Something New!

Awwww....breathing a nice big sigh of relief here today.  The last of the pattern to-do list before Sock Summit has been completed!  I'll have one new reformatted one by the end of the week for you and a brand new one that will debut in The Plucky Knitter booth at Sock Summit!

Now I just need to do some prep work for my class, print patterns, and KNIT!!  Yay!  I've got two projects I'm knitting for me to just wear :)  Here's a peek...



Two lovely skeins of The Plucky Knitter Primo, and a perfectly matched stitch marker from Knitfacts! I'll be stocking up on more of both of these at Sock Summit.

So, what is on your knitting needles this week?  Those of you going to sock summit, what are you trying to finish up?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A sign?

When I finished the Lil' Cotty socks yesterday I wasn't quite sure what to work on next. Something from the WIPs pile? Start one of the new designs I've had in my mind? Work on that Snowboarder Hat or Mom's fingerless gloves? Those are a bit tricky because technically they are also both new designs....see the dilemna?

Well, it was late. So I cast on kind of a new design that would be easy and quick to knit.



An infinity scarf in the gorgeous Plucky Knitter Merino Alpaca Silk. I cast on and worked a good inch or two before I realized that it was twisted. Ugh. I thought I had even double-checked. And so I frogged it and then thought....is this a sign? Should I wait on this and work on something else?

I cast on and ensured it wasn't twisted and knit a row. Then I did some blog reading and read Stephanie's post. She talks about wrapping up her knitting for the year. Finishing what she had hoped or intended to finish, but being realistic too. Another sign.

Then I thought...well, I've got three solid days. The new designs and gifts will get done. I know that. But the other stuff, well it will just keep getting pushed to the back-burner, lowest-project-on-the-totem-pole kind of thing.

So I've decided to finish two projects. Or at least make a solid effort to try. Both for me. Both pure enjoyment, no deadline/design knitting.


The BFF Traveling Pont Neuf Scarf in BMFA BFL in colorway True Blood. I knit a few rows of this last night while I was getting a pedicure and thought...I need to finish this. I love it and the color is fabulous and I don't have anything this color and I need to send a certain someone the rest of the yarn. So this is the first project I hope to finish.



And then there are my handspun Fightin' Irish (a gift from ilikecake) Cotty socks. I have one done. I started these at the beginning of the football season. I'd love to at least make good progress on them Friday during Notre Dame's Sun Bowl appearance! Go Irish!!

So there you have it. I'm going to see how productive I can be and wrap up these projects! Any projects you are trying to finish up before the new year?

Oh, and are any of you thinking of doing the make your own Stash Sock Club similar to the Yarn Harlot's like last year? She described it here. I had wanted to last year and it just didn't happen, but I definitely want to do it this year. My sock knitting hasn't been as productive as in years past, partly due to designing, but there are soooooo many patterns I want to knit. And we know I have the stash for it! That's on my to-do list for this week too.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Too many!!

Remember this post and the little contest I had on guess how many WIPs are in that big bag?!

Renee-Anne guessed right with 12! Congratulations!! (email me at irishgirlieknits AT gmail DOT come for details) Well, here they are, all 12 of them!



A bit ridiculous!! I blame the designing...lots of single socks in the project bags (and yes, I know I have a project bag problem too). Buried at the bottom of the pile is one now completely frogged beginnings of a February Lady Sweater. That should be exciting because that would mean only 11 WIPs, right? Nope. I forgot about the big Tickled Pink Blanket that Rocks. Still 12.


Plus...um....


I seem to have added to the WIP total. This one wasn't my fault. I blame Cockeyed and Knittinggolfer. The BMFA BFL in True Blood Red showed up in the mail and I was informed to cast on my Pont Neuf immediately. I caved to peer pressure (and, well, gorgeous yarn).

And....this...



My new design, based on my Queen Alice sock pattern. I love the yarn (Malabrigo Rios) and am hoping to crank out this pattern before Christmas (another cowl/infinity scarf combo of cabley goodness).

And one would think that now 14 WIPs, and a new spinning habit would stop me, right? I mean, it has never been this bad. Ever.

But I still keep looking at this and wanting to cast on.....


new Rockin' Sock Club shipment and gorgeous pattern by KnitQuest (great job Sam!)

HELP!!!!

Happy Knitting through my crazy WIPs!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Decided.

To at least make an attempt at a new pair of socks for Dad on Sunday. I'll mend him at least one pair on Sunday, whether I finish these or not.


Uncle Frank Socks, STR heavyweight, colorway Obsidian

I don't expect to finish, but I'm more hopeful now that I've cast on. I forgot how quickly STR heavyweight knits up on size 4 needles. Never say never.

Happy Friday!!!

Finally

What a week! But I finally feel like summer is here! Stressful meetings, writing reports nonstop, and just not in enough hours in the day is what the last few m0nths have felt like! I'm going to enjoy the more relaxed pace of summer as much as possible!

Starting with this weekend....

1. Carnival.
2. Farmer's market.
3. Swimming.
4. More carnival fun.
5. Another farmer's market.
6. More swimming.
7. Knitting. Knitting. Knitting.
8. Making yummy salads for dinner and the week ahead.
9. Catching up on some movie-watching tonight too....Shutter Island and Valentine's Day...good combo?!

I'm hoping to get lots of knitting done too!!

Starting with this sock. I think I said a few weeks ago I wanted to work on it.



Yeah. This sock has been single for way too long. I must finish it! This was my original test knit for my Courage design for the Woolgirl Oz Club Cowardly Lion Kit. I used Socks that Rock lightweight, which was in between both the very fine fingering Union Center Knits Sock yarn and then the Sport Sock Yarn (see picture below).



But the pattern is very easy to modify!



And it is now available to the public!

I also went ahead and made The Woods Family Collection, an ebook featuring the four sock patterns named after my Grandma and her siblings.



Ever since I designed Cotty, I knew I wanted to do this. Four sock designs for $15, available here


l to r: Cotty, Uncle Frank, Winnie, Dotty

Happy Sunday!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Busy Busy!

Busy week at work. Busy weekend...walk-a-jog Friday night, Autism Walk Saturday, farmer's market, cooking food for the week, more work stuff on the weekend. Busy upcoming week. But then, work slows down and summer is here!

This was all the knitting that was done this week. Not too much, but I'm loving my new design!





Gorgeous Sock-a-licious in the colorway Chateau. Love it!

Hope your weekend was full of fun! Here's to a great week ahead!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Thoughts for the week

I have been cleaning all weekend. All weekend. Thank goodness it is a 3-day weekend for me so that I can at least take some breaks for knitting! My motivation works something like this....clean that drawer and that box and that box and then knit for 30 minutes. Clean that closet (omg! that closet?!) and then knit for an hour.

At least I have a really clean desk right now.



See. I so rarely can show you my desk...hehehe

This week is going to be one of those weeks. Two days of work, then off for a long work weekend in New Orleans again. Busy busy, but at least I'll be enjoying some good food! And the Saints are in the playoffs so it is going to be crazy there this weekend! I'm figuring that even though I'll be working, the team I'll be working with will be so relaxed and hyped up for the game that it should be a good weekend. And I've been to NOLA enough to know that the school I'll be working at on Friday will be having "Saints" day....so I'm bringing my black to wear (don't think I have any gold though?).



My main knit for the weekend is a secret, but I did pull out my Uncle Frank sock in Socks that Rock and work on it a bit because I'll be bringing it to NOLA. The gusset decreases are done, so I'm sure this will be done soon. I do love how this pattern is knitting up, even in a variegated colorway!

And the best thing to clean to, in my opinion, is either a CSI or Law & Order Marathon on tv, and when you need a break from that, well, I got out Season One of The West Wing . Love it.

Here's to a good week!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Whole Truth

And nothing but the truth.

Seriously.

Let's talk UFOs.

Over on Twitter, a few of my smackdown peeps have been talking about a UFO smackdown. I thought, well, sure, but I only have 4 WIPs on my ravelry project page. I'm doing pretty well. Oh, how quickly one forgets.




These are all the ones in my drawers. Forgotten. Not added to ravelry (so in a way, they didn't exist). Time to get real.



The February Lady Sweater I cast on right before Stitches West in February. I didn't like my button hole and so I stopped there.



This was my original test knit of the Courage sock pattern. In the gorgeous Oregon Red Honey Clover colorway of STR.

There is another design in progress hiding in one of those project bags, but I can't show you that.

Now the next two. Well, I just started them, but they weren't added to my project page. So, again, the whole truth.



A sport weight version of the Merrily pattern :) (or maybe Merrily Merrily). In Mama Blue. Swoooooooooon. This one will be done soon.



Another Koolhaas for Snowboarder's brother-in-law. Snowboarder was bragging and asked me to make him one. Ugh. But note the pretty project bags from Piddleloop (they were my Christmas pressie to me!).



Well, this was just beginning to be a Goody Goody sock, but let's get real. I haven't touched it since 2008.



It now looks like this. I'm sure I'll get around to it, but why have it filling up a cute project bag (this one from Zknitter!) and needles!

Now this next UFO. Well, its probably my favorite. I haven't touched it in a long time. My Tickled Pink Blanket that Rocks!



I'm hoping the fabulous new Signature Circular Needles will help me finish this baby up!

So total UFOs....nine! Let's change that!

How many do you have??

Happy Diving-into-the-back-of-the-closet-to-find-the-UFOs-Day!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

ETA: Crap. Found one more. This one. Tuscany shawl. It was on my ravelry project page doing this zzzzzzzz hehehe. Hmmm. I can't bear to frog this, but don't see it being worked on soon. I guess this is where the UFO smackdown comes in.

Summer of Socks!

It is definitely the summer of socks around here! Look at all my sock project bags with various socks in there!


This picture is also serving as a visual reminder to me that I need no more cute fabric project bags. At least not in the near future.


There has even been some sock knitting! Finished mom's first Cotty sock! Loving how this Rare Gems knit up.



And its just 32 more days until Sock Summit! I just can't wait!!! I'll be taking two classes- Colorful Stitches (I think that's the name of it!) with Tina and Anna Zilborg and Designing the Next Monkey with Amy Singer! So excited!! And then there's the market....oh the sock yarny temptations!!!

I'll also hopefully be blogging and knitting a bit more for the next four weeks since today marks the first day of Snowboarder's 4 week trip out of the country...sniffle sniffle He'll be in Japan for two weeks for work, then Europe for another two for work/fun. I'm trying to focus on the positive....that time away will leave lots of time for working out (I didn't win the June Smackdown! But July shall be mine!), knitting, reading, blogging, and my own mini-traveling (next weekend to Reno to visit my Great Aunt, the following weekend to Portland, and then right before Snowboarder gets home, I'm off to Sock Summit!).

Plus, in June, we spent way too much time together! As much as we could :) Here are some pictures when he met me and my girlfriends at the Ferry Market in San Francisco!





The Girls! We've known each other since we were six years old!!

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday weekend!!!

Happy Sock Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Joy of Right Now

When the new Rockin' Sock Club kit arrived(spoiler alert!), immediately after I opened it and hung up the phone with knittinggolfer (who called to share the joy!), all I thought was...I want to cast this on right now. But I had to go back to work. When I got home, I thought, right now. But then Snowboarder called wanting to go out.

But late Friday night....I wound my skein (SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!) and cast on. Its the first sock club shipment all year that I've been able to cast on...right now!

And I'm loving it!!

But here, for those who don't want to be SPOILED!! Look at the doggies and then click away....









In her Dyer's notes, Tina said she tried to recreate a Rare Gem that a bunch of us begged her for! I even remember the blog post! And she did it from memory too! I had no idea it was going to be our sock club colorway!! I heart it big time!! Thanks Tina...I'm still dreaming of this in LSS and heavyweight!





Hopefully I'll finish the first sock today. I'm knitting the pattern, Fraggle Squiggle Socks, and I love it! Sure, the pattern would look absolutely stunning in a shaded solid, but I also love the texture and what it does to the colorway! Of course, I'm also planning to order another skein of this to make a pair of Cotty socks!

Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Comfort

Today I understand why I don't blog everyday. Life gets in the way. Or, I let life get in the way. I thought I'd try posting everyday until the end of May just to see what happens. Part of my joy+ride. Blogging in and of itself is joy/fun for me.

Which brings me to today. Monday. I am so not a Monday girl. Never have been. And what a Monday it has been. Work is always busy at the end of the school year, but today. Not just busy, but draining too. Last night I had thought about a joy post for today. Then today happens, and well, different post. So it goes.

Did you know another synonym for joy is comfort?

Comfort n: good feeling; ease

Now that is a perfect word for today. I found comfort when I came home. I mean, look at what my sister made for dinner.


Definitely comforting! Some type of taco casserole (that I don't really want to know the weight watchers points for)! Delish! ETA: By request, here's the recipe link!


I'm also taking comfort in the fact that on this yarn fast (44 days!! going strong despite Woolgirl sales! and Plucky Knitter updates), my stash is quite nice. My resolve was weakening yesterday, so I cast on one Plucky Knitter project (cashmere cowl!! yum!!) and Rogue Roses. I think I can make it to 60 days (and then I'm buying some yarn people...I'm just sayin').

So today, despite being a bit drained and exhausted, I take comfort in making some time to do something I enjoy (blogging), having a fabulous family who is always here for me (and heck! sometimes cook for me!), and having a creative outlet (also known as knitting with cashmere).

I'm loving all of your joy comments too! The contest is going until Thursday night....don't forget to leave a comment!

Take time for a little comfort....
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Can you believe...

... it has been 21 days since I last bought yarn!! No biggie for some, but for this Irishgirlie, it is progress.

... until this past Wednesday evening when I finished my Shawl that Jazz (thank you all for the love by the way!), it had been 9 days since I had last knit on a sock. No biggie for some, but for this Irishgirlie, it was weird.

So what did I do? Late Wednesday evening, I cast on a Monkey sock.


Hazel Knits Artisan Sock, colorway Chuckanut Drive



There wasn't a lot of progress made yesterday because this lil' guy spent the night.



Can you believe how cute he is?!! And how crazy his auntie is to make him hold up the sock!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Spring Ahead!

After quite a rainy week, the sun has been shining all weekend!











Did anyone else cast on their Spring Forward socks last night, like me? I forgot how quickly this pattern knits up! It may also have to do with the yummy yummy Plucky Knitter merino cashmere nylon yarn I'm using!

Happy Spring!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Fall in Love Fridays: The Pigeonroof Edition!

Do you remember me blogging about this lovely yarn last year? I bought a few skeins from Woolgirl sight unseen and just loved them! And then tucked them away in my stash.... ignored... for a year!! Eek! With Stitches West coming up next week, and knowing that Pigeonroof Studio will be there, I thought I better at least try the yarn before I think about buying more!! Her colors are to die for!


PigeonRoofStudios Original Sock, colorway Plum Tortie

And then I fell in love all over again. I just had to cast on. Despite saying just a day or two ago that I wouldn't cast on more socks until I've finished my Trickle socks. Oh well. I could blame Neuroknitter a little bit...she did enable me to cast on for the Tesserae sock after I drooled over hers!



I guess you could say I'm using up my pattern stash too, since I've had this pattern for awhile and still hadn't cast on! I love it!! Such an easy to memorize pattern!

Happy Friday!! Less than a week til Stitches!!!!!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits