10 years.

That seems a bit crazy to be blogging for 10 years. And yet, here we are. I'm so glad we are still here, though posts are fewer. We still seem to stay connected via Instagram or Facebook or Ravelry. Heck, many of you are my dear real life friends now...we text, talk, meet-up, vacation, cry, laugh. All thanks to this blogging and knitting community.

This isn't a big reflection post...I'm trying to get back into the things I love, like posting more regularly, so let's not make it harder, 'mkay? 

Things I love you ask? Here are a few. Well, let's stick with the theme and make it 10.

1. Pom Poms. I want to put them on everything this year. They make everything a little bit happier, and we can all use more happy. Now if only I could knit faster.

2. Finishing things. Ha! Finally. The recipient didn't want a pom pom. I didn't understand it.

Conversationalist Hat featuring Plucky Knitter Primo Aran

3. Anything Jo Malone. You know when you hear lots of lovely things about something and you know you'll probably love it, but you don't want to go down the rabbit hole? Well that was me for so long, until I was treated to these mini perfumes. OMG. Love them all. Pretty sure I'd love everything in this line.

4. Me time! Self-care....who knew?! From acupuncture, to knitting, to swimming... making me a priority has been an awesome thing that I realized I had forgotten to do for awhile. We need to do that more often, don't you think?!

5. This song. It's been in my head since he sent it to me to listen to. I love that I have my own personal DJ now :)

6. Sales. Here you go! Our blogiversary sales start today..... 50% off these select patterns from now until Dec. 6. NO COUPON NEEDED (just add to Ravelry cart and discount is applied). Be sure to check back later this week for more patterns on sale too!

7. Tea. Thank goodness I love it, as I'm trying to slowly wean myself off of my beloved iced cafe au laits. #darnmilk

Ballydesmond featuring Plucky Knitter Primo Sport

8. Indie Design 2016 Gift-A-Long! I'm so excited to be a participating designer again this year. Jump on over to this group and check out the amazing indie designers, cast on a gift (for anyone! yourself included!), and let's enjoy this holiday season.

9. Knitting weather!! It has been chilly here for California weather...in the 40s and 50s. Just lovely.

Yep. Both new hat designs coming soon. 

10. This man.

Happy Knitting!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blog Love

Let's celebrate the last of our blogiversary sales with a fun one! These seven patterns are 50% off from now until Monday, Dec. 21, 11:59pm PST, with the coupon code: BLOGLOVE.



(top: left to right) Fiar, Peek-a-boo Penelope, Kenmare Lace Hat, Ballydesmond, Wish I Might, Naylor Street, and Golden State.

A few of my favorites and a few of this year's new ones! A little something for everyone.

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

8 Years.

8 years of blogging! You guys rock for still stopping by this space- whether from the start, a few years ago, or just recently. It might be every few months, just to look at the pictures, it might be through a blog feeder (is that what they are called) or quickly on a break at work so I understand if the comments aren't as frequent. The main thing is that we have created this awesome knitting community through blogs, knitting, ravelry, twitter, instagram, LYS, retreats. You've become my friends, many in real life, and many more virtually. So thank you!!

The past few years we've celebrated here by putting some of my most popular patterns on sale for 50% off. This is the only time I do this, so please spread the word and take advantage! And since Tricia, aka Cheekyattitude, is on board this year as part of the IGK team and will be helping out, we are making this EXTRA fun! There will be three separate groups of patterns on sale over the next week or two, but they'll be a surprise. Plus we have some other fun things planned. It is the holiday season after all!

First up..... IGK Favorites: Accessories! All the patterns shown below are 50% through Dec. 8, NO COUPON NEEDED.



One of the most popular IGK designs this past year has been Fiar. It saw a revival this past year with the lovely gradient yarns, especially those of Black Trillium Fibres.





I also released a new sock pattern this year, Contorta, in the lovely Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend fingering. It had been awhile since I had designed a sock pattern so it was nice to see so many of you respond so positively to it. Thank you!



The Sleepy Hollow Collection, San Mateo,  and Cotty Socks are also on sale.



And of course, my most popular pattern by far, Summer Wind. This one and Cotty really jumpstarted my design career. But this infinity scarf (and San Mateo too) continue to be "potato chip" knitting! You can't knit just one. It also featured my fabulous duo of Thayer as my model and Tricia behind the camera, with one of my favorite yarns Plucky Knitter Primo.

Any of these would make great holiday gifts if you started now too. By the way, how is your holiday knitting going? Don't forget about our IGK fall/holiday KAL over on Ravelry. My holiday knitting is slow going while I finish prepping the new pattern that Tricia showed you in the last post. But our holiday celebrating did start last weekend with our annual trip to the Dickens' Fair.





Magpie is awake for tea this year!



And she didn't quite know what to make of Father Christmas.

Next on the holiday list is to get our Christmas tree this weekend. I'd love to hear how your holiday plans/knitting/merry-making is coming. Are you in the holiday spirit or is this time of year a harder time for you? If you don't particularly celebrate the holidays how is your December going? Any special knitting?

I did a little Black Friday shopping for you guys from Knitterella. Leave a comment sharing something about your holiday plans, traditions, knitting, etc. and one of you will win the prize below. And if you mention in the same comment that you'll spread the news about the contest or sale (e.g., twitter, instagram, ravelry, Facebook, on your blog) you'll be entered twice. Be sure to leave a way for us to contact you (e.g., rav id).



Oh, and one more sale I have to tell you about because you know I LOVE all things Knitted Wit. Lorajean's birthday is Sunday and she is celebrating with a birthday sale. Everything in her shop is 34% off with the coupon code: birthday34  More details here I'm definitely getting some Sassy Santa!!


Have a  great weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

It's A Plucky Party!

I knit my first project with Plucky Knitter yarn back in 2008.  Mad Color Weave socks for my sister-in-law.



It was love at first knit.



Then the cashmere Toasties. I've been hooked on Sarah's kicky colors and scumptious yarns ever since.  And this week, Sarah is celebrating 6 years of Plucky Knitter Yarns!

To help celebrate the party, we've planned a special coupon for all of you who love plucky yarns too!  Today only, through 11:59pm PST, receive 40% off any Irish Girlie Knit pattern (excludes The Sullivan Family and Woods Family Collection) with the coupon code: pluckyparty

My first design that I sold was designed with Sarah's lovely yarn.



Cotty socks.



Another favorite design, Summer Wind. Check out all these Summer Winds in Plucky yarns!

Can you believe 27 of my designs have featured Plucky Knitter yarns?!?!  I know plucky knitters, especially those in the fabulous Plucky Knitter group on Ravelry, have been so supportive of my designs. Thank you so much!!

A few more of my favorites....



Winnie, featured in the August 2009 Plucky Classics shipment (I remembered being over the moon that I was designing for this!!)



Dancette, specially designed for Sock Summit and then the mystery kits began right after!



Fiar

Sarah's also having a big plucky update on Thursday with free shipping ANYWHERE! With some old favorite colorways, such as Honey Wilkes. One of my absolute favorite plucky colors (who knew?! It isn't blue or pink!).



Honey Bunches

Thank you Sarah for designing such lovely yarns, and more importantly for being such a supportive friend over the years!!  Remember one of the first trunk shows!  Then Sock Summit! I can't wait to see what the next 6 years brings you!!

Reminder, 40% off today only with the coupon code: pluckyparty

Happy Plucky Anniversary!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Stitches West Preview!

Before I jump right in to the excitement of Stitches West, I want to say a big, big thank you to you guys for helping to wish my sister a happy birthday!! She'd love all the comments.  Thank you!  And I loved all the comments regarding my designing and knitting process and look forward to talking about that more with you guys.

But first, Stitches West.  I'm so looking forward to a weekend of hanging out with my knitting friends and of course, some shopping!! Last year's Stitches I was still on crutches from knee surgery, so it was a bit of a bummer.  This year I'll be walking around just fine, which may not be good for my wallet :)  I will be helping out in the Blue Moon Booth so please stop by and say hi if you are at Stitches this weekend!

For Irish Girlie Knits Designs, stop by Knitted Wit's Booth #945 to see lots of IGK samples and patterns!  Lorajean has fun colors and gorgeous yarns.  She's hosting a Fiar KAL in March, so be sure to pick out the yarn for that too.

You'll also see my new design, Warwick, in her booth.  I'll definitely be getting more Shine while I'm there since I fell in love with that yarn when I was knitting with it.



At Anzula's booth #840/939, you'll be able to see samples of Lilianna and Holbrook and pick out the perfect yarn to knit your own!  You'll also see my brand new design, Knocknagree, there as well!  I'm so excited to finally release this pattern.  It features two sizes and options for a two-color option.  I'll do a more detailed post about it next week.

Here are a few pictures...





Thank you to Disco for knitting up this sample with lightning speed!!



This is the smaller version I knit for myself for my sister's wedding.  I just love the yarn, Anzula's Cloud.  It blocks beautifully!

If you can't make it to Stitches West, Anzula's Cloud is available here or here or at your favorite LYS.  The pattern is on sale from now through the end of the month for $5.00 too!  
 

I'll try to blog over the weekend with lots of pictures for those of you who can't join us!! 

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Blogiversary Special #2!

I've got a Snowboarder Hat that Rocks on the needles in Madelinetosh Chunky!  Oh how I wish I could stay home by that fire tomorrow and finish it.



I'm so glad quite a few of you took advantage of my blogiversary special! Thank you! Up next is one of my favorites, Fiar.       $3.00 until December 11, 2012 (11:59pm PST)



I think I may gather up all of my worsted weight leftovers and modify this from a fingering version to a worsted weight one.  Plus then it will be a super quick knit!  I love that this one is so versatile and I have to say, I get the most compliments on this knitted item :)

Stop by again this week for more specials and contest or two!!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

8 Random Things

1. I think I have survived the crazy month of May!  My mom, sister and I are going down to LA this weekend for a family wedding and a day at Disneyland.  After that, I have my weekends free until my sister's wedding in July.  Which means hopefully lots of relaxing and knitting!

2.  This past weekend was a wonderful holiday weekend filled with friends, cooking, swimming, and doggies. Lil' Snowboarder got a new pet that even "breathes" and she quite enjoyed seeing if Bailey and Puddy would tolerate it.  Hmmm.....



Oh, and painting.



3.  I did knit in May.  I promise.  My design for the Among Friends club is done.  And I did finish that hat for my sister, as well as a few baby ones too.



4.  Baby knitting is instant gratification!  Just what I needed during this busy month.  I knit a few hats for Erica's baby shower (thanks Anne for taking pictures!) and finally had a chance to use the adorable Knitterella gift tags I have.



5.  I need a free day to just write patterns.  Usually, I need a solid chunk of hours to write patterns and that tends to happen on the weekend when I'm free.  My brain is often fried after work during the week.  Let's just say that in May, I barely had time to write a blog post, let alone patterns.  Same for this weekend.  But I'm hoping things change in June.....

6.  I think I forgot to tell you guys that Fiar is now available for individual sale on Ravelry.



7. 7 more super busy days at work until it is officially summer!  I still work all summer, but everything slows down just a bit :)

8. Summer reading.  Any recommendations?

And with that, it is time for bed.  Have a great week!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good things

• a very sunny weekend with our first few days of gorgeous weather

• my first trip to the farmer's market in months AND without crutches!!!

• a great week of swimming and physical therapy which means I've also been walking really really well!  We'll see how my 3-month check-up goes tomorrow!

• Doggies

• Making time to cook a delicious dinner, linguine with shrimp scampi, and fresh baked bread from the market

•  Sunday night tv....Game of Thrones, The Killing, The Good Wife, and Mad Men.  It distracts me from dreading Mondays :)

•  A Plucky Knitter update tomorrow, featuring my new design, Fiar.  The pattern and kit will be available in the Etsy Shop Update, which begins at 10am Eastern on Monday morning.

 

A good weekend.  Hope yours was too.

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits