Plucky Knitter Primo: l to r: Milk Maid, Essie, Bohemian Blue (bottom) Can Can, Audrey (top)
One of my favorite moments....skeins wound, full of potential to become something new.
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Happy Socktoberfest!
I can't believe the first week of Soctober, I mean October, has already flown by! One of my favorite months, filled with football, pumpkin bread, pumpkin patches, fall leaves, and that chill in the air. And sock knitting. Well, usually it is filled with sock knitting for Socktoberfest, a month long celebration of knitting socks. But my needles have been filled with hats, gloves, and not socks. I plan to change that these next few weeks hopefully.
First up, I need to finish my honey badger socks. Especially since there are two Honey Badger KALs going on, one in the Socks that Rawk group and one in the Irish Girlie Knits group. Come join us!!
I did accomplish one sock related thing though. Slowly, but surely, I'm reformatting my older patterns and I'm so excited that three!!! of them have been reformatted and are ready to share. A very special thank you to Jill for helping me get these ready. She does all the pattern formatting for me, so I'm trying to keep her busy before her baby arrives!
Cotty, Winnie, and Uncle Frank have all been reformatted. Cotty even has charts now! And to celebrate Socktoberfest, from now until Oct. 15, these three patterns are on sale for $4.50 (they'll be $6 after Oct. 15).
I've also celebrated Socktoberfest with a bit of stash enhancement. A few weeks ago, Sheri at The Loopy Ewe had posted that she had just added Alisha Goes Around yarn to the store. I've been coveting this yarn since TNNA in June, where it seemed like everyone was talking about it and her colors were so vibrant and stunning! I waited a few days and finally bit the bullet. Look at this beauty!
Last week Sheri blogged about her Summer Wind knit out of Alisha Goes Around's yarn....go check out how pretty it is!! Which also has me itching to finish my third Summer Wind (it is knit with sock yarn afterall)!
Oh, and you don't think I let my skein of Alisha Goes Around arrive alone, did you? Another yarn I've been dying to try is Studio June's Super Cash Sock. Her yarns are so pretty it was hard to narrow the choice down to just one. Trust me, Violet Navy, Pansy Purple, Frosty Night, and Shallow Water were all calling my name, but I chose Burgundy Raisin.
Have any of you stocked up for Socktoberfest? Or are you waiting to make those purchases at Rhinebeck? Someday I hope to go to Rhinebeck, but this year, my patterns are going! They'll be in Miss Babs booth!!
I just realized that I haven't told you guys some exciting news! I know I've told you about my favorite not-LYS, Twisted, in Portland, right?
I'm thrilled that they will now be carrying all of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs patterns! I heart this store so much, I just can't wait til the next time I go to Portland to see my patterns there :) It makes sense, since they carry some of my absolutely favorite yarns which I have designed with such as BMFA Socks that Rock, Plucky Knitter Primo, Kollage Yarns Sock-a-licious, to name just a few! You can even shop their online store too, and if you need to purchase a pattern or two to get you to the free shipping, here is my pattern page. They even have some Plucky Knitter Primo in stock right now!
Although there wasn't any sock knitting happening this weekend, I had lots of fun with lil' guy (seriously love being Auntie IGK....he makes me so happy!!) and lil' snowboarder. Check them out...
So much fun that now I'm exhausted. I feel a bit like the doggies did earlier today.....
Night, night. Here's to a fabulous week ahead!!
Happy Socktoberfest!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
P.S. Don't forget that Comfort Food is on sale through Oct. 11!
First up, I need to finish my honey badger socks. Especially since there are two Honey Badger KALs going on, one in the Socks that Rawk group and one in the Irish Girlie Knits group. Come join us!!
I did accomplish one sock related thing though. Slowly, but surely, I'm reformatting my older patterns and I'm so excited that three!!! of them have been reformatted and are ready to share. A very special thank you to Jill for helping me get these ready. She does all the pattern formatting for me, so I'm trying to keep her busy before her baby arrives!
Cotty, Winnie, and Uncle Frank have all been reformatted. Cotty even has charts now! And to celebrate Socktoberfest, from now until Oct. 15, these three patterns are on sale for $4.50 (they'll be $6 after Oct. 15).
I've also celebrated Socktoberfest with a bit of stash enhancement. A few weeks ago, Sheri at The Loopy Ewe had posted that she had just added Alisha Goes Around yarn to the store. I've been coveting this yarn since TNNA in June, where it seemed like everyone was talking about it and her colors were so vibrant and stunning! I waited a few days and finally bit the bullet. Look at this beauty!
Last week Sheri blogged about her Summer Wind knit out of Alisha Goes Around's yarn....go check out how pretty it is!! Which also has me itching to finish my third Summer Wind (it is knit with sock yarn afterall)!
Oh, and you don't think I let my skein of Alisha Goes Around arrive alone, did you? Another yarn I've been dying to try is Studio June's Super Cash Sock. Her yarns are so pretty it was hard to narrow the choice down to just one. Trust me, Violet Navy, Pansy Purple, Frosty Night, and Shallow Water were all calling my name, but I chose Burgundy Raisin.
Have any of you stocked up for Socktoberfest? Or are you waiting to make those purchases at Rhinebeck? Someday I hope to go to Rhinebeck, but this year, my patterns are going! They'll be in Miss Babs booth!!
I just realized that I haven't told you guys some exciting news! I know I've told you about my favorite not-LYS, Twisted, in Portland, right?
I'm thrilled that they will now be carrying all of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs patterns! I heart this store so much, I just can't wait til the next time I go to Portland to see my patterns there :) It makes sense, since they carry some of my absolutely favorite yarns which I have designed with such as BMFA Socks that Rock, Plucky Knitter Primo, Kollage Yarns Sock-a-licious, to name just a few! You can even shop their online store too, and if you need to purchase a pattern or two to get you to the free shipping, here is my pattern page. They even have some Plucky Knitter Primo in stock right now!
Although there wasn't any sock knitting happening this weekend, I had lots of fun with lil' guy (seriously love being Auntie IGK....he makes me so happy!!) and lil' snowboarder. Check them out...
So much fun that now I'm exhausted. I feel a bit like the doggies did earlier today.....
Night, night. Here's to a fabulous week ahead!!
Happy Socktoberfest!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
P.S. Don't forget that Comfort Food is on sale through Oct. 11!
Friday, October 7, 2011
{this moment}
{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
I'm blessed to have such silly, fabulous friends! Thank you Thayer and Tricia!
Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Comfort Food
When my Great Aunt Mimi, who was like a grandmother to me, passed away, I just couldn’t bring myself to knit. I didn’t have the energy to pick up my needles, yet I so wanted to knit.
I knew I needed to knit something comforting. Then I remembered the four gorgeous skeins of cashmere that were in my stash, in a color she loved on me. The design came immediately to me.
A big, warm, cozy cowl to embrace me all winter long, in luxurious cashmere that I know Mimi would have loved. I knit and knit and knit, through tears sometimes, but just a week later this cowl and fingerless gloves set was done. They were my comfort food.
I truly believe Mimi was watching over me while I knit this. And the timing of publishing the pattern fell almost too perfectly into place and that is due to my fabulous test knitters, Celia and Zonda, my awesome photographer, Tricia Soto, my gorgeous model, Thayer Preece, and the most incredible graphic designer, Jill Zielinski. You guys came through for me bigtime with this one and I'm so grateful.
I'm offering a special Happy October price of $4.75 until Oct. 11! Knit on Aran or heavy worsted weight yarn, this is going to knit up so fast and will be perfect for those holiday gifts.
Pattern: Comfort Food 
Notes: Instructions are written for a cowl and fingerless gloves that are worked in the round. The cowl is shaped slightly at the top. Charts are provided on the last page. Aran weight or heavy worsted yarn is knit at a tight gauge to make this a very cozy cowl. For a cowl with more drape, it is recommended to go up a needle size. Additional yardage may be required.
Suggested Yarns: ~ 355-375 yards of aran weight or heavy worsted yarn for both the cowl (220 yards) and fingerless gloves (135-155 yards) such as The Plucky Knitter Aran Cashmere or MCN Aran, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Gaea, Kolláge Yarns Fantastic, Miss Babs Northumbria Aran BFL, Knitted Wit Bulkan, A Verb for Keeping Warm Toasted
Materials:
Size US 8 (5.0 mm) or size to obtain gauge either DPNs or circular needles
Cable Needle
Stitch marker
Tapestry needle
Waste yarn
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 4” over st st
Size:
one size fits all for cowl
adult women’s medium (large) for fingerless gloves
Finished measurements: 12 ½” wide at bottom of cowl and 9 ½” wide at top of cowl and 11” long for cowl
3 ½” (4”) wide, unstretched and 10 ½” (10 ¾”) long for fingerless gloves
Happy Comfort Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Dear Baby Francis
You guys have been so patient. A year ago I blogged about these adorable baby socks. Well, good news! Today I have not only the socks, but the cutest matching hat to go with them! Introducing.....
Okay. Before we go further. Isn't Baby Dex beyond CUTE!!!! Seriously such a good baby and those eyes. I could just eat him up! All I want to do is start knitting more baby things so that he and his twin brother (I know!! Double the cute!!!) can keep modeling!
Miss Babs Yummy Sport, colorway Roasted Pumpkin for the 6-9 month size
I’ve been hooked on making wee baby socks inspired by their matching adult socks for quite some time. Here the cable pattern from the Uncle Frank socks makes for a perfect unisex baby gift!
This set includes a baby hat and socks. The socks are a perfect way to use up leftover sock yarns. Adding a trim of contrasting color gives this set that something extra!
The pattern will be on sale from now until Oct. 3 for $4, returning to $6 on Tuesday, Oct. 4!
The details.....
Dear Baby Francis Socks
Notes: Instructions are written for a cuff-down sock. Charts are provided on the last page. Size can be modified by using lighter fingering weight yarns and smaller needles, or sport weight yarn and larger needles.
Suggested Yarns: ~ 75 yards of fingering weight yarn such as The Plucky Knitter Merino Cashmere Nylon fingering, Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock mediumweight, Kolláge Yarns Sock-a-licious, Knitted Wit Superwash Merino Fingering, Anzula Squishy
~3 yards of fingering weight yarn for contrasting trim, if desired
Materials:
Size US 2 (2.75mm) or size to obtain gauge either DPNs or circular needles
Cable Needle
Stitch markers
Tapestry needle
Gauge: 28 sts and 44 rows = 4” over st st
Size: 3-6 months
Dear Baby Francis Hat
Suggested Yarns: ~ 80 yards of fingering weight yarn as suggested above, or 70 yards of sport weight yarn such as Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sport, Madelinetosh Pashmina, Sunshine Yarns Sport, The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport
~5-7 yards of fingering weight yarn for contrasting trim, if desired
Materials:
Size US 6 (4.00 mm) either DPNs or Circular 16” with DPNs needed for decreases or size to obtain gauge for both fingering and sport weight yarns
Cable needle
Stitch markers
Tapesty needle
Gauge: 22-24 sts and 36 rows = 4” over st st for fingering weight yarn;
21-22 sts and 32 rows = 4” over st st for sport weight yarn;
21-22 sts and 32 rows = 4” over st st for sport weight yarn;
Size: 3-6 months for fingering weight yarn; 6-9 months for sport weight yarn
Finished measurements: 5” unstretched (6 ½” streteched) width, 6 ¼” length for fingering weight yarn
5 ¼” unstretched (7” stretched) width, 7” length for sport weight yarn
Thank you again to my amazing graphic designer, Jill Zielinski, for her assistance with the pattern layout! I know I've said it before, but I could not do this job without Jill! Thank you!
A very, very special thank you to baby Dex, my good friend Nicole, and Dex's mommies, Annie and Jeannine for making this pattern come to life! I can't thank you enough!
This is Dex's modeling debut, so let's show him some love you guys!
Happy, happy baby knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
This is Dex's modeling debut, so let's show him some love you guys!
Happy, happy baby knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Friday, September 30, 2011
{this moment}
{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
These gorgeous flowers were delivered last weekend and still look fabulous! I took this picture yesterday :) Thank you to some very dear friends for making me smile all week. Even right now, after a 3 1/2 hour root canal, I'm smilling (well, that could be the pain meds...)!
Happy Friday everyone! New pattern coming this weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Got Hats?
There really has been knitting going on around here, despite all of the life events of the past few weeks.
The challenge of course is translating that knitting to pattern writing, test knitting, editing, etc., when life throws a curve at you. Fortunately, you guys are awesome and hang in there with me! Keeping my fingers crossed that Dear Baby Francis will make its debut in the next week or two (I can't wait to show you the pictures!!), with the Uncle Frank hat not too far behind. Surprisingly, despite that big pile of hats, I'm not sick of knitting it yet! And I've inadvertently created a pile of gift knits, since only two of those need to be trunk show samples!
I didn't even try to write up anything last week. And as much as I was enjoying my new sock design, I wanted something a bit more mindless, comforting. I needed to just knit. And then the design jumped out at me and it was on the needles.
A cozy, slightly-oversized, cowl, inspired by my Winnie socks, in luxurious, 100% Aran cashmere from The Plucky Knitter. Talk about chicken soup for the soul. I've been saving this yarn for something special and the cowl flew off the needles. The matching fingerless gloves are almost done too. This is going to be such a fun holiday gift knit. My sister commented that too bad it wasn't in her colors. My mom, smart lady, said, I'll take it. To both I say no way! But, it was such a quick knit, I'm thinking my mom may finally get her gray fingerless gloves this year!
The only thing I need now is a name. I would love to call it Mimi, but there are a gazillion patterns named Mimi. I also thought Comfort Food, because that was what it was for me. But, the colorway is called Golightly, and part of me wants to focus on the cozy, happy, cheerful ness that that name says to me. I'm tempted to call it Golightly. There are just a few patterns with a similar name, but not quite Golightly. I will say, I can't wait to wear this when it is snowy up in Tahoe with a cup of hot cocoa. Or enjoying a big scoop of ice cream :)
Then I thought you guys may have some thoughts. Anyone?
I'll be back later this week with a few other fun knitting related updates! What do you guys have on your needles this week? Oh, and any new tv shows you've been knitting away too? I really enjoyed Prime Suspect and Revenge last week!
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
The challenge of course is translating that knitting to pattern writing, test knitting, editing, etc., when life throws a curve at you. Fortunately, you guys are awesome and hang in there with me! Keeping my fingers crossed that Dear Baby Francis will make its debut in the next week or two (I can't wait to show you the pictures!!), with the Uncle Frank hat not too far behind. Surprisingly, despite that big pile of hats, I'm not sick of knitting it yet! And I've inadvertently created a pile of gift knits, since only two of those need to be trunk show samples!
I didn't even try to write up anything last week. And as much as I was enjoying my new sock design, I wanted something a bit more mindless, comforting. I needed to just knit. And then the design jumped out at me and it was on the needles.
A cozy, slightly-oversized, cowl, inspired by my Winnie socks, in luxurious, 100% Aran cashmere from The Plucky Knitter. Talk about chicken soup for the soul. I've been saving this yarn for something special and the cowl flew off the needles. The matching fingerless gloves are almost done too. This is going to be such a fun holiday gift knit. My sister commented that too bad it wasn't in her colors. My mom, smart lady, said, I'll take it. To both I say no way! But, it was such a quick knit, I'm thinking my mom may finally get her gray fingerless gloves this year!
The only thing I need now is a name. I would love to call it Mimi, but there are a gazillion patterns named Mimi. I also thought Comfort Food, because that was what it was for me. But, the colorway is called Golightly, and part of me wants to focus on the cozy, happy, cheerful ness that that name says to me. I'm tempted to call it Golightly. There are just a few patterns with a similar name, but not quite Golightly. I will say, I can't wait to wear this when it is snowy up in Tahoe with a cup of hot cocoa. Or enjoying a big scoop of ice cream :)
Then I thought you guys may have some thoughts. Anyone?
I'll be back later this week with a few other fun knitting related updates! What do you guys have on your needles this week? Oh, and any new tv shows you've been knitting away too? I really enjoyed Prime Suspect and Revenge last week!
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
Friday, September 23, 2011
{this moment}
{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit SouleMama leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Happy Friday!!
This weekend is all about relaxing and knitting! Well, and football. And even pattern writing!! And my sister is dragging taking us to a bridal faire (eek! my first. oh. boy.). Teasing of course, sis. Well, I think I'm teasing. I have had my DVD of Bridesmaids sitting unopened all week, just waiting for the weekend to watch it (awesome, funny, fabulous movie!!)!
What are you guys up to this weekend? How's your week been? I'm slowly catching up on work, which means I may have some actual knitting content to show you this weekend!
Happy Weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits
p.s. Goodness, isn't Little Guy just too cute?! His little flip flops, his I'm so happy to be around all the airplanes smile, his Star Wars shirt that he is so proud of! So wish he lived closer....can't wait to see him in a few weeks! Auntie IGK loves you Bubby!
p.s. Goodness, isn't Little Guy just too cute?! His little flip flops, his I'm so happy to be around all the airplanes smile, his Star Wars shirt that he is so proud of! So wish he lived closer....can't wait to see him in a few weeks! Auntie IGK loves you Bubby!
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