Yarn Prize Friday!

Just in time for YPF, my Woolgirl contest prize arrived! I LOVE this colorway! White Oak Studio yarn in the Alias colorway (doesn't this say super-swanky Sydney Bristow undercover?!).





I also couldn't resist the Grey's Anatomy colorway in sportweight. Doesn't this say McDreamy? Actually, McSquishy...the yarn is so soft!





Well, and I also couldn't resist the Posh Yarn either, but we'll save that for another day.

Happy Weekend! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

It's Wednesday!

So another WIP Wednesday. I thought I would have Bailey and Puddles help out :)

Bailey seems to like Rowan's Gryffindor sock. I'm almost done with the first sock. I know I need to hurry up (seriously, Rowan gives me the evil eye now anytime she sees me knitting something else. Sisters.).

Puddles is posing with my Sockapalooza Pal sock! I was getting a bit worried about not casting on yet so I did. I would have finished this sock, except Rowan's evil eyes and murmurings ("Is that a new sock?") guilted me into picking up the Gryffindor sock. I really wanted these to be monkeys, but instead I'm trying BFF socks (another Cookie A. pattern).

I'm using Socks that Rock Love-in-Idleness. First time I'm using the lightweight yarn. I love the mediumweight, but enjoy this weight too. I'm just about to turn the heel.

WIP Wednesdays have been motivating me to finish things up or work on a project and make some progress. However, there are still a few WIPs out there that remain exactly the same - Dreamswatch, Tomato, and casting on the mate to my Monkey sock. There's always next week!

Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

YPT?!

Introducing....Sock Pixie Colors: Raspberry Cheesecake (top), Cranberry (bottom)
100% Machine Washable Merino, 425 yards, 7-8 stitches/in on US 1-2

A close-up of the yumminess....

Color: Stormy Seas

I think the base yarn is actually Gems Fingering (at least the packaging it came in noted that and it sure does feel as soft as it).

Why hadn't I heard of it before?! I love it!! The colors are so gorgeous in person. And free shipping if you spent a certain amount (which is why I just had to get three skeins). Can't wait to see what Pashy's looks like up close.

And the blog has some cute free patterns too! Thank you Sock Pixie!

Oh, and question for the day...what amount would we consider as being "too much" sock yarn? well, do I really want to know the answer?

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Birthday Meme

Zknitter tagged me with the Birthday meme. It was kind of interesting too! The rules are to go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday month and day only. Then post 3 events, 2 births and one holiday that occurred on your birthday, then tag 5 friends.

My birthday is February 11......


3 Events:

1790 - Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, petitions U.S. Congress for abolition of slavery.
1858 - The Blessed Virgin Mary reputedly appears to Saint Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes.
1990 - Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 27 years, is freed from Victor Verster Prison outside Cape Town, South Africa.


2 Births:

1926 - Leslie Nielsen, Canadian actor Okay, I picked him, not for the Airplane movies, but for his role in Tammy and the Bachelor! I love that movie and remember watching it with my mom over and over. He was so dreamy. Tammy, tammy, tammy's in love......

1969 - Jennifer Aniston, American actress So, do you think that rules me out as a potential love interest for Brad...I mean, will he trip out about us having the same birthday and all??

1 Holiday:

Catholicism - Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. I knew this one. See Catholic school girl all my life. In grammar school, every year you had to do a "Saint" Report. Everyone always picked the saint that had the same name as them. There never was a St. Irishgirlieknits. But, St. Bernadette's Feast day was on my birthday so I always picked her. I used to know lots about her. I knew I went to the right University when they had a replica of the Grotto at Lourdes :) Well, and the football team too!

So, I'm tagging these five friends. Enjoy or not :)

Disco
Cherie
Batty
Jupiter Jessica
Stilaholic Nartian

Oh, and a few posts ago, Pashyknits posted a whole bunch of finished objects and then at the very end a quick photo of her recent SockPixie yarn purchase. Sockpixie? I had never heard of it, but the colors look so yummy. Ummmm....so I bought some :) WOW!! WOW!! I'll leave you with that teaser...some yarn prOn pictures to come tomorrow! Oh, and her blog has some great free sock patterns too!

The Photo Shoot!

Also known as, the Little Guy's Baptism! Fun day for everyone. Here's some quick photos of the Rocky Sweater Vest in action.



That's my brother and Little Guy! Little Guy pretty much hangs out like that as much as he can!

Happy Weekend! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Trying to Catch Up!

I'm still on book five...but I'm trying to not be a disappointing secret pal to my Knitty Harry Potter Swap downstream, despite my failings.

So I knit her a House Bookmark from Charmed Knits in Gryffindor! I'm pretty sure Rowan will be requesting a few of these too!

xoxo HermioneKnits :)

This Post May Not Be Suitable for All Audiences

Quick, cover your eyes! Yes! It is indeed, a HUGE hole in Dad's favorite Log Cabin Socks. A few weeks ago Rowan kept asking me everyday, "How's dad's second pair of socks coming along?" I had one done, and was working on the other, but a girl can only knit so fast when she has lots of other projects to work on. And then, dad admitted why he was so anxious for the second pair! These were a surprise Christmas gift for dad last year and he wears them around the house constantly (which includes the backyard a bit to get the dogs inside). So its no wonder this happened. Don't worry. I fixed them.


And luckily, I just finished the second, exact pair, tonight!

Dad is still recovering from his knee replacement surgery of two weeks ago. I joked to him that even though he is still wearing the socks, at least they are getting a rest and not so much wear and tear. To quote my dad, he said, "Never in the history of the universe, has a pair of socks ever worked so hard." Maybe it was the pain killers talking, but I laughed. He also said the next pair doesn't have to be fancy or anything.

WIP Wednesday Update! I'm enjoying Turtlegirl's idea. It really motivated me to finish these socks so that they wouldn't be a WIP this week. And I finished the baby vest for the upcoming baptism. Oh, by the way, my brother...fun story...JUST LAST NIGHT....asked my sister and I to be godmother's on Saturday!! Seriously!! He said he thought he already asked us! Oh, brother!!

Back to WIP, no progress on the Dreamswatch, Tomato Sweater, Gryffindor socks, or the mate to my Monkey sock (but I loved Pashyknits Monkeys!). So I thought I'd drag out my "other" WIPs, but really, they are more like UFOs (hidden away, unfinished, not being worked on). I might pick up one soon though.

Here is my circular shrug in Tapestry. Its about 2/3 done. Its been this way since before Christmas.

Here's my second Clapotis. I love love love this. I pulled it out in the spring and got started on it again (initially started last year), but then it got put on the backburner again. The colors are sooo fall, hopefully I'll get to it this fall.

Hope to have some more FOs and WIP for next week! Happy Knitting! xoxox Irishgirlieknits

PashPost Redeaux

Right, so...I have a number of completed and WIP things starting to build up here, and I am fearing retribution from KB if I don't get them posted. She was certainly quick to whip out the camera and photograph the baby gift stuff I brought to the CAN walk. So..in the interest of living another day to knit, etc:

I did a little knitting for the kids. Aise saw a felted bunny at Auburn Needleworks several months ago (like maybe last summer or fall) and she WANTED it. I told her I would make one for her, which was way less pleasurable than just taking the one from the store, but whatever. So I got the Fiber Trends pattern (and the pattern for Fido the pup too, for G), and we picked out some pink Cascade and some pink mohair. And then G picked out some gray Cascade and some crazy novelty yarn. And I promised to knit their little pets up right away. And then maybe 9 or 10 months later... I DID!

Here are Marshmallow and Scruffy:


I think they both came out a bit wonky in spots, but the kids love them so I guess we're all happy. And they're DONE, so I guess we're all really happy.

So after spending a week in garter stitch felting hell, I decided to make some socks. But I have yet to actually make a pair of socks, as I don't care to finish a project and then start the SAME EXACT godforsaken project again. That is why I have several individual socks in the unfinished drawer that don't match and totally don't get along. So I thought I'd invest some time in figuring out how to make 2 at once. And I happened upon this site, Silver's Sock Class. Which is completely GENIUS. And I printed the whole thing out, which was many many pages, as each step is explained and photographed in great detail. And lo and behold, a mere 4 evenings and single skein of Artyarns Ultramerino later, and without any major errors or huge flaws:

Bloody hell! They are knitted toe up, both at once - totally easy, and, I think, totally customizable to many many patterns.

So, I decided to apply my newfound cockiness to the Monkey pattern, using a new skein of Claudia Handpaints. Here is the progress so far:



I am knitting them toe-up, just reversing the chart so the pattern will go the right direction. So far, it seems to be working....

And since I've gotten so jazzed about the new sock method, I went ahead and ordered some lovely yarn from Sock Pixie, which just came today and is so, so beautiful (despite the lame pic). Colors are Emerald Sea, Spice, and So 80s! Have to get the Monkey pair done so I can get the Sockpixie yarn on needles.



So that's it. I think I would be such a happier girl if I could do EVERYTHING 2 at a time!

P

Rocky Sweater Vest - Its a Knock Out!

Its done!! I can't believe I finished it this quickly! Here's my Rocky sweater vest (named that because I was under a pressure deadline with less than two weeks to make this...and everytime I thought of it, I kept hearing the song from Rocky!).

Here's what it began with. Debbie Bliss' Cable Sweater from Simply Baby.

And here it is with the matching shirt my sister-in-law picked out. This is what Little Guy will be wearing to his baptism next week (their church is pretty low-kep when it comes to what the babies wear). Perfect match I think, especially considering I didn't have the shirt before I started.

Project: Cable Sweater aka Rocky Sweater Vest

Started: June 9, 2007

Complete: June 17, 2007

Modifications: Lots and lots! Well, for me it seemed like a lot. The smallest size the pattern was written for was 3-6 months and that would have been too big for Little Guy. So I needed to make it smaller. Plus, I had to modify it and turn it into a vest. I'm so proud of the armholes. I decreased differently then the pattern and I added the edging to the armholes. Oh, and I learned how to cable without a cable needle. Could not have done this project without that skill! Thanks to Wendy's easy to follow lesson!

Can't wait to see the Little Guy in this!!

Happy Knitting!! Happy Father's Day too (I think my brother might actually read this post today, or at least look at the pics!)!! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday

Round 1 of the Rocky Sweater vest is complete! I'm feeling good that this little thing will be done in time for my nephew's baptism in 8 days! Now on to the front!



This is the only WIP that has my attention right now. I'm on a deadline. So there hasn't been much (actually any) progress on my four other WIPs from last week (Gryffindor sock, DreamSwatch, Log Cabin Socks, and the Tomato that I will not let become a UFO..oh, and I have a monkey that needs a mate). I'm liking the idea of WIP Wednesday's....some motivation to get moving on the projects!


After I wrap this project up and probably dad's Log Cabin socks (they are close to being done), I think its time to bring out one of the UFOs of 2006. I started with seven UFOs and I'm now down to just three!! Not too bad! Maybe for next week I'll take pictures of the two most likely to be worked on next (either the Clapotis that is halfway done or the Tapestry Circular shrug that is two-thirds done).


Oh, and remember the Woolgirl tv-yarn contest that I was telling you all about last week? Guess who won?!!! That's right! Me! Sure, I'm thrilled that I won, but I'm MOST thrilled that there will be a yarn named after Alias. Rowan was pretty excited too! Sydney Bristow yarn is definately going to kick ass, you know it!! Thanks Woolgirl!!



Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Introducing the Rocky Sweater Vest

I know. I'm weird. I name my projects. But since I have had the Rocky theme song playing in my head every time I think of this little project, that's the name of it. Its all I'm going to be working on for the next 12 days! (insert theme song here!) Little Guy is getting baptized on June 23rd. My sister was kinda joking-kinda not that I should knit something white and holy for it for our nephew to wear. When I was joking with my SIL about it, she said their church doesn't really do that thing, they just dress the kids nicely. But she would love it if I wanted to knit something. How could I resist!

She picked a sweater vest. Of course, this was this week, so with limited time to research every pattern book available, we went with a modified version of the Debbie Bliss Cable Sweater from Simply Baby (she also lives in Sacramento, two hours away, so this was all done via internet...gotta love it!). Only thing I have to do is modify the pattern by a) making the smaller size smaller....he is that little still (!) and b) turning the sweater into a vest...sure no problem (insert the theme song again if you would).

Actually, now that I have worked on it a lot today, I'm feeling some relief. I can do it. And it is looking sooooooo cute. I'm using Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino for the first time and I just love it! Oh, and this post by Wendy about cabling without a cable needle saved my life. I definately feel like I can finish this in time!

Happy Knitting! xoxox Irishgirlieknits

Pashy Knits and Knits and Knits

but she doesn't really post and post and post. I still love her, but I just don't get to see her gorgeous stuff that often (she's lives about 2 hours away). So when we met yesterday at the Cure Autism Now Walk and she showed me all her recent finished objects, I thought, hey, I can post your stuff (since I happened to have my camera with me). Our friend is having a baby girl anyday now and Pashyknits made her all these cute things.
Baby hat and booties out of Lorna's Laces Angel.


Baby hat with a pocket (the angle of the hat is a bit off). In the pocket is the cute pink poodle finger puppet! Too cute!! I wanted Pashy to hold up the hat next to her fun new hair...it has pink in it too!

And finally, the super soft, adorable baby blanket!! Photo shoot assisted by Pashy's adorable kids, Aisabella and Griffiknitter (if I can recall their "yarn" names accurately...you know, since they call me Karabella, they wanted fun names too!).

Love it Pashy!! Great job!!

Wimpy WIP Wednesday

For today's theme song, check out Turtlegirl's WiP song! That's going to be the coolest thing about this post. The rest will be just....well...

Wimpy.

Wimpy because ... it's now 12:21 am on Thursday morning (but still Wednesday night...and I'll probably "fix" blogger to show that I posted on Wednesday, but it'll be cheating.).

Wimpy because.... I'm not even showing you my beloved Tomato sweater because it looks just like it did when I first posted (give or take a few rows).

Wimpy because... I haven't even finished my dreamswatch?!

Wimpy because... the chances of finishing said dreamswatch are looking slim because I seem to have lost one of the needles. How? Where? And which one? The one all the stitches were on...ugh! How does that happen!

Wimpy because... poor Rowan's Gryffindor socks aren't moving along too quickly (blame it on the Monkey's) but I'm still running over to Woolgirl because she just got more House colors in...yummy!

And finally..wimpy because...the most progress I made this week seems to be on the gray cable log cabin sock for dad and that's because all poor dad wants are more socks and I get distracted :) And I worked on these solely at the hospital while dad was getting his knee replacement surgery (at least this hospital visit has been planned!). He's recovering okay and will be in the hospital until Friday (its a pretty painful surgery). He is happy that I'm finally finishing up his socks!

Happy Wimpy WiP Wednesday (I mean Thursday!!)!! Happy Knitting! xoxoxo Irishgirlieknits

One Little Monkey....

Monkey #1 done! Love this pattern. Very addicting. These are my test pair before I knit the same sock for my sockapalooza pal (ok, actually I wanted a pair of my own, and I love the pattern so much that I think I want to make them again!).

Socks that Rock, mediumweight, Spring Fling







Before I cast on the second, I'm going to turn the heel on Rowan's Gryffindor sock (I felt a bit guilty in Boston because I had planned to finish at least one of her socks, but then I cast on the Monkeys....and look which one is done first..oh well).



Some questions from the contest a few weeks ago.....

Since Disco is on holiday (and I miss her emails), I'll answer her questions. 1) Have I given my brother a blog name? Nope. Not yet. See, Rowan has one (that's sis). Little guy is probably going to stick for now for the nephew (you know...until he does something fun other than sorta, kinda smile, and cry...and look like the cutest two month old in the world....hey...he's two months old today!). In our family, my brother is called the Prince (yeap...sad...I know. He can do no wrong. Well, he sure can, but in mom's eyes, he can't.). But I sure don't want to call him the Prince on the blog :) I've shown Brother the blog a few times (you know he really doesn't care about the knitting too much), and as soon as pics of the Little Guy or the nursery show up, he TOTALLY wants to read the comments. That's funny to me :)

Next Disco question. 2) Favorite food. Too many... but if we were going out to dinner, my first pick would be Mexican Food!! Some really good, authentic Mexican food. Oh, but you know, now that I think about it...if I could go ANYWHERE for dinner...it might just be to New Orleans for some cajun/creole food, followed by beignets and pralines. Yum! (Or Italy, but I haven't been there yet).

Oh, and check out Woolgirl's blog for a contest! Favorite tv shows and yarn...how could you go wrong. My suggestions included Grey's Anatomy, Alias (miss Sydney Bristow), Ally McBeal (yes, you can love Sydney and Ally both...and I loved Ally), and lately, Friday Night Lights. I also can't wait for the Closer to start again (but I couldn't think of a color for that), and I love my Law and Orders! Your favorites?

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! Happy Knitting! xoxo Irishgirlieknits