Starting Simple

When Tricia posted that one of her knitting goals this year was going to be knitting everyday and asked who wanted to join her on instagram (#knit365), I knew I was in right away. My goal this year is to just knit. With all of my health concerns last year, there wasn't much knitting. Best way to get back on track, start simple.



And Plucky Knitter 100% cashmere doesn't hurt either.



Slowly but surely I'm getting back into the groove. Typically, these fingerless gloves would have been done the first week of January, but now I'm just glad that I feel well enough to get to knit night.

Even though I'm starting simple, I still couldn't resist casting on Amaryllis from The Plucky Knitter's new All Bundled Up collection (it is amazing if you haven't checked out the collection!). I guess it is simple color work, but I really haven't done much color work.





I was excited to finally get to the color work part tonight.



And I'm sticking to my rule of not casting on any new designs until I get the pattern above re-released. Hopefully a long 3-day weekend will help with that.

Be sure to keep an eye on progress on knitting everyday by following the #knit365 hashtag or join us and us the same hashtag.

Happy weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Evidence of Knitting

There has been some knitting the past week or so....

A pair of Plucky Knitter Cashmere Toasty Mitts for a very special teacher....



Featuring my favorite tags from Knitterella.

And a Snowboarder Hat that Rocks....a design sample for the new pattern layout.



But to be honest, there hasn't been much knitting since Thursday. So unusual for me this time of year.  Typically, even though I promise to not overdue the holiday knitting, there is a mad rush of knitting.  Not this year.  I think I'm also in between projects, so I don't have something "easy" on the needles.  Must remedy that tomorrow because I look forward to relaxing and knitting a bit for the next few days! 

We've been in full holiday celebrating mode here since Thursday night, when we went to see the Nutcracker in San Francisco!  It was absolutely fantastic and the perfect way to begin celebrating. 



Then there was the last of the holiday shopping, wrapping presents (still more left to wrap!), holiday baking, and a few pattern releases :)  I'll give you more details about the Cotty Fingerless Mitts after Christmas, but for those of you who have been waiting patiently for this pattern, I released it yesterday!





On sale for $4.00 from now until January 1, 2013. 

Today we went up to Folsom to visit Little Guy.  We had such a great day (more on that tomorrow!), but tonight I'm sleepy.  I'm still fighting a sinus infection (yuck!), so I must to bed.  Hope to have some time tomorrow to pop in and share more pictures and perhaps what I decided to cast on.



Random cute Puddles picture :)

Happy almost Christmas Eve!!
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

5 years!

Kind of crazy that I've been blogging now for 5 years!  Who could have thought that it would have led to an amazing group of friends and a budding designing career!  I know I couldn't have.

So for the next week or so, we're going to do 5 fun things.  I haven't thought of all of them yet, but I'm pretty sure you guys will enjoy them.

First up, the newly reformatted Freestyle Snowboarder Hat. 



My first pattern that I offered for sale is now shiny and pretty, and definitely written a bit clearer!  Just in time for winter!



It was perfect timing that Jill was able to reformat this.  Thank you Jill!  Speaking of Jill, aka Knitterella, did you guys see that the Yarn Harlot gave a huge shout out today about Jill's knitting gift tags?  They were featured as one of the gifts for knitters.

Okay.  Back to the pattern.  I love the striped version of this. Look how little Lil' guy looks!



I still love how the decreases work too.



When I was reformatting the pattern, I knit another one for Lil' Guy in Kollage Yarns Fantastic (seriously, that yarn is fantastic!).







I think I may knit a few of these for gifts. Well, that is once I start my holiday knitting.  It is only Dec. 1, right? I love the striped version and have quite a few leftovers around here that will work!

Back to the blogiversary fun....


From now until the end of Friday, Dec. 2 (11:59pm PST), The Freestyle Snowboarder Hat will be offered for $3.00!  One day to score a deal on an easy holiday gift knit.   


I'll probably offer another pattern or two for a special, one-day 50% off price....any you'd like to see featured, let me know.  Plus, we'll do some contests!

A blogiversary week of fun!  Thank you guys! I wouldn't be here without you.

Just De-Vine

In the Yarn Harlot's book, Knitting Rules!, she remarks that one should use the best yarn that they can afford. She states, "In knitting, your end product can be only as good as your starting place." I have to agree. In comes, Tina, color genius.

Back in September, when I was visiting my friend Christy in Portland, in addition to stopping by the Flock & Fiber Festival, I went to Farmhouse Knit Shop. I bought my first skein of Socks that Rock there a few years ago (before I even knew how to knit socks!). Love this store. The one skein of yarn that I purchased in September was a bit pricey, but well worth it. Blue Moon Fiber Arts De-Vine, 100% Merino Wool, Handpainted in the color Falcon's Eye (please don't ask me why I didn't think to take a picture of the skein before I knit it up!). So when Snowboarder requested another hat to match his green jacket and goggles, I thought this yarn would be perfect! However, it made it sooooooo hard to part with.

Introducing....

Snowboarder Hat that Rocks!

Pattern: Snowboarder Hat that Rocks! by Irishgirlieknits (ravelry link)

Please note this was one of my very first designs and soon will be reformatted and published with the rest of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs for consistency across my pattern line.  As soon as it is available, I will update this page and the ravelry project page.

The "Other Hat" that Rocks!

Please note this was one of my very first designs and soon will be reformatted and published with the rest of my Irish Girlie Knits Designs for consistency across my pattern line.  As soon as it is available, this page and the ravelry pattern page will be updated.  If you like this design, you may also be interested in my other designs:

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits