CarmelKnits, etc.

As we roll into a new year in a matter of hours, I wanted to take a moment to say thank-you. Thank you for reading what I write. Thank you for the comments. Thank you being an ear to my ramblings. Thank you to for your support when we said good-by to Gabby. When my knitting took a sharp turn to 'f-itupville' Thank you for your kind, warm welcome to Phoebe showing up. Gabby I have a lot in a year to be thankful for and even though I don't say it, the gratitude is there. 2014 with the Rentals For my family, who is always there at the end of a text, call, email, or card. For just being there, knowing that whatever the need, whatever the celebration, the problem, they are right there with me. 2015 For D. Really, if husbands cashed a paycheck, this boy should get combat pay some days. No one sees my ups, downs, and in betweens quite like him. No one centers me back to almost normal quite like him. 2010 We're entering year 13 of marriage....

    Marian Cowl by Jane Richmond  Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Metallics  Size 19 needles.  Happy New Year my friends.  May you all be blessed in the year to come.  Love,  Carmel 

enjoying her Christmas blanket and tennis ball.  It's hard to believe that it's already been two and a half months since we brought this little bundle of crazy energy home. She's come a long way from the untrusting girl I picked up at Lillian's. We've had some moments. Some learning moments. Me learning how to react/respond to her. Her learning that I'm not going to hurt her, nor will I let anyone hurt her. She's met her vet and let him check her a little bit. That was a big step. Kudos to Northgate Veterinary Clinic for being so great with all our dogs from the first time we crossed the threshold. We've learned that when Phoebe sees her reflection in the skylights she thinks there is another dog on the roof and proceeds to lose her mind. checking for the dog that lives on the roof that she sees in the skylight It was amusing for a while. I finally caved and closed the shades on the skylights Sunday. I honestly couldn't take it...

First a brief history: Boxing Day  is a holiday traditionally celebrated the weekday or Saturday following  Christmas Day , when servants and  tradesmen  would receive gifts, known as a "Christmas box", from their masters, employers or customers, [1]  in the United Kingdom, The Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Bermuda, New Zealand, Kenya, South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and other former British colonies. Today, Boxing Day is the  bank holiday  or  public holiday  that generally takes place on 26 or 27 December. I did not know this about Boxing day. Actually I didn't know anything about Boxing day except that American's didn't celebrate it.  However, based on how much knitting I cracked out for christmas gifts this year I think it's fitting that I spent Boxing Day knitting something for me.  I have been itching to make this Moutnain Capelet since Purl Soho dropped the pattern a co...

dear knitters,  you worked so hard this holiday season, knitting gifts, shopping for gifts, knitting more gifts, possibly ripping some out and starting over.  i hope you enjoyed as much as i did my 24 days of knitting. i had a blast flushing out patterns for you by the designers i love.  i wish you all the very merriest of christmases.  may your family wear their knitted good with pride and know the amount of love poured into every stitch.  today's pattern is simple and fun.  Pom Poms.  if you don't have a pom pom maker i found a handy dandy template for you. it's always a good idea to have a few on hand to toss at people.  merry christmas my knittahs.  thank you for a very memorable holiday of knitting.  https://flipagram.com/f/hcAGcEQ5IE   Click the link for a video of all we did this past month!  now back to our regularly scheduled program.  xoxo  carmel...

Not too much panic here... Well maybe a little. I do have a lot to get ready for dinner tonight at our house and dinner tomorrow at the MIL's. We'll have about 10 people here tonight for my mom's Italian beef and sausage, vegetable spaghetti, garlic bread, salad and Kentucky Butter Cake. I have 1 hat left to knit for a gift tonight and two to knit for gifts tomorrow. I can feel the panic building now. Oye! It's Christmas Eve. 24 Days of Knitting is winding down. But we aren't done yet. These two gifts are perfect last minute additions The first is Hannah Fettigs 70 Yard Mitts I made four pairs of these this fall as gifts. I have a few more pairs to crack out for friends. They knit up pretty quick, and if unlike me, you have everything done today and can be a knitter of leisure then this pattern is perfect for you to work on today. For those of you who are more to my end of the spectrum this next pattern is perfect. Everyone wears ...

Really people. The big day is 3 days away. Three. Days. In three days our families will all be waking up to beautiful packages wrapped up under the tree, chilly weather, fresh coffee cake and fresh squeezed orange juice, only to find The Knitter collapsed in the corner in a heap of yarn, blistered fingers, charred wooden needles, and an empty bottle of eggnog clutched in her arms. I've spent many a Christmas Eve awake till the wee hours of the morning trying to finish a Christmas surprise only to fall asleep while knitting and be woken up by a sharp jab in the toosh by a wayward dpn. (this is a painful flashback to last christmas as I sat up late sewing wee knit scarves on the snowman army I had made my mom) It's not fun. It can be avoided. These two suggestions for you today will help ease that late night knitting extravaganza and allow you to enjoy your family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with only the slightest twitch remaining from that final Ch...

this is what you get when a project flies off the needles and into a gift box before the knitter realizes she needs to snap a photo.  The countdown to Christmas is on people. This Friday is officially Christmas. I have a slew of wicked fast projects coming at you this week that you can crack out in the time it takes to watch a movie, a sitcom, or listen to the entire Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Album.   Break out your size 19 needles. Trust me, they do make them, I've made good use of mine this week. Go get yourself 87 yards of super-bulky Then hit Ravelry and download this freebie by Jane Richmond. Marian I made three this weekend. Two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Along with three AF Knockoff hats. :) I know, I'm all about super-bulky, big needles, and accessories but come on people, if you can crack out a sweater in time to block, seam, wrap and place under the tree by christmas I'll bronze your knitting needles for you. Trust me. At this poi...

I took the 18th day off. Literally from work and the 24DOK. I had a hot date with two and half year old Peanut for Christmas cookie decorating. So I return to you now with the 19th day! Erich's AF Knockoff Hat. This one has been in this event many times. Why? Because it's a damn fast knit. I just made this one in an hour from cast on to on my nugget. Super bulky wool Size 15 or 13 circulars. Go! Please disregard the dog hair on me. It's my life when I wear black. Or clothes. Happy Saturday! I think I need to wear more black hats. Ps: no links because I'm doing this whilst laying on the couch from my phone. It's on Ravelry. Over the years I've made dozens!

I'm sticking with my schedule of events for the time being so that means you get back to back Jane Richmond patterns. Headed to a Christmas party or nine this weekend? Need to find yet another hostess gift? Have some extra super bulky yarn? Say about 270 yards? Size 17 needles? Crochet hook? Did you say yes to all of the above? Did you give it a 'Hells Yesssss'? If you did, then all you need is this fantabulous pattern. Elliston A super-bulky lacey ribbed fringed scarf. I know. So many wonderful things wrapped up in one scarf, how can you hold back. I had the honor, the pleasure, and delight of test knitting this for her before it released last year. My friend who was the recipient loves it. I love it. Again, It's one of those things that I make for someone else and think 'i need one of those for me' And then like a crazy crow get distracted by more patterns, yarns, notions, life and it falls to the back of the pile. This scarf ...

Wow. As I typed that title I realized that it could a million different directions. Being me, it went dirty, and it went dirty fast. I refer to my own head as a nugget. this is me last year when my hair was short and blond So we'll leave it at this during our somewhat family friendly 24DOK Post. It's winter time. It can be one of my very favorite times of the year. It's a time when I can really rock, without question, my hand knits. Hats, scarves, cowls, mitts, socks, blankets. I will sport them all. The hat is my favorite though. Need a trendy accessory? Going to be outside hunting Christmas trees or trekking thru parking lots? Going to an event that can transition from indoors to outdoors? Woke up and have to get to the coffee shack ASAP but the hair from the night before can't be tamed? Slap a hat on it. Fingering weight to Super-Bulky weight. I've knit my share of fantastic hats. Some look awesome. Some make my head look like a ma...