Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Oh Ed, how I love thee, let me count the ways.



Seriously.  If you haven't listened to Ed Sheeran's new album, you're missing out on some happy.

Happy St. Patrick's Day by the way!!!

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!





There's been just a bit of knitting around here.....




I  hope to finish this hat...someday.

Have a great weekend everyone!  I'll definitely be celebrating.
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

Good Things.

Two very good things.

1. This past weekend I wasn't at TNNA, the knitting industry's trade show, but my designs were. I love working with Anzula Yarns, and I have a new design that I'll be releasing soon featuring their new yarn, Croquet. Can you see it below?

Cannon Beach in For Better or Worsted, at Anzula's Booth at TNNA

There is one day left of TNNA, so if you are there, be sure to stop by Anzula in Booth #747 to see my designs and then stop by Deep South Fibers in Booth #1048, my wholesale distributor to order them! 

2. One reason I'm not at TNNA is because at the end of June, I'm moving to Anchorage, Alaska! Yes, this San Francisco Bay Area born and raised girlie is going on an Alaska Adventure! I have an exciting job opportunity working at a small, ABA company with children with autism, and I'll be able to see that new special guy everyday too! My current job has been really stressful given my health issues this past few years, so I'm looking forward to a little less responsibility, while still doing the same work. I'll still be home every few months for my preventative treatments, so I'm hoping I won't miss my family too much (who am I kidding! I'm heartbroken that I won't be seeing Magpie, Lil Snowboarder, and Lil Guy whenever I want, but thank goodness for FaceTime!). 

To help celebrate, I'm having an Alaska Adventure sale on all my patterns $6.00 or less all month long! Receive 20% off by entering the code: adventure  This includes my new pattern, Kenmare Lace Fingerless Gloves, which is already on sale until June 10.

Lots of good things happening. Hope good things are happening for you too!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I can't believe I'm actually knitting AND reading

I'm knitting and reading, but not at the same time. Still can't manage that unless it's an audio book. And then I'm knitting and listening. But lately I've been reading physical books and I'd forgotten how much faster I can finish a book if I read it rather than listen. I know I can speed up an audio book, but that seems wrong.

But I am still knitting every single day and I'm loving it.  The best part right now is that I made a great choice of yarns for my Ring of Kerry.

This is my first time knitting with cotton and it has taken me a while to get used to the kind of "splittyness" of it. It isn't horrible, I think I've just been spoiled by the super-yummy experience of knitting cashmere, and merino. I know the lightness of it will be perfect in the months ahead. And I'm super excited about the colors. Hard to believe that orange was once one of the colors I didn't care for much. I've been gravitating toward it recently.

I decided that like knits, a little instant gratification was in order on the reading front as well. When I spoke with Jen Lucas about her new book, we also talked about reading. She'd been on a Rainbow Rowell kick and I knew other people who have been singing her praises. I finally snagged a copy of "Eleanor & Park" from my library and have jumped on the fan bandwagon. The beauty and charm of this story is so wonderful.

I also managed to snag a copy of "Girl on the Train," and could not put it down. I read it in every single spare moment (not much knitting or anything got done during those days). What a thriller!

My book club read "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Christina Henriquez and we agreed that it would be a book we would be recommending to everyone we know. It was also chosen as a "Silicon Valley Reads" book about the immigrant experience.

I like to read essays before going to sleep and on my bedside table has been "Bad Feminist" by Roxane Gay. These are smart, witty, and thought provoking essays on American culture.

What have you been reading?

Knit On!
Tricia (@cheekyattitude)

Happy Spring!

With apologies to the parts of the world still covered in snow, I'm happy to call it Spring in hopes that we will get much needed Spring Showers in California. 

The ladies at knit night know I'm likely to bring a tiny project more often than a big one. I like to knit tiny things (pumpkins are a favorite) while I'm waiting to decide on a new project or even when I'm working on a larger project that I need a break from. 

Tiny thing = instant gratification.

Recently I discovered the "Henry's Bunny" pattern by Sara Elizabeth Kellner and decided to make it even smaller by using size 0 needles on some sock yarn scraps. Doesn't it look adorable in the little Easter basket?

I went back to my pinterest boards and found a slew of little Spring and Easter knits. The most recent is this precious lamb! I simply must get some crochet skills down.

Meanwhile, I've caught Spring fever and have decided to knit "Ring of Kerry" in cotton from my stash. I think it will be perfect for our climate, and I'll get a lot of wear out of it in the upcoming months.

Happy Knitting!
Tricia

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

You guys know I love this day!! I've been listening to my Irish music all week... you ready for some toe-tapping this morning?!

I can't wait for my sister to send me pictures of Magpie this morning. I babysat her a week or two ago and it was clear auntie dressed her!

Looking for that pot of gold?  Goodness I'm so smitten with this cutie pie!

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 (e.g., does not include patterns published by Kollage Yarns, BMFA).

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!



And I can't wait to come home and taste Pa's corned beef and cabbage! How about you? Isn't everyone just a little bit Irish today?



Happy St. Paddy's Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Ring of Kerry

Thank you so much for all the Irish Girlie love during my birthday month-long celebration. I can't wait to see the projects pop up on ravelry! And here we are entering another exciting month! Happy March everyone!

I released a new pattern just in time for STITCHES West in two colors of Anzula Cole and it was a big hit at the show.

Introducing, Ring of Kerry. 



How can you not love a quick, gratifying knit in Aran weight on size 8 needles!?



This past week Erica has had a ton of fun knitting the 3-color version in Plucky Knitter Primo Aran. I just love the three color version!! She chatted it up on Instagram and in our ravelry group and earlier today she took Ring of Kerry on a big day out with her family. They got to escape the frigid Michigan weather



inside a conservatory surrounded by pretty plants.




Shown in Plucky Knitter Primo Aran colorways Rachel, Corduroy, Wintry Mix

Those Plucky colors are definitely Erica!





A trip to Ireland isn't complete without taking in the spectacular beauty of the Ring of Kerry on the west coast of Ireland. The 179-km route includes scenic views of beaches, the lakes of Killarney, mystical castles, the town of Kenmare and their lace-making industry, and so much more. This infinity scarf captures a bit of that mystical, magical landscape and includes a bit of everything too... lace, color, and more!  

Ring of Kerry is $4.75 for the month of March, along with Rathmore



and Knocknagree.



Why? Because we are having a super fun, super special Ireland Destinations KAL on ravelry! Pick any one of these patterns and knit-a-long with us! We'll have weekly contests and at the end of the month there will be fabulous prizes for some lucky winners. Join the KAL here. We'll be sharing the prizes there in the next week or so...they are awesome!!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Good Time Was Had By All at Stitches West

A Verb for Keeping Warm booth at Stitches West

Stitches West was a blast as always. It is always so much fun to see people and share stories of our knitterly year. I didn't get to see Irish Girlie at her Anzula signing because I was in class all day Friday. I know she had a blast though, so be looking for a posting from her.

I took a nuno felted scarf class on Friday and got quite a work out. If you're not familiar with the process (I only had superficial knowledge), the scarf starts with a base of silk upon which tufts of wool is added and then manipulated. The fibers work their way through the porous silk weave to lock into place. In order to get them to adhere you have to roll and roll and roll everything together.

 The before felting (left) and finished nuno felted scarf (right). My arms are still sore from all the rolling and manipulating of the fiber. Well worth it though, I think I'll be trying this again on my own.

Thanks to Irish Girlie who braved the crowded booth for me, I was able to score some of the coveted Yoth Yarns gradients on a stick.  I could just eat it up - so yummy. What is it about things on a stick that we Americans love so much?

I also fell in love with a Miss Babs gradient set. I'm a bit late to the gradient love. I wasn't sold until I saw the yarns and some gorgeously knitted items in person that I made the big purchase.

I'm not sure what patterns I'll use them for, any ideas? Maybe a Ring of Kerry - that would be pretty.
What would you knit?
Tricia (@cheekyattitude)

Still time left on the Birthday Month Sale!

6 Things I've been wanting to tell you.

1) Stitches West is here! Which means a weekend of friends, fun, knitting, and yarn. And this year, a group of us are staying at a hotel and we have a suite of rooms and it really feels like a vacation! Saturday is spa day too!

2) Lots has been happening since I last checked in. First, thank you Padraig and Erica and everyone else for the lovely birthday wishes last week. I had a great birthday (still thinking about the birthday bread pudding from Town).

3) Then there was Valentine's Day, and Magpie was pretty much the sweetest Valentine!

I'll be honest....this one kinda cracked me up!

Boys stink...I know Magpie.

4) Let's not forget about my other two favorite Valentines.

5) I try not to take the gorgeous city I live near for granted.

6) I released a new design yesterday!!! Ring of Kerry is an infinity scarf that uses either 2 or 3 colors of aran weight yarn (which means it is a quick knit!!!). 

If you are at Stitches West today, come stop by Anzula's booth from 12-2pm and I'll even help you pick out yarn for your very own!

Happy Friday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits