Long Term Projects...

Do you have any of those long term projects? The ones you start and then put down. Come back to it a year later, just to put it down again till a few more months and start to wish you had never started it at all!!
Before I got married I thought I would be a great home maker and start crocheting a blanket for my then future husband and myself to snuggle under while watching movies. I started by making squares using a double crochet. I accomplished maybe ten squares before I got to busy with wedding plans and put it down, not to be seen for a year and a half - which I only saw then because I was cleaning the things we had moved. Packed back a way for another year and a half.
About a year ago I pulled it back out and started working on it again only to find that my crocheting is much looser now!! (Better looking, but too loose!) Of course I had already accomplished a number of squares (now rectangles) and needed to make a decision - do I pull out the old or the new. I pulled out the old and am still slowly working on making the squares.

So, to hold myself accountable, here is my promise to you! I will make one square a week until I finish! You are all probably thinking "only one square? That is it? And besides, I thought they were rectangles!" Trust me, one is a big deal for me, and yes they are rectangles!! Although this blanket will probably not be too pretty when done, we will still snuggle under it. (With the addition of one extra body...oh no! Does that mean it needs to be bigger now? Ahhh!)

Weekend Sale!

This weekend (Saturday & Sunday, March 26 & 27) all Debbie Bliss Yarn on Sale for 25% off!!

Where oh Where does the time go?

Well, I am still working on my Shalom Cardigan - if you can call what I am doing working! I never seem to find enough time to get much accomplished on it. Maybe I knit a row and a half a week if I am lucky.

So - I want to know how you all make time for knitting! (Or doing anything else!)

I know a baby is a lot of work. But it seems that I should be able to knit more than I am. So all of you accomplished knitters, crotchers and spinners - please tell me how it is done! I don't want to take two years to complete every project!

Help!

More Baby Items

When I first started to get back into knitting in the fall, the first things that I made were these cute balls for my son. They are from the book Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls, and Other Playthings for Kids by Susan B. Anderson and Liz Banfield. I love how he is able to play with them now because I don't need to worry about them hurting him (they are so soft) and I don't need to worry later as they won't put holes through the wall either!

Exciting Things Happening in the Store!!

Tunisian crochet hooks and the interchangeable crochet hook sets arrived last week. Our Tunisian books should be here this week. Don't forget our Food Fiber and Fun night coming up on the 18th!

And now for this weeks sale....
All Green yarn will be on sale 25% off this Saturday, March 12th in honor of St. Patrick's Day! Stop by and see us!

Baby Mittens

I thought I would share some items that I have made for my son Samuel. Before Christmas I realized that he was in need of some mittens that would fit him for our trip to Buffalo, NY. I had some left over Debbie Bliss Yarn so I got on Raverly, found a pattern for baby mittens and set to work. Here is the finished project! They kept him warm and looking cute - and a tumbless mitten is soooo easy to make!
Did I mention they tasted good too?

Cables

I have always been intimidated by cables. They look so beautiful I was sure they would be incredibly challenging and steered clear of any pattern that involved them. I will fear them no longer! My mother was in town last week and she began working on a reversible cable scarf. I can't believe I have been scared of something so simple! Anyways, she misplaced her cable needle and had to adjust - here is her yummy cable needle.

Awesome Sales Every Saturday!

I just wanted to let everyone know that each Saturday we have a great sale! This Saturday's is 25% off of all Purse Accessories! You won't want to miss it! Make sure to check back here or read your newsletter to find out what the secret sale will be each week!

My Shalom Cardigan

Well, over the past 3 weeks I have been plugging along on my Shalom Cardigan that was the free pattern in the newsletter 2 weeks ago. I only knit about a row or two at a time with my 4 month old keeping me busy, but it is coming!! Here is my progress so far. I was lazy and only wound one of my skeins so I must go into the shop to wind another so I can continue!!

New Products!

We are excited to announce that Enchanted now carries ....

Drop Spindles and Batts from Butterfly Girl

and Center Pull Roving Bumps from Flaggy Meadows Fiberworks!
Stop by and check them out!

Cabin Fever

We sure have gotten a lot of snow, but the weather is warming up out there and it will be melted just in time for you to come out to the Fiber Frenzy Retreat this weekend presented by Flaggy Meadow Fiber Works! Remember, it is free for you to come for the day on Saturday and Sunday and we would love to see you.
Also, we have some great classes coming up next week:

On Wednesday, February 16th

• 12:30pm Purse Lining Class

On Thursday, February 17th

• 1:00pm Christmas Class-Felted Snowman

On Friday, February 18th

• 11:00am Tunisian Crochet
• 6:00pm Food, Fiber and Fun!

On Saturday, February 19th

• 10:00am Knitting 102
• 11am Felted Snowman

Check out the calendar for details!

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

The Knit Picks order is in and things are going fast! Only 4 Interchangable Needle Sets are left. We also have some really nice Caddies from Amy Butler in and new stone jewelry is on its way! So come on in and check them out!

Who?

Before I just go posting different things and sending out newsletters, I feel I need to introduce myself. I am Lindsay Hauenstein and will be helping RoLynn out in the shop along with my new friend Linda. I was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and moved to Russellville three and a half years ago after marrying my husband Erich in June 2007. I taught math at Logan County High School until October when I decided to retire early to be home with my new baby boy, Samuel born on October 25. I am a beginner knitter & crocheter. I was taught by my mom a few years ago and look forward to having more time to spend working on both. I also love to cook and bake for family and friends, so you will see that as part of the newsletters as I share different recipes that I love. I look forward to meeting you all in the shop. Right now, Samuel and I are there on Thursdays. See you soon!

In Search of the Mojo!!!!

Several months ago I wrote about losing my knitting mojo.  I believe I'm on the track of locating it.  Sometime last year I decided to become a selfish knitter.  You know how it is.  You knit and knit and knit for everyone else in the universe yet when you open your drawers or closet there is nothing to be found of your own handmade goodness.   You've given it all away.  Now, don't get me wrong, we do need to reward ourselves for all our hard work and creativity, but for me, this may not be for you, for me I'm beginning to believe THAT is when my mojo began seeping ever so slowly away.  I began losing my knitting mojo when i decided to become a selfish knitter.  I've found my greatest joy in knitting for others or giving the things I knitted for myself to others.  That being said, I will no longer be a selfish knitter.  I think I can find a happy medium somewhere. 

Presently I'm working on a couple surprises for Valentine's Day.  I can't tell you what it is because the recipients read this blog.  Then it wouldn't be a surprise.  If you really need to know you can either message me or ask RoLynn.  It's a fun, quick, easy, beautiful and useful knit.  That's all I'm gonna say.

On the search for the mojo I've come up with an idea.  Since I live in downtown Bowling Green the main roads I travel are also traversed by those on foot or by bicycle.  Many times the pedestrians I've seen this winter or traveling without proper head/neck wear.  I'm thinking about knitting up a bunch of simple hats and scarfs and when I see this cold souls giving them the goodies.  Just think how much mojo could be stirred up!!!!!  One problem that needs to be overcome is how to give the items to them.  I don't want to hold up traffic or have to park and run after these people.  My daughter suggested I wrap the items around an apple and throw them at 'em.  This would add the necessary weight to propel the item.  Not only would they get a warm hat or scarf, they'd get a little snack as well.  Gotta check with my auto insurance though........there could be some injuries incurred if they aren't very good catchers or to be more truthful I really suck at throwing.  Sometimes this searching for the mojo can be quite difficult. 

A Freebie for you

I have to say right here and right now, that I have the best friends in the world. I know you may think that you have them, but sorry to disillusion you, I do! ;) I have friends that care about me and make me smile. I have friends that bring me gifts for no reason. I have friends that always make me laugh. I have friends that challenge me, on both the mental and fiber arts fronts. They challenge me to be all I can and want to be. This year has been a really, really, really hard year. You may have noticed the lack of posting....lol. Who am I kidding....of course you have.

I have had many losses, both in the working world and in my personal life. But, I have to say that my friends have been there through all of it. Always offering support, a shoulder or a listening ear.

Thank you a thousand times. Every single one of you. Near or far, man or woman, animal or vegetable, thank you....lol You vegetables know who you are! ;)

I am so proud of what the shop has become in this hard time. I want it to be an enchanted place to come and leave your stress and worries behind. Just listen to the soothing music, the water fountain and the laughter.

The reason for this post is actually to let you in on a really awesome freebie. I am sure some of you have found out about this already, but just in case......

Knitters magazine is giving away free downloads of their 100th issue. Yeah, FREE!! Go here and download it right now!!! You will not regret it for an instant. I am making the silver plumes sweater, for sure! But, I must admit it is chocked full of brilliant patterns!!!

Have fun with it and happy knitting!

What's on your Holiday needles?

What's on your Holiday needles? What projects/patterns do you turn to when you need a quick gift? I have several standards I fall back on and this year thanks to Enchanted's Christmas Club I have a couple more. Typically I fall back to knitting dishcloths. They are a quick knit and oh so useful. Plus, there are plenty of free on-line patterns and so many gorgeous cotton yarns. Or I knit up a bunch of fingerless mitts. I love the Fetching pattern. It's quick when using a worsted or DK weight and inexpensive.

This year I'm adding the Biscuit Blanket from February's club project and the Just Enough Ruffles scarf from January's club project. Both are fast knits and again an inexpensive gift.

We Need Change!!!!

Well, the election is primarily over here in the good ole US of A. That being said...I've decided in these dire times of holiday craziness I can't sit on the sidelines any more. I gotta stand up for what is right and see that changes are made. Today I'm announcing my candidacy for Master of the Knitting Universe!!!!

I'm a regular member of the knitting universe just like you and like you I suffer from the same woes. As Master of the Knitting Universe these are the changes I promise to make once elected:

1. All knitting on holiday projects/gifts will be magically sped up to be completed in half the normal time.

2. All knitters will require only 2 hours sleep a night so they can complete their knitting in the quiet while family members sleep away.

3. All housework/cooking that interrupts knitting will be temporarily suspended.

4. All items made will fit perfectly without the need for those stupid gauge swatches that keep us from getting on with the fun.

5. Each and every knitter will abound with creativity.

6. Rolynn will be able to know the exact pattern and yarn we need for each and every project. (I know she already does this but I needed a 6th campaign promise)

Really people, every year I determine that I am going to begin my holiday knitting in January so I'll have a more relaxed holiday season. Do I ever do this? NO!!! My holiday knitting mojo doesn't hit me until the middle of October to the first of November. Something has to change!!!!! Vote, vote, VOTE for me today. Someone has to end this madness!!!!!

p.s. If for some reason I cannot fulfil these campaign promises I have a little back up plan. Give each recipient an IOU.

I'm a Bad Mom.....Are You???

I came to a horrible revelation this morning. I was sitting out on my back porch having my morning coffee with my feet propped up thinking about what I was going to do today. I have business to attend to and a lovely root canal this afternoon. But what I want to do is knit and with the cooler weather setting in it is wool sock time. I was thinking about how much I used to love knitting socks. The projects are so portable and a pretty quick knit depending on the pattern you choose. I love the fancy smancy socks but I really love knitting up a simple ribbed sock. Basically no thought required until you get to the turning of the heel.

Anyways, as I was musing about sock knitter's heaven I looked down and noticed the hand knit socks I had on. They are from a free on-line pattern, Fawkes, representing Professor Dumbledore's prized Phoenix. I had planned on knitting all the patterns in the free Harry Potter based socks by Monkey Toes. I was thinking I should set the goal of knitting one pair of socks a month. But then it happened. I realized that I am a bad sock mom!!!!! I treat my precious hand knit socks like some cheap athletic type. Wash and dry them with who knows what. Wear them with shoes and attire that doesn't do them justice. I will even walk outside without giving them any protection from the elements. I mean really, what kind of sock mom am I????? What kind of sock mom are you?

I'm a realist, I know I'm not going to change. And you know what???? At least I spend time with my socks and don't leave them stuck in a boring drawer. They get to live an exciting life. They may live a shorter life than others but......."It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all."

Superwoman I am not!!!

I really thought I would be able to do it! I really did. I thought I could homeschool, keep house, make meals, be a good mom and run a yarn shop....What a laugh!

(isn't this the cutest little sweater, a shop sample out of Interweave Knits magazine that I just had to make! LOL It is things like this that entice me away from housework)

I am multi-tasking, but come on! LOL Okay, I admit it, I am only one person. I do not have a fairy hidden anywhere in the house or the shop, much to my chagrin, that does my work for me.
Heck, I am the person that lights the pilot lights on my own cookstove when the propane guy comes, just so that he won't step foot in my laundry room on the way to the kitchen!


So, in light of this new revelation that I am not superhuman....I am changing Enchanted's hours.


Here are the details:

Monday 1-7:30
Tuesday 1-6
Wednesday 1-6
Thursday 11-6
Friday 1-6
Saturday 10-4


Here is a picture of our family with our newest acquistion....my son-in-law William Henry Edwards.

Where's the MOJO?????

You ever lost your knitting mojo? I don't know if it is the weather getting prettier so I'm spending more time outside or if it is something I should seek counsel over. I've lost my knitting mojo. I've tried to trace back to figure out when it started seeping away. I mean it isn't like I haven't started new projects. I'm a card carrying member of Enchanted's Christmas Club so I get a new project every month. And it certainly isn't that the projects are boring or lack pizazz. We all know that if they got anything, RoLynn and Ashley are the Queens of Pizazz.

I get the project OTN, work on it for a bit and then it finds its way into one of my knitting bags. Yeah, I have almost as many knitting bags as I have WIPs. Pretty pathetic really. Kinda knitting psychoish.

I don't like the mojo not being here. Can someone please help????? Can you bring back the mojo?

What do you do when you lose your mojo?????? Any suggestions, thoughts, prayers or charms would be greatly appreciated.