Another good day.

I spent the weekend with Lil' Guy while his parents were living it up in Vegas!  Today we had a fabulous morning at the Pumpkin Patch, well, once he got over the fact that this pumpkin patch didn't have a bounce house.

 









He loved being able to pick out pumpkins and pull them in the wagon.



I loved how this pumpkin patch was set up.  Just enough fun things to do with the kids, such as a petting zoo, pony ride, hay ride, fresh popcorn and kettle corn, and lots of little red wagons for all the pumpkins.





Every child was pulling a wagon filled with pumpkins and they all seemed quite proud.  Well, except when it was time for a popcorn break.  Lil' guy was quite happy to go for a ride.



While Lil' Guy was running through a garden tunnel, I snapped a picture of my Summer Wind in progress. I was able to knit on it a bit at the football game Thursday night and Saturday while hanging with lil' guy. I absolutely love love love the yarn, Anzula Squishy. Hopefully this one will be done soon :)



So how was your weekend? Cast on anything new? I did some secret swatching and was quite pleased with the results. Maybe pictures on that later this week. I can't wait to show you the pictures from Lil' Guy's soccer game on Saturday!

Happy October!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Don't forget, Monday, Oct. 17 is the last day to get the special introductory sale price on my new design, Fine Fella.

A Fine Fella

This hat was born almost two year ago.  So I am quite excited to finally share it with you.  August was full of hat knitting, but I think I finally perfected the pattern.  Introducing...

Fine Fella    

Shown in The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted, colorways Fine Fella (MC) and Oz (CC)

My great-aunt Mimi described her brother, my great-uncle Frank, as such a caring, friendly guy.  They grew up during the Depression, and she says he always brought home a friend when he was on leave.  When their mother would wonder how she would feed an extra, “Frankie” would say, “Ah mom. Give him mine.” 

I designed the Uncle Frank socks in my great-uncle’s honor and used that cable pattern again here. I just know this hat is something he would have worn. After all, he was quite the fine fella.

Shown in The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted, colorway Garnet Martini

This one also works for the ladies too!

Pattern: Fine Fella  

Suggested Yarns: ~ 170 yards of worsted weight yarn such as The Plucky Knitter Primo Worsted, Madelinetosh Vintage, Malabrigo Rios, Kolláge Yarns Solace, Miss Babs Yowza, A Verb for Keeping Warm Toasted

~10 yards of worsted 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

Cable needle

Stitch markers

Tapesty needle                                                                                                  

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows = 4” over st st      

Size: one size fits most adults

Sizing Modifications: The ribbing on 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) of the first row at the beginning of the pattern.                               

Finished measurements:  6 ¼” unstretched (9” streteched) width, 8 ¼ ” length 

I'm also having a special introductory sale price of $4.50 through Monday, Oct. 17!

Once again, I have to give a huge thank you to Thayer (the gorgeous model!), Tricia (the awesome photographer), Dianne and Debs (super-speedy test knitters!) and Jill (the amazing graphic designer)!  I seriously couldn't do this without them!  And a special thanks to Snowboarder for modeling too!

I have to admit, this picture is probably my favorite :) 

Speaking of fine fellas.....I'm watching Lil' Guy all weekend while his parents are out of town.  I can't wait to see him play soccer tomorrow!  We had a great evening at the park....I just love him to bits!







Last night I went to the Cal vs. USC football game at AT&T Park, where the SF Giants usually play.  It may not have been a win for Cal, but it was a gorgeous night in the city.  This was our view from our tailgater, complete with this fine fella...





Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

{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!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Proper post coming soon, but wanted you to see my new pattern that I just released, plus it is on sale until Monday!  And Saturday is the last day for Cotty, Winnie, and Uncle Frank special prices!

Potential

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

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!

{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

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

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.....

Dear Baby Francis

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

The Plucky Knitter Merino Cashmere Fingering, colorways Flannel Shimmy and Pure Calm

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                                        

Finished measurements:  2 ¼” foot circumference, 1 ½” approximate leg length 

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;

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