Wednesday, June 30, 2010

I have been knitting things other than baby socks.

I promise. But, those projects aren't done yet, and the baby shower frenzy is happening in July and August. Must knit wee little cute things!

Before I show you the fun pictures from this weekend (it really is amazing how even just a short weekend away with friends can rejuvenate you!), I thought I'd share the one finished project from the weekend.

Dear Baby Francis.2
For a very special baby boy, a sweet, tiny version of the Uncle Frank socks.

Dear Baby Francis
I'm thinking of calling them Dear Baby Francis.

Dear Baby Francis.3
I'm still loving these wee little socks! Imagine, these are about a 6-month size, which means, there is the potential for even cuter, tinier versions! More details on my project page here.


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Ahhhh.....hope this picture can hold you over on this Wednesday. The holiday weekend will soon be here!
Oh, and if you participate in the knitalongs over in the Socks that Rock group on Ravelry, my Blackberry Brambles pattern is nominated and its a pretty tight race, so if you think you may want to join us this round, go here and vote :) Blackberry Brambles is one of the paid patterns (it'll be marked down to $4 for two weeks if it wins) and voting ends today. And if you haven't done the knitalongs, come join us!! It is one of my favorite groups on ravelry!
Happy Wednesday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Monday, June 28, 2010

Too much fun!

Erica is in town for the week, and I forgot how much fun it can be when you get 5 of us sock campers together (plus throw in Cheryl, another fabulous fun knitter!). We had way too much fun this weekend (that should read....4 yarns stores in less than 24 hours...crazy! plus cupcakes and a weekend on a boat!).

I have today off so we are heading out in a few minutes to go get some quality knitting time in! But I had to stop in and say and share a gorgeous picture or two from this weekend! Don't worry, there will be lots more, including some of the purchases (I was pretty good!).


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And, Disco would be so proud. Cupcakefaerie and Erica have culled the stash with me (you know I need my hand held!). The Great Destash of 2010 is coming....seriously good stuff! I'm hoping to get the stash down by a lot! (Cupcakefaerie said by 10%....I think we did that easily last night! One more closet to go thru!).

Happy Monday!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Friday, June 25, 2010

How did I forget to share this?

Last weekend I offered to make Dad a Raspberry Buttermilk Cake. He wasn't too sure, but said fine. Well, I made it Saturday at Dad's house in anticipation of Father's Day. Of course, by Father's Day morning there wasn't much left- he loved it that much! So, I used the rest of the berries to make him two more...one is in the freezer!


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I used Ollalieberries for one of them...delish!!! I too forgot just how delicious this cake was!

Happy Friday!!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sunday, June 20, 2010

"I Love My One Sock"

Puddy and Dad's one sock

Pa is happy today, even if there is only one sock!

And don't worry, Snowboarder was able to sleep in and get pancakes and eggs in bed :) Fortunately, he didn't ask for socks too.

Happy Father's Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Friday, June 18, 2010

Decided.

To at least make an attempt at a new pair of socks for Dad on Sunday. I'll mend him at least one pair on Sunday, whether I finish these or not.

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Uncle Frank Socks, STR heavyweight, colorway Obsidian

I don't expect to finish, but I'm more hopeful now that I've cast on. I forgot how quickly STR heavyweight knits up on size 4 needles. Never say never.

Happy Friday!!!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Decisions decisions

Tough knitting decisions around here.

1. I really, really want to finish Sock #2 of my new Sock-a-licious design, Sweet Home.

SweetHome3

2. But it is Father's Day this Sunday. Dad needs some socks. Well, he actually wants me to mend the socks with the holes, but that doesn't sound like fun. Just not sure I can whip up a pair of Uncle Frank socks by Sunday.

SweetHome2

And I really want to keep working on these.

Sweet Home

3. But then next week, I need to knit another pair of baby socks for my bestest friend in the whole wide world (we've been friends since we were 6!!). A baby boy, her first! So I was thinking of making wee Uncle Frank socks.

Of course, in true knitterly fashion, somewhere deep down I think I can knit all three. Who am I kidding?

Happy Decision Making!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Monday, June 14, 2010

Cuteness

I warned you there would be some baby knitting around these here parts with so many friends have babies lately.

Beware...cuteness ahead!

sweet baby cate

I knit this set for my BFF, Cockeyed, who is going to become a first-time grandma this fall! I finished these just in time last week to get them in the mail for her Grandma Shower...it was so hard to keep it a secret because, well, I can't help it, these wee little baby things are too cute!!

sweet baby cate.2

Can you believe I've knit over 75 pairs of socks, and not one pair has ever been baby socks? Booties, yes. But not wee little socks. Goodness I loved these- and yes, I'm sooo counting these toward my 52 pair plunge (hey, they say its okay, and you know there is no way I'll get to 52 pairs in a year, so I'm counting them!).

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The pattern....I'm calling it Sweet Baby Cate, as the pattern was inspired by my Cotty design (named after my great-aunt Catherine). I think I'm even going to write it up. Maybe the cuteness is from the picots? Or the colorway? Socks that Rock, mediumweight, colorway Peek-a-boo-Peony.

Or maybe because they are just so wee.

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Finally

What a week! But I finally feel like summer is here! Stressful meetings, writing reports nonstop, and just not in enough hours in the day is what the last few m0nths have felt like! I'm going to enjoy the more relaxed pace of summer as much as possible!

Starting with this weekend....

1. Carnival.
2. Farmer's market.
3. Swimming.
4. More carnival fun.
5. Another farmer's market.
6. More swimming.
7. Knitting. Knitting. Knitting.
8. Making yummy salads for dinner and the week ahead.
9. Catching up on some movie-watching tonight too....Shutter Island and Valentine's Day...good combo?!

I'm hoping to get lots of knitting done too!!

Starting with this sock. I think I said a few weeks ago I wanted to work on it.

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Yeah. This sock has been single for way too long. I must finish it! This was my original test knit for my Courage design for the Woolgirl Oz Club Cowardly Lion Kit. I used Socks that Rock lightweight, which was in between both the very fine fingering Union Center Knits Sock yarn and then the Sport Sock Yarn (see picture below).

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But the pattern is very easy to modify!

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And it is now available to the public!

I also went ahead and made The Woods Family Collection, an ebook featuring the four sock patterns named after my Grandma and her siblings.

The Woods Family Collection

Ever since I designed Cotty, I knew I wanted to do this. Four sock designs for $15, available here

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l to r: Cotty, Uncle Frank, Winnie, Dotty

Happy Sunday!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Busy Busy!

Busy week at work. Busy weekend...walk-a-jog Friday night, Autism Walk Saturday, farmer's market, cooking food for the week, more work stuff on the weekend. Busy upcoming week. But then, work slows down and summer is here!

This was all the knitting that was done this week. Not too much, but I'm loving my new design!

SweetHome.maybe

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Gorgeous Sock-a-licious in the colorway Chateau. Love it!

Hope your weekend was full of fun! Here's to a great week ahead!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

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