10 years.

That seems a bit crazy to be blogging for 10 years. And yet, here we are. I'm so glad we are still here, though posts are fewer. We still seem to stay connected via Instagram or Facebook or Ravelry. Heck, many of you are my dear real life friends now...we text, talk, meet-up, vacation, cry, laugh. All thanks to this blogging and knitting community.

This isn't a big reflection post...I'm trying to get back into the things I love, like posting more regularly, so let's not make it harder, 'mkay? 

Things I love you ask? Here are a few. Well, let's stick with the theme and make it 10.

1. Pom Poms. I want to put them on everything this year. They make everything a little bit happier, and we can all use more happy. Now if only I could knit faster.

2. Finishing things. Ha! Finally. The recipient didn't want a pom pom. I didn't understand it.

Conversationalist Hat featuring Plucky Knitter Primo Aran

3. Anything Jo Malone. You know when you hear lots of lovely things about something and you know you'll probably love it, but you don't want to go down the rabbit hole? Well that was me for so long, until I was treated to these mini perfumes. OMG. Love them all. Pretty sure I'd love everything in this line.

4. Me time! Self-care....who knew?! From acupuncture, to knitting, to swimming... making me a priority has been an awesome thing that I realized I had forgotten to do for awhile. We need to do that more often, don't you think?!

5. This song. It's been in my head since he sent it to me to listen to. I love that I have my own personal DJ now :)

6. Sales. Here you go! Our blogiversary sales start today..... 50% off these select patterns from now until Dec. 6. NO COUPON NEEDED (just add to Ravelry cart and discount is applied). Be sure to check back later this week for more patterns on sale too!

7. Tea. Thank goodness I love it, as I'm trying to slowly wean myself off of my beloved iced cafe au laits. #darnmilk

Ballydesmond featuring Plucky Knitter Primo Sport

8. Indie Design 2016 Gift-A-Long! I'm so excited to be a participating designer again this year. Jump on over to this group and check out the amazing indie designers, cast on a gift (for anyone! yourself included!), and let's enjoy this holiday season.

9. Knitting weather!! It has been chilly here for California weather...in the 40s and 50s. Just lovely.

Yep. Both new hat designs coming soon. 

10. This man.

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blessed.

It has been a week of emotions for so many this week. I have tried so hard to continue to focus on positivity and all that I've been blessed with. Why? Because, honestly, that's the only way I've gotten through the past few months.



I'll be honest. It has been a year around here. You've noticed the blog has been quiet. In part because I've been busy. But also because I've been trying to figure things out. You know me...if I don't have anything happy or nice to say, I tend not to say it. Ha. My knitting has suffered a bit from that too.



Case in point: This hat has been on the needles since August. It is the only knitting I've worked on. What?!?! I think I've been on the decrease section for forever. It'll be remedied today. Promise.

The last few months though, I have finally started to find myself again, despite the lack of knitting. I truly feel like it started last February when I found a home at a new church and the message of my amazing pastor was to profess that we are blessed. I'm blessed.

You're blessed. We are all blessed. Especially those of us in this amazing knitting community....I have friends from all walks of life, political viewpoints, religions, parts of the country and world because of knitting. And for that I'm truly blessed. It helps me believe that our country will be ok.

I miss my knitters though. I've needed to take some time to take care of me, and sometimes to do that, you have to put other things on hold. I've been writing though. Trying to find my voice again. And journaling has reminded me how much I miss blogging.



I started eating right again. Drinking my shakeology. Started Weight Watchers. Got back to swimming. Told myself my head didn't hurt NO MATTER HOW IT FELT! Put some pretty lipstick on again. Baby steps.



This picture is probably the best I've felt, both inside and out in a long time! And those of you who follow my on Instagram, THANK YOU, for cheering me on along the way. The journey is part of the blessing and is teaching me a lot about myself.

Technically, I did finish some knitting. This gorgeous Cannon Beach scarf has needed to be blocked forever. I finally did that last weekend and I love it (so much so that I marked the pattern on sale for $4.50 through Nov. 15!).








The gorgeous gradient yarn is Pebble Sock Gradient Yarn from Black Trillium Fibres. I have a few sets to design with, and trust me, after blocking this, my creative juices are flowing again! I can't wait to get back to designing!!

Gradients are everywhere....even when I was getting a mani/pedi last week...another part of my self-care routine.



Are you still knitting with gradients? I've got a few in my destash if you need some! Trust me, I still have plenty. I may not have been knitting, but you know, yarn shopping....it happens.

My heart has been happy too, I'll admit. Amazing once you focus on taking care of yourself what can happen.





So yes, even though this week has been heartbreaking and challenging and filled with emotions for many of us, I choose to focus on my blessings. Last weekend, I had downloaded some new songs. Two of them have been playing over and over for me this week. First, this one. They sang it at church this morning too.

The next one was from Hamilton. Now, you all know I LOVE my broadway shows. But I'm not a fan of spoilers! So I haven't really downloaded the Hamilton soundtrack or read the screenplay like almost the rest of the world. Tempted and still might, but I haven't. But I did download the few songs from the Mixtape version (I know, I know...could be considered sacrilege?). Particularly because I loved Kelly Clarkson's version of It's Quiet Uptown.

As I listened to it Wednesday, the song took on new meaning. The lyrics are so powerful.

Forgiveness. Can you imagine?





Wishing us all a peace-filled week ahead.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Plucktovember Sale through Tuesday, Nov. 15!! 

Peek...a....

BOO!



It's fall. And even here in California, it is knitting weather time! Definitely time to dust off the keyboard and get back to blogging. I MISS you guys! Fortunately, I'm still around on Instagram and love seeing so many of you there.

There has been a bit of knitting the past few months. Not much, to be honest. But some. Hats. The same hat. A long meditation of hat knitting.



Trying not to jinx it, but hopefully an easy hat pattern soon to come!

The munchkins got bigger. Someone started preschool!!!



And someone turned ONE!!



What a year!



And since it is October, which is normally, Plucktober....a month to celebrate our beloved Plucky Knitter yarns, it is time to offer a bit of a sale. This year it is Plucktovember (go figure!)! Have fun shopping for all your fall and holiday knitting Irishgirlie pattern!



And as a special extra, Ballydesmond, last year's favorite fingerless gloves pattern, is also on sale for an additional 30% off, through October 31. No coupon needed. These are such a quick knit, especially in worsted! Check out all these knit up here.



Nice to see you all back here and I hope to be back soon! Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

It's a toe-tapping, soda bread eating kinda day!



Check out those sweaters. And listen to that brogue. Oh, it makes my heart smile. We will definitely be listening to the Clancy Brothers today.



And watching Darby O'Gill and the Little People.



Of course, I've made sure my knitting is appropriate...cables...and a lovely handmade Irish stitch marker from ReneeAnneKnits! Thanks dear! Love it.



And Irish soda bread. OMG. Best part about this bread is I discovered it at a LOCAL San Mateo bakery (Cake Creations) and they make it year round, and dad loves it! Not as good as my sister's, but pretty darn close!

Friday we'll celebrate with the munchkins....they are growing fast!


Emmypie


Magpie

And let's not forget it's also time for our annual Irish Girlie Knits BOGO free pattern sale!

Here are the details everyone...
March 17-18

BOGO Free! with the coupon code: LUCKY

Buy one pattern, get one free (lesser priced pattern will be free; Merrily and Sleepy Hollow Collections included, but other ebook collections excluded)!

Only includes patterns published by Irish Girlie Knits Designs in my Ravelry shop here.

Discount can be used more than once, but patterns must be bought in multiples of 2 (e.g., 2, 4, 6…). Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Feel free to share this info with your friends or any appropriate groups on Ravelry. The more the merrier!



I'll be wearing my Ring of Kerry today!



Be sure to check back tomorrow! We'll have a special guest post from Erica!

What are you all enjoying today and this weekend? Aren't we all a little Irish today?
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I Knit a Hat.

And a few other things I think I need to catch you all up on. Where has the time gone?!

First. The hat. Plucky Knitter designed the perfect hat to watch Netflix subtitled Mystery Series to (note: I loved Dicte and Witnesses). Meet the Conversationalist Hat. Modeled by not so little snowboarder, but I pretty much have worn it every rainy day we've had!





The gray definitely makes my blue eyes pop! It seems to do the trick for Emmypie's blue eyes too!



At the beginning of January I went to TNNA in San Diego. I debuted a new design there, Cobh, in Anzula's lovely fingering and DK yarns. I love this design....it's basically a Summer Wind shawl and perfect for playing with color.




Sabrina and Charlie, the lovely ladies from Anzula, and my shawl at Sample It





And our holidays were all about making memories, as they should be. I sure do hope you all had a lovely holiday and new year with your families too. Despite my absence here and ravelry, I've tried to keep up on Facebook and instagram and it looks like most of you have been busy too!


Because I LOVE this picture.









And sweet baby Emmypie looked like a Downton Abbey baby at her baptism too.



So there's the catching up. Today, I still haven't quite found my knitting mojo. I finished this single Ballydesmond back at the beginning of January at TNNA, and I'm still working on the second one?!



I have three new designs I need to write up, and I think that is what has stumped my mojo. I want to cast on a new design, but I won't let myself until I get those designs done. But at the same time, I don't really want to knit anything else.

But the days are getting longer, which is lovely. This was my view after work tonight.



A reminder to look up once in awhile :)

And I know this is late, but like last year, for the rest of the month we'll be celebrating birthday month around here! All patterns are 20% off for February! No coupon necessary. And hopefully by the end of the month I'll have those three new ones ready to go!



Next week is Stitches West so I'll definitely be back MUCH sooner to talk knitting!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits