The Whole Truth

And nothing but the truth.

Seriously.

Let's talk UFOs.

Over on Twitter, a few of my smackdown peeps have been talking about a UFO smackdown. I thought, well, sure, but I only have 4 WIPs on my ravelry project page. I'm doing pretty well. Oh, how quickly one forgets.




These are all the ones in my drawers. Forgotten. Not added to ravelry (so in a way, they didn't exist). Time to get real.



The February Lady Sweater I cast on right before Stitches West in February. I didn't like my button hole and so I stopped there.



This was my original test knit of the Courage sock pattern. In the gorgeous Oregon Red Honey Clover colorway of STR.

There is another design in progress hiding in one of those project bags, but I can't show you that.

Now the next two. Well, I just started them, but they weren't added to my project page. So, again, the whole truth.



A sport weight version of the Merrily pattern :) (or maybe Merrily Merrily). In Mama Blue. Swoooooooooon. This one will be done soon.



Another Koolhaas for Snowboarder's brother-in-law. Snowboarder was bragging and asked me to make him one. Ugh. But note the pretty project bags from Piddleloop (they were my Christmas pressie to me!).



Well, this was just beginning to be a Goody Goody sock, but let's get real. I haven't touched it since 2008.



It now looks like this. I'm sure I'll get around to it, but why have it filling up a cute project bag (this one from Zknitter!) and needles!

Now this next UFO. Well, its probably my favorite. I haven't touched it in a long time. My Tickled Pink Blanket that Rocks!



I'm hoping the fabulous new Signature Circular Needles will help me finish this baby up!

So total UFOs....nine! Let's change that!

How many do you have??

Happy Diving-into-the-back-of-the-closet-to-find-the-UFOs-Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

ETA: Crap. Found one more. This one. Tuscany shawl. It was on my ravelry project page doing this zzzzzzzz hehehe. Hmmm. I can't bear to frog this, but don't see it being worked on soon. I guess this is where the UFO smackdown comes in.

A Peaceful Season

I know. The holidays for some aren't quite peaceful. But I sure am trying. I took a little extra time off from work this year to specifically make it a peaceful season.

And so far....



I've finished two books. Considering I've maybe read 6 or 7 books this year, this is huge. I enjoyed them both, but not sure I would read them back to back. Both involve kidnappings of a child (totally, light-hearted holiday reading?!?!). Little Face takes place in England and The Year of Fog takes place in San Francisco, and were quite different, but page-turners, especially towards the end.

Oh, and I indulged a bit at the Lush after-Christmas sale. How can you not find peace when you are in a warm bubble bath, reading? Seriously, its the little things for me.

Today was also a very relaxing day at home with Snowboarder and Lil' Snowboarder. I made pancakes from scratch, for the first time I think. Not sure why that is. I was out of pancake mix, so I found this recipe. I don't think I'll ever buy mix again!! They were so yummy that I forgot to take pictures.

And there was enough sunshine to take some pictures of some finished knits. This hat has been done for a few weeks now, I just hadn't found the time to take some pictures.








The yarn is Madelinetosh Tosh Worsted, in Copper Penny. Its the Uncle Frank Hat. The pattern isn't quite done yet. I think I want to tweak the decreases a bit. But it was nice to finally, finally, take some pictures!

And I even was able to have Snowboarder take a picture of my new sock design that's in the works.



A simple, lace sock. It just needs a name. And some test knitting. Any ideas for a name? Merrily. That has been stuck in my head the entire time I've been knitting these. It could be the holiday music (IrishDad had me watching this), or the merrily merrily merrily, life is but a dream aspect. It is a quick knit. But I'm completely open to suggestions.

Now back to knitting and Law & Order/CSI/ Law & Order SVU marathons on tv :)

Peace. Love. Joy.
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Merry Merry!!

Wishing you all a very, very Merry Christmas!

Love,
Irishgirlieknits, Bailey, & Puddles

Holiday Knits

It just wouldn't be two days before Christmas without some last minute knitting, right? I've got one complicated hat to finish and some socks to darn (Dad has a big pile of socks with holes that he just wants mended...I've been putting it off forever!). And maybe a wee pair of Toasties if time permits for Lil' Snowboarder.

But here are two that are done.



Why yes. Those are another pair of Plucky Knitter's Cashmere Toasties. A gift for Snowboarder's sister. If you need a quick last-minute gift, this pair was knit up quickly on Monday. You can do it.



Now this gorgeous scarf. Don't be fooled. It will take forever to knit. Forever. Not a last-minute gift. I knew the only way this was going to be finished was if I made it a Christmas gift. I needed a deadline.



To be honest, it may have taken so long because about 50% of it was knit while I practiced lever knitting. The last 20% I was worried I was going too slow and just finished it the way I normally knit.



The pattern is the Gathered Scarf. The yarn is BMFA Peru and is sooooo lovely in the Rose Quartz colorway. One skein of gorgeousness. I was inspired by Maria's version here. I think Snowboarder's mom is going to love this.

Okay. Now to knit that boyfriend a Koolhaas.

Happy Holidays!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Just what I needed...

While a lot of the country was covered in snow, it was a spectacular weekend at the coast.






Candy cane white chocolate....super easy to make!



Wearing my Christmas Monkey Socks for the first time since I made them last January. I wanted to save them :)



One more easy day of work and then vacation really, really starts!

Happy Holidays!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Let the holidays begin!

It sure has been a crazy/hectic/stressful/not-so-fun past few weeks or so. The tree isn't even up. Even though I'm still working a day or two next week, I was so happy to be done with work on Friday. And the perfect way to start the holidays....

Caroling at Purlescence Yarns!



I think there were about 30 of us gathered in the shop last night for some holiday singing and knitting.



Nartian, Cupcakefaerie and I had a great time!



Christmas caroling wouldn't be complete without last-minute holiday knitting. I loved the hat that Cupcakefaerie was working on.



And rather than decorating my Christmas tree, I've escaped to the coast for a weekend of relaxing and knitting to the sounds of the ocean.



I think I'm ready for the holidays to officially begin!

Happy Holidays!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Holiday Mail!

Warning: Woolgirl Cowardly Lion Shipment Spoiler below!! SPOILER!!!

Last week was a fabulous yarny week! The postman dropped off three fabulous packages! First up, Woolgirl's Gingerbread Kit!



Now if that doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, well, I don't know what does! Love love love the Wool Candy yarn too! And the yummy gingerbread cookie that is missing from the photo...well he's in my tummy!



Littlest Snowboarder is going to love this Hello Kitty baby doll diaper bag set from Discoknits!! So cute!! And the super cute bag behind it (with the polka dots), a giftee from Disco!! Its fabulous!! Thank you Disco! And seriously, I really need to make friends with my sewing machine!

And finally. My Woolgirl Cowardly Lion Kit!

Wait for it.....



Oh, you want to see a close up of that pattern?!



Another secret!! That's my design, Courage! I absolutely loved designing this sock for Woolgirl!



Here are my sport samples, in the yummy Union Center Knits yarn. The sport size came with a coordinating toe :)



And here is one with the fingering weight version. A bit more rouching on the cuff. The cuff bunches up and reminds me of the Cowardly Lion's big mane!

Oh, and for those of you interested, Woolgirl just opened up the sign-ups for her upcoming Alice in Wonderland Sock Club.

I sure do need to enjoy these yarny packages this month. I have a feeling January will bring fewer....you know, new year, new attempts to knit from the stash. But until then.....

Happy knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. I haven't done any holiday baking and am feeling inspired....any favorite recipes you all would recommend? Fudge is definitely on the list....anything else?

Seriously!?!?!??!!!!

Did you guys read this?!??!?! That's me (Carrie!!). Seriously excited and so honored that Tina asked me!!

Oh, and Disco also wants me to share this....check out #99! Squee!!! I wouldn't be here without you guys! Thank you bunches!!!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

And the winner is....

Nancy N (n2n on ravelry)!

I think I gathered up quite a few goodies from my stash for Nancy's prize! Some Colinette, Miss Babs, Suss Designs, Malabrigo test skein, a Blackberry Brambles pattern, and a bunch of little goodies! Thank you all for you very nice comments on my blogiversary contest! Here's to another great year of blogging!

Happy Blogging!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Still Toasty

Despite the chill in the air, my hands are staying Toasty.




Thanks to my new pair of Toasty in the luxurious Plucky Knitter Aran Cashmere. My favorite one skein project!

And I won a little contest over at Bobbin's Nest this past week, which twist my arm, forced me to stop by the shop to pick up my prize (and yes, another skein and Whimsical Little Knits 2)!



The yarn is Three Irish Girls Glenhaven Cashmerino Worsted in a gorgeous, but hard to capture, color, Raisin. Thank you Bobbin's Nest!

And speaking of contests, you have until 6pm PST tomorrow to enter my blogiversary contest here. Thank you all for the wonderful comments too! I so appreciate it!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Thank you!

This week marks my 3-year blogiversary! And I wouldn't be here without all of you!

Thank you all for another fabulous year in this knitting community! I have loved getting to know so many of you in person and here online. I do feel so very blessed to have this community and this special group of friends! Stitches, Sock Camp, Sock Summit, SnB, Knot Hysteria.....what a fun-filled knitting year it has been!

And to celebrate, let's have a yarny giveaway! I promise it'll be a great big yarny goody prize for one lucky reader! I'll make it easy too. Just leave a comment. It can be why you love knitting blogs, what you'd like to see more of on this blog, a fabulous book you are reading, or a hot new knitting pattern you have to knit now despite the looming holiday knits list. I'll pick one lucky winner this Sunday!

Happy Blogging!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Fall

I love this time of year. Late fall in the Bay Area is when all the leaves are still gorgeous!






And these socks are just perfect for fall!



I loved this pattern and I loved, loved the yarn!



Pattern: Socktoberfest Mystery Socks by Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops
Yarn: The Plucky Knitter MCN fingering, colorway Pumpkin Latte

Happy Monday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Long Day

Yesterday was a good day. A gorgeous day for a fall football game between Notre Dame and Stanford.

It was a day filled with.....



.... tailgating games.



.... yummy food.



.... fabulous friends (or Cal fans willing to cheer for the Irish!).




.... family.







.... and, ultimately, heartbreak. Another last minute loss, 45-38.

Its going to be a long off-season.

Go Irish!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits