Finally

I think I'm finally starting to feel like my self again. I hope I don't jinx that, but to be honest, I say that things are getting back to normal a bit while at the same time I had two days this week where I felt pretty crappy (e.g., headaches, pain). So why does it seem like things are getting back to how they were? A few reasons....

For one, last weekend my bestest-friend-in-the-whole-wide-world was home to celebrate her 40th birthday. When she was home at Christmas, I wasn't able to see her because I was so tired/sick to make the 45-minute drive on my own. This weekend I felt good and when Lil' Snowboarder asked if we could spend the night, a couple hours at a party turned into an all day and into the next party, and I felt great. Decadent to relax with family and friends that have known me since I was 6 years old.

Another reason....I finished knitting something! Normally, that's not something I'd get over-the-moon excited for, but lately, the knitting just hasn't been there.



Shhhh!! Don't tell Anne I haven't blocked the lovely hat yet. The Polartorte hat is actually a quick knit if you, um....knit it. I also went to knit night three weeks in a row, so I think that helped. It has probably been over a year?! that I've been to that many consecutive knit nights. That alone is so good for the soul.



I can't wait to block this hat this weekend and see how the yarn, Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK, blooms. I loved knitting with this yarn and can't wait to use it again.

Speaking of finishing things, I also released a new pattern this week, Miles to Go (which would look fabulous in Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK). This hat was originally designed for Woolgirl's Robert Frost Kit for the Poets Club. I will sooooo miss Jen's lovely kits, but am so happy for her to take time for herself.





The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
And miles to go before I sleep.



The last stanza of Robert Frost’s Stopping By Woods on A Snowy Evening poem inspired this slouchy, warm hat. The featured cables and leaves panel reminds me of those snowy woods, dark and deep.




Shown above in Oink Pigments DK, a lovely, squishy yarn



I just love the photos Jill took.....a perfect hat to wear on a walk through the woods.



When I came home from Stitches West, I cast on this lovely skein of Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted shown above and was smitten. I just love love love that yarn! And it is perfect for the slouchy style of this hat.

Miles to Go     

Notes: Instructions are written for a hat that is worked in the round.  The hat is sized for a slightly slouchy fit.  Charts are provided on the last page.

Suggested Yarns: ~180 yards of Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted, Oink Pigments DK, Anzula Cricket, Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK

Materials:
Size US 6 (4.0 mm) or size to obtain gauge either DPNs or circular needles
Size US 5 (3.75 mm) or one size smaller than used to obtain gauge, either DPNs or circular needles
Cable needle
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle

Gauge: ~22 sts and 34 rows = 4” over st st for hat on larger needles    

Size: one size fits most adults for hat
                                     
Sizing Modifications: The ribbing on the trim of the hat provides a lot of stretch and accommodates most head sizes.  However, if you would like to make the hat smaller or larger, it is recommended to make these modifications by working fewer (e.g., for smaller hat) or more (e.g., for larger hat) repeats of the ribbing section in multiples of 4 sts. Then incorporate or remove those stitches in the stockinette portion of the body of the hat. You can also modify the slouch of the hat by making the hat longer (e.g., for more slouch) or shorter (e.g., for less slouch).

Finished measurements:  8 1/4” unstretched (up to 10” streteched) width, 9 1/2” length  for hat



The pattern is on sale for $4.50 through the end of the month. BUT if you use the coupon code: summer   you'll receive an extra 30% off of that (so it'll be just $3.15).

And one more reason why I know I'm feeling better.....



I've been swatching (the colors above definitely are too wonky for the final pattern, but I was trying different things out, hence...black and white). I think tonight I may even cast on a new design......

So there you go. A lot of good, everyday things that help me now I'm going in the right direction. I just feel like summer is going to be great!

Any fun plans for your weekend? I hope so. Here's to a happy weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Feels like summer

Or at least it is starting to feel like it. I think I'm just about done with the craziness of end of the school year for my day job and I'm also feeling better each day!







Memorial Day included a 4-game softball weekend, but at least we were able to have a fabulous dinner at Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing on the coast. Highly recommend it!





My summer knitting so far has been a few WIPs since they've been the easiest to bring to weekends filled with softball games for Lil Snowboarder!







But with two weekends off from softball coming up, I'm hoping my weekends look more like this! Swimming, knitting, spontaneous backyard picnics, reading. Btw, I'm loving Rachael Herron's new book,  Pack Up the Moon It feels like the perfect vacation read because I can't put it down, but I've been warned that it may break my heart. I'll keep you posted.



I can't resist sharing this adorable picture of Magpie after she enjoyed a bunch of raspberries! Is she not the cutest?! Summer berries, farmers market, swimming, bring on summer!

I'm also kicking off summer with a sale!! Receive 30% off any of my IGK pattern and ebooks from my Ravelry Store when you use the coupon code: **happysummer**         Coupon good through Monday, June 16.

How has summer started off for you guys? Any fun knits? Books you'd recommend? Recipes to try? I've missed you guys....catch me up.

Happy Summer!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

May Making

And just like that, May zoomed by. Although it might have been quiet here on the blog, May was anything but. I promise there was making....

Making memories with the family...







I am seriously smitten with Miss Magpie! I just love that she recognizes my voice now and giggles at our favorite silly games and sounds! Still in love with her!





Kind of like the way I'm in love with this kid, even when he is being a goofball!

Making, baking, and celebrating a lovely Mother's Day earlier this month.....









My sister and I put together a backyard tea that was just perfect. They totally got into trying all of my favorite teas too....so fun!



Seriously cute, right?!?! I know....I'm biased.





And this sweet girl made sure I had a special day. She has such a big heart, I'm truly blessed.

Making of the knitting kind.....



I had to practically force myself to knit the above few stitches last week, after three weeks of not knitting. I'll be honest, the beginning of the month was tough health-wise. I was experiencing a lot of pain that made knitting not so fun. But, after some tests, I had good news and my doctors have me on a great plan that is working! I have to say the past week or so I've felt almost back to normal, with minimal pain!

At Lil' Snowboarder's softball games last weekend, I finished the above project and then picked my Polartorte hat back up. Btw, I think we may have to start calling her Lil' Softballer or something because she has at least four games this weekend!!



I was looking forward to finishing this hat this weekend, but I left it at home?!?! Ugh. Fortunately I brought back up WIPs, but not ones I'm loving.... oh well.

What kind of making have you guys been up to in May? I can't wait to hear!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Saturday is the last day of my Madtosh May sale, where all IGK patterns and ebooks are 20% off with the coupon code: madmay

Rainy Weekend Fun

Fun for me, but not so sure Bailey loves the rain.



Cancelled softball games allowed for a leisurely weekend, playdates (which means time for me to knit!), sitting by the fire and being home for the entire weekend for the first time in awhile.





I practiced poaching eggs. I think I'm getting the hang of it. The girls made scones which were perfect this morning with my cafe au lait.



I cast on a new sample of one of my infinity scarves this weekend. I've been wanting to knit with Black Trillium's lovely gradient sets for awhile and finally was able to. The knitting is going quickly because I can't wait to see how the next shade looks.



This is the Ice Gradient set that I'm using. And don't click that link unless you want to be tempted. There are a few other color ways I could buy in a second (like this one).



I'm making progress on my Polartorte hat. I absolutely love the yarn, Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup DK. I'm saving this project for softball knitting because it is a perfect project for that.



I also was able to work a bit on my new hat design and it should be available in the next week or so. Baby Magpie's official modeling debut...she's a cutie!

It was a perfect rainy weekend, almost a bit decadent. I just wish tomorrow wasn't Monday. So what were you guys up to this weekend? Anything exciting? I hope so.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Spring is Here!

Happy Spring! To be honest, it has almost felt a bit like summer around here the past week or so with the weather in the high 70s! I wouldn't mind a bit more springtime weather...you know, rain maybe? We sure do need it here in California.

Thank you all so much for supporting my St. Patrick's Day sale! You guys are awesome. Just awesome. I hope to see your new projects on the needles soon :)

I have two new designs that I released this week and I wanted to share them a bit more with you. Both were long overdue for a release, so it is nice to have them out in the world.

Glacier Point

This one was cast on last summer on my trip to Yosemite, remember?

Glacier Point provides a spectacular view of Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls. It towers 3,200 feet above the valley floor, and takes about an hour by car to drive up the winding roads from there. I was knitting on this design during my holiday at Yosemite, and glad I was the passenger during some of those steep, zig-zagging curves at the edge of the mountains. The chevron edging in this shawl reminds me of those curves, and the majestic views.

Love love love Anzula Cloud yarn that I used for this design.


Note: Instructions are written for a top-down shawl.  Both charted and written instructions are provided for the chevron edging.

Suggested Yarns: ~ 615 yards total of fingering weight yarn or for 3-colors ~225 yards (Color A), 125 yards (Color B), and 265 yards (Color C) of fingering weight yarn such as Anzula Cloud, A Verb for Keeping Warm Even Tinier Annapurna, Knitted Wit Cashy Lite, The Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering, Bare Naked Wools Stone Soup fingering

Finished measurements: 64” wide and 21” long at center points, after blocking; note that the size may vary depending on the fiber content of the yarn and how rigorously the shawl is blocked

I'm most excited about all the lovely color combinations this one allows for. I can't wait to see what you guys come up with!

A very special thank you to Tracey for her speedy test knitting, Nartian for her awesome tech editing, and Jill Zielinski, aka Knitterella, for photography (don't you love her snowy woods backgroud!!) and graphic design magic! I couldn't have done this without all of your help ladies. Thank you!

My next design features the absolutely lovely Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend fingering yarn. When I designed these socks, I wanted a design that was interesting, but also allowed the natural fibers of this yarn to shine a bit. I think this pattern works well for that.

Contorta

Twisty trees. Gnarled branches. The stitch pattern that travels down the center panel of these socks reminded me of just that. When you search "twisty trees" on the internet, you'll find pictures of Corylus avellana 'Contorta'. But don't let the twists fool you, this is a deceptively easy pair of socks to knit!

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

Yarn: 360-400 yards of fingering weight yarn such as Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend fingering, Bare Naked Wools Ghillie fingering, The Plucky Knitter Primo, Anzula Squishy, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, Knitted Wit Superwash Merino Fingering

Size: adult medium (adult large)

Finished measurements:  7” (7 3/4”) cuff circumference, stretches up to 9 1/2” (10”), 8” (8 1/2”) foot circumference; 6 1/2” approximate leg length

My sister-in-law modeled these for me last year (thanks Sis!) and I don't think Bailey was too impressed :) But she did want to get in on the photo shoot.

To celebrate the first day of spring, both of these patterns are 20% off through the end of March when you use the 
coupon code: spring

 

So I know I've raved about the Bare Naked Wools from Knitspot before, but I finally was able to cast on for Polartorte with Stone Soup Dk. OMG. Amazing. Soft, wooly, squishy, lovely. I just love it.
Ha! I didn't even know today was National Macaron Day (well, in NYC at least) when I took that picture.



A bit more yarn enabling is coming up. Plucky Knitter Bello Worsted. Wow. I love all things plucky...colors, primo, yarn, fun, and had heard such lovely things about Bello. When there was so much of it at Stitches West, well... I couldn't resist. I finally cast on a hat (my new design for Woolgirl's Robert Frost Kit that was just released) with it. Wow. I couldn't put it down.




I cast on at last night's softball game and it just flew off the needles. Hoping to finish it at tomorrow night's game. Yes, spring is here!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s if you see a weird code on the left side of the screen, yeah...I don't know what that's about. Tomorrow is another day.