Saturday, December 6, 2014

8 Years.

8 years of blogging! You guys rock for still stopping by this space- whether from the start, a few years ago, or just recently. It might be every few months, just to look at the pictures, it might be through a blog feeder (is that what they are called) or quickly on a break at work so I understand if the comments aren't as frequent. The main thing is that we have created this awesome knitting community through blogs, knitting, ravelry, twitter, instagram, LYS, retreats. You've become my friends, many in real life, and many more virtually. So thank you!!

The past few years we've celebrated here by putting some of my most popular patterns on sale for 50% off. This is the only time I do this, so please spread the word and take advantage! And since Tricia, aka Cheekyattitude, is on board this year as part of the IGK team and will be helping out, we are making this EXTRA fun! There will be three separate groups of patterns on sale over the next week or two, but they'll be a surprise. Plus we have some other fun things planned. It is the holiday season after all!

First up..... IGK Favorites: Accessories! All the patterns shown below are 50% through Dec. 8, NO COUPON NEEDED.

IGK Favorites Accessories

One of the most popular IGK designs this past year has been Fiar. It saw a revival this past year with the lovely gradient yarns, especially those of Black Trillium Fibres.



Contorta

I also released a new sock pattern this year, Contorta, in the lovely Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend fingering. It had been awhile since I had designed a sock pattern so it was nice to see so many of you respond so positively to it. Thank you!



The Sleepy Hollow Collection, San Mateo,  and Cotty Socks are also on sale.

Summer Wind.ts.3

And of course, my most popular pattern by far, Summer Wind. This one and Cotty really jumpstarted my design career. But this infinity scarf (and San Mateo too) continue to be "potato chip" knitting! You can't knit just one. It also featured my fabulous duo of Thayer as my model and Tricia behind the camera, with one of my favorite yarns Plucky Knitter Primo.

Any of these would make great holiday gifts if you started now too. By the way, how is your holiday knitting going? Don't forget about our IGK fall/holiday KAL over on Ravelry. My holiday knitting is slow going while I finish prepping the new pattern that Tricia showed you in the last post. But our holiday celebrating did start last weekend with our annual trip to the Dickens' Fair.

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Magpie is awake for tea this year!

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And she didn't quite know what to make of Father Christmas.

Next on the holiday list is to get our Christmas tree this weekend. I'd love to hear how your holiday plans/knitting/merry-making is coming. Are you in the holiday spirit or is this time of year a harder time for you? If you don't particularly celebrate the holidays how is your December going? Any special knitting?

I did a little Black Friday shopping for you guys from Knitterella. Leave a comment sharing something about your holiday plans, traditions, knitting, etc. and one of you will win the prize below. And if you mention in the same comment that you'll spread the news about the contest or sale (e.g., twitter, instagram, ravelry, Facebook, on your blog) you'll be entered twice. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you (e.g., rav id).

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Oh, and one more sale I have to tell you about because you know I LOVE all things Knitted Wit. Lorajean's birthday is Sunday and she is celebrating with a birthday sale. Everything in her shop is 34% off with the coupon code: birthday34  More details here I'm definitely getting some Sassy Santa!!


Have a  great weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits



13 comments:

Robin Turner said...

Congratulations on 8 years of blogging and for so many wonderful designs that have graced my needles (and friends/family!)

Anonymous said...

8 years! That's great! I love your designs, thank you for sharing your creativity with us. As for holiday plans, I am taking a little coffee break from preparing the house for our Christmas party - new city, new friends, lots to celebrate!

Ravelry- lesleybadger

Renee Anne said...

Wooooohooooo for eight years!

Holiday traditions have changed over the years. When I was a kid, we rotated which family would host dinner (me & my mom, my maternal grandparents, or my maternal grandmother's youngest brother & his family). We used to pick names for presents but we stopped doing that by the time I was in middle school (presumably because my older cousins had gone off to college).

After I got married, we tried to continue between my great-uncle's family and my family (my mother and grandfather having both passed away by then and my grandmother in a nursing home)...we had them over one year, the next we went there...and then we moved to California.

Because we didn't know anyone and we weren't heading back home for Christmas, our first Christmas in California involved making fondue. Now that we know a few people, we do fondue on Christmas Eve (and get dragged to church - one of only two times a year we go), then we do the traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas, with our friends (also from Wisconsin and also don't go back for Christmas).

~ renny1780

Kelly-ann said...

Sometimes we pick up Chinese food on the way home from Christmas Eve mass - the place is always busy, so lots of other people must do the same!

Congrat on 8 years :)

Rachel Slote-Brown said...

Congrats on 8 years. Bought Fiar and Summer Wind which I hope to make for myself after I'm done all the holiday knitting.
I try to make a sweater each year for my kids so I'm busy finishing up an Owlet for the toddler and a Flax for my 8 year old.

Christchurch Guild of Weaving and Spinning said...

8 years is pretty impressive!
We usually spend our holidays at home and this year is no exception. Christmas will be at the in-law's and the Saturday before Christmas is a picnic in a park with my family. That is traditional for us, summer for Christmas makes you go outdoors a lot.

Jane said...

Congratulations on eight years of blogging. Your posts are always inspirational. I am working toward a kind and gentle holiday season with less emphasis on fuss and perfection and more on spending time with family.

Our traditions have changed as our parents passed away and children have grown. We continue to stuff stockings and gather for a meal, often soup supper or brunch instead of a fancy dinner.

Tina W said...

Congrats on 8 years! I'm starting something new this Christmas--knitting an advent scarf. Yes, it takes time from possible gift knitting, but I'm enjoying it so much, I think it will be a new tradition. It lets me de-stress and refocus each day after I get home from school where I also have a Christmas tradition--directing the school Christmas program. I am TinerW on Ravelry.

Ruth said...

Eight great years! So happy to have found you way back when. I don't comment so much these days, but I still check in when I can. Hope to see you at Stitches in Feb.

Peppermint Mocha Mama said...

I can't believe I've been popping into your sweet world for that long - wow, time does fly.

My favorite holiday traditions are baking cookies with my family while we sing Christmas songs very badly and just enjoy one another. We are starting a new tradition this year - after we open all the presents and have lunch, we're surprising our youngest with a trip to Walt Disney World to see all the lights! So far, we've done a great job at keeping the secret too.

Of course, I pinned this wonderful offer on Pinterest and shared on my FB page... I believe everyone should be introduced to your fabulousness.

Have a very blessed anniversary week, and continued good wishes for many more to come!!

(PprmntMochaMama on Ravelry)

Doreen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Doreen said...

Congratulations! I met you a few years ago at the Nine Rubies local designers trunk show, and I purchased the Lilianna pattern from you. Fast forward a few years and my daughter asked to wear it a few days ago (she's almost outgrown it)! Thanks for your awesome designs and I'm looking forward to the next 8+ years!

Rav ID: HoDazzle

eta - oops! Forgot to write what I'll be doing over the holidays - I'll be working on my second test knit... another sweater for one of my daughters.

Anonymous said...

My holiday tradition is girls' shopping weekend. My mom and I have a shopping extravaganza the first weekend in December. We stay in a hotel near the mall and shop til we drop and hopefully get a lot crossed off our holiday to-do lists.

Congratulations on 8 years. I have loved knitting your patterns, seeing what knitting you are working on, recipes, great book recommendations, and pictures of your family!

Ravelry: Janaknits

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