitches and embroidered dots. I really enjoyed making these things. Love, Kerstine

Project #13: Knitted Cactus

Finally here's a new project. I know, I haven't posted much lately because I just had a lot of things going on - work (you know what I mean) and also private things. I also went on a 10-day-vacation to Southern Norway with my husband (more about that coming in a post soon, I promise).

This is one of my latest project - a knitted cactus. I think, it looks really great!

I got the idea and the pattern for this cactus from the German knitting magazine "Simply Stricken". It's really easy to make and I got to use some of my leftover wool, which is great as I never know what to do with it. 

You just knit a little tube (preferably a rib pattern) from nice yarn (I used both a simple acrylic yarn and a mohair yarn at the same time) and at the end pull it together and fill it with filling material. You can add a little flower if you like. I then glued it into the little flower pot (which I bought at my local craft shop) and put the pins in.

Now it can be used as pin cushion. So it isn't just a nice decoration but can actually come in useful. I'm gonna have to make another one for myself though because I gave this one to a friend for her birthday.

What do you think of my cactus? Have you ever knitted any plants? Love, Kerstine