Stitches West Preview!

Before I jump right in to the excitement of Stitches West, I want to say a big, big thank you to you guys for helping to wish my sister a happy birthday!! She'd love all the comments.  Thank you!  And I loved all the comments regarding my designing and knitting process and look forward to talking about that more with you guys.

But first, Stitches West.  I'm so looking forward to a weekend of hanging out with my knitting friends and of course, some shopping!! Last year's Stitches I was still on crutches from knee surgery, so it was a bit of a bummer.  This year I'll be walking around just fine, which may not be good for my wallet :)  I will be helping out in the Blue Moon Booth so please stop by and say hi if you are at Stitches this weekend!

For Irish Girlie Knits Designs, stop by Knitted Wit's Booth #945 to see lots of IGK samples and patterns!  Lorajean has fun colors and gorgeous yarns.  She's hosting a Fiar KAL in March, so be sure to pick out the yarn for that too.

You'll also see my new design, Warwick, in her booth.  I'll definitely be getting more Shine while I'm there since I fell in love with that yarn when I was knitting with it.



At Anzula's booth #840/939, you'll be able to see samples of Lilianna and Holbrook and pick out the perfect yarn to knit your own!  You'll also see my brand new design, Knocknagree, there as well!  I'm so excited to finally release this pattern.  It features two sizes and options for a two-color option.  I'll do a more detailed post about it next week.

Here are a few pictures...





Thank you to Disco for knitting up this sample with lightning speed!!



This is the smaller version I knit for myself for my sister's wedding.  I just love the yarn, Anzula's Cloud.  It blocks beautifully!

If you can't make it to Stitches West, Anzula's Cloud is available here or here or at your favorite LYS.  The pattern is on sale from now through the end of the month for $5.00 too!  
 

I'll try to blog over the weekend with lots of pictures for those of you who can't join us!! 

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

TNNA: New Designs

I released quite a few new designs at TNNA, but two were brand spanking new and I haven't had a chance to do a proper blogpost on either.

Sleepy Hollow



This hat and fingerless gloves pattern was originally designed for Woolgirl's Classic Writers Knitting Club, for the Sleepy Hollow Kit.



I'm a bit partial to the slouchy hat to be honest.





These lovely photos were taken by Vivian Aubrey, a stunning photographer (and knitter!) out of Portland, OR.  She did an amazing job!! Thank you Vivian!





The yarn is The Plucky Knitter Primo fingering, in the colorway Ichabod.  It is heavenly!!  The color was just perfect for the kit, but I can't wait to see this set knit up in a bright, kicky spring color too, don't you think?

A haunted wood where deep in the night rides a headless horseman. A legendary superstition that permeates throughout the enchanted town of Sleepy Hollow. The dark and twisty pattern in this set of fingerless gloves and slouchy hat remind me of that wood, but you wouldn’t catch me walking about there in the middle of the night!

Pattern: Sleepy Hollow   on sale for $4.50 through Feb. 12, 2013!    

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

Suggested Yarns: ~180 (195) yards of fingering weight yarn for fingerless gloves and ~ 200 yards of fingering weight yarn for hat such as The Plucky Knitter Primo Fingering, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock lightweight

Materials:

Size US 1 ½ (2.5mm) or size to obtain gauge either DPNs or circular needles

Size US 2 ½ (3.0mm) or size to obtain gauge either DPNs or circular needles

Stitch markers

Tapestry needle

Waste yarn

Gauge: 32 sts and 48 rows = 4” over st st for fingerless gloves and hat on smaller needles

            ~28 sts and 44 rows = 4” over st st for hat on larger needles     

Size:

one size fits most adults for hat

adult women’s medium (large) for fingerless gloves

The second design I released at Sample It! at TNNA and it was a hot seller!  Just one skein of fingering weight sock yarn makes this a quick knit too!

Here is Warwick.....





This project came down to the wire for me!  With a looming deadline, I realized my fabulous photographer and friends may not be available for photos by the time I finished knitting this.  And just as I was figuring this out, I saw a tweet from Jill that she was doing a photoshoot for a client.  Well, I emailed Jill and yes, she is now coordinating photoshoots for some of her clients.  Lucky me!!!

So yes, that familiar face in these photos is Knitterella herself!



 

Alisa from Divine Images Photography captured the shawl and Jill just perfectly!  I couldn't be happier with the photos!





The yarn is Knitted Wit's lovely Shine!  It really does Shine and I can't wait to use it again.  If you'll be at Stitches West in a few weeks, be sure to stop by and pick up some Shine.

Warwick

On sale for $5 through Feb. 15, 2013. 

This shawl was inspired by the trees in the backyard of my childhood home on Warwick Street. A deceptively simple, yet elegant design that requires just one skein of fingering weight yarn.   This is the third of six patterns in The Sullivan Family Collection (6 patterns for $18) 

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

Suggested Yarns: ~375 yards of fingering weight yarn such as Knitted Wit Shine, The Plucky Knitter Plucky Feet, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction, Anzula Squishy, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, Sincere Sheep Agleam

Materials:

·         Size US 7 (4.5mm) or size to obtain gauge, knitting needles

·         Stitch markers

·         Tapestry needle

·         Blocking pins

Gauge:  ~22-24 sts and 32 rows= 4” over st st before blocking

Finished measurements: 50” wide and 22” long at center points, after blocking

A very, very special thank you to Jill for all her help with coordinating the photoshoot, modeling, and as always, doing a fantastic job with the graphic designs and layout!  Thank you!! Be sure to contact Jill if you are interested in her services.

This weekend has been a bit about recovering from the busy past few weeks and a bit about celebrating!  My dad's birthday was yesterday (happy birthday Pa!) and mine is tomorrow.  And my sister's is next week!  Friday night my sister and I went to see Ed Sheeran in concert! LOVED HIM!!!!

Mom took us to brunch this morning and it was delish!!





Kate and I had the chicken and waffles! So yummy!



They even brought us birthday bread pudding! I was in heaven!!

I thought I'd do a little celebration for you guys too.  Here's a coupon for 20% off any individual pattern from Irish Girlie Knits Designs in my Ravelry Shop (excludes Sleepy Hollow Collection, but Warwick, Merrily Collection, Blackberry Brambles Hat and Cowl is included!).  Just enter:  birthday  from now through February 12, 2013!  Feel free to share the word!

Next post will be all about the fun new stuff I brought home from TNNA!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Anything fun?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Not sure where to start

The last few days were a whirlwind at The National NeedleArts Association Winter Trade Show.  It was an awesome weekend and I'm so glad I decided to have my first booth!  I have so much to share with you guys, but since I'm still processing and catching up, I thought I'd shared just a quick picture or two.

First, a big thank you to Donna and Linda, from Deep South Fibers, my wholesale distributor!  Without their support, this wouldn't be happening!!





And the IGK team for the weekend, the best knitting friends a girl could hope for!  Thank you so much!

 

This is us at the end of the show, ready to hit the road before the LA traffic hit!  Cupcakefaerie already blogged a bit....go check out the cool new things she saw at TNNA!

We got in late last night at 10pm, but these two were happy to see me!

I also released two new designs over the weekend.  I promised proper blog posts, and I still promise, but for now, how about some extra photos?!  

Sleepy Hollow

A hat and fingerless gloves set, using fingering weight yarn, on sale for $4.50!    

Warwick

Modeled by the lovely Jill Zielinski, aka Knitterella (while you are on her blog, check out her awesome new Gradient design!), with photography by Alisa Divine Deshano of Divine Images Photography.  

I can't wait to show you more pictures and tell you more about Warwick, but it is available now, and on sale for $5!    

So much more to tell you!  I'll have plenty to blog about in the new few weeks!!  

Best thing about TNNA was being inspired and motivated to get started on new designs!  

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

 

TNNA Prep!

Today was set up day at TNNA and I'm having my own Irish Girlie Knits Designs booth as part of Deep South Fibers, my wholesale distributor.  I think the booth looks great considering it is my first show.   Here's a peek..







I'll try to take some better pictures tomorrow.  Guess who forgot her camera at home?!! Yeap.  Fortunately my friends are here with me, so hopefully they'll get some nicer ones.

After booth set up, we had lunch by the water....



Then it was time for Sample It! This is the only time where yarn store owners can actually buy the new products and take them home this weekend....the rest of the weekend will be for placing orders.  My new design, Warwick, debuted at Knitted Wit's booth.  Lorajean, the dyer behind Knitted Wit, had awesome colors and most were gone by the end!





I'm hoping to have Warwick for sale tomorrow night....ran out of time tonight!  UPDATE:  Warwick is on sale and available now!


If you are here for TNNA, be sure to come see me in Booth #566!  Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend! I can't wait to see all the new stuff for spring at the show tomorrow!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sneak Peek

Debuting this weekend at Sample It! in Knitted Wit's booth at TNNA, is my new design, Warwick!  Modeled by the lovely Jill Zielinski, aka Knitterella, and lovely photos courtesy of Alisa Divine Deshano of Divine Images Photography.

The perfect one skein of fingering weight yarn project I think :)  This was designed with Knitted Wit's Shine, a lovely lovely yarn that really does shine.

This pattern will be added to The Sullivan Family Collection this weekend, so if you've been on the fence after Big Trees or Nestldown, you may want to get it for this one!  $18 for 6 patterns!                



Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good Things.

1. 49ers are going to the Super Bowl! 

2. Being a SF Giants fan, Notre Dame alum, and a 49er faithful this year!!  World Series Champs, making it to the BCS, and now the Super Bowl, I can't complain :)  I think though Mimi is up there pulling some strings this year!

3. Blocking.  It is magic. I purposely chose this stitch pattern because I wanted more lace, more openness.  This was enhanced even more after blocking....I'm in love with this one.



4. Test knitters. Seriously, without them, I don't know what I would do.  Thank you ladies.  You know who you are.

5. New, or more like reformatted, and slightly new, designs.







I added a slouchy hat version to the Blackberry Brambles Hat and Cowl Set.  This new set is knit out of Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran, and it is just that.  So lovely!

Special thank you to Leslie for sharing her awesome smile, and to Tricia for capturing it so well!



And Jill for the pattern layout.  I've been keeping Jill busy all week with TNNA prep....more on that later! Thanks Jill.

Blackberry Brambles is on sale for $4.50 through February 4, 2013!   

6. Gorgeous new yarn that supports a good cause.  I've been meaning to try Fleur de Fiber Yarns, dyed by a wonderful sock camper friend, Angela, and her fundraiser for a family affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy was a good reason to try.  She's continuing the fundraiser through the end of January, check out her etsy shop.



Plus, she included tea with the yarn.  Talk about perfect :)  The lovely skein on the right is a laceweight seacell rayon and silk blend that I am just dying to cast on.  Colorway Clover, of course.

7.  A new KAL in the IGK Ravelry Group.  Come cast on a Naylor Street hat or Cotty Fingerless gloves!  Both patterns are on sale through February 4th too.  Disco has already finished hers!

8. Reading blogposts by some of my favorite blogging friends who are getting back into the swing of blogging.  I love it! Keep it up Disco, Tapmouse, Cockeyed, Cupcakefaerie, SnBLeslie, and Knittinggolfer.  Anyone else back on the blogging train that I missed, let me know!

9. Time off work for studying for my boards test next week.  So much studying to do, but at least I'm not working, right?!

10. Empty knitting needles. Not exactly a good thing, but I really don't want any projects to distract me from studying right now.  So I'm thinking to maybe cast on something mindless to keep my fingers busy for the next 6 days while I study...suggestions?  Toasty Mitts? Melody Scarf (but that cast on may require too much concentration)? I'm thinking maybe plain vanilla socks for dad? Help...

11. Downton Abbey. Yes.

What good things are happening with you guys?  I want to hear...a girl has to take a few study breaks, right?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits