Sockapalooza Socks that Really Rock!!

I am the happiest girl in town tonight!! Look at these gorgeous socks that Reggie, my Sockapalooza Pal, made for me!! Say it with me everyone, these socks ROCK!! She really overwhelmed me with how perfect these are for me! And, after reading her blog, she put so much thoughtfulness into deciding what pattern, yarn, etc., for my socks that I just don't have words to express my thanks!! They fit perfectly too!The pattern is Waving Lace from the Favorite Socks book, and the yarn is STR Midsummer's Night (one of my favorite colorways!). I used it in my Blanket that Rocks and was recently thinking of ordering some to make socks. Not necessary now.

Reggie also included lots of other goodies! After I called Rowan and told her all about the socks (I love sisters, but sometimes I wonder if she just tunes out now that I talk about knitting...she said Sockapalooza Pal? What's that? Seriously!! Doesn't she remember me being a bit sad sending off my socks?!), I opened up the box to discover the cutest notepads (that's David from No David! One of my favorite kid books- its a staple at work for social groups!), a shawl pin, nylon for reinforcing dad's socks, a postcard from her town that's already on the fridge, and...that's right...I see you drooling over it...her own HANDSPUN ANGORA!!! How cool is my pal!!

Here's a close up of her handspun. It is soooooooo soft!! Thank you thank you Reggie!!

To be honest, as excited as I was to be part of the 1000 paloozers, I am still new to the sock knitting love and was a bit sad to send away my socks to my pal (thank goodness she loves them!). It made me wonder if I would do it again next year (is that selfish??). But I take it all back now! Having someone knit socks for me is so worth it!!!! Okay, enough exclamation points...you all get it. I'm a happy girl.

Oops. I almost forgot. Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my Embossed Leaves socks and my cute new shoes. Maybe another reason why I love my sockapalooza socks is that they match the other pair of Mary Janes I got (sale!).

And its still a bit chilly here in Northern California, so I still haven't taken my socks off!

Happy Sockapalooza!! xoxoxo Irishgirlieknits

Maybe It Was the Shoes?

That motivated me to finish these socks so quickly. Or maybe it was the cloudy 68 degree weather today that enticed me to finish so that I could wear them today. Or maybe it was the addicting Embossed Leaves pattern. Could it have been the squishy Koigu that Disco sent me for my first pair of Koigu socks? Or the excitement of mailing off my Sockapalooza Pal socks and reading that she loves them. All I know is that in just EIGHT days these baby are done and I love them!

Its official. I am a sock knitter. I bought these Born Mary Janes partly due to the fact that my handknit socks would look cute peeking out while wearing them. Hurry, on sale until tonight online at Nordstrom.
Learned lots of new things with this pattern. For example, the star toe. Love love love. Maybe one of my favorite. The garter stitch border edge for the heel was also new. I thought it worked perfectly with this pattern.

Now off to start packing for my upcoming trips later this week! I leave for New Orleans for work on Thursday and get back the following Wednesday. Only to turn around and leave the next day for New York with Rowan!! First on the agenda for packing...what projects to bring?

Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

YPF: The Bubbly Edition

Cheers to Woolgirl!! It felt a bit like Christmas today when my nicely wrapped presents of Yarntini from Woolgirl arrived (just two days after the frenzied early morning ordering!). I realized we don't have Martini glasses in our house since I'm more of a pink champagne kind of girl (that's right!). We've got plenty of champagne glasses!

Introducing....Yarntini's Woolgirl colorway (in sportweight)! My favorite!

I was probably most surprised at how much I also loved the Vintage colorway. Online it appears to have more red in it (partly why I wasn't sure I would love it), but I loved it when I unwrapped it! The supposed "red" is really a deep bright pink. Gorgeous!

Yarntini Vintage, fingering weight

A very happy Irishgirlie here!! xoxoxo

WIP: The Fall Edition

Based on my current knitting projects, I think I'm ready for fall. I cast on the Embossed Leaves socks last Saturday in anticipation for Sock-A-Month 4 KAL that starts today. This pattern is so addicting that I'm ready to turn the heel. I'm using the Koigu that Disco sent me and I absolutely love how squishy it is.

I didn't realize that Tuscany also involves some gorgeous leaves too until class on Sunday. I love this pattern already! I'm using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Posh in the Lunasea colorway that I bought from Purlescence a few weeks ago.

And of course while I was there this weekend for Amy's class, I couldn't resist purchasing STR Harlotty! Doesn't this colorway just scream FALL!

This is probably one of my favorite colors! Hurry up fall and get here.

And I just couldn't resist this picture of Bailey that I took on our walk tonight. She just stopped and stared away. Contemplating life? Or was it a bug she saw? Who knows.

Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Just Socks

A couple weeks ago, CPurl tagged me to follow in Bezzie's footsteps and show my sock drawer. Ta-da!So sad. Only two little ol' pairs of socks. Rowan has more handknit socks than me. Dad has the same number! Not to fear, my ever-growing sock yarn stash will help me remedy this situation soon.
As soon as I finished my sockapalooza socks, I cast on mini-monkeys in Union Center Knits from Woolgirl. This yarn is so much softer than I thought. I love it! So much so that I ordered a few more skeins this morning with my Yarntini purchase. The colorway of course is one of my favorites, as you can also tell from my recent wristlet purchase from Ashley at Dogged Knits. Love it!

The colorway is Neopolitan and I'm ready to start the heel flap now. These will be one of the pairs I'm hoping to finish for Sock-A-Month4 KAL. Starts tomorrow!

Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Meet the Queen of Knitty!

What a fabulous way to spend a morning! Hanging out and taking a class from Amy Singer, author of No Sheep for You and Big Girl Knits, and more importantly, the woman responsible for one of my favorite things...Knitty!

Love the Tuscany Shawl! Amy is a fabulous teacher and the pattern is so much easier than I thought, especially when Amy explains it. And of course, how can you not be happy at Purlescence. Just a great day. Hope yours was just as fabulous.

Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Sockapalooza Socks that Rock!

Dear Sockapalooza Pal,

Here are your STR Love-in-Idleness socks. I know. I know. The color is not pretty at all. Yes, I know. The BFF sock pattern by Cookie A. is mediocre. And they probably won't fit. Because they seem to fit me absolutely perfectly, and I'm sure your feet aren't exactly the same size as mine. Nope, just impossible. I apologize in advance. I would have made you a different pair, but there is a deadline. Feel free to send them back though and I will gladly replace them with a pair that is not so soft and squishy.

Sincerely,
Irishgirlieknits


So, what do you think? You think I can convince her that this is not a gorgeous colorway? And that the pattern is kinda blah? Just teasing. I've already ordered a skein of Love-in-Idleness for my stash and I hope my pal LOVES them as much as I do! And I loved this pattern too!

July has seemed to be the month of socks. I started with three socks on the needles and now have none. Off to go remedy that situation!

Happy Sockapalooza!!!! xoxox Irishgirlieknits

FIGHT EVIL! READ BOOKS!

That was what the back of my t-shirt said from our Kepler's Midnight Magic and Wizardry Party Friday night! Rowan hosted a pre-party at our house, with goodie bags and Harry Potter Cake no less, and then we walked to the bookstore. I think one of the best parts is seeing all of the kids dressed up as their favorite characters! We had a great time. Originally, just Rowan was going to get a book and I was going to wait until our Amazon one arrived on Saturday. But after JUST finishing books 5 and 6, well, I wanted to join in the fun too! So, my brother got the Amazon book (which arrived in the cutest packaging I must say) and Rowan and I each got our own books. As anticipated, Rowan finished before me, but it was nice to call her every few chapters and discuss. I stopped talking to her once she got to the last 150 pages, just in case. She was fast asleep Saturday night by the time I finished my book.

No spoilers, just that I absolutely loved the book!

Here's some pictures from Friday night!

Rowan being sorted.

I knit her that scarf four years ago for Christmas. One lucky sister. Notice I don't have a scarf :(

The happiest girl.

They had Quidditch set up for the kids. May I draw your attention to the fact that Ireland won!

And Dani had perfect timing! My Harry Potter Sock Club from Sunshine Yarns arrived Friday afternoon (Rowan split the cost with me because she REALLY wants the Gryffindor socks, like Zknitter!).









Colorway: Another Weasley














Love it!


Happy Knitting!! xoxo Irishgirlieknits