Tuesday, March 5, 2013

March Madness

March is going to be a great month!

Did any of you catch Notre Dame's triple overtime win against UConn last night?!  I'm a huge fan of Skylar Diggin's and I so hope we make it to the national championship and win this year! Great win to start off march madness!

But it won't be all about basketball here, I promise.  There's a Mitts KAL going on over in the Bare Naked Wool group on Ravelry.  You've all seen my sleepy hollow socks that I'm working on. Well, I'm pretty sure Bare Naked Wool Breakfast Blend would work perfectly for the Sleepy Hollow Fingerless Gloves or Cotty Fingerless Gloves.  And if you pop over to that group, you just might find a coupon code for those two patterns :)



I'm also kicking off March Madness with a book giveaway!!

I'm sure many of you have seen the new Sock-Yarn Shawls  book by Jen Lucas, right?  I met Jen at the first sock summit and have followed her blog ever since.  It has been exciting to see her success as a designer the past few years, but I was thrilled to see her first book published!! So stinking proud of her!!


Jen and I had a great time hanging out at TNNA in January and we plotted this little giveaway for you guys.  

Why yes, we may have purchased new Namaste purses.  But back to the book :)

The book covers a variety of shawl constructions and designs, from top down triangle shawls to crescent shaped shawls, from all over lace motifs to garter stitch with lace edging.

Timpani

Francolin
I'm pretty sure you guys may be able to figure out that one of the main reasons I love the designs in this collection is because a few of them look deceptively simple, but are perfectly gorgeous.  I'm a big fan of easy knitting that has just enough style and design to make it a fabulous handknit.  I think quite a few of these fit that bill.  Well, and a few to challenge you a bit too, if you are looking for that!  

Wedgewood

Briargate


I don't know how you decide which one to knit first :)

One more favorite thing about this book.  Sock yarn.  You know we all have plenty of that in our stashes, right?!

Congratulations Jen on a job well done!!  Oh, and check out the fabulous book party her husband threw for her!  That post was one of my recent favorites because Jen is such a sweet, fun, and creative designer, and I love that her blog shares a peek into her life.  

So if you'd like to win a copy and have it personally signed by Jen, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post (and an email or ravelry id to get in touch with you if you win) with which one of Jen's shawls you think you'd like to knit.  Whether from her book, or her awesome ravelry designer page (beware! lovely shawl shopping alert!).  Contest will be open through Sunday, March 11.

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. March Madness will definitely continue this month!  I'm planning to still have my St. Patrick's Day BOGO free sale that I have every year on that day!  If you aren't already in my Irish Girlie Knits Designs ravelry group, you may want to join so you don't miss out on that!!


53 comments:

Susie said...

I think Jen is a brilliant designer and I'm so happy for her success! She's the reason I started knitting! I love her Primrose shawl that hit the Hot Right Now first page.

Melanie said...

They're all gorgeous! I love Briargate and Over the Moon.

Thanks for the giveaway :)

smelanie88 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Wedge wood & Briargate have me hooked on this book!

Jo in Nashville said...

JoSockmonster @ Ravelry says wedgewood & Briargate have me drooling!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the introduction! You know ii have plenty of sock yarn that doesn't seem to be turning into socks any time soon....I'd love to make the labrynth.

Arvid: dcalaneknits

KnittingViolets said...

I love the two-color Briargate shawl. Lovely!

Deb said...

I love the Briargate...I just saw this book recently but didn't have time to take a proper look.

debwelch1@gmail.com

Debknits said...

All the shawls are beautiful. I would really love to knit the Briargate shawl. I have just started knitting shawls and I look for ones that are not too difficult but have a pretty design element and her patterns fit the bill. I have not ventured into lace weight yarn and really like that she is using sock yarn in the patterns.
fowlervillesdeb (Ravelry name)

Amy said...

they are all lovely, but I would pick wedgewood to knit up first!

Renee Anne said...

Perhaps it's because I spent the better part of my lifetime as a percussionist, but the Timpani Shawl is calling my name...

~ renny1780 (rav)

Uny said...

Choosing just one that is calling my name is difficult, perhaps Vintage Flair?

Sarah JS said...

I can already see which (first!) two colors I'll be using for Briargate!

pdxknitterati/MicheleLB said...

I took a look through Jen's book during the Rose City Yarn Crawl, and it may have to come to my house! I especially love Labyrinth. Crescents have been on my mind lately!

I think you have my email addy, and I'm pdxknitterati on Ravelry.

Unknown said...

What an incredible book. Sock yarn Oh Yah, plenty of that stuff and even though I love making socks, making shawls of sock yarn would be even more fun. Think of all those fab yarns out there.
My ravelry id is Knitclicketyclack.

Anonymous said...

I like the timpani. I like a bit of lace. Would love this book in my collection.

tjfoy40@aol.com

ACraftyKnitter said...

I really want to knit Happenstance!

TcuFrogRN said...

Oh I am in Love with Flower Garden, I love the layout.

rav id tcufrogrn

Unknown said...

I have a lot of sock yarn, and have recently been knitting shawlettes. I especially like Briargate.

Jane said...

They are all pretty. I think I'll start with Briargate.

Prairepoet on Ravelry

gMarie said...

Creekwood. I've test knit for her before, Jen's designs are lovey! I enjoyed the peek into your friendship. g

sockdoc said...

Lovely....Briargate I think....Eyed the book the other day at LYS.....

Renee W said...

First choice is Briargate, love the two color's. I just started knitting shawls and I am hooked.
reneew0560@gmail.com

DianeV said...

Crashing Waves might squeeze in front, but ALL of the shawls are lovely!! I might have to knit the entire book - more than once.....and then some!!!

Jessica said...

Oh, they're all lovely but I think I'd start with Briargate!

Susan said...

Thanks so much for doing this give-away! I LOVE shawls, and there seem to be some very pretty ones in this book. I think I would knit Timpani, first. I love its simplicity. But I am drawn to several other patterns, too, so I would love to have this book! Pick me, please! suelknits on Ravelry

T.M. said...

I'd first knit Francolin but I'd want to make all of them. Thanks for the chance. I'm Knitsensei on Ravelry.

Sara said...

All of these shawls are gorgeous...
but, I have to admit Briargate caught my eye right away...

nhsarab on ravelry
nhsarab at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Adding to the Briargate love - wow!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Happy mitt knitting! I am working on some breakfast blend mitts for my mom! Christmas present finally!

The book looks great. It is fun to see friends have such great success , huh?

Knit on Carrie!

Karin said...

The shawls are all so pretty! I'm working thru all my sock yarn this year and this book would be great for that.

Jodee said...

Would knit Briargate first then work my eay through the book.
Rav id. Jods

Peppermint Mocha Mama said...

Oh my word... how do you choose?!? I honestly just closed my eyes and pointed, landing on Briargate so I guess that is where I would start... I think two shades of green would be wonderful - a light lemongrassy green and a darker heather... yep, that's it. Good job, pointer finger!!

I'm PprmntMochaMama on Ravelry, if I'm lucky enough to be chosen. Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

What lovely shawls! I have yarn in stash for many of these.
I'm btownknitter on Ravelry

Marianna said...

So many lovely shawls. Timpani would probably be knit first.
yarnbasket on Rav

Gwen said...

mmm...Timpani. no, wait. mmm...Briargate.

they're all beautiful!

gracie41999 on Ravelry

Jenny May said...

I would LOVE to knit Briargate, although there are many patterns I'd love to knit from that book!

Renewedmind on Ravelry

Anonymous said...

Hard to choose! But I really like Briargate (cnuland on Rav)

melosa said...

Very hard to choose, I Love her design style. But, I'd have to say my favorite is Wallingford. I also really like Pembleton and Wedgewood as well though.

melosa on Rav

Anita said...

All of the shawls are beautiful in the book but I would love to knit Briargate. I love shawls and especially ones you can knit with sock yarn.

bluesapphire on ravelry

Jana said...

Oooh I love the Wedgewood, but they are all gorgeous.
JanaA on ravelry

Knitting Kris said...

Her shawls are beautiful! I love Happenstance, but could see myself knitting any of them.
Thanks for the giveaway!

Knitter Kitter said...

They are all so pretty! I really love Timpani :)

Thank you for the giveaway!

KnitterKitter on Ravelry

susanjd said...

tough choice but Primrose seems pretty awesome, both name and pattern

Karin said...

So many beautiful shawls, I don't know where to start. Labyrinth, perhaps? Or Briargate.

kajan on rav.

Anonymous said...

I think all her designs are knit friendly (like yours). I could see myself knitting Briargate so I could use a multi and shaded solid STR that compliment each other. Histoknitter on Rav.

killerb (on rav) said...

Jen Lucas is a new to me designer. Thanks so much for the introduction. I would love to make her Briargate!
killerb (on rav)

Jocelyn said...

Ooh didn't know about this book - must go check it out.
...
...
I'm back! Oooh I'd love to knit them all! But Flower Garden appeals to me most.

Anonymous said...

Oh, brilliant designs. I just started seriously knitting shawls this year and these are definitely going on my to do list. AddieM on Rav

Anonymous said...

What lovely patterns. Sock yarn is my favorite shawl yarn...
Knitsonplanes on ravelry.

Kellie said...

Love, love, love Briargate!

Ravelry ID PartehaPurl

Kellie

Anonymous said...

I'm working on Creekwood - love love love the construction, the pattern and cant wait to knit more of Jen's design!! YAY Jen!

angelmum3 on Ravery

Lynn said...

I am mostly a sock knitter. I really need to try a shawl. I like the Briargate. Thanks for a chance.
LynnIL ravelry

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