There's No Place Like Home

I had a great business trip to New Orleans, but I am so glad to be home. Even though I have lots to do this weekend, I'm so glad the weekend is here!


Beware: Spoiler Pictures for Woolgirl's Oz Club Below!


And look what arrived today! Yarn!!! Not typically a big deal, but I haven't bought any yarn this month so my club arrivals are what are keeping me going!!




I just love Jen's kits! This one is the Ruby Slippers kit (and I think the last one I signed up for of the Oz Series). I love the bling!!



I'm not typically one for sparkly yarn. But, this may be the exception. Its a gorgeous pinky-red that is hard to capture and I love the pattern that came with it!

Here's to a busy busy weekend ahead! But for right now...

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Geaux Saints

Everyone, I mean everyone, here in New Orleans is wearing their black and gold today! It is pretty awesome!

Even the King Cakes are black and gold today!

Oh how I love King Cake!

Geaux Saints!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

That Airplane Knitting Rocks!

I finished my Mama Blue Sport weight version of the Merrily Socks on my flights to New Orleans.



Mama Blue Troika Sport, colorway Little Rarities 138



My first finished socks for 2010!



I just love this yarn!! The color variations are so subtle and beautiful!



Another long day of work tomorrow, but then Sunday off to cheer for the Saints! More work Monday, then airplane knitting (or a nap!) home!

Geaux Saints!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Merrily

Exciting news to share! While I was flying across country today to New Orleans, my new pattern was added to the KnitPicks Independent Designer's Program. I'm so excited to be a part of this new program!






These are my Merrily Socks knit in KnitPicks Gloss Sock yarn (a gift from Zonda!).

Merrily

Ding dong merrily on high...

Merrily merrily merrily merrily life is but a dream....

These socks define merrily. Easy, festive, lighthearted. With an easy-to-memorize 8 round repeat, these socks will merrily fly off the needles.

Notes: Instructions are written for a cuff-down sock. However, they can be easily modified to a toe-up pattern. Sizes are provided for either a fingering weight yarn or a sport/dk weight yarn. Charts are provided on the last page.

Yarn: ~350 yds of fingering weight yarn. Shown in Knit Picks Gloss Sock yarn, 220 yds/skein; 2 skeins colorway Burgundy for fingering size; or ~250 yds of sport/dk weight yarn

Needles: Size US 1.5 (2.5mm) or size to obtain gauge for fingering size; US 2.5 (3.0mm) or size to obtain gauge for sport size

Gauge: 32 sts = 4" for fingering size or 28 sts = 4" for sport size

Size: Adult women's average/medium

Finished measurements: 8" foot circumference; 5 1/2 -6 1/4" approx. leg length

You may go directly to the Knit Picks site to purchase the Merrily Socks pattern. The pattern is only $1.99, the price of all the Independent Designer's Patterns (there are some gorgeous patterns there too!).

The pattern is also available as a Ravelry download.

In addition, from now until the end of January, 50% of the sales of this pattern (along with my other patterns) will be donated to Doctors Without Borders to help Haiti (whether you purchase the pattern at Knit Picks or Ravelry).

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Thoughts for the week

I have been cleaning all weekend. All weekend. Thank goodness it is a 3-day weekend for me so that I can at least take some breaks for knitting! My motivation works something like this....clean that drawer and that box and that box and then knit for 30 minutes. Clean that closet (omg! that closet?!) and then knit for an hour.

At least I have a really clean desk right now.



See. I so rarely can show you my desk...hehehe

This week is going to be one of those weeks. Two days of work, then off for a long work weekend in New Orleans again. Busy busy, but at least I'll be enjoying some good food! And the Saints are in the playoffs so it is going to be crazy there this weekend! I'm figuring that even though I'll be working, the team I'll be working with will be so relaxed and hyped up for the game that it should be a good weekend. And I've been to NOLA enough to know that the school I'll be working at on Friday will be having "Saints" day....so I'm bringing my black to wear (don't think I have any gold though?).



My main knit for the weekend is a secret, but I did pull out my Uncle Frank sock in Socks that Rock and work on it a bit because I'll be bringing it to NOLA. The gusset decreases are done, so I'm sure this will be done soon. I do love how this pattern is knitting up, even in a variegated colorway!

And the best thing to clean to, in my opinion, is either a CSI or Law & Order Marathon on tv, and when you need a break from that, well, I got out Season One of The West Wing . Love it.

Here's to a good week!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Weekend Chores

I won The Yarn Harlot's Page-a-Day Calendar last November at the Knot Hysteria Knitting Retreat, and Friday's page was just perfect. So timely.

Weekend Chores: Stash Cull. hehehe I've been culling the stash the past few weeks, but this page made me take another look.




I'm actually quite proud that I've cleared out almost another bucket (no worries Disco, I'm filling the bucket with other things so that I don't trick myself into thinking I have "more room" for yarn!). You can take a peek here, if interested.

Now that my stash is organized and my room is clean, its time to knit. knit. knit.

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. If you haven't already seen, Ravelry has a special "Help for Haiti patterns" section where lots of designers are offering to donate part of their pattern sales to help Haiti. I've added my patterns there too. From now until the end of January, 50% of the sales of my patterns will be donated to Doctors without Borders to help Haiti.

The Art of Stashing

If it is indeed an art, well I've mastered it. Well, at least two years ago, until Disco came to visit for Stitches West and we had a heart to heart about the stash. I had mastered it. Then I began making it not an art. Or at least trying :) (Yet, I fully acknowledge that I love my stash and the yarn collection isn't going to go away, but you know, I can continue to learn how to keep it in check. I still haven't learned how to totally resist those cashmere yarns though.)

Things I've learned so far....

1) I don't need vacation yarn. Okay, sock summit. That was an exception. Yarn vacations are different. But when I first began knitting eight years ago, well, every vacation where there was a yarn store involved vacation yarn. They will tell you it doesn't count. It does.



And then 7 years after your cruise to Alaska, well, you find this in your stash. And its time to admit that well, I don't think I'm ever going to knit this (it was meant for some type of ripple scarf). Love the colors, but 55% mohair, 45% wool. I think its ~500-600 yards. Yeah, I just don't see it being knit anytime soon. Even more of a wake-up call. The price on the back, $55. Ouch.

So, to the destash it goes. $20 or best offer (US shipping included).

2. Infatuation. Flings. I certainly have gone through phases where I "love" a certain type of yarn. Must have it, and goodness, if its on sale, must stock up. (Note: Socks that Rock is NOT an infatuation. I've had that love for quite awhile and if you took all of my stash away except my STR, I would be completely happy with just that. okay. maybe I would need to keep my plucky yarns. and mama blue. that's it I think. Hmmm...maybe I should remind myself of this as I continue to destash). I'm trying to remember that not only do I not knit fast enough, but I may lose that infatuation.



Take alpaca. I loved it. I still do. Its sooooo soft. But a sweater's worth? Probably not for me. Anyone from the Knittyboards remember this alpaca listing a few years ago.... I think it was $25-30 for 10 skeins of Pure Living Organic Peruvian Alpaca, 100% superfine alpaca (50g/1.75 oz, about 90m/99yds; gauge 19-21 sts = 4" on US 7). I have two packages of 10 skeins in this color. And yes, sale yarn, another package of 10 in a natural cream.

Anyone interested? $20 per package of 10 skeins US shipping included (or both sets of tan/khaki for $35) ETA: The tan/khaki skeins are gone, but the 10 skeins of natural cream are still available.

3. Just because it is on sale, doesn't mean I need to buy it. There will always be yarn sales. There will always be yarn sales. There will always be yarn sales.

Okay, that's enough S.A. for today (Stashaholics Anonymous). Maybe next time we'll tackle the sock yarn. Any other suggestions are totally welcome :)

If you are interested in the above yarns, leave a comment (with contact info) or email me at irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com.

Happy Destashing!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Today

Today will involve hot chocolate in my Sock Summit mug and designing. Simple, right?

Finally finished the second Koolhaas for Snowboarder's brother-in-law. Best part...got two! of these out of one skein of Dream in Color Classy. I think I'm done with this pattern now though.

Happy Sunday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Let's talk stash.

My stash to be exact. New year, new goals. I still feel like many of last year's goals for me are continuing to be my focus, not just the stash one. But let's tackle that stash one today.

I'm continuing with my destash efforts. That money has helped pay for the three clubs I've signed up for for the year- Woolgirl, Rockin' Sock Club, and Plucky Classics. I'm hoping these three clubs will account for most of my stash acquisition, give or take a few well-thought out Blue Moon purchases (Stitches West, Sock Camp) and some others from my favorite dealers, Woolgirl, Purlescence Yarns, and Plucky. To keep track of that, I've joined the Stashdown Challenge with my Yarn Snob friends on Ravelry! So far, so good!

I'm also trying to take more photos of my stash....a little reminder for me. So let's start with the incoming stash this week (all 2009 purchases, so I'm still in the clear this month!).




Woolgirl's kits always amaze me! I'm always thinking the new one is my favorite! A Yarnissima pattern (and two more awesome patterns by Christina Bain), a gorgeous skein of Juliet yarn from Yarn Love, a PINK!!! Namaste buddy case (an exclusive colorway!!! love love love!!), and other sweet goody treats!



The new Plucky Classics shipment. Love. Love. Love.

And then there was the Blue Moon New Year's Eve Rare Gems event! These beauties....wow!!! So glad I indulged a bit (you know I don't need anymore STR!).











From all the gorgeous Rare Gems I've seen on Ravelry this week from this event, wow! I'm hoping the leftovers will be at Stitches West....a little motivation for me to cast on with one of these soon!

It is definitely time to fall in love with my stash!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy New Year!

Snowboarder, Lil' Snowboarder, and I headed up to the snow for the New Year! Don't you love the Snowman Hat that Rocks?!

Happy happy new year!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits