CarmelKnits, etc.

I couldn't resist sharing this photo of Gabby with you from yesterday afternoon... She's not happy with me because I have her hippo and she wants it back... For the record, she gave it to me...

As soon as Hannah Fettig released her book Mabel's Closet thru Quince and Co. I knew I had to buy it and I knew exactly what I would make first. The Autumn Frock is a simple top down dress knit in worsted weight and from what I can tell is wearable for many months. Miss A is getting the 18-24 month and I think it'll last long beyond 24 months as a tunic style sweater. Miss A is the youngest of my older brothers kids and the only girl in the whole lot. When we were all together at Christmas in Arizona Miss A, Mom, E and I went to the yarn shop where Miss A picked out the color she wanted for her dress. BTW's Jessica Knits in Scottsdale Az is a wonderful yarn shop... Seriously if you are in the area you must go, it's on McDowell Mountain Road. We went with Cascade 220 superwash. In a really pretty pink/coral color. It's incredibly soft and gave the dress a really nice drape. Plus it's superwash, which for a little girl who is 14 months old and a mom who is b...

Back in 2011 a knitting book was published by two women named Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne. The title of the book is Knit Your Own Dog, Easy-to-Follow Patterns for 25 Pedigree Pooches... Since I obviously have a love for not only my dogs but all four legged furries a friend gave me the book. It has some very cute, very breed correct patterns. I put it on my coffee table and from time to time would glance thru it... #1 I believe it was later in 2011 when my mom sent me a package... Mom is great at sending packages. As I ripped open the envelope I discovered that she had found the Knit Your Own Dog book and shipped it to me. #2 This Christmas my mom's dearest friend and a man I adore sent both Mom and I a gift in Scottsdale... You guessed it... #3 I think the message is pretty clear. I'm going to have to knit someone a dog. I have 25 to choose from. Apparently they are easy or so the title says... They are all dogs you find in the show ring at the Westminster Dog...

Citron was dry this morning and I couldn't wait to wrap myself up! It's everything I wanted it to be using the Aran weight instead of the lace weight the pattern recommends!

Sadly though I've been done with this shawl for a while now and just needed a block of time where I could monopolize the dining room table block it... Pattern is Citron knit in Cascade Eco Wool which is Aran weight. The original pattern calls for lace... Pattern designed by Hilary Smith-Callis and the original version is free on Knitty I believe the winter 2009 issue. If you want to do it bigger you can purchase Citron Grande on Ravelry in Hilary's store and she's done all the math for you... Or just knit it in a heavier weight yarn as I did... Hilary is one of my favorite designers and I've purchased many of her patterns... If you've received the new Knit Picks catalog you'll see two of her newest designs featured... One of them being the cover. I think I'll be buying that soon, there are a few people I know who would love it! I'm so excited for this to be dry! It's blustery and rainy up here today and I want to be wrapped up in it!...

You knit the right sleeve on You rip the right sleeve out You knit the right sleeve on Then you curse scream and shout You knit every stitch till you drop one down an inch That's what it's all about. Happy Thursday P.s. the first sleeve is done and the second sleeve is started

Mr. Brown hoping that I'll feed him two hours early instead of finishing the row I was knitting... 1. I'm still working on the first sleeve of Miss A's frock. Not a shocking declaration I suppose, seeing as how knitting sleeves is like a second form of torture for me... It follows closely behind filing. I hate filing with a passion that if harnessed with the right attitude could bring Peace and Love to the entire world. 2. I've probably mentioned this in the past but I'm a serious homebody. I love to just relax and be loungey at home with the dogs and husband. It conflicts with my need to socialize. This girl can only socialize so many days in a row before she gets cranky and just needs a evening at home... I think the max amount of nights in a row you can get me out is three before my less savory side comes out. D might argue that that number is actually less. 3. I learned something new on Valentine's day this year. Apparently the thing to do with yo...

From the Purl Bee Blog Needle size: 7 Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Chunky. I can't tell you what color way this is as I plucked the yarn from my moms stash and no label was attached... It was pretty fast knit... Obviously my embroidery needs some work but I like him... Now to see if I can crack out four more for Easter :)

Valentines Day is a day of love so I though that I would take over the girls account and post all the things I love... I love my balls i'm a toy hoarder they say it's because i must have been the runt of the litter and never got to have anything all my own... I love Big Baby (hippo) I sometimes love my big brother... especially when it's cold in the house sometimes he's a bed hog... I really love the boy who throws my ball for me... but... I really love my ball.    gratuitous photo including yarn Happy Valentines Day! Go squeeze your balls! 

That seed being a new idea for a project. For the past few years I've been collecting the Blue Moon Sox that Rock special Valentines day color way... But I haven't knit anything with them... I haven't knit much with my sock yarn, preferring to look at it and touch it from time to time. However... I now know what I'm going to do! I'm going to do a color affection using my valentine sock yarn! Carmel Creager

Progress Report: 15 rounds to go on the main body before I switch to garter for the final border and bind off. Then, picking up stitches for the neckline... Ugh. Then the sleeves.

Along with the frock I'm making for Miss A. I started this Big Bad Baby Blanket for our friends daughter-in-law who is expecting their (our friends) first granddaughter... I've always liked pinks and greens together so when the word came down the J was having a baby girl I went ahead and ordered the yarn... I'm not one for traditional baby pastels. They make me uncomfortable. I like bold, and I like texture. I think babies like texture to, I know I did. I can remember falling asleep at night with my sateen edged blanket, rubbing the silky feel... So instead of the traditional blah pastels I went with grass green and raspberry pink... I think it's wonderful, so does Grandma and Mom to be... Plus the BBBB is all about texture and you get it with just changing the stitch from a knit to a purl. Plus the LB Wool-Ease thick and quick is super soft and squishy... Not to mention machine washable! I'm almost halfway. Maybe I need to make a BBBB for myself... Ha...