What to do when you have too much sock yarn?

You think of as many ways as possible to use it! As much as I loved the chevron scarves, I wanted a slightly quicker project! And this uses just one skein of Socks that Rock (I think I have some of that in my stash!).

Ruffles that Rock!

by Irishgirlieknits

(ravelry pattern link)

Yarn: Socks that Rock, mediumweight, color Corvid (from the Raven Series)

Needles: Size 8

Scarf Measurements: approximately 70” long (after blocking); ruffles are 2” wide

Cast on 150 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit through the front and back of every stitch (kfb).
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit
Row 7: Knit
Row 8: Kfb of every stitch.
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Knit
Row 11: Knit
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: Kfb of every stitch.
Row 14: Knit
Row 15: Knit
Row 16: Knit
Bind off loosely.

I had 1.5 ounces of yarn leftover- plenty to make it a bit longer next time (e.g., cast on 10-20 more stitches) or the ruffles a bit wider (e.g., knit 4 rows, then kfb, knit 4 rows, then kfb).

Thanks Rowan (aka Irishdaisy 3) for modeling!!!

Happy Knitting!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

They Made My Day!

Last week, both Danette, Carly, Lisa and Gail awarded me with the "You Make My Day Award." And it made my day knowing that other people enjoy reading the blog. Being part of the knitting blogging community I've met so many great people and its one of my favorite things that has come from blogging.

So here's the deal, "Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times."

In no particular order, here are just a few of the people whose blogs make me smile and laugh and inspire me!

Bezzie (love her sense of humor!)

Turtlegirl76 (fabulous knitting, witty comments, and cutest cats!)

Memoirs of a Midwestern Girl (she doesn't knit yet, but she sure does inspire!!)

Discoknits (in addition to the knitting, its those cutie-patootie boys that make me smile)

Neuroknitter (a picture says 1000 words, and I LOVE her pictures)

Tiennie Knits (prolific knitting and gorgeous photos inspire me)

Zknitter, Tapmouse, Stilaholic Nartian, and Chicken Knits (the yarn pRon alone inspires me!!!!)

In knitting news, I did get a bit of knitting done in between the King Cake and working and bead catching! Of course, one of the socks I finished I left at my friend's house so no picture as of yet(an STR sock that distracted me from my monkey socks). My monkey socks are moving along and I finished a fun new scarf (but I need Rowan to help with the photos).

So, instead I will show you another Thorpe Hat that I finished a couple weeks ago (I think January can officially be called my hat month....there is one more Thorpe Hat that was finished too, but Rowan wants to take pictures in the snow for that!).

No, its not another hat for Snowboarder. This one is for Dad, but Snowboarder willingly agreed to model (he noted that fortunately for Dad the hat was a bit big on him so he wouldn't steal it). Oh, and Boondock Saint, look Snowboarder is smiling!

The yarn is the yummy, Donegal Cashmere Tweed (100% Cashmere) from School Products that I bought back in August on our NYC trip. Finally dipping into that stash!

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

"Throw Me Something, Mister!"

Happy Mardi Gras!!!

(the season has started!!)

A quick rundown of my trip.....

Wednesday: Sweat Tea and Pecan Crusted Redfish. Then King Cake.

Thursday: Work, gumbo and shrimp po-boy lunch, work. Float loading (my friend was riding in a parade Friday, so I helped load the float with beads, lots of beads!). More sweat tea and King Cake.

Friday: Work work work. My attempt at seeing my first mardi gras parade.....cancelled due to bad weather. Oh, and King Cake.

Saturday: Work, which begins with a "King Cake blind taste test" (3 different king cakes at 9:30am...yum!). Work. All done work! Big Margarita from Daiquiri's. My first Mardi Gras Parade! Beads beads beads (throw me something Mister!!). Of course, more King Cake and Sweat Tea.

Sunday: Airplane hassles (flight cancelled, rebooked, blah blah, get home at midnight). Next year, I'm definately staying longer for more parades!!! (Oh, but I did have a tiny slice of King Cake for dessert once I got home!).

I had a busy (lots of work) but fabulous time!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Squee!!

I can't believe I finished my Clapotis!!

Pattern: Clapotis

Yarn: Oak Grove Yarns Gemini (50% silk, 50% wool), color Desert Sand

Purchased at Stitches West 2006 (and yes, Disco, she will be there this year!!
Started: June 2006

Finished: January 20, 2008

Modifications: I did an extra increase row, but was cutting it close on the yarn so did regular length.

Comments: I have no idea why this stayed untouched for over a year! I absolutely love it and can't believe I finished it in just 5 days! See what a little focus-power does :) And a yarn contest doesn't hurt in motivating either! I can't wait to cast on another in some socks that rock, but I have a few other UFOs that I need to take care of.

Its a bit chilly in New Orleans right now, so I may even take my Clapotis to Mardi Gras this week (yay! I'm going for work again on Wednesday, and it just happens to coincide with some Mardi Gras parades!!!).

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP: The UFO Edition

Cast on June 2006. Ack! Didn't touch at all last year. Gorgeous clapotis-to-be...please forgive me.

I'm just not sure why this has been a UFO for as long as it has been. Its my second Clapotis (I love my first!) in the same yarn. I splurged at Stitches West 2006 and bought this from Oak Grove Yarns. The yarn is Gemini (50% silk, 50% merino) in the colorway Desert Sand. I absolutely love it! And since Disco finished her Clapotis, I've been wanting to get back to mine. Throw in some encouragement, and this UFO is now a fully-functioning WIP! I'm half way done and started a few rows last night. My first goal is to maybe have it done by the end of the month for the January Finish a UFO contest over at Skeins Her Way. We'll see. If not, definately in time for Stitches West to show Disco when she comes to visit!!!!!!

But there are a few other WIPs that may distract me between now and then.

Monkey socks for me!

Cropped Cardi for Little Guy's Mom!

Thank goodness I have an understanding SIL who doesn't mind very late Christmas gifts!

I do have a nice 3-day weekend coming up to get some serious knitting done!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Christmas Tree Socks

My Christmas Tree Socks are Done!

And now the Christmas Tree is actually down too!

Pattern: Spruce Sprigs by Alina Egerman

Yarn: The Unique Sheep Super Wool DK

Woolgirl Sock Club December Shipment

Fabulous yarn, quick knit, love me some sport yarn!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Scarf that Rocks II !

Scarf that Rocks II!

(Ravelry link)

Pattern: Chevron Scarf from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts

(but don't wait until the last minute on this one!)

Started: According to my ravelry notes, August 2007 (ack!)

Finished: January 2008

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rock lightweight

colors Harlotty and January One

I continue to absolutely love these colors (perfect for fall! I had to finish before spring, right?). They are probably two of my non-blue favorite colorways of Socks that Rock. This project was put aside in October to begin the holiday knitting. I picked it up Friday before Snowboarder and I headed to Reno to visit my great-aunt (the best part being that Snowboarder drove the entire time, both ways....8 hours of knitting!). As much as I want to cast on another, I have a few other UFOs that I need to focus on.

240 yards of this scarf went towards my knit-a-mile from stash challenge this week (and I didn't buy any yarn either! Even with a 15% off Jimmy Beans coupon and the store is in Reno...thanks Carly! I'll spend it later I'm sure!). I also finished a Thorpe hat for dad, but I'll save that picture for later in the week (Snowboarder modeled it, and we don't want too many pics of him on the blog... it could go to his head!).

Thank you all too for the nice comments about the Snowboarder Hat pattern! I realized in finishing this scarf that this is my first non-hat FO of the new year!

Happy Week!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Just De-Vine

In the Yarn Harlot's book, Knitting Rules!, she remarks that one should use the best yarn that they can afford. She states, "In knitting, your end product can be only as good as your starting place." I have to agree. In comes, Tina, color genius.

Back in September, when I was visiting my friend Christy in Portland, in addition to stopping by the Flock & Fiber Festival, I went to Farmhouse Knit Shop. I bought my first skein of Socks that Rock there a few years ago (before I even knew how to knit socks!). Love this store. The one skein of yarn that I purchased in September was a bit pricey, but well worth it. Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine, 100% Merino Wool, Handpainted in the color Falcon's Eye (please don't ask me why I didn't think to take a picture of the skein before I knit it up!). So when Snowboarder requested another hat to match his green jacket and goggles, I thought this yarn would be perfect! However, it made it sooooooo hard to part with.

Introducing....

Snowboarder Hat that Rocks!

Pattern: Snowboarder Hat that Rocks! by Irishgirlieknits (ravelry link)

Please note this was one of my very first designs and soon will be reformatted and published with the rest of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs for consistency across my pattern line.  As soon as it is available, I will update this page and the ravelry project page.

The "Other Hat" that Rocks!

Please note this was one of my very first designs and soon will be reformatted and published with the rest of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs for consistency across my pattern line.  As soon as it is available, this page and the ravelry pattern page will be updated.  If you like this design, you may also be interested in my other designs:

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Evangeline

Pattern: Evangeline

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted, Raven Series colorway Valkyrie

Started: January 5, 2008

Finished: January 6, 2008

(my first stash knit a mile project)

Notes: Still loving the Twisted yarn, which is good because there is still TONS left! I modified the pattern to make the wrist length version a bit longer by knitting the cable pattern repeat one extra time. Next time (and I loved the pattern, so there will be a next time), I would probably knit the pattern repeat two extra times and have the ribbing be the same length (10 rows instead of 6) for the finger edge as the cuff edge. Quick, easy pattern!

I've been loving cables lately, as you will soon see with Snowboarder's new hat (nope, the cream hat in the last post was a hat I knit for him last year)!

Have a great week!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Snow!!

Good morning snow in Tahoe! Wow, they said about 6-8 feet overnight!

Fortunately, I-80 opened this morning for us to get home safely. It was a gorgeous drive home through the snow-covered mountains. I hope everyone is safe traveling this weekend.

While all that snow fell yesterday and last night, we stayed inside and watched movies (and Rowan introduced Snowboarder and I to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, yes indeed). I got lots of knitting done too!

My new hat!

Pattern: Cap Karma by Smariek with the crown modification by Brooklyn Tweed

Yarn: Twisted by Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Raven Series color Valkyrie

Notes: Love this pattern but really really love this yarn! The Twisted is so nice

knit up and the colorway...wow! The Raven colors are gorgeous in this yarn!

And since the yardage is amazing (560 yards!) there are a few more projects you will be seeing around here in this!

Snowboarder kept calling the hat "Stolen" because he wanted it.

With the new year, one of my goals is to knit more from my stash. Not that I probably won't be adding to it of course, but to be more mindful of the gorgeous yarns I already have. To help with that, I joined the Stash Knit Down 2008 group over at Ravelry. The first challenge,

Knit a Mile from your stash!

Thanks Reb of Shades of Green for making the perfect button!

The details...

Start: January 5th, 11am Eastern time

End: February 19th, 5pm Eastern time

Knit one mile, 1760 yards using stash yarn

I think I can do it!!

I'll show you the projects I started today on the car ride home later this week.

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Quick Hi from Tahoe

Snowboarder, Rowan and I are here in Tahoe enjoying the snow! Snowboarder promised to make his debut on the blog if I knit him another hat (he's wearing the black one I designed for him last year). And yesterday, I think I made him the perfect hat. Imagine a gorgeous merino wool (Blue Moon yarn) in a cable pattern, that I designed for him....a Snowboarder hat that Rocks!! He loves it! Hopefully more pics and a pattern when we get home! For now, we are watching the snow fall outside!! Umm.. they are expecting a blizzard tomorrow.

Happy Snow! Hope we get home Saturday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits