I promised.

Knitting content.  Crazy, huh?  We certainly have some catching up to do.  So here goes.

1. Toast.  I changed it up from my gazillion pairs of Toasties and skipped the thumb hole.  I wanted something super, super easy to knit on during movies or when I couldn't work on secret knitting.




The awesome mug is a gift from Erica! Love!

These were started back in January after the Plucky Knitter Event, and they were finished right before Sock Camp.  Goodness gracious!  Forever!  But then I did have a lot of secret knitting in February and March.  And I must say something about Sarah's cashmere yarns.  Heavenly! I love love love her cashmere and must cast on another project soon!

2.  Speaking of secret knitting, did you all see the new shipment from the Rockin' Sock Club?!  Not only does it feature an awesome pattern by our favorite Neuroknitter, but it also featured my new pattern, Merry Socksters! 

I snapped a few quick photos before I sent the sample off to the Depraved Dyer!







The brightly colored yarn was named Electric Koolaid Acid Test, and it definitely needed an easy-to-knit pattern that could stand out against the bright colors.  The sample was knit in the large size, but when I was designing the pattern, I just had to first knit it up in the medium size because that is usually where I get to see that pretty striping that I just love with STR!  Here's another look but in the Cattywampus colorway.




And of course, I need to knit myself a pair now!  I thought I'd make a bit more progress at both sock camp and Disneyland, but um....I didn't! 


Overlooking New Orleans Square.


Going for a ride on the teacups.

I can't believe I forgot to pull the sock out during our princess breakfast!  Oh well!  Merry Socksters is exclusive to the Rockin' Sock Club this year, but will be available to the general public in March 2012!  I was thrilled to be a designer again for this club that I have loved being a part of for the past 5 years!

3.  I would love to see Merry Socksters knit up in our new sock camp colorway, Mad Hatter.



But, alas, I'm on to my next design, so that won't be happening soon.

4.  I love this designing things, but I'm trying to figure out how I can do that, and knit all of the other fabulous patterns out there.  Like this.  Or the mystery sock that Knittinggolfer has designed for the Solid Socks Group on ravelry.  Or the Smocked Slouch Hat kit that I ordered from the Plucky Knitter.  Better yet, maybe I'd have time to jump into the first KAL in our Irishgirlieknits Group on Ravelry for Sweet Home (I'm hoping too! Oh, and Sweet Home is on sale until the end of April for $4.)!  I might join in the Sunshine Yarnies Lace KAL as well!  A few in the group are planning to knit Cotty socks (hint hint: coupon code: sunshine for 20% off Cotty through April 17) and I have the perfect skein to knit...


Sunshine Yarns Luxury Sport, colorway Patronus

Oh, so many patterns, so little time..

So what do you all have on your needles? What are you wishing for more time to cast on? Do tell....

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy Friday!

After such a busy, hectic work week (and the fact that it is going to be absolutely crazy busy at work for the next two weeks until school is out and things slow down a bit), boy, I'm glad it is Friday! And a 3-day weekend too!! Yippee!!!

I'm looking forward to lots of knitting this weekend! When work gets busy, the knitting takes a back seat :( For example, I thought I would finish this pair of socks two weeks ago on my trip to New Orleans. Instead, I just finished them late Wednesday night (thank goodness Lil' Snowboarder's gymnastics class forced me to be in one place for an hour with the only thing to do but knit!).

These were my "original" Slip Jig socks!



I knit the first one back in February when I was designing the socks and then they just sort of sat in their pretty project bag for awhile.



I am so absolutely pleased with how well this pattern works with the variegated colors of Socks that Rocks! I can't wait until it is released to the general public next March!



And I love love love this colorway...Dutch Canyon!

Believe it or not, with finishing this project, I don't really have any active WIPs. Plenty of UFOs. Here's what I'm thinking of knitting in the next week or soon.

1. I know I'll be starting a new design with Sock-a-licious soon (hurry, if you haven't entered, contest for free yarn runs til Sunday morning!).

2. I'd like to finish the second sock of my Courage sock. The pattern will be released to the general public in June! Yay!

3. Father's Day is coming up. You know what that means. Socks for IrishDad. It is either knit him a new pair or mend the heels of 3 or 4 pairs he needs mending (ugh. dad. stop wearing the socks absolutely everywhere including outside...but I love you...so I'll try to mend at least one pair.). I'm figuring Uncle Frank will knit up quickly.

4. Baby stuff. Lots of it. So many close friends and family are having babies! At least those will knit up quickly, right?

5. I really want to finish my Tickled Pink Blanket that Rocks.

Oh, so many knits, so little time!!

What are you guys knitting? What are you up to this weekend? Hope whatever it is, you have some knitting time worked in!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Seriously!?!?!??!!!!

Did you guys read this?!??!?! That's me (Carrie!!). Seriously excited and so honored that Tina asked me!!

Oh, and Disco also wants me to share this....check out #99! Squee!!! I wouldn't be here without you guys! Thank you bunches!!!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The List of things I was supposed to blog about this week.

Almost an entire week flew by without blogging?! Crazy! I sure was thinking of what to tell you all about. Just a bit too much work and play last week!

1. The pesto.






I modified the recipe from this book. I just used a lot less of the oil and parmesan cheese, and a few walnuts instead of the pine nuts. Delish! We sure did eat well this week.



I had this yummy sandwich a few times! Grilled bell peppers and onions, a bit of goat cheese, fresh basil, and a dab of pesto. Okay, these pictures are making me wish I had gone to the farmer's market again yesterday! Next week....

2. The yarn.




Plucky Knitter MCN, colorway Jezebel

This gorgeous color arrived from The Plucky Knitter for the Plucky Classics club. Just perfect! I've already traded a skein of Wollmeise for another one of these! Sooooo pretty!

3. The destashing!!

Yay! I think the yarn fast helped me realize that I can't knit as fast as I think I can. I did place a wee order from Blue Moon this week! Using destash money of course, but guess how many skeins I ordered? Guess??? two. seriously, two. Saving up for Sock Summit splurging!

4. The Workout for Yarn Smackdown

Speaking of Socks that Rock, Knittinggolfer and I started a Workout for Yarn Smackdown! hehehe I added the smackdown part. But when we were catching up this week, Marcy and I thought this would be a great way to motivate each other (more like me, she's a good friend that way!) to get moving! Basically, for every 30 minutes of working out, you get a point. We're aiming for 4 points a week. Whomever has the most points at the end of the month wins! The other person has to buy the winner a skein of socks that rock. This skein in particular. I really really want it. I would have ordered it if it hadn't been for our Sunkissed Sands Smackdown! So far, I've got 2 points. I'll be honest, one of them was specifically because I didn't want to fall behind!

5. The knitting.



Another pair of Toasty. Not sick of this pattern yet. Or the Aran Cashmere. Best $20 teacher gift I think! A very special teacher will be receiving these this week!

I also did the first repeat on Rogue Roses. Love the pattern.




But again, I've gotten distracted with a design that has been in my head for a bit. I'll show you that when I can.

6. The contest.

Speaking of patterns, go over and enter to win Samro's newest pattern. Its a great giveaway! And I may just have to do that too.....so keep an eye out here in the next week or so!

Fraggle Friday!

Another busy week...but the school year is almost over! I still work during the summer, but less meetings, reports, etc. I can't wait!

SPOILER ALERT! RSC shipment pictures ahead!

I am pretty excited that I finished my first pair of socks for this year's Rockin' Sock Club! I am head over heels in love with this colorway and can't wait to knit up a pair of Cotty socks in this (yes I will be ordering more!).

Before the pictures, here....let me distract you with this pretty.... I just may be casting on soon!














Pattern: Fraggle Squiggle Socks by JC Briar
Yarn: Socks that Rocks lightweight, colorway Pepe le Plume
Needles: US 1 (2.25mm)
Size: Medium
Mods: None! Loved the pattern. Will definitely knit it again in a more shaded solid too!

Happy Friday!! Hope you all are still finding joy! I'm celebrating 8 weeks since I last purchased yarn!!! I am sooooo ready for a hit though. Just lettin' you know... hehehe

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Happy Memorial Day!

I take it back. I am a Monday person if that Monday happens to be a holiday! Hope you all are enjoying your holiday weekend!!

(Beware...more Rockin' Sock Club spoiler pics!)

Here's my to-do list for today (remember, I make to-do lists for fun stuff too. I guess its my joy for the day!).

1. Try not to eat all of this.



Raspberry Buttermilk Cake. Cupcakefaerie and I must be on the same food wavelength lately. I too saw it over on Smitten Kitchen and thought...yummy! And its delicious!

2. Figure out what classes I want to take at Sock Summit. Registration is tomorrow! I'm hoping there will still be a few left at 11am when I get out of my work meeting! So excited!!!

3. Pay bills. Put away laundry. Balance checkbook. Edit one or two work reports. Hurry up and get to #4, it is a holiday afterall!

4. Watch this.

5. Knit the second one of these.





I'm tickled with this month's kit!! Just heart it sooooooooo!

6. Grill up all the veggies that I got at the farmer's market this weekend and cook dinner for Snowboarder! Plus, I'll have healthy and delicious food leftovers for this crazy work week ahead!

What's on your list for the day?!

Happy Memorial Day!
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

Holiday Socks!

I finally finished my Holidazed Socks yesterday! Nice what a holiday can do!




Socks that Rock mediumweight, colorway Muddy Autumn Rainbow

I really enjoyed these socks!! And they fit like a glove!! Now I'm hoping to finish my Trickle socks before I'm tempted to cast on for another pair of socks!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

A Me Day

I took a me day today. It involved...

1) Sleeping in.

2) Taking a long walk with the doggies.

They were tired afterwards.

3) Trying a recipe from my new cookbook.

Apples for Jam: A Colorful Cookbook

It was the Chicken Casserole recipe and it was delicious. Leftovers for tomorrow too!

And served with whole wheat pasta, its even healthy!

4) Casting on a new sock. I'm blaming her for this. hehehe

5) Feeling ready to face the world again tomorrow!

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Sweet Smell of .....

Victory!!

Who am I kidding?!! These poor babies didn't make it through the preliminaries of the sockput competition for the Ravelympics '08, but they are still a victory, nonetheless!

The journey began during the Opening Ceremonies. I couldn't wait to cast on a pair of new socks! It continued through to Michael Phelps' first gold medal. And then I realized I better start knitting on that sweater. The poor socks fell behind.

I figured, no problem. Ravelympics are done. These will be finished in no time. Then the craft room project began and these languished on the needles. And still last week, I figured these will be done in no time. Well, I did cast on the second sock while waiting for Dad in the Emergency Room on Tuesday for five hours (he's okay and home the same day, but it was quite a little scare!).

I brought them to Sacramento thinking they'd definitely be done after I put Lil' Guy to bed Friday night (Auntie Irishgirlie forgot how that kid moves!). The exhausted babysitter did not knit on them AT ALL. Then comes the OMG! Notre Dame barely beat San Diego St. game on Saturday where very little knitting took place (too busy cheering/praying?!).

It took some relaxing with friends at Purlescence on Sunday to make some headway! But I finished them last night. And absolutely love them! I took our depraved dyer's suggestion to knit these in a raven color and they look fabulous I think!! And despite the month-long journey (yeap, didn't even finish in time for the last few weeks of summer of socks!), they were easy-peasy!! Love this pattern by Hot Flash!!

Pattern: Sweet Tart Anklet by Marilyn Kaleikilo (part of July's Rockin' Sock Club kit, the pattern, not the yarn)
Yarn: Socks that Rock, lightweight, colorway Valkyrie
Mods: Knit the leg for 5" instead of making them anklets.

Happy Monday!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday: The What Was I Thinking Edition

I'm still alive, but barely! If I can get through the rest of this week at work, I'll be good. Kids starting back to school, always a crazy busy time of year for me at work. Of course, the Olympics end this weekend and although all I think I want to do this weekend is catch up on sleep, I'm going to try and finish at least one of my Ravelympics Projects. The question is...

Which one?? Which one do I stand a chance at finishing?!

No, that's not the same picture from last week. I knit 6 or 7 more rows on it. First sock.

And here's Wicked. Just a quickie picture, excuse the bad lighting, etc. I didn't even split the sleeves until late Monday night. I finished the first of two skeins yesterday, so I'm halfway done. To finish this, I would need to do the short sleeves, finish the body, and then the pocket. I'm going with the pocket version. Do we all think that will look okay? I didn't do a pocket on the first one and I thought it was a bit plain. Thoughts?

Okay, back to my deadline knitting. I think the Ravelympics deadline is on Beijing time, so I have until Sunday morning I think. Do I challenge myself and sprint towards the finish on the sweater? Can I finish it though? If I stopped working on the sweater I could definately finish the socks. My other thought was work like mad on the sweater until Friday night and then decide. I think I could finish 1 1/2 socks on Saturday (no plans for Saturday, none, nada) if the sweater is not looking close.

Now if there had been a destash decathalon, I would have won that! I've done tons of destashing the past two weeks.....still some left here though.

Okay, gotta get knitting!! Miss you all!!

Go Team Blue Moon!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

WIP Wednesday: Rockin' the Ravelympics Edition

Probably not as far along as I'd hoped, but with one gold medal already (yay for those quick baby booties!), I'm pacing myself (yeah, right! Just trying to stay positive here!).

In the Sockput Event, my Sweet Tarts sock in STR lightweight Valkyrie. I cast these on during the Opening Ceremonies. Love love love this pattern. I'm making the cuff/leg a bit longer than the pattern calls for (its at 4" now, I want it to be 5"). This is one of the Rockin' Sock Club July patterns and I love it in the raven colorway. It was hard to put these down, but I needed to start focusing on ...

...the Sweater Sprint. Also know as, what was I thinking? I started this Sunday and am making pretty good progress. I'm using BMFA Twisted in Thraven. I just love this yarn and the colorway is perfect for the sweater I think. I'm going to keep plugging away on this as much as I can! I'm about halfway through the increases.

Once these two projects are complete (hahahaha), I'll attempt the WIP Wrestling and finish off my Trickle socks!! Thank goodness there's more Michael Phelps to watch!

Random Irishgirlie Olympics side story (and hey, some eye candy!). This newspaper article is still on our fridge from four years ago. Snowboarder and I will get back together after the Olympics (shhh!).

Happy Olympics!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits