CarmelKnits, etc.

This one has been a long time coming...I started it on my France trip in June of 2010. That's right, over a year and a half ago. I think it became a project of circumstance. It was at the end of my love affair with this pattern and I was quickly burning out, so it got set aside... I picked it up in August when we went camping and got it down to DPN's then set it aside again till last week. I brought it to work and my boss said 'Who's that for?' Me: do you like it? Boss: yeah, I like the colors! Me: it's yours. And there you have it...all it needed was a recipient and I was home free. Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood Yarn: I honestly forget....I'll double check. Happy Monday!

If I finish it tonight then that means two things... 1. I will have a new hat to wear tomorrow. 2. I have one more day to try and crank out one more 'me' project... Guess I'll knit some balls for my Christmas tree!

At some point this month I declared October 'Knit for Me Month'. I might have said it outloud but I don't recall. It's not that I don't like knitting for others, in fact, looking back on the month quite a few of the things knit really ended up with other people... Well, October is winding down and November is looming ahead with so much happening my head has already started spinning on it's axis. My brother and nephew are arriving in a few days for the weekend. Birds never been to Seattle and told my brother he wanted to see the Space Needle. So you can imagine I'm pretty excited to see the both of them. The So Much Yarn knitting retreat is coming up the following weekend so I will be there knitting my little heart out for 3 days...again, as you can imagine I'm pretty stoked about that. Following that my mom and her friend arrive the Sunday before for Thanksgiving...I'm REALLY excited about her visit...Living so far from home means I don't g...

Probably not. Flattering? Definitely not But scroll down and you will find a picture of me that can not be defined I'm pleased as punch not pickled at all and all that I'm holding is a knit cashmere shawl (this little poem was completely unplanned) this picture is from the Yarn Harlot and you can see the full post of knitters in seattle here could I look any happier? I'm so freaking happy with myself that my eyes are slammed shut... Holy Lord.......Just knowing how many people follow her every day makes me giggle maniacally as I think of how many people are looking at this picture right now...Hopefully all they see is the shawl, if not then maybe they will be distracted by the cowl or the fact that my right hand is apparently flipping off a security camera, nice touch. You can't take me anywhere. Mom, You're having one of those proud moments aren't you? Oh well, at least I didn't jump over a log again. Happy Friday xoxo C 

Smocked Slouch by Jill Zilenski Yarn: RYC Cashsoft Aran Size 7 Needle Difficulty: Definitely for an advanced beginner....Google is your friend for seeing a video on how the smocking stitch is done. Pattern is for sale on Ravelry all links to pattern and designer website are in this blog post here   This hat is for Carrie. I almost, ALMOST finished it last night while knitting in the presence of the Yarn Harlot while she did her reading at the bookstore ...but I didn't have my DPN's and short of yelling out into the room of knitters for some (which I'm sure would have produced a variety of size 7 DPN's) I only asked 2 people and none were to be had...Instead I stayed up to finish the Karate Kid with D, closed it up and wove in all the tails so it's ready for Carrie to wear today. Luckily it's just in time, for the cold weather is making a comeback. I think I need one for me now!

Not to let you all down...I was a dork but in a good way. I brought her Scuttlebutt Porter, some knitting charms and a skein of yarn from a local dyer! On our way home now wishing I had used the restroom before we left!

Mark this day down because it's going to be epic. The Yarn Harlot is on her book tour and today, TODAY she lands in Seattle for a book signing at Third Place Books. You can read her blog here    and the link for Third Place books is here Yes I'm going Yes I am bringing stuff to show her I'm also bringing her a bottle of Porter from Scuttlebutt Why is this going to be epic? I'm nervous and when I get nervous I turn into a foolio...Just ask D I babble I freak out a little I talk faster than normal all in babble talk I try to plan an exit strategy in case I have a complete freak out and feel the need to make a run for it. I smile like a delusional idiot the entire time which I think will probably make her nervous and cause security to inch a little closer as I approach her table (please don't taze me when I reach into my bag for her gift, it really is just a bottle of porter) and then to really top it all off I usually trip and stumble a...

Maybe it's something in the air...hard to say. It is fall, maybe I'm nesting for winter by finshing all these warm wooly items. Either way, they seem to be flying off my needles at a rate that even amazes me. So here goes! Bandana Cowl by Purl SoHo... click here for pattern. Yarn: Scozia Print Cashmere Super Bulky Needle: Size 11 Joy: Crazy Happy with it! Model: Mr. Brown Smocked Slouch by Jill Zilenski...Ravelry link is here   Price: $5.00 for the pdf file. Yarn: Cashmere (Forget the company) Dark Navy Blue: Extremely happy wtih this one. This is a gift for Margie She's already seen it I think she's pleased. Who? Hat by Sara Amoroso. Free Pattern Link here Yarn: Sublime Merino Cashmere Silk Size 5 Needle I had to fudge a little on the decrease but it all worked out in the end. I pulled out my jar of vintage buttons and had so much fun finding these to put on it! This is a hat for Ms. E's first birthday. She will be doing a photo shoot in my mom's wo...

If I had to pick one month in the year that was my favorite October would be it. I love everything about it. At the beginning of the month you still have a shot at Indian Summer, but the nights are starting to get chilly. The trees start turning from their green to explosive oranges, yellows, and reds. The days get shorter, it makes more sense to start eating more soup and stew, not to mention making them. October is when I start cozying up to winter. Sweaters, Hats, Scarves, Cowls, Mitts, Heavy Socks, and Blankets. Early weekend mornings in front of the fireplace with the dogs knitting and drinking coffee.... Plus it's pumpkin season and I don't know about you but I could go to the pumpkin patch every weekend starting October first. Not only that, if its pumpkin I'll eat it. In Italy in 2007 we had pumpkin ravioli, i thought I had died and gone to heaven. However, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are disgusting. Bottom line. I know people love them, they count down the days till...

I was laying in bed beating my snooze button to death after a late night of knitting mixed with Criminal Minds when I heard a noise. It was distinct and it was in the house. My stomach fluttered a bit but I hit snooze again and dozed off when I heard another noise that sounded like something was trying to take the stick out of the back door…then I heard a rustling and thought, well this is it, I’ve had a good run. Meanwhile my husband was sleeping like an angel beside me. I get up, I rustle up the dogs, trying to get them to go ahead of me down the stairs to the living room and kitchen like they do every day, today they were happy to just bounce along behind me while I forged bravely ahead ready to take on whatever serial killer, sadist, psycho I would find. I found nothing, but I was pretty riled up so I did a secondary check anyway. Everything was the same. Nothing rattled, stick still in the door, not a sound. I let the dogs out, they come back in, start demanding th...

It was a busy weekend knitting wise and otherwise, to say the least. I managed to crank out a couple projects that have been on the needles and get them off. I once again reorganized my stash and almost had a brief nutty because of just how much yarn I have. Honestly, I have zero business shopping for yarn in a yarn shop or online. That doesn't mean I don't check every day or so...D was around for my nutty and told me to suck it up and keep knitting...(maybe not in so many words, but I think that was where he was going with it) So here we go: Finished Objects 1. Faraway, So Close     Designer: Carina Spencer, you can check out her website here     Yarn: Cashmere for the green (not sure of the brand) and the purple edge was Trilly from Filatura di Crossa (also cashmere but sadly discontinued)     This pattern was so much fun to knit up. It's always changing and giving you something different to do which I think is why it went so fast...

Miss E is turning 1 year old soon and is doing a little photo shoot in my mom's woodland garden but it's going to be in November so it's going to be chilly and since her theme is owls, and there are owls in the woodland, Miss E needs an owl hat Hoot Hat or if you want the pattern you can find it by clicking here I will use small buttons for some of the eyes. The rest of the owls will be napping... I did a little fancy tracing so you could see the owl in the cable...

That today is I Love Yarn Day...I'm not sure who made this amazing declaration but I'm goingto run with it full bore... Bring it on, You know I love yarn, I know I love yarn, my dogs know I love yarn (i love them more and they know that too) My husband knows I'm a bit neurotic about yarn (i love him more too) but I think that since today has been declared I love Yarn Day that this should also be the day we  all strip naked and roll around in our wooly stash... who's with me? People might be skeptical about receiving knit gifts from me after today. This could be fun. I'll post pictures tonight. . . . . . . Just Kidding. Happy I Love Yarn Day...Go Get Your Knit On!

It's no secret that I go thru bouts of not being able to get to sleep so instead I stay up in knit. However this doesn't change what time I get up in the morning, or what time the dogs want me up in the morning. I could fall asleep at 1:00 and the dogs would be rearing to go starting at 4:30 a.m. I'm blaming my need to stay up late this week on the shawl I'm knitting. I'm almost done. It's almost to 403 stitches on the needle, it literally takes me one hour to work 5 rows and as I'm looking at the ruffle on the shawl I'm thinking to myself, 'I really could make this wider' and thus a conversation between my knitting side and my reasonable side. It got ugly and I just kept knitting while trying to beat down my voice of reason. I'm a little bit further on the ruffle than this photo shows....I think I am going to add that next ball of Trilly because honestly people, on can never have enough cashmere in one shawl right? p.s. to the maker of the...

As many of you saw yesterday I finally posted the pattern for the Nacho Getter's. Not only did I post it here, I posted it on Ravelry here . So just give me a moment to continue my happy dance at seeing MY pattern under the heading 'Recently Added Patterns'...and my name listed as a designer, it feels a bit like a hoax, like i've fooled everyone into believing something that can possibly be true, but it is and it's up to me to keep it going right? Not only that, 7 people have added it to their queue's! I hope it's good. It's a little piece of me that I sent out into the knitterly world not knowing for sure if it was 100% prepared but knowing that it's good enough to hold it's own in the big knitting universe.  It's given me enough of a thrill that I'm ready to type up and post some of the other item's I've created this past year and to also begin the process of creating more wonderful things...I just have to remembe a few thi...

Once upon a time in a town far to the north a boy had a car he called the Nacho Getter. Sadly the boy had to sell the Nacho Getter. A girl, who loved the boy very much knew how much he loved his Nacho Getter. One day the girl was given a golden opportunity to buy the boy an amazing gift. The Nacho Getter was for sale again! So she bought it for him and gave the boy back his beloved Nacho Getter and they all lived Happily Ever After.....(kind of a true story, The boy did/does love his Nacho Getter, He did have to sell it, The girl did buy it back for him, and honestly they do live Happily) Love all of you Mr and Mrs. Miller and Family :) So since Mr. Miller has his Nacho Getter, Mrs. Miller needed a Nacho Getter of her own. Nacho Getter's  By Carmel Creager Materials: 210 Yards of worsted weight yarn Size 4 DPN's Stitch Markers Waste Yarn Darning Needle Abbreviations: CO: Cast On M1R: Make 1 Right: Increase: Lift bar between stitches from back to front and knit into the fro...

That's the name of this shawl pattern.... I am using some of the cashmere my mom brought me from Minnesota this past August. The pattern is amazing...it keeps changing so you won't get bored plus you'll learn new stitches which is always fun! Marcy has already made two of these...pretty sure I will to! Wait till you see the color I chose for my boarder!

happy 8 years  Photo taken last year at my brother's wedding  

I know you probably don't believe me. I've been talking about gettting it done for a week (or more) now. I promise it will be done. I don't quite know when but it's coming...maybe by Saturday? Maybe tonight? Who knows. Life's a mystery. Here's a teaser though..... Can you guess what this is?   Don't be obvious and say it's a car... it's so much more than a car. But I'll leave you to it and give you the answer, and maybe a pattern, tomorrow, or maybe later today. Happy Thursday! xoxo Carmel

Seriously I feel as if I'm on a roll...and I plan to keep on rolling in this direction because it feels GD good! So here we go with the deets. Pattern: Cream & Sugar Cowl Designer: Alana Dakos Yarn: Plucky Fingering Color: Oz Happiness Rating: Joyfully Smitten all that's left is a good blocking and then it'll be ready for wear! Look at it...how can you not be?  Oops! Picture of Gabby snuck in!  what do you know...just enough left to crack out a pair of socks for Bump...Think he'll like the feel of Merino and Cashmere?

Because it is there... the Amish always put a mistake in their knitting so as not to detract from the perfection of God. Well whether I intentionally do it or not, I always have one row that I screw up and just ignore when I'm knitting. This mistake was probably the result of a vodka soda and which D scolded me quite well for... I think his exact words were "why, why why would even think of having a drink while knitting this shawl?" Why Not? This is why not: click to make bigger :)

Fatima and Michael were married on Saturday 10/1/11. It was a beautiful ceremony and Fatima looked amazing. The reception was wonderful! Fatima worked so hard putting all of this together and it turned out amazing. I'm pretty sure I did my best to drink all the 14 Hands Chardonnay the country club had on hand, and I danced for most of the night. I'm still sore today but everyone had a wonderful time! Fatima wore the shawl for her outdoor photos because it was pretty cool out in the afternoon. I was able to snap a few photos of them before she made her entrance into the ballroom for dinner. Isn't she beautiful? They are so happy.  I can see my mistake in this photo...EEEK!