Happy Monday!

He just doesn't understand the power of the Turtlegirl and the Rockin' Hat!

He does know that he wants one in a different color :)
(thanks for all the Koolhaas love everyone!!)

It was a happy mail week last week! Zonda and I did a Stitches West/Sew Me Something Please Swap! I always think I am a bit spoiled when she sews for me!! Plus look at those absolutely perfect sock yarns she sent me too! Yay! Army Girl socks for me!

The bag matches my Namaste Bag just perfectly! I love it! Thank you thank you Z!

More mail today from Disco! Such a nice surprise! I've been waiting til she posted some of those cute onesies to her shop so I could buy a few for my friends! Wait no longer...she surprised me with one!! And also a Yarn Ball for my car!!! In my favorite color no less! And a new CD too! Thanks Disco!! I miss you!

Can you tell Disco has seen just some of the stash and knows I don't need any more yarn...hehehe! Thanks Disco! You're the best sponsor yet!

Oh, did I say stash?! Just wait to see what I have for you all tomorrow!!!

For fun, this was last year.

Happy Monday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Koolhaas that Rocks!

Koolhaas that Rocks!!

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood (ravelry project link)

Yarn: Socks that Rock mediumweight (1 skein!!), colorway Jasper that I bought at Purlescence Yarns after Stitches West, knit doubled throughout

Needles: size US 6 and US 8

First, Snowboarder wants me to thank everyone for all the nice comments! I think you all made him blush. He insists its the knitting. Although when I showed him my Koolhaas that Rocks tonight, the first thing he said, well after how cute it was, was, "My hat got 24 comments!" Too funny. Tonight was the first time he got in on the photo shoot from the photographer side. He's a much easier model (e.g., "Fix your hair. Wait no look over here. Etc.").

Second, I love this hat for many reasons. Probably most because its made with STR and whenever I knit something other than socks with it, it makes me happy. It helps explain the stash a bit more :) The STR mediumweight doubled knits up nice and thick and I made the men's size (thinking that Snowboarder's hat in Dream in Color Classy just barely fit me). Of course, I probably would have been fine with the smaller size. This hat is a wee bit big, but who cares! I love it!! And the color. Wow!

Okay, now Rowan, Snowboarder and I all have new hats. I think Little Guy may need one for his birthday next week. But I am going to try to focus on some bigger projects in the next few weeks (like my Blanket that Rocks!).

Happy Weekend!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday: The Pink Edition

Its been all about the pink here lately. The Koolhaas that Rocks! is done just haven't had time for a proper photo shoot! I absolutely love it!

The first of my Cedar Creek socks is coming along nicely!

And I'm still in love!

This next week will be all about little boy blue though as Auntie Irishgirlie needs to whip up some birthday presents for Little Guy! He turns 1 next week!! Eek!!

Happy Think Pink!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I'm it.

Another meme. This time I was tagged by both Neuroknitter and Turtle to do the 7 random things meme. Here goes!

The rules are: 1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog. 2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird. 3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs. 4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I took Irish dancing for 10 years. Oh yeah baby. This was before Riverdance, so we're talking really cool. Let's just say it gets old dancing every year with your best friend in front of the entire school on St. Patrick's Day.

2. Fortunately, I also played basketball, softball, and volleyball for quite awhile too.

3. I've read Gone with the Wind twice. First in the sixth grade and then again in high school. I also read and did a book report on Uncle Tom's Cabin in the sixth grade too. I think it may have had something to do with loving the mini-series North and South. And dad's a huge history buff.

4. I think I even dressed up as a Southern Belle in the 8th grade (with a hula hoop-hoop skirt as part of my costume that I made myself). (note: Rowan is saying, "You think? You know you did.").

5. Okay. And this is from Rowan who sat here helping me think of weird things about me (she actually had quite a few more. Sisters.). Laugh away now. So we were at an outdoor concert a few years ago, and I turned to her and said, "Ew. Why does it smell like skunk?" My sister laughed and said, "No dude. Its pot." (clarify, she wasn't smoking it, but she loves to share this story whenever we have friends over). So, I guess random thing. I can't distinguish between the smell of skunk and pot.

6. I'm a night owl. And back in college, to make sure I got up for those early early classes, sometimes my dad would call to make sure I got up (and going to school in the midwest, there was a time difference). Thanks dad!

7. I love my socks that rock (not random or weird, I know). Although, I have enough of it that its organized in my stash according to weight (e.g., this bucket is for mediumweight, this one for lightweight).

I've seen this meme floating around blogland for awhile so I'm not going to tag anyone tonight. But feel free to share if you'd like! And since I didn't want to post without a picture.....Enjoy!

The mediumweight bucket.

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

So Kool....

So Rowan got her hat, now Snowboarder gets his.

He's smiling and loves it. I believe he said, "It's sick!"

So Kool....this was Snowboarder leaving after our "photo shoot." Look, he goes from smiley, to don't mess with me, in the blink of an eye!

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood; ravelry link

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, color Black Parade

Notes: I used size 6 and 7 needles to get gauge on this yarn which is ever so yummy. Lots left too. The colorway is perfect too, subtle shades of blacks and blues. I loved this pattern too! After the first few rows, I didn't need to refer to the pattern anymore. I've already cast on one for me (and I'm sure both Rowan and Snowboarder will wear it better, but who cares! mine will be Rockin'! hint hint).

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Lucky Winners!

I absolutely love it! I mean its STR heavyweight, so how can you not. But the color....

I'm still in the these colors are amazing phase!

Please remind me of this in a few weeks when the monotony of garter stitch gets to me!

The correct answer for the contest was 10 strips completed (remember, I count that middle-thingy!). There were actually a few people who guessed correctly, but according to the random number generator, the winner is.....

Nell from Chicken Knits

Since I know she too loves STR, I figured she'd love this yarny goodness prize...

Socks that Rock, mill end (of Pebble Beach I think)

I (well, me and the random number generator again) also picked a random runner-up winner and that was ...

Babbling Brook

The runner-up prize was supposed to be some malabrigo, but I think I'll give Stacey her choice of malabrigo or me diving into my sock stash, as I know she loves to knit socks too!

Hope you all had a fabulous St. Patty's Day! Our dinner was delicious and now I'll be watching one of my favorite new movies, Once. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it. Well, at least listen to the soundtrack. Its perfect.

Tomorrow: Snowboarder is modeling his new Koolhaas......

Happy St. Patty's Day!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Puddles is ready!

Bailey is really ready!

Corned beef and cabbage and potatoes will be ready at Dad's tonight. Yum.

Don't forget the Irish Sodabread (Rowan makes it from scratch for us!).

Contest prizes for some LUCKY winners tonight!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Serendipitous Sunday!

Serendipity Socks by Adrienne Fong

Serendipitous short-row heel

Serendipitous star toes

Serendipitous stripes

(because you know if I tried for them to match they wouldn't have!)

Can you believe I actually knit my first pair of Rockin' Sock Club socks?!

Check back tomorrow for contest winners...the blanket is looking fabulous!!

Happy almost St. Patty's Day!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday

A quick update! I am loving ALL of my current projects right now which is making it a bit challenging to focus on just one. I finished one of my Serendipity Socks this weekend (best short row yet!) and I'm hoping to turn the heel on the second tomorrow. Hoping these won't be around for next week's WIP!

Next up, another hat. Snowboarder and Rowan have this little thing. She gets a hat. Then he wants a hat. Then she wants a hat (they both LOVE their handknit hats and truly appreciate them and its hard not to give into their requests). Oh, and Rowan has challenged him a bit too ("Look how many comments I got! More than you" or something like that...so funny!!). We'll have to see who wins the next round :)

Of course, I love this pattern and really want to make one for me next. Koolhaas. Almost done. Can't wait to see Snowboarder in it!

Using some Dream in Color Classy, color Black Parade that I bought at Purlescence Yarns

The blanket is coming along great. I am loving that but want to finish up these projects, cast on another sock, and get started on Little Guy's birthday present.

Is it Friday yet?

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I Knew She'd Love It!

That's why when I saw this one, and then this one, I couldn't show them to her. All I would hear would be, "When are you making me my hat?" After all, I was with her when she went to REI and spent $35 on an acrylic, trendy, not-handmade version, and being the supportive sister that I am, I didn't give her any guilt when she bought it (hey, she's a grown-up and can do what she wants with her money, and it was the holidays and I didn't want to hear her say, "Well make me one then.").

So, it was on my to-do list. I knit it yesterday while she was out most of the day. Although it was a slightly belated birthday gift, I think Rowan was the happiest girl last night when I gave her the hat. It was a total surprise.

Here Rowan is, modeling her fly Capitan hat, designed by the fabulous Rosi G. Oh, the yarn is Misti Alpaca Chunky.

Disco and I picked out the buttons together at Stitches. Rowan thinks they make the hat just perfect. I have to agree.

And if you haven't entered the contest yet, guesses need to be entered by midnight tonight (Sunday 3/9/08) in that post! Thanks to everyone already for all the guesses!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happiness is.....

....combining a WIP Wednesday post and a YPF post in a Thursday night post!

Happiness is casting on a new project in your favorite yarn.

Seriously. Tickled Pink, I think.

I've been "collecting" pink shades of Socks that Rock heavyweight for the past year and a half and at Stitches West found the last three colorways that will make this project just perfect! Disco saw the lone skein of Mochaberry (the top of the three above) and we knew it was a must.

Here are the ingredients for my second, bigger, and pinker, Log Cabin Blanket!

l to r: Boysenberry, Bleeding Hearts (both from Stitches this year), Backstabber, Jasper, Mist, Mochaberry, Rose Quartz

I cast on Sunday night and love it already! It will certainly take me longer than my last one, but that's okay. I'm not in a hurry.

I'm loving each of these colors by the way!

Happiness is also sharing the love! So, I thought a little contest was in order. You know, St.Patrick's Day is coming up and I'm nearing 200 posts (I sure can blab away about knitting!) so good timing for giving away some yarny goodness!

Here's what we'll do. Guess how many "strips" I will have completed on my Tickled Pink Blanket that Rocks! by noon on St. Patrick's Day (March 17th) in the comments below. I'll pick a random winner from the correct guesses. I'll also pick a random runner-up, thanks for trying, winner. The prizes...well, it is malabrigo march and maybe some, I don't know, STR?! We'll see.

Things that will help with your guesses. I've already knit 3 strips (yeap, I'm counting that first thing in the middle. My contest.). I won't be knitting this exclusively in the next 10 days and I'll resist any WIP pics during the contest (trust me, this will be a WIP for awhile, so I don't want to burn you out too soon anyways). I have one pair of socks on the needles I want to finish and I want to cast on one or two hats soon, but not sure if I will or not. And Little Guy's birthday is at the beginning of April but his gift should be quick. So don't guess anything like 25 or 30 people! I mean, I think it will be more than 4 or 5 though. Who knows!

Happy Guessing!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

ETA: Guessing will close this Sunday, March 9th, at midnight :)

It Came Back!

One sock, finished, but left in New Orleans. The perfect sock. I refused to work on the second until the other one came home. Gave in four weeks later when it still wasn't home...and then it showed up two days later! And then they were done!.

Pattern: Ampersand by Kristen Kapur

Yarn: Socks that Rock! mediumweight, color Rare Gems (looks like a slightly richer Monsoon)

Needles: US 2.5 (went down a needles size than pattern recommends)

I maybe, just maybe, have found the perfect sock. The pattern is fabulous, but I'm referring to the fit actually. Finally! A pair of perfectly fitting socks that are for me. Prior to this, the only ones that fit perfectly happened to be for other people :( Or were knit by other people. I tend to knit mine too big or too short or who knows! Practice makes perfect I guess.

I absolutely love these socks!

And of course, now we are experiencing beautiful 70 degree weather!

Oh well! Time for a pedicure!

Happy Monday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits