Goodbye 2007!

At the beginning of the month, I loved putting together the Knits that Rock 2007 mosaic. But there were lots of other knits around here this year, and so as the year comes to a close, I bring to you.....

The Other Knits That Rocked in 2007

Can we say, lots and lots of baby knits! For the cutest Little Guy in the World and for some of our close friends too! Our family has been so blessed to welcome Little Guy this year. And what a year our family has had....I'll be glad when 2007 is over tonight. Bring on 2008!

May it be a year filled with more sweater knitting (my poor lonely Wicked sweater....my first and only...where oh where is Tomato...I know where....).

May it be a rockin' sock filled year (and those socks are in my pretty stash...pretty stash...pretty stash...pretty stash...remember before I shop...buy...press click...pretty stash....pretty stash).

May it be one of happiness and health and love for all of us!

Happy New Year!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

One More FO for 2007

This wasn't necessarily a Christmas gift. Its for my best friend, whom I've known since we were six. Her blog alias, Miss Virgilia (does anyone recognize the 80's mini-series reference that we were obsessed with as um....12-year-olds? I think...). I used to call her Virgilia because her hair reminded me of that particular character's hair. Anyways, last year, when I realized that my best friends each had maybe one or two handknit items from me, and they were from my early scarf-knitting days, years ago, I promised to stop knitting gifts for people who wouldn't appreciate them and start knitting more for those who I knew would (aka my friends! See, the thing is, as we all got older, my close friends and I decided we didn't need to exchange gifts anymore...I digress.). Virgilia is going to Dental School in Denver so last spring I sent her the MMMMMMalabrigo scarf and I finally got a picture of her in it when she was home at Christmas.

And now she'll have a new hat to go with her scarf.

Pattern: Thorpe Hat by Kristen Kapur

Yarn: Malabrigo Chunky, color Mountain Spirit

Notes: Love this quick knit! There will be a few more of these knit up soon I think.

Off to ring in the new year with Little Guy and the family!

Happy New Year!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Woolgirl Christmas

Rowan and Dad had fun shopping at Woolgirl for some of my Christmas gifts! The best part was they didn't need to wrap them since Jen at Woolgirl does the best job (all the yarn was wrapped with little extras thrown in like hot chocolate or Soak soap)! I loved everything! Oh, and I have to say, Rowan did a great job with extras too. She also bought me two patterns and the cutest stitch markers from Woolgirl!

l to r: Hazel Knits fingering, color Hometown Football; Miss Babs Yummy Sport, color Bronze Plum; Dashing Dachs 55% Mohair 45% Merino color Carmel Apple and Pumpkins

This might be one of my favorites. So sproingy and soft. And I love the colors. Plus, 90% merino and 10% nylon! Still can't beleive the soft!

Gee, which color do you think Rowan picked for herself? hehehe. Surprising how her colors are growing on me too.

And the Woolgirl fun started on Christmas Eve when my prize arrived!!! I won a contest on her blog and my prize was this perfect yarn by The Unique Sheep....in the Rudolph colorway! There were lots of other goodies too!! Thanks Jen!

We hosted Christmas at our house this year, so Rowan was able to use her gorgeous Rudolph dishes.

Now that the 15 ornaments are knit (crazy!) (well, not Rowan's HP sweater ornament...it'll be done soon...I promise), I cast on a pair of socks for me! I couldn't resist this month's Woolgirl sock club yarn and pattern! I just started today! I also plan to try to get back to some of my UFOs......first up, my Chevron Scarf.

I still have another FO to show, but as Turtlegirl says, each FO is worthy of their own post...so pictures tomorrow!

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

For Rowan

Yarn: Duet Sock Yarn, color Army Girl (a swap from Zonda!!)

Needles: size 2, (3.0 mm)

Pattern: my own modified version of a bunch; co 56, 1 x1 rib cuff for 1", short row heel and toe in contrasting color; short row heel and toes

Notes: ACK! to short row heel and toes...no matter what I do, there are gaps. Must figure this out before next pattern that requires them. You can't tell on these because I basically seamed the little holes up :) I will say, this is my first "plain vanilla" sock ever (just knit knit knit) and I kinda liked it! Especially last night when I cranked out a good few inches at the movies (we saw I Am Legend...ok, had to put the sock down at the scary parts).

Knitting secret socks for Rowan for Christmas was no easy task. But at least I knew she would love them. I keep a basket of my favorite sock yarns out to remind me of my pretty stash (an effort to curb the easy click of a button to buy that gorgeous sock yarn) and this is the yarn that Rowan is constantly picking out saying, "These are mine! When are you going to knit these for me!" (she sounds a bit um.....stinky?! younger, sister-ish? doesn't she?! but wait til you see what Woolgirl goodness she got me for Christmas....the love works both ways) She was definately surprised to open her one sock when we celebrated last weekend (that's right, just finished these last night. I knew she wouldn't care).

These count as my 16th pair of socks for the year 2007! Wow! Not sure it justifies the sock yarn stash, but still, wow! This has definately been the year of socks for me!

Now the next gift was fun to see my sister's reaction when my brother opened it.

Mini-Weasley Sweater Ornament

My original plan was to give these to both my brother and Rowan (both love Harry Potter). But, I only finished one, and figured I was only going to see my brother on the weekend. So I gave it to him first. It was the last gift opened. My sister gasped as he opened it and looked like she was going to cry, thinking I hadn't made her one. She's going to be 30 people!! Its an ornament! I almost wanted to laugh...I quickly told her her's just wasn't started/finished yet, not too worry. She then quickly explained to my brother just how cool this was, how much she wanted it since she saw it in the book, etc., etc. Oh the knitty love! And, yes, her's hasn't been started yet.

Tomorrow there will definately be yarn here on the blog. Just not sure if it will be Snowboarder's gift (he got me Noro sock yarn!! Love him! He picked it out all on his own!!!!!!!!) or Rowan's and Dad's (lots of Woolgirl yarns!!). I will say having a blog sure made it easy for them to know what to get me for Christmas :)

Happy Holidays!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Merry Christmas!

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas today!

Love, Bailey, Puddles, Irishgirlieknits & Rowan

Its Beginning to Look A lot like Christmas

Early Christmas celebrating this past weekend with Little Guy and my brother and SIL!

So much fun :)

Little Guy seemed pretty happy with his new knits!

Pattern: Knitting Pure & Simple Baby Pullover

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, in Camoflauge

Size: 12 months

Comments: Love this pattern. Used the ribbing for neck and sleeve bind offs, to make a very different look than the Cable Baby Sweater I knit using the same pattern.

Check out those "Big Baby Booties that Rock!"

Pattern: Stay on Booties from Knitting for Baby

Yarn: Socks that Rock Heavyweight, color Stormy Weather (used the leftovers from Pa's Thuja Socks)

Modifications: These were a request from Little Guy's mom, since they really are "stay on baby booties." I needed to use thicker yarn, bigger needles, and tweek the stitch count and length so that they fit a 9-month old, and not a itty bitty newborn. Still easy!

Merry Christmas!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Top 10 Things......

....I could have blogged about last week.

10) I had the flu on Tuesday. Yuck. I always know I'm really sick when I don't even knit.

9) It was Bailey's 3rd birthday! Okay, probably wouldn't have blogged about that, but here's a picture of her and Rowan (we are in holiday knitting crunch and everyone else who is getting a gift reads the blog...so this is the best picture you're going to get!).

8) Spent 45 minutes at REI with Rowan, staring at a wall of knitted hats (see her new one being modeled in the picture above). Emotionally, I went back and forth between "I can't believe she is going to buy hats that I could just make her!" and "She better not be expecting me to knit her a hat for Christmas when she has already requested socks." Either way, she was happy and I got ideas for Snowboarder's hat.

7) Finished a pair of Big Baby Booties that Rock for a certain someone. No pics. Not even in ravelry yet.

6) My super fabulous swap package from LittleMy came. Happy Holidays all the way from the UK. Can anyone say Colinette and Marks & Spencer? happy happy.

5) Watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (again, probably not blog-worthy, but sure did make me happy, even with the flu).

4) Speaking of Harry, met up with Heathermione while she was in town for a visit. We had a great time yarn shopping!

3) A favorite yarn store got their Ravens shipment in. And a certain someone had a gift certificate from a favorite someone (thank you!). Maybe some YPF?? I was pretty good (although the Ravens in Twisted is absolutely perfect genius!).

2) Chocolate fudge and white chocolate candy cane bark made. Cookies...still to come.

1) I have not finished my holiday knitting. And my Christmas deadline for three of the gifts is by Saturday. Then there are three more after that (that's 6!!). Plus those ornaments. Cute you all say (thank you!!) . But after five....not so cute. not. when. you. have. to. knit. 10. more.

Just think...lots of fun holiday FOs next week!

Happy Hot Chocolate!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Ornament that Rocks!

While babysitting the Little Guy this weekend I wrote out the details for the Ornament that Rocks! Its a quick way to use up those leftover sock bits (or a way to justify buying more sock yarn?!). Enjoy! Oh, and cutie-patootie Little Guy photos at the end modeling his new Candy Cane hat!!

Pattern: Ornament that Rocks!
Yarn: Socks that Rocks, lightweight (shown in color Jingle Bell Rock) or mediumweight (shown in color Hollyday) (note: didn't seem to really matter too much if used lightweight or mediumweight, so get out all those leftover sock yarn bits!)
Needles: size 4 circular for magic loop
Materials: marker, 2" styrofoam balls

Cast on 10 stitches. Place marker and join, being careful not to twist (the pattern is knit in the round).

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Knit into the front and back (kfb) of every stitch. (20 stitches).

Row 3: Knit.

Row 4: (kfb, k2) 6x, kfb, k1. (27 stitches).

Row 5: Knit.

Row 6: (kfb, k3) 6x, kfb, k2. (34 stitches).

Row 7: Knit.

Row 8: (kfb, k4) 6x, kfb, k3. (41 stitches).

Rows 9-17: Knit.

Row 18: (k2tog, k4) 6x, k2tog, k3. (34 stitches).

Row 19: Knit.

Row 20: (k2tog, k3) 6x, k2tog, k2. (27 stitches).

Row 21: Knit.

Row 22: (k2tog, k2) 6x, k2tog, k1. (20 stitches).

Row 23: Knit. Put knitting around styrofoam at this point (or else it may not fit over it as you continue to decrease). It is a bit tricky knitting around the styrofoam, but just two rows left!

Row 24: (k2tog, k1) 6x, k2tog. (13 stitches).

Row 25: k2tog, then bind off until 3 stitches remain (for the last bind off stitch you will only knit one stitch).

Knit a 4-inch i-cord with the 3 remaining stitches. Bind off. Weave the i-cord in to make loop at the top of the ornament. Seam the bottom of the ornament at the cast-on edge. Make a bunch more!

Happy Holidays!!
xoxo
Irishgirlieknits

We Interrupt the Holiday Knitting...

To finish up some baby gifts. A happy 1st birthday cupcake hat for Baby H. I bet this will look even cuter on her! The pattern is from the new Itty-Bitty Nursery book.


Hot Mama's new baby is getting the Stay-On Baby Booties (yarn is Claudia's Hand Painted Fingering) tomorrow morning! Just 10 days old...can't wait to meet him.

Earlier this week, I received a special package in the mail from Tapmouse! Look at the goodies!

A swap you say? Nope. She sent it just because she is fabulous and sweet (well, and I sweetened her up a bit with a STR mill end, but still!). Look at those fabulous hand made cards! She and I have way too many hobbies in common I think! The Lucy in the Sky STR is very special because I really really loved it when I saw it at Purlescence Yarns at the Black Friday sale. But since it was on my Christmas list (yeap, I asked for sock yarn for Christmas!), I resisted. Tapmouse snuck it in her bag and got it for me!! Thanks so much Leslie!

I haven't yet had a chance to show you some of my purchases from the sale. This Vesper sock yarn, in the Neopolitan colorway, came home with me as a gift from Stilaholic Nartian! Its gorgeous and I love those colors! Again, thank you Celia! I sure have been feeling the Knitty love lately.

My big purchase at the sale was this yummy Malabrigo!

I'm hoping it will be my Mr. Greenjeans come January when the holiday knitting has wrapped up. Unless I decide to join this knitalong first. Decisions decisions!

Have a great weekend!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Holiday Knitting Update

First, congratulations to Kasiaiscarly and Scrabblequeen for winning the Blogiversary contests! Some lovely Socks that Rock will be on the way soon! And Marilyn from Ravelry will be getting a runner-up prize too! Thank you everyone for the happy blogiversary comments and for making Rowan feel welcome on the blog too!


The holiday knitting is in full swing here. First, a pair of monkey socks for.......





Yarn: Claudia Handpainted Socks, color chocolate cherries



Mini-Ornament that Rocks

I made two more of these and did my own little version- much quicker! Plus I made these smaller. I did increases and decreases to not waste so much yarn (or time!) and made the I-cord loop.

That is our Christmas tree too. We've had it for a few days and still haven't had a chance to decorate it. We'll get to it this week, but I do love it just as it is too.



Puddles seems to like it too.

Back to holiday knitting! Have a great week!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy 1st Blogiversary!!

Knits that Rock 2007

Happy 1st Blogiversary! What a year it has been, lots of highs and a few lows. The best part would be my family and friends, and that includes so many of you that I have gotten to know this past year! Thank you so much for reading the blog and being a part of my life! And thank you to all my non-knitting family and friends who read the blog too- I love that it has given us another way to keep up with each other a bit.

I love that Rowan wanted to post some of her finished objects. She definately got the knitting bug back on one of our trips this year. Oh, and she has quite a stash. Let's face it, she's been to yarn stores all over the country with me. She usually finds souvenir yarn too. If you haven't read her post yet, make sure to and give her some comment love!

Now on to the fun! At least two more skeins of Socks that Rock, mill ends from the Barn Sale need happy homes. We've got two fun contests for you.

1st contest: Easy, peasy. Just leave a comment on this post by 5pm (pacific time), Monday, December 3rd. Random number generator will help out with this one :)

2nd contest (closed now): First person to answer all of these questions correctly in the comments wins!

Congrats Kasiaiscarly!! Those "random memory bits" were correct! And Marilyn was a very close second!!

a) On this blog, who comments and is referred to as, "Boondock Saint"? my brother (he picked his name from Ireland...didn't email any of his family when he was in Ireland, but he did post a comment to the blog! Love it!!)

b) Name one place I have been to for vacation this year, other than Oregon (sorry the Barn Sale makes this too easy). Lots. Lake Tahoe, New York City, New Orleans.

c) If I were knitting a sweater out of Socks that Rock, what would I name it? Sweater that Rocks

d) What online knitting store, other than Blue Moon Fiber Arts, do I just LOVE? Woolgirl (I often say it was Zonda's fault, but really I'm so glad she introduced me to Jen's fabulous store)

In the meantime, back to knitting Christmas presents (socks, socks, socks, and ornaments!).

Happy Blogiversary!! Thank you!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Rowan Makes Blogging Debut!

This is Rowan. Blogging. Happy Blogiversary! Its true. I only know how to knit. I can't cast on. Don't really know how to purl. But I did make this cute little scarf and hat set (oh, and I love teddy bears!).



Not bad for a five-year beginner. Do you know the story? I am the one who signed my sister and I up for the knitting class. She was clueless. So really, I guess you could actually thank me for this blog. And the stash. Oh, the stash. Scary, huh?


So, a knitter needs a bag. Cute, huh? Check the picture below. Here's my current work in progress.



Yes, I bought the yarn two years ago. Don't pressure me. More details to come later, but I think I'm half-way done with my sideways scarf (that I "designed" and my sister told me how to do it- I have the vision people!).

Please be kind to a rookie-blogger. I hope to be back more often than Pashy! Oh, and here's a yarny prize for those of you who correctly guessed that it would be me guest blogging today! I took those pictures for yesterday's post by the way (not bad, huh?!).

And the winner is........

Bezzie

Congratulations!!

P.S. Here's my blogger name..... Irishdaisy3 :)

Don't let the muggles get you down. Love, Rowan.

YPF! The Early Contest Edition

Socks that Rock, Lightweight, Mill Ends

(not sure which color this is, there is some grayish purple that looks like the color "flaw" in spots)

Pretty, bright and cheery color, don't you think? Well, we are giving it away on Saturday to celebrate the 1-year blogiversary of We Do Not Have A Knitting Problem! (I know I know...if I were to name the blog again, it would problably have to be a "stash" problem...I know).

And to help keep the "we" in "WE" there will be a special post by someone other than yours truly! Will Pashyknits drop in with her quarterly post? Will it be someone else? A new addition? That's the contest. Guess who it is and that person will pick from the correct guesses a lucky winner who will receive the yarn above!

Will the guest blog post be from...

1) Pashyknits

2) Boondock Saint

3) Rowan

4) Little Guy's Mom

5) Snowboarder

6) One of my readers

7) A brand new addition to the blog

Leave your guess in the comments and I'll pick a winner at random on Saturday! And, don't worry, there will more yarn prizes on Saturday!!!

ETA: For more yarny prizes (of the Fleece Artist kind), go check out Tapmouse's contest...quick, it ends tomorrrow!! We came blame her yarn-enabling photos for some of my "stash problem" but we LOVE her!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Another ETA: Guest Blogger posted early this morning. Go see who won the prize and watch for more prizes later today!

Happy Holidays!

I have to agree with all your comments that Little Guy is a cutie (thanks! I'm just the auntie..I had nothing to do with it!). But I realized that I've been neglecting these two cuties on the blog lately. So, modeling Little Guy's new Candy Cane Hat, here are Puddles and Bailey to bring you some holiday cheer!

Disclaimer: The hat will be washed before being mailed to Little Guy! And, no doggies were harmed in this photo shoot or taken out in public looking this way, and they were actually quite happy as they received lots of doggie treats during this photo shoot!





Puddles

Bailey

Pattern: Candy Cane Hat, from Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Crystal Palace Merino 5, purchased at Purlescence Pajama Jammie Jam last week
Mods: none :)

If you are looking for a quick-knit, holiday gift here you go! I like to call it....

Ornament that Rocks!

Pattern: Having a Ball, Vogue Knitting Holiday 2007

Yarn: Socks that Rock, mediumweight, color Hollyday

Super quick! Just have about 11 more to knit!!

Speaking of Socks that Rock, the 1-year blogiversary is coming up on Saturday!! That means I'll be giving aways some Socks that Rock (I know you all thought that big pile of yarn from the barn sale really was just for me!). Details coming soon!

Happy Holidays!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Go Irish!

Notre Dame defeats Stanford 21-14

Little Guy's first Notre Dame game!

My new Fetchings made their debut at the game too!

Even though I finished them in Portland a few weeks ago.

Go Irish! Beat Cardinals!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving yesterday! We are still celebrating here. Yesterday, my sister, Dad, and I spent the day at my Aunt and Uncle's house celebrating with my cousins and their kids. Dinner was delicious and so relaxing to not have to cook.

Today, we did a mini-Thanksgiving with my brother, SIL, Little Guy, sis, Dad, puppies and me. My brother and SIL are down in the Bay Area for the rest of the weekend to go to the Notre Dame-Stanford Football game with us tomorrow so we celebrated Turkey dinner tonight. In addition to our traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, and green bean casserole, I made one of my favorite salads:

Goat Cheese, Cranberries, Candied Pecans, Apples, and Balsamic Vinagrette

And Rowan requested a new stuffing recipe.

Apple Bacon Cornbread Stuffing

(this was probably the favorite of the meal by everyone!)

Our Blogstalking assignment this week is what we are thankful for. I have to say I am very blessed to have a wonderful family and for that I am thankful. And this year, we are especially blessed to have Little Guy join our family!

Little Guy loves his roller coaster rides from daddy

I'm also thankful for my friends :) And this year includes all of my new knitty friends, two of whom I finally got to meet this morning at Purlescence's Pajama Jammie Jam (yarn 30% off if you arrive at 6am...I'm there!). It was great to finally meet you Leslie and Celia (whose monkeys are super cute, even at 6am!)! Cpurl, hopefully soon...soon!

Some FOs pictures to come soon... holiday knitting here we come!!

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits