Sunday, July 10, 2011

Let's Catch Up!

Wow! Although summer has been a bit more relaxed, it sure has been busy! I've fallen a bit behind in blogging so tonight I'll try to catch up!

Let's first start with a countdown! 19 more sleeps until Sock Summit!!!  Woohoo!!  Can't wait! I'm flying in a few days early, so 16 sleeps for me!

Sock Summit 2011

Who else is going to Sock Summit?  I can't wait to see both new and old friends!

I've also been wanting to release a free pattern for awhile now and I finally released it yesterday! Another thing to check-off the must-do before Sock Summit list.  Meet my new sock pattern, Honey Badger.

IGK_HB107

I think you guys will like this one.  My fabulous, speedy test knitters Disco, Manda, and Gaylen, said it flew off their needles!  Thank you again ladies for all your help this week!

IGK_HB106

The slipped stitches will work great with variegated yarns too.  But if it doesn't, well, honey badgers don't care, right?!  These socks have been brewing in my head since sock camp! 

IGK_HB104

Sock camp brings out all sorts of silliness, and learning too, but really, this sock knitting community is pretty fabulous and fun.  At camp this year, the Honey Badger seemed to become our impromptu mascot.  When it came time to name this pattern, I just couldn’t resist naming it after the Honey Badger, the most fearless animal in all of the animal kingdom.  Be fearless with your sock knitting!  Honey Badgers don’t care! 

Honey Badger 7

Honey Badger

Notes: Instructions are written for a cuff-down sock. Charts are provided on the last page.


Materials: Size US 1 (2.25mm) or size to obtain gauge, either DPNs or circular needles, Stitch markers, Tapesty needle

Gauge: 32 stitches and 48 rows = 4” over st st

Size: adult women’s X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)

Finished measurements: 6 ½ (7 ¼, 8, 8 ¾)" foot circumference; 6” approximate leg length

Another special thanks to Thayer and Tricia for doing a fabulous job with the modeling and photography! I don't know where I would be without them.  Plus, I gave them the challenge of figuring out how to model just one sock :)

This is my favorite photo from the day!

Honey Badger 6

And would you believe we saw this guy on the drive up to our photo shoot!  I sooooo wanted to make Thayer jump out and model the sock next to him, but um....we think he was dead.

Cobra

Even though this was a free pattern, I still wanted to have it feature my new pattern format.  I really, really need to thank Jill, aka Knitterella, for being such an awesome resource for me as my graphic designer.  I highly recommend her if you are looking for graphic design work!

Honey Badger Pattern Cover

Not only did she do the pattern layout, but she was also a sponsor of this pattern!  Please go show her some love and thank her! I really do appreciate being able to offer this pattern for free and with such a professional look.  Thank you Jill!

knitterella sponsor ad

I've been keeping Jill busy with pattern reformatting too!  I have two more of my previously published designs in my new layout.

Dotty Pattern Cover Sweet Baby Kate Pattern Cover

From now until July 15, Dotty and Sweet Baby Kate will be specially-priced at $4.50 and then they will be $6.00, as my other patterns.

See, lots of fun stuff!  One would wonder if I am finding any time to knit.  Well, truth be told, once I had another secret project off the needles, I spent most of the week working on the extra stuff, such as pattern writing.  But last night I did finally cast on another Summer Wind.  I've loved seeing all of the Summer Winds knit up in our KAL, so I was inspired!  Plus, I need some almost mindless knitting.

Summer Wind
Anzula Squishy (and omg....love love how squishy it is!)

Hey, I didn't say I'd made a lot of progress, just that I'd cast on!

I also hope to cast on for the Kollage Yarns' IrishgirlieKnits KAL this week too.   I plan to use this gorgeous skein of Sock-a-licous.......

Gorgeous!

.... to make Keegan, a super quick and easy baby hat and cables pattern that I designed for their Fall line. 

Keegan - baby socks 1
I just love these wee baby socks!

Keegan - baby hat 2
And I could eat her up she is so stinkin' cute!

Okay, and if you have made it through this long catch-up post, I'll treat you to some highlights from my weekend!

Yum!
Homemade pizza!

Ginny

And re-reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! I can't wait to see the movie!  Oh, and yes, that gorgeous skein of Ginny from Sunshine Yarns showed up in the mail today!

Any of you excited to see Harry Potter this week?  What do you need to catch me up on? Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

Now off to bed I go....

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

10 comments:

Discoknits said...

We are BEYOND excited in our house about HP. We are watching one film a day until next week's launch. We've already got our tickets for the 9.45am show on Friday morning. And, don't die of shock or anything, but I'm actually reading the books. Started at Prisoner of Azkaban, as you recommended about a hundred years ago!
Enjoy this time before sock summit - I feel a whirlwind coming on!

Elizabeth D said...

Can't wait for the movie! My lucky kid gets to go to the midnight show, but she's too old now for mom to tag along, so I'll have to wait for the weekend.

Oh, and I love Honey Badger, too.

dianne said...

I still have to read Deathly Hallows for the first time! It's next on my list as soon as I finish my book club book for this month, which I really do have to finish because I'm hosting the discussion next week!

I did a catch up post a couple days ago on my blog too, and since then I've gotten some more done on my Summer Wind and have finished the center chart :-)

See you at Sock Summit!

Jen said...

Love the Honey Badger pattern. I saw the video of the honey badger on YouTube last night. Love it!

Tece said...

Thanks so much for the (free!) new pattern, Carrie! It will be a reminder of this year's sock camp for sure.

Mrs Dibble said...

Ooooooohhhhhh Sock Summit - I am green with envy

Christine said...

Can't wait to see HP. Can't wait to meet you FINALLY at Sock Summit. I'll be looking for you!!!!!

Rani said...

I've been gone from the blogosphere, too. Summer. Stuff to do outside. I don't know. Love the free pattern!! I just added it to my Ravelry libary - thank you so much!

Post tons of pics form Sock Summit. Wish I could go.

MicheleinMaine said...

Oh, that is a scrumptious baby! Her cabled socks are so cute too!

Anonymous said...

As I was reading your post the snake picture really stopped me in my tracks! I HATE snakes. That looked like a rattler. Beware of snakes that look dead--I found out suprisingly that they do that sometimes, but are not dead and can be dangerous. Love your new sock pattern--disappointed that I am going to miss sock summit.
Marcy in Calif.

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