Author: Chauntel Ensey

Tonight was a great night at the Java Station. Nice mix of people, there were 6 of us; Jayme, Tracy, Marin, Suzanne, Melissa & I. Great conversation topics; childbirth, nipple shot pictures in pattern books, tattoos (favorite of Tracy & I), fixing a sweater that is too big by taking in the side & raglan seams (Suzanne finished the most beautiful aran sweater and it was, let’s say roomy) and other such topics.

One great thing about knitting nights is that there are a million different topics that can be breached. With a group of knitters it’s rare to get any 2 people that have everything in common, that is what makes a group of knitters so great! All ages, backgrounds, religions, cultures (lots within our own country just different states) who knew that a knitting group could bring so many different people together with one commonality, yarn & sticks! It just makes me happy, that’s all!

What I am actually working on is a different story, I have finished the body of one gift sweater & it’s ready to have the sleeves joined on (it’s a raglan in the round sweater, bottom up) and now I am working on the sleeves, magic loop of course!

At knitting tonight I cast on for the leaf pullover out of Interweave & Loopdloop using Ecological wool color # 7009

I love this yarn & the pattern is really unique in its design and style of knitting. I am excited to really get into this pattern. The book itself is unbelievably awesome, kick-ass! That is a book that is well worth the money! Of course I didn’t buy it, Tracy did & I will have to just covet for a bit! Along with the katia book that Melissa bought I am in pattern envy right now.  <sigh> I think I can make it without breaking down & buying something…I think I can….maybe I will give myself some lofty goal & then I can get a treat, yeah that’s the ticket! Let’s say that when I am finished with all of my gifts, the camping sweater for George, the hot lava (with improved neckline) and the leafy pullover I can have something new & fun (if I have the $$ that is)! I should do a new list of shit in progress, so here goes!

*ab fab throw~yes it has been pulled out & dusted off, it’s going as a gift to someone really soon

*camping sweater for George~ sleeves & hood left to do

*raglan sweater~ gift & about half complete

*hot lava out of superbulky merino from hpy~ about 25% done

*debbie bliss fair isle yoked sweater~ just cast on rib

*leafy pullover loop d loop~ ribbing complete on lower body

*dads aran sweater for christmas~ swatch done and back cast on

*moms aran sweater for christmas~ 3″ of body started

*dusty merino hooded sweater (I don’t even remember the name of it it has been so long since I have worked on it or thought about finishing it) ~ 85% done all that is left is the hood & sewing it up!

*woolease childrens sweater, zimmerman style raglan with some striping in all pinks~ 75% done

*Sadie’s bedspread~ 40% complete

Of course if I had no self-control, which I am bordering on, I would cast on a new project daily. I can talk myself into anything, hence all the gift projects. And I tell myself that they must be done right now! They are gifts, don’t put it off….like the recipient has any clue that they are going to receive a gift this week or in a month. DUH! Oh well whatever I have to tell myself to justify it is what I tell myself!

Melissa, the vw pics will be scanned & posted tomorrow! I know you are waiting with baited breath! Typed out that saying looks really odd. Huh, odd!

 

 

…starting too many projects! I have finished a few so it’s alright I guess.

I am working on a bunch of gifts, when I say a bunch I mean a bakers dozen, that’s right 12 gifts!! That is all I am allowed to say because a number of the recipients read this blog & need to be surprised!

So let’s just say that 2 new projects were cast on last night & I am just about to go in & start another one. As they are completed & given away I will post pictures, I promise!

THe fair isle poncho turned out so cute I can’t believe it! Fun to do something a little different than sweater after sweater too.

I am dying to get this book

The patterns are unbelievably bad-ass! The whole scandinavian thing is such a draw to me since my husband grew up in Denmark. Love it! I just don’t like to spend months on a project, or cut out all other projects just to finish it faster. Ah well, sacrifices must be made!

This is the first thing I would make

of course I would have to sew a skirt to wear with it! Petticoats anyone??

If I lived somewhere that actually had weather, this would be my winter jacket

 I would wear it around the house, forget cold weather! mmmmm…..yummy!! This book will be my next treat! Actually you can buy kits for each individual pattern, that is what I would do! Go ahead, click on the pictures to see! You know you want to! Enjoy!!

 

 

I posted a new photo to FinishedprojectsPhotos.

I posted a new photo to FinishedprojectsPhotos.

I posted a new photo to FinishedprojectsPhotos.

Okay so I don’t know what is wrong with my brain lately & not knowing what size I am. I measured my hips, waist & body length. Figured my gauge & then cast on for my striped sweater. Yeah I finished it & it is way too big around my waist & hips. Plus it is a little shorter than I would like it to be. So it is being frogged as we speak & it will be reknit into the same but different item. I love the colors, the stripes, the no sewing, the cap sleeves, the neckline, just not how frumpy it is without skimming my body. So there goes that!

In case you haven’t been there, you must go see the marvelous organization skills of Tracy & her yarn collection.

We went camping this last Thurs & Friday nights up off of the 154 on Paradise Rd. For being under a thousand foot elevation it wasn’t terrible, just a lot of dirt & oak trees. I prefer mountain misery & pine trees but I will take camping when & where I can get it. It was a fast trip, not much planning so I can’t complain. It was a nice change from home. I did work on the camping sweater but it’s not close to finished. I still have the hood & 2 sleeves to work on. My striped s/s sweater has drawn my attention away from the camping sweater a bit. So selfish of me, I know!

We are having a LOTR marathon today so I should get back to it! Pictures of the completed striped sweater, before frogging, to come soon!