October Happenings.

Just like that, the last day of October is upon us.  How did that happen?  The month seemed to fly by, probably because it was a busy one around here.

There were quite a few soccer games.  I've been meaning to share with you some of the pictures of Lil' Guy at his game when I was visiting a few weeks ago.  Before I show you, I should note that he wasn't quite himself (e.g., falling asleep at lunch), the game was during his normal nap time, and it was 90 degrees out.



There he is chasing after the ball.



He's getting right in the mix there.  Well, um....if you look closer...


Yeap, that's him PUSHING....hey get out of my way?!  Goodness.

But really, this one is my favorite!



Apparently he has never done this before.  He must have been really tired. Oh, 4 year olds!

There were also quite a few trips to the pumpkin patch this past month.  I think perhaps 6 or 7 trips?!!




There was some knitting.





I can't say enough wonderful things about this Anzula Squishy.  I loved it before blocking my Summer Wind, but if it is possible, I love it even more after.  The color, the bloom of the yarn, just lovely.

There is a bit of secret knitting going on as well.  The evenings are starting to get cool, and knitting by the fire is one of my favorite things.



Yes, that is Kollage Yarns Lofty that I'm knitting with.  Lofty, soft, and on size 10 needles, it is divine!

In IGK news, our new knitalong is about to start!  I'm so excited that the group picked Winter Wonder and a holiday gift theme!  Come join us for fun and prizes (and an IGK coupon code!).

This week is Interweave Knitting Lab, right here in San Mateo!  Right next to my work too!  Literally, the next building over :)  I'll be there hanging out with Lorajean of Knitted Wit (she'll be carrying all of my IGK patterns!).  We'll probably do a meet-up on Saturday, but I'll be there Friday too before the Nine Rubies Event!  Did I mention that Nine Rubies will be carrying our favorite Plucky Knitter Primo yarn!!!!  I didn't sign up for any classes...most of the ones I was interested in are sold out, but it should be a nice knitting weekend I think.

I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween.  On a Monday too.  Blah!  I really wish I was up trick or treating with Lil' Guy!  My brother and SIL go all out for Halloween.  They were just starting the house decorating when I was there a few weeks ago.





I hope my brother sends me updated pictures!  There is even a fog machine at night, with a strobe light!

Instead I'll be hanging with these cuties...






So what has been happening in your October?  Anything fun planned for Halloween?

Happy Halloween!!
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 Happy Friday!!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Just enough.

Yarn that is.  This is all I had left after binding off my Summer Wind last night.



I am over the moon in love with this yarn, Anzula Squishy.  Last year Snowboarder actually introduced me to this yarn and brought it back for me from New York.  I acquired a bit more of it this year at Sock Summit.  Sabrina, the dyer behind Anzula, is also pretty fabulous!  But now that I've knit with it...wow, wow, wow.  I just love how squishy it is.  I can't wait to block it!

So nice to finally have something off the needles!  I need to start thinking about any holiday or gift knitting I need to do, so I'm glad to finish up something special for me :)

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 Friday!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Go Irish! Beat Trojans!

10 good things.

1. Tomorrow is Wednesday, which means we are two days closer to the weekend.  I could use a weekend right about now :)

2. I swam today after a long day of work.  Good for so many reasons, but especially because I made time for me.

3.  New pretty yarn.  I couldn't resist stopping at A Verb for Keeping Warm last Friday on my way up to visit little guy (see, any reason to justify a yarn store visit).  They have such lovely yarns, hard to resist.


A pretty skein of AVFKW Toasted, for a Comfort Food Cowl I think.


Madelinetosh Chunky.  Pretttttttyy!  I can't wait to try this yarn!

4.  Inspiration.  I go in to Verb to buy yarn, and leave with the material to sew the gorgeous navy scarf below.



I blame Cupcakefaerie for talking about her sewing machine the night before, and Kristine for offering an awesome class to take to learn how to make this.  I'm hoping it works with my schedule!

5.  Interweave Knitting Lab is coming to San Mateo, literally right next to my office, in about two weeks!!!  Yarn, right next store to work.  Can't wait to see! Plus Knitted Wit will be there, along with Miss Babs, carrying my patterns.  So fun.  I think we may even do an IGK meet-and-greet at Knitted Wit's Booth! I'll keep you posted.

6.  One of my LYS, Nine Rubies, is a sponsor for Knitting Lab and they are having a special Local Designers' Night on the Friday night of Knitting Lab.  And guess who they asked to participate?!  Me!  I'm so honored to be featured with Hilary Smith Callis.  Save the date if you are a local...I'd love to see you!!



7.  Pumpkin bread.  I'm craving some.  Might need to make some tomorrow night.

8.  Twisted.  I love that store :)

9.  Having healthy food in the fridge for the week....dinner, lunch, already made :)

10.  Doggies fresh from the groomers!  It was too late to take a picture when I got home tonight, but I can't wait to show you their new Halloween bandanas.

What good things are happening in your life?

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

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!