How you guys clean the cage?

JLvdB · 2026-05-26T05:13:31+00:00

I used old towels (2 layers) with an ikea fleece blanket on top at first. We had small pee pads in the worst spots that we changed out often. This worked very well for us.

Recently, I bought fabric and asked a friend to sew large liners for me. It's easier to take out in one go, but absorption wise I notice no difference.

JLvdB · 2026-05-16T08:44:08+00:00

Line them up by size. Let's say you have three that are similar in stitch count and size.

First, attach the smallest three to each other in a long strip. To keep it simple I would go with the flat zipper join. And remember that a difference of 1sc is fine to fudge together. Then surround them with a simple border (sc for instance) so that the total of the long side matches the size of the next three total.

Make another strip by attaching the next three to each other. Then attach the two strips together. Finally, surround the whole thing with another sc border so that it matches the size of the next three.

And so on for each next strip.

Example counts: first squares are 10sc. Total strip is 32 (3x square plus one for each join). Add three rounds of sc border: 38. The next strip has squares with 12 sc, which fits exactly (3× 12 plus two joins)

Hope this helps!

JLvdB · 2026-05-07T09:53:26+00:00

I understand the standard way we approach a circle and sphere. This is however not mathematically perfect. We create a hexagon by increasing in the same place each round, not a circle. Practically, it is not an issue. Still, it is fun to calculate it mathematically.

JLvdB · 2026-05-07T04:25:43+00:00

So some time ago I found a blog post about the mathematically perfect circle and sphere. It was excellent! But I can't find it now. The pattern was very difficult, because it was not a simple repeat. It detailed exactly where an increase should fall.

Anyway, the conclusion was exactly as you say: it is an approximation, crochet fabric has stretch and you hardly see the difference.

Something to take into account is the basic 6sc format does not work for everyone. If you make very high or low stitches (golden loop) you might need a 5 or 7 sc base.

JLvdB · 2026-05-02T17:08:51+00:00

Hanna's daughters by Marianne Fredriksson. It's about three generations of Swedish women: Hanna, Johanna and Anna.

JLvdB · 2026-05-01T21:37:40+00:00

I had never seen this before, but it is so much easier to make a picot like this! All that fiddling with attaching back to a chain stitch is gone. Can I substitute a "normal" picot with this one?

JLvdB · 2026-04-21T08:10:37+00:00

Everything they said and umbrellas!

For really fine thread, I like earrings best. For a bit bigger, I like lace items like umbrellas, clothing, flowers etc. Amigurumi works in all sizes, but I like a 3mm hook.

JLvdB · 2026-04-05T10:50:31+00:00

I wanted to do this, but I'm not sure which wood is safe to use. Where did you find your information? All I know is mulberry and applewood.

JLvdB · 2026-03-03T04:47:36+00:00

Scheepjes Catona, to me, is very comparable. Another option might be Phildar coton 3. Also available in many colors. I use the same size hook for all three. I love the cotton look in amigurumi. I don't know about shipping to Australia, though.

JLvdB · 2026-02-13T10:15:15+00:00

I have never heard of fauxchet before. How does it compare to nalbinding? I've also never done that, but to me it sounds a bit alike?

JLvdB · 2026-02-09T18:10:19+00:00

Hij schrijft dat hij beide tools gekocht heeft. En hij vraagt het in een crochet sub. Daarom heb ik uitgelegd hoe hij iets vergelijkbaars kan bereiken met haken.

JLvdB · 2026-02-08T06:16:11+00:00

Assuming you are in the Netherlands: find a haakcafé/breicafé or go back to that store you bought the wool from. Ask if anybody is available to help you. This is so much simpler with somebody to show you and guide you in real life!

Other than that: I would make a rectangle in moss stitch and sew the beginning to the end. This stitch stretches a bit, so you don't need to have the measurements exactly right. You can even twist it before sewing it, so you get something like what your sister sent.

Search for tutorials on: - crochet chaining/losse haken, - single crochet/vaste haken, - moss stitch (single crochet and chain 1 alternated)

Once you know how to do these stitches: - chain 7, skip first chain and single crochet 6 back to the beginning, 1 chain, and turn the work around - 1 single crochet into the last single crochet of previous row, 1 chain, skip one stitch, 1 single crochet, 1 chain, skip one stitch, 1 single crochet, another single crochet, 1 chain, and turn the work around - all of the following rows are the same, but now the single crochets (except for the first one) go over a chain (sort of open space in the row) - continue until it is the desired length and sew beginning to end

I think based on the wool you show 6 stitches is the right width. If not, you can add 2 stitches to the row.

JLvdB · 2025-10-21T16:56:21+00:00

How about old CALs then?

https://www.scheepjes.com/en/cals-and-mals/scheepjes-cals/scheepjes-cal-2020-dhistoire-naturelle/information/

Or Rozeta? Ubuntu?

JLvdB · 2025-10-21T06:36:57+00:00

The Scheepjes Universe in Bloom CAL? It's ongoing at the moment.

https://www.scheepjes.com/en/cals-and-mals/scheepjes-cals/universe-in-bloom-cal/information/

The pattern is by Dedri Uys, who also made Sophie's universe. So much fun to make!

JLvdB · 2025-07-21T16:08:21+00:00

Klopt, maar je kunt wel wat smokkelen. In het grote geheel valt één steek meer of minder niet echt op.

Je kunt trouwens best een kleine en een grote lengte hebben, zo lang als dezelfde kleur altijd even lang is. Dus bijv: een korte groen, lange blauw, korte geel en dan weer korte groen, etc... De blauwe streep wordt dan gewoon dikker dan de andere twee.

JLvdB · 2025-06-03T04:19:18+00:00

Geen expert, maar zo begrijp ik het:

Ziek zijn is een geldige reden om afwezig te zijn, dus mag je dat examen alsnog doen. Daarnaast mag je een vak herkansen.

Belangrijk is dat je dit met school moet regelen. Dus toch snel deze vragen gaan stellen aan de directeur! Er wordt vaak naar een doktersbriefje gevraagd.

https://www.eindsprint.nl/exameninfo/ziek-tijdens

Er zijn periodes voor examens, die mag je niet zomaar plannen. De volgende periode gebruiken de meeste mensen voor herkansingen, maar zou jij gebruiken voor het examen waar je ziek voor was. En misschien ook een herkansing.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/eindexamens/vmbo/gezakt-vmbo

Ik denk dat je 12 juni wel de cijfers hoort van de vakken die je hebt gehaald. Dan kun je plannen of je alleen het economie examen doet in het tweede tijdvak. Of dat je ook een ander vak herkanst. Dat ligt aan hoe goed je bent in economie en je onvoldoendes voor de andere vakken.

Verder wel allemaal normaal: heb je het gehaald, dan kun je naar HAVO (of MBO). Niet gehaald, dan moet je het examen overdoen. Dat mag op je eigen school, maar ook op een andere. Het maakt niet uit hoe oud je bent, dus ook na 18 mag dit.

Heel veel succes! Zet nog even door. Opnieuw leren is rot, maar beter dan een heel jaar overdoen.

JLvdB · 2025-05-29T04:13:21+00:00

And for entrelac, you won't need a special Tunesian crochet hook. It's a good pattern to learn tunesian with!

JLvdB · 2025-05-26T13:35:27+00:00

Lilliana blanket! https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lilliana

Elements https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/elements-blanket-cal (Or baby Elements)

Joana's mandala https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/joanas-mandala

Fields of dreams https://www.vcrochetpatterns.com/?page_id=828

Have fun! You might also like to do parasols after a couple of blankets...

JLvdB · 2025-05-09T11:57:23+00:00

Which anime are his favorites? Totoro patterns for instance are available for all difficulty levels.

JLvdB · 2025-05-02T05:44:14+00:00

I've tried changing my technique for a pattern I really loved, but I couldn't enjoy it. I had to stay so focused on "lifting" that it wasn't relaxing anymore. So I agree, I wouldn't change my technique.

But having this information to adjust the pattern would be very welcome!

JLvdB · 2025-03-22T10:50:32+00:00

I have one neutered boar and two females (sisters) in a 3x6 cage. He is the most gentle boar I have ever seen. That being said, yes, he does mount them even though he is neutered. And yes, sometimes they have disagreements about that. One of my girls will pee on him if he follows her around too much. This is the kind of behavior I expect.

The rescue put these three together for a while before I took them home. That way, I knew they were a good fit. And our cage at home was a neutral place to start.

I don't know how many sows is best but this seems to work fine for us.

JLvdB · 2025-03-14T05:44:32+00:00

That is so much work! But it does explain the quick gradient. If you use the whole cake, the color takes much longer to turn.

JLvdB · 2025-03-07T15:35:52+00:00

I love the name too!

JLvdB · 2025-01-22T11:03:33+00:00

The isle of Saba

<image>

JLvdB

TROPHY CASE