Giftalong

Happy December!! Are you guys all working on your holiday knitting? Or are you opting for a little less stress this year...hahaha! I'm busy working on a design deadline but I'm still hoping to get a few holiday gifts in. We'll see.

I can't believe this will be my 9th year of blogging! Happy blogiversary month! We've got a few fun things planned in the next few weeks for you. To kick it off, I thought we'd have a guest post! Erica is going to talk a little about some of her favorite designs she's seen over in the Indie Design Gift-A-Long. I'm so excited to be one of the Designers participating this year! And be sure to read to the end....we're starting blogiversary month off with some fun!!
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Tick tock, tick tock...19 days left until Christmas. Can you believe it? I can't! I bet you want to knit a couple things and get them under the tree or in a stocking. Me too. I went searching through the Indie Design Gift-A-Long designs and thought I'd share my discoveries.

Mikkey by Lee Meredith



A chunky cowl using slip stitches, one of my favorite techniques for working with color that is deceptively simple with a super cool result. Imagine how striking it would be in black and white!

Snowy Woods Cowl by Michele Bernstein



I love the reverse stockinette design, leaving the tree branches highly visible. Fun, quick knit in Aran weight.

Faro by Jen Lucas



Slip stitches. Stripes. Aran weight. What a fun and fast knit!

Owl in the Thicket by Sara Burch



Cables and lace, with beads or buttons to accentuate the owl's eyes. Too cute!

Bluet by Bonnie Sennott



Cables and lace? How could you go wrong?

X-Intercept by Star Athena



Knits and purls that spiral! Simple technique, yet a striking striped effect.

There are 335 designers participating in the Indie Giftalong, with several KALs to participate in with oodles of prizes. It's not too late to join in the fun (details here) and get some gift knitting started and finished by December 31. Speaking of KALs, our Q4 KAL has started and the theme is Gift Knitting! Join in the fun here and also double dip by entering your WIPs and FOs into both ravelry group contests. I have SO MANY Irish Girlie favorites, as you may have guessed, but I thought I'd highlight a few of my go-tos for gift knitting.

Seamus by Irishgirlieknits



I can't even remember how many of these I knit. So quick and so fun because the cables are easy, plus you have a ton of vacation rows in between. I recently knit one for Padraig in a tweed and he is obsessed with how squishy it is!

Alpine Lake by Irishgirlieknits



This textured cowl is a dream to knit and works up in a flash in bulky. The loop is easily doubled for a warmer cowl and I love that the striking stitch pattern is unisex. I loved the version I knit in a bulky single



and I'm going to stash dive to whip up another for a quick teacher gift.

Rathmore by Irishgirlieknits



I love this for a gift knit! Stripes and lace make this a unique and impressive knit, that definitely delights the recipient. I knit this as a gift for a friend, and I must admit that I was a little sad when the knitting was done. It was such a dream to work up!

So tell me, tell me! What's your favorite IGK pattern to gift? And, hey, why not come on over and join us in the Irish Girlie Ravelry Group December KAL which is all about gift knitting to tie in with the Indie Design GAL! See you there. - Erica

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We usually celebrate blogiversary month with some fabulous specials and this time is no different. For the next two weeks, I'll be picking a few favorite patterns, with a little help from Erica and Tricia aka Cheeky Attitude, and marking them down for 50% off for 2-days only! So you'll need to check back here frequently so you don't miss out!

Erica's post reminded me of an old favorite, Alpine Lake. It really does knit up quickly in Bulky. The pattern is easy to memorize too! Don't have any bulky yarn? Double up some worsted and you are good to go...go up a needle size maybe if you aren't getting gauge.

So, from now until Dec. 8, 11:59pm PST, Alpine Lake is 50%, just $3.00! No coupon necessary!


Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

1000 & Blogiversary Special #3

1000 posts! That is crazy to think about. As I looked back through some of my older posts I found these sets of pictures and they summed up what this blog has meant to me!





Thank you guys!!! I think I'll have to make an updated friend photo collage for an upcoming post.

So our next blogiversary special is all about quick gift knits. I can't believe it is less than two weeks until Christmas! I definitely am not as organized as the Yarn Harlot with her spreadsheet. In case you are like me, I've picked some of my quick knit patterns on sale for this special.

From Dec. 12-15 (11:59pm PST), receive 50% off the following IGK patterns:

Alpine Lake
Dotty
Lilianna
Miles to Go
Naylor Street
Sorin
Sweet Baby Kate
Winter Wonder



All of these patterns require just one skein of yarn. Ok, well, not Alpine Lake, but it is knit out of bulky yarn and it knits up quickly, I promise. And if you don't have any bulky yarn, mix those bases. Take your favorite worsted and sport weight and knit them together. The cowl can be oversized!



There is a smaller cowl version of Winter Wonder that takes just one skein and would make a perfect gift. Erica knit this one above a few years ago. I think it would look great knit up it the yarn I just ordered from Bare Naked Wools, Kent Worsted.



So a quick update on my gift knitting. It isn't going that well, and I really only have two or three gifts to knit.



The tween's fingerless gloves are moving along slowly because going back to work full time has kicked my body's butt, literally. I was exhausted on Saturday. And this week in a lot of pain again. Ugh. But I'll have time off over the holidays soon!

And I know I mentioned the glove pattern would be done soon. Next week....I promise! They are super quick!



Then I need to knit this cutie pie a little something. I'm thinking a stuffed animal maybe. We'll see. She's not tolerating hats too much lately. Hmmmmm.....

How's your gift knitting going? Any last minute deadlines?

Oh, and speaking of gifts. Our contest winner is Renee Anne! Congrats Renee!!! Send me an email or message on ravelry with your address and I'll mail them out to you. I hope you and the boys survived the nasty storm we've had here in the bay area this week.

Lots of rain today......Puddy was a bit wet after her walk tonight.



Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve is here! I still can't quite believe it! We've been busy celebrating the past week or so, from the Dicken's Fair, to the Nutcracker, celebrating mom's birthday in the city and seeing Book of Mormon, to cookie baking, to an early family Christmas this past Sunday. Lots of merry making!













The Christmas lights near my sister's house are fabulous, and quite an event!









A little time off of work means I've had a chance to re-release two new designs under the Irish Girlie Knits Designs label. I'll blog a bit more about them later this week, but I did want to share that they are now available on ravelry and on sale for $5.00 each (and see the end of the post for an additional coupon too!).



Alpine Lake, in The Plucky Knitter Bulky 



Alpine Lake Socks, in Kollage Yarns Sock-a-licious 

The perfect quick knits for yourself for after the holidays!

I haven't forgotten about the blogiversary winners! The winners of either The Woods Family Collection or Sullivan Family collection are:

•  Olivia (oforney on ravelry)
• Dana (DanaRae19 on ravelry)
• Jane (Prairiepoet on ravelry)
• Colleen (ColleenMarie on ravelry)

Message me on ravelry (irishgirlieknits) with your choice and I'll send the collection to you! Thank you!!

The winner of the Plucky Knitter MCN Aran is Culabrat (on Ravelry) and the Knitterella cards will go to Dianne  Congrats ladies! Either email me you addresses irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT com or message me on ravelry and I'll get them out to you!

Thank  you all so much for sharing your holiday traditions! I love hearing about them :)

Last but not least, the HOLIDAY SALE! From now until January 2, 2014 11:59pm, receive 20% off any IGK pattern $6.00 or less with the coupon code: happyholidays   Yes, that includes both Alpine Lake and the Alpine Lake Socks ($4.00/each with coupon)!! Feel free to share, tweet, post, etc.!

This next week or so is one of my favorites....relaxing, knitting for yourself (hopefully!!), movies, family, fun!! And lots of rest here!



Wishing you and yours a very warm, happy holiday!!!

Merry Christmas!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Summer of Socks!

Over in our Irish Girlie Knits Group on Ravelry, we are having an unofficial IGK Summer of Socks knitalong.  And believe it or not, I finally have a finished pair of socks!!  My BFF is going to be so happy to be getting her birthday socks....even if it is a few weeks late!

My Cotty socks, in The Plucky Knitter 80/20 Superwash Merino Nylon sock yarn.





It seems like forever since I have finished a pair of socks, but actually, I did finish a new sock design back in June for Knitted Wit's and Sincere Sheep's Among Friends Yarn Club.  And I can now release it for sale!

Here is Candy Necklace  

When you have fun, sassy variegated yarns, you need a design that allows those colors to shine.  This pattern does just that.  Plus, the easy-to-memorize lace that travels the length of the sock almost reminds me a bit of those fun Candy Necklaces that we wore with our friends as children.  I know Knitted Wit’s sweet, candy-colored yarn sure does too!

Pattern: Candy Necklace

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

Suggested Yarns: 340-400 yards of light fingering weight yarn such as Knitted Wit Superwash BFL, Sincere Sheep Keen

Materials:

Size US 1.0 (2.25mm) or size to obtain gauge, either DPNs or circular needles

Stitch markers

Tapesty needle

Gauge: 38 stitches and 54 rows = 4” over st st

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

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

Since the summer is a perfect time to knit socks, I'm offering a special introductory price of $4.00 on the pattern until July 16, 2012!  No coupon needed! 
 

At TNNA last month, my other new sock design, Alpine Lake Socks, was released by Kollage Yarns. 





I designed these back in December when I designed the Alpine Lake Cowl- I loved the pattern so much I knit the cowl too!



The stitch pattern is perfect for solid or variegated yarns, and is also a great unisex pattern!  I actually knit dad a pair out of STR heavyweight (using the small size of the pattern with the heavier yarn) back in December as well.  I'll have to get a picture of those soon!

Size: Adult Small (Medium, Large)

Finished measurements: 6 ¼ (7 ½, 8 ¾)" foot circumference; 5 ¾ (5 ¾, 5 ¼)” approximate leg length

Materials:

·         1 (1, 2) skein(s) Kolláge Yarns Sock-a-licious, 70% merino, 20% nylon, 10% silk, 354 yds/100 g skein; Shown in color Sangria

·         Size US 2 (2.75 mm) or size to obtain gauge, either DPNs or circular needles

·         Stitch Markers

·         Tapestry needle

Gauge: 32 sts and 40 rows= 4” over st st

Pattern Notes: Instructions are written for a cuff-down sock. Charts are provided on the last page.  Written for Small size with instructions for (Medium, Large) sizes given in parentheses if different.

The lovely photos were taken by my awesome photographer, Tricia Soto (aka Cheekyattitude), and cupcakefaerie makes a great model too!

Both the Alpine Lake Socks and the Alpine Lake Cowl are available now either online or through your LYS that carries Kollage Yarns!

Now that my sock needles are free, I need to figure out what I want to cast on next.  I even have new sock yarn tempting me.


Studio June Yarn Eight Bells, colorway Crocus   



The colorway is just perfect!  I love it, but to be honest, I can't decide if it wants to be socks or a shawlette of some sort.  I've been thinking of Blackberry Brambles Shawl for quite some time...hmmmmm

While most of the country has been having record heat waves, we've had a nice warm summer so far.  The beach was 75 degrees last week!  Although it is supposed to get into the 90s in the next few days...eek!  I do know that the doggies love their morning sun spot.



Happy Summer!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

New Year, New Designs

Happy New Year!

I'm still marinating on my new year's goals/ideas/resolutions, but I do know I want to continue expanding my designing.  And so far the year has been going great in that department!

Thank you all for your enthusiasm for the Mystery Sock pattern!  366 projects already!!  And lots of lively discussion on the SKA mystery sock thread here and in our growing Irish Girlie Knits' Group on Ravelry (hey, have you joined?!).



I also have a new design that was just released by Kollage Yarns, Alpine Lake.



I absolutely love this design.  It is an oversized cowl in their new yarn Lofty.  The yarn is a dream to knit with and you only need two skeins to knit up either the oversized cowl version or the infinity version.  The pattern is available for download over on Patternfish.  Plus the pattern is reversible, so it doesn't matter if you fold the cowl over a bit :)



But really, you'll love this because it knits up in no time!  On size 10 needles!




Fortunately I have two skeins left over to knit one for me :)

One other exciting designing news... I updated my retailers list on Irishgirlieknits.com and I'm so excited that my IGK patterns are available in over 50 local yarn stores!!  

So what is on your needles in the new year?  I did finish Dad's socks, but I need to take pictures of them.  They may just be a sock version of Alpine Lake....you'll have to wait and see!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits