Walk Now

Every spring for the past few years, I've participated in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks Event with my colleagues at PALS (Pacific Autism Learning Services), to help raise awareness and money for children with autism.  Autism affects 1 in 110 children, a number that has dramatically increased since I began working with children with autism 20 years ago. Each child with autism that I work with is a unique individual and these socks attempt to capture that.  The pattern features four different design options for the top of the foot, allowing you to create your own individualized socks.

Shown in The Plucky Knitter Primo MCN, colorway Headboard





My first time knitting with Primo and my only thought was why did I let this sit in my stash for so long.  Lovely!



Jocelyn test knit one of the design options and I just loved seeing it, especially in her gorgeous hand-dyed yarn, Dubai Knits Chameleon in colorway Sea Breeze.  She posted lots of additional pictures here.  Thank you Jocelyn and Gaylen both for your awesome and superfast test knitting skills! I can't imagine what I'd do without both of you!

I do love that part of the design is carried throughout the heel as well.



The photo shoot was pretty fun too.  On the way home from visiting my great-aunt Mimi in Reno, we stopped in Tahoe for some snowtubing!  Too much fun!

Last May I had wanted to design a sock pattern to help raise money for the Walk Now event, but time got away from me.  This year, when the Sock Knitters Anonymous group challenge for January was knitting socks for a cause, I was inspired.  70% of the proceeds of the sale of this pattern will be donated to Autism Speaks until May 31, 2011, when the Bay Area Walk Now for Autism Speaks event is.  As of 4/4/11, we've raised $300!  Thank you! Let's keep going!

Pattern: Walk Now

Notes: Instructions are written for a cuff-down sock.  Two sizes are provided and the pattern includes different design options for the top of the foot.  Both written and charted instructions are provided.

Suggested Yarns: ~360-380 yards of fingering sock yarn, such as The Plucky Knitter Primo MCN, BMFA Socks that Rock lightweight, Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock, The Sanguine Gryphon Skinny Bugga, Madelinetosh Tosh Sock

Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)

Gauge: 36 sts = 4" over st st

Sizes: adult women's medium (large)

Finished Measurements: 6 3/4" foot circumference, stretches up to 9"

(7 3/4" foot circumference, stretches up to 10")

6" approx. leg length

Thank you all again for your continued support of my designs!

Happy Knitting!
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 Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

p.s. Thank you all sooooo much for the logo love!

Here it is!

Remember when I said that I was asking Santa for a logo by Knitterella, aka Jill from Jill Zielinski Designs, for Christmas? Well, I got it! And it is here! I'm so excited to show you guys.

What do you think? I absolutely love it! Jill did an absolutely fantastic job and I'm beyond thrilled. This is a just a sneak peak of more to come. Jill is helping me with a few other things and there will be some fun changes around here soon! I just couldn't wait to show you.

This has all been a bit surreal for me. The logo makes the designing a bit more real. When I started this blog, I never would have imagined I would have made the friends I've made, had the opportunities I have had, or start on a new adventure of designing! Thank you all so much!

If you need any graphic design work done, I highly recommend contacting Jill at Jill Zielinski Designs. She was so fun to work with, has made this process easy for me, and captured what I wanted perfectly! Thank you Jill!


Happy New Logo Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Today

A few things I am loving today.....

1. Madeleine's scones. Okay, technically they are Marion Cunningham's Dried Fruit Cream Scones from The Breakfast Book. Madeleine made these last weekend and they were quickly devoured at the Plucky Knitter Party. When she sent me the recipe yesterday, I just had to try them. Two words. Delish. Easy. Suprisingly easy. I'm a fan of not having to get a lot of stuff out to make things. I even made an extra batch for the freezer today.

2. My new techno hoodie from Old Navy. Don't laugh. It is true! I needed a sweatshirt and it was $6.50 on clearance and I thought the little headphones were dorky, but didn't want to pass up the deal. Well, then this morning I tried the headphones...just plug my phone or ipod into the cord in the pocket and magic! Seriously fun!

Please ignore the dog hair.

3. The designer backgrounds in my new favorite knitting book, Brave New Knits.

I knew I loved the designs in the book, I just didn't realize how thoughtful and inspiring the designer sections would be. Lots of inspiration! Plus I've added a few new blogs to read.

4. Casting on with cashmere. Enough said.

5. How happy a certain lil' someone is when she is wearing her Cotty socks!

What are you loving today?

Happy 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.

Got Plucky?

A few pretty souvenirs from this past weekend's fun!



A girl can't resist 4-ply cashmere.



Or two vibrant skeins of Primo.



Or a gorgeous pink hat knit from MCN Aran, right?

You can get your own Plucky this Sunday. I shall avoid the update, despite Primo Worsted being available. Must knit up the stash from last weekend first!



My new design is coming along nicely I think. It should be done by the end of the month I hop!



I heart Plucky Primo.

Happy Plucky Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Plucky Knitter Trunk Show!!

I still can't believe that just yesterday, Madeleine, Sarah, and I had the pleasure of hosting over 50 Bay Area knitters for a Plucky Trunk Show!

Madeleine and Sarah....we had too much fun!

The morning flew by so quickly that there are gorgeous skeins of yarn that I am looking at now while posting these pictures that I can't believe didn't come home with me! Too much pretty!

Decision time. Which pretty? These pictures were taken about 30 minutes into the fun....to be honest, the table was surrounded prior to that and there was no way to take a photo!

These were some of my favorite photos...the ones where everyone was hugging their yarn babies and happy happy! Betsy and Sarah are pleased as punch here!

Look at those colors Thayer grabbed!

And the handknits!! Just lovely Marisol and Sarah! Marisol took some great pictures of the event too...check that out here!



Then there was food! Madeleine has promised to share her delicious scones recipe! They were a hit!



Lots of Plucky project sharing as well! So much fun to hang out a bit with Sarah and meeting new Plucky friends as well! Next time, more knitting and chatting definitely!



Look what is on Sarah's needles!! Winter Wonder :) Sarah and I are looking forward to collaborating on a few kits this year, particularly for Sock Summit!! So excited!!



Sock campers unite :)





We had such a fun day. Thank you Madeleine and Sarah for so much fun!! Sarah is just as fun, sweet, and fabulous as you could imagine! And her yarns are even prettier in person! I did gather quite a pretty pile of yarn to take home with me...next post! Today, I'm knitting away on my new Plucky sock design!

Happy Plucky Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Party at Verb!

Last night, despite the Friday night Bay Area traffic, Thayer and I headed to A Verb for Keeping Warm to hear Ysolda discuss her design process and what inspires her.

I'm looking forward to her new book (available for preorder now....you can get it online or call the shop). Just hearing her talk about things to consider when knitting to fit your body gave me lots of helpful information and the sample patterns are gorgeous!

Thayer and I couldn't resist a picture! Ysolda was too fun!

Cookie A. was also there signing her gorgeous new book, Knit. Sock. Love. Her and Judy seem to be having fun discussing something fabulous!

We would have stayed longer, but we had to head home to get ready for today's festivities with Sarah, aka The Plucky Knitter. Too. much. fun. today. Pictures tomorrow...promise!

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Overwhelming

TNNA was quite overwhelming in all the good ways you can imagine! I wish I could better articulate how much energy and excitement that events like this create. And I love being part of this knitting community. I was a bit nervous about what to expect, but I met so many wonderful designers and indie dyers and other artists in our community, I had no need to be nervous.

I did get my smackdown on and went for a morning walk along the harbor Saturday.

Now my brain is just overwhelmed with all of the ideas buzzing around in my brain. From designs, to following up on ideas and with new friends, it sure has been a busy week.

Pico Accuardi Dyeworks, Naturally Dyed Worsted in colorway Aunt Honey

Gorgeous yarn was in abundance! I loved the yarns from Anzula Yarns (yay! they'll be at Stitches West!), loved Madelinetosh's new yarn and colors, so many other yarns too. I finally met Deb from Pico Accuardi Dyeworks. I felt like I knew her a bit already because Marisol and her are good friends. Plus I met Lorajean from Knitted Wits and her adorable son O.

Such a cutie in his hat from Sarah (too cute!!).

A few other goodies included fabulous gift tags from Knitterella, an Annie Adams' shawl pin, and perfect project bag! The new Schacht Sidekick spinning wheel is definitely a goodie I'll ask Santa for (I know he'll say no, but a girl can dream, right?).

And if you can believe it, that is the extend of my pictures from the trip. Yeap. None, nada. I'll try better Friday night when I head over to A Verb for Keeping Warm for an event with Ysolda and Cookie A. and Saturday when I get to hang out with Sarah, aka The Plucky Knitter! Crazy fun!!!

Happy just about Friday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

It is official!

I'm at TNNA in Long Beach! So excited!!

I helped Kollage during the Sample It! event tonight, where the My Kind of Saturday cowl was featured in a kit! Check out that fabulous poster of ilikecake (great photo cheekyattitude!)!

Tomorrow is the first day to see everything, then a class with Shannon Oakey on Sunday morning, more trade show on Sunday and a quick flight home! It is sure to be a busy, fun weekend!

Happy Friday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday

I'm smitten.

The Plucky Knitter's Primo Fingering Yarn + a new design = LOVE

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

My Kind of....

Monday?

Why yes, today was a good Monday.

I survived reentry at work. I love my job, so it really wasn't so bad.

I ate healthy. Surprisingly, getting back into my regular routine of work, etc., made it much easier to focus on eating well. Thank goodness, because those cookies were getting the best of me.

I made it to my new exercise class, The Dailey Method. I'm almost certain that my abs and thighs will be killing me tomorrow. But I even packed my gym bag for tomorrow. Crazy girl!

And my new design for Kollage Yarns was released today! Now that is my kind of Monday....

wait....

I mean....

My Kind of Saturday!

You know what my kind of Saturday is, right?

A quick trip to the farmers market, a bit of time to read and relax before the day gets underway, toss on my comfy jeans, a t-shirt, and this easy-to-wear cowl....and there you have it.

My kind of Saturday.

Riveting, Kollage Yarns' new yarn made from recycled jeans, is pretty awesome. I LOVE the colorways and loved knitting with it. This one skein project is knit in the round, features an easy-t0-memorize lace pattern, combined with stockinette stitch sections, and the hardest part will be deciding which color to use (charcoal denim and cloud denim are calling my name at the moment)!

Special thanks again to my fabulous team of ilikecake (gorgeous model) and cheekyattitude (how did she make it seem so bright and cheery when it was raining out, fabulous photographer) and cupcakefaerie (my stylist extraordinaire!)! I love you guys and don't know what I'd do without you!

My Kind of Saturday is available online at Patternfish, or the yarn and pattern through Kollage Yarns (coming soon to retailers!), or this week at TNNA featured in a kit for the Sample It night.

How many more days til Saturday?

Did you guys survive the first Monday of the new year? I hope so.

Happy Monday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits