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

Holiday Magic

I may not have any presents wrapped yet, but I made cookies today. The most delicious crispy, chewy  gingersnap cookies from In Jennie's Kitchen. I've had a thing for gingerbread all holiday season so I'm glad I finally had a chance to make these.

They were delicious. Next on the list I want to make these and gingerbread coffeecake once my copy of simple scratch cooking arrives this week. 

More freezer jam. We'll see how this one tastes tomorrow. 

Baking and catching up on sleep has been how I've spent my first few days of holiday vacation so far. The next few days will be spent enjoying the holiday magic with family. I've loved seeing how our sweet little Magpie is experiencing the holidays this year.

She already knows the tree is just for looking :)

And loves reading with her big cousin.

That smile melts my heart every time.

We also have an extra family member visiting this week. Bailey and Puddy don't seem to mind sharing the couch with my mom's sweet dog, Maddie.

Baking, sleeping, relaxing, family, and .......knitting (and writing about knitting, as in those patterns). That's my plan this vacation. Speaking of which....

Sorin Fingerless Gloves    

Pattern photos by Tricia Soto, aka Cheekyattitude

Shown in The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport, colorway Decorum Dictates

These fingerless gloves are so versatile. The pattern is written for either sport or worsted weight yarns, and the worsted version is a quick gift knit too! The cables pop in a variety of yarns and will look good on everyone in the family. 

Shown in The Plucky Knitter Scholar, colorway Strawberry Wine (worsted weight version)

Suggested Yarns:  ~155 yards for sport weight version such as The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport, Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK, Anzula Cricket, Knitted Wit Victory DK

~185 yards for worsted weight version such as The Plucky Knitter Scholar or Primo Worsted, Anzula For Better or Worsted, Big Bad Wool Weepaca

Sorin Fingerless Gloves are on sale for $5.00 through Dec. 28 BUT use coupon code: HAPPYHOLIDAYS to receive an additional 20% off this pattern and any other Irish Girlie Knits Design pattern $6.00 or less (through January 4, 11:59pm EST) 

I certainly haven't gotten very far on the tween's Sorin Fingerless Glove. One is almost done at least. I'm looking forward to getting some knitting done tomorrow.

Oh, Cheekyattitude and I have a present for one lucky reader that doesn't need wrapping. Contest time!!

Time lovely skein of Plucky Knitter Primo Sport would be lovely for a pair of Sorin Fingerless Gloves, but it could be anything you want it to be! Just leave a comment on this post with what you have planned for the week ahead....will you be baking, relaxing, knitting, entertaining family? Anything special? Have you wrapped all of your presents? Are all of your holiday gifts knit? Will you be casting on something special for you soon? Be sure to leave a way to reach you if you win (e.g., ravelry ID or email).

Oh, and our relatively new family tradition the past few years...tomorrow night we are seeing the Nutcracker. I can't wait.

Happy Holidays!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Let's Spread Some Cheer!

Wow! Time is sure ticking away quickly and the holidays will be here so very soon!

I am loving all your comments. Thank you for sharing your traditions and for your support of Irish Girlie these past 8 (!) years - I'm so thrilled to be a part of the team.

To answer Irish Girlie's query about holiday traditions - I'm all about the food. Especially tamales! If you've never made them, they are very labor intensive so they are traditionally made during Christmastime.




I also love Christmas music. I can't let the season go by without listening to my favorite albums: A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector and Elvis Prestly's Blue Christmas.

Here's a Christmas Mix I made a couple of years ago with a bunch of my favs:







On my needles right now is December's pattern of the month a lovely Pont Neuf. My knitting bag is from Slipped Stitch Studios. Recognize the fabric?

If you do you're a true Disney fan. It is the wallpaper from the Haunted Mansion! I had to snatch it up when I saw it.

Keep those traditions coming over on the contest blog post!

And don't forget about the sale on popular IGK shawl patterns.

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It may not be decorated yet, but I love having the tree in the house.



Cranberry orange muffins. Now we are ready for the holidays. Something about cranberries just mean Christmas to me. Here's the recipe. And in a pinch I've used orange juice in that recipe and they still taste perfect :)



And some Christmas socks for me. I probably should be working on the gift knitting, but Saturday I was exhausted and needed some comfort knitting. My friends often tease me for having matchy-matchy project bags and yarn, but this yarn was specifically dyed to match this fabric! Yarn is from Canon Hand Dyes and I'm loving it!

Today is the last day to take advantage of the first blogiversary sale!



More details in the last post. I'm also loving your holiday traditions comments in the contest too! Still time to enter that too.

I hope your week is off to a good start. We'll be back tomorrow with the next group of patterns on sale!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Merry Making

I love that the holidays linger and the celebrating continues during the week after Christmas! All the shopping, present wrapping and baking are done. Just time for spending time with family, friends, and relaxing!



Well, there was some baking Christmas morning. But that was because it was a relaxing morning. I've been wanting to make scones all holiday season and was so glad to finally have time to.



The cranberry orange muffins were delish too!

I'll admit, initially, I was a little bummed to have to go to my last radiation appointment the day after Christmas.


The lovely tree in the lobby.

But I'm so grateful to be done and the best present ever was the good news from my doctor that I've had "a complete response to treatment." Yay! Thank you so much for all the positive thoughts and prayers. Other than being really tired and having a very itchy head, I'm feeling so much better too!



We celebrated in the city Friday by seeing the Beauty and the Beast musical, dinner, and a bit of shopping! Perfect day.



Then Saturday morning we watched the Irish beat Rutgers in their bowl game! Go Irish!!!




More scones and my new David's Tea teapot and cups from their Boxing Day sale! Too cute, right? And both for $15?! Love it!


We had an Irish breakfast too. One of my nurses told me about  Food Ireland and so glad she did!

There hasn't been too much knitting this holiday season. The one pair of Toasties I knit for a teacher I forgot to take a picture of?! Of course, this little hat for Magpie is my favorite knit of the season!





Mrs. Claus is in the background admiring this cutie!



I do have a little something sparkly on the needles. And each row I knit, I'm grateful for my sample knitter Tracey who is knitting the real thing instead of me! I'm the slowest knitter I know lately :(

Have any of you started your selfish knitting for yourself yet? Or are you finishing up any presents? If you haven't already taken advantage of my holiday sale, you still have time. Receive 20% off any IGK pattern $6 or less (including my new Alpine Lake and Alpine Lake Socks which are already on sale) with the coupon code: happyholidays

Yesterday and today we are hanging out with Lil' Guy! Goodness he's cute!





I hope you all are having a very special end of the year!

Happy Everything!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits