July Favorites

I'm going to try something new. As I've been catching up on my blog reading the past few weeks, I've come across a few blogs that do monthly "favorites." Sounded fun to me, so here you go....

July favorites, in no particular order :)

{favorite books}

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

I devoured this book over vacation, finding it hard to put down. But when I finished it, late at night, it did give me some "nightmares." Couldn't get the last few chapters out of my brain I guess.

Before I start Dark Places (another Gillian Flynn book) I needed something a bit lighter.



I picked up The Sweet Life in Paris when we stopped at Maisie Blue on the way home from vacation. I just love that shop.....yarn, cookbooks, books, stationary....and it is right next to a cupcake shop!  Anyways, the Sweet Life is just what I needed! I'm halfway through it and loving it!

{favorite knits}



This is a picture from Disco's blogpost about her Beekeeper's Quilt that she is making for a lucky winner! I love it because it represents so much of her hardwork for a great cause, in memory of her brother, and because each time she tweets about her runs and half-marathon training, she inspires me! She wasn't a runner when we met. I still remember her trying to do the Couch to 5k.....look at her now! So proud Disco!! Oh, and lots of my STR leftovers are in that blanket!  For every $5 donation, you're entered to win it!

{favorite places}


Yosemite





Aran Islands, Ireland. I was there over 10 years ago and loved it. I'm living vicariously this week through my brother, sister-in-law, and Lil Guy, who are there! (Disco, look away from that last picture! What the heck are they thinking letting Lil Guy that close to the edge?!?!)


Blue Lake Springs, Arnold, CA

{favorite pins}



From the lovely Allyson at The Sweatshop of Love. Now I know what to do with all my swatches! How lovely are these?!


And I know you guys have been waiting patiently to hear who won a copy of The Knitted Home. Looks like there are a lot of us who want to knit those fruit bowls!  Congratulations to Debbie4! I've messaged you on Ravelry :)

Do you guys have any favorites for the month of July? Favorite yarns? Patterns? Movies? Recipes? I'd love to hear :)

I can't believe it is going to be August already! But that means we are a bit closer to football season and fall!!!

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Joy of Swatching

I think I can now say this. I have finally discovered the joy of swatching. Seriously.

It started back in April at Sock Camp. My class from Anne Hanson on sock designing was filled with fabulous information and inspiration, but what I appreciated most was this.



From the tiny cute project bag emerged some of her swatches.




And more of her swatches. I think it was at this point, when she had so many out, each filled with different information about gauge, pattern, texture, fabric, that I thought, "Shit. I have no idea what I'm doing with this designing thing. I might need to step it up a bit." I feared she would forever remember me as the person who never swatched (I've swatched, just you know, never like this). Hearing her discuss her design process and the role of swatching inspired me to start doing it A LOT more.

So when I received my two gorgeous skeins of Creamy last week from Kollage, well, I got to work.



Here's just 3 of my blocked swatches. There were 5 total! Of course, the fact that the Creamy yarn has a shine and drape that I just love, made it a bit easier to start each new swatch until I got it just about right. And not only did I figure out my design, but about three other design ideas worked themselves out in the process. The first three didn't work out, but the last two did.

Now I'm working on this.



Joy!!

After dinner tonight here, I'm hoping to knit a lot more on this!

Happy Friday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Ravelry has a new promotions features and I'm trying it out with offering 20% off my Dotty, Courage, Sweet Home, and Uncle Frank patterns here! Sale will run through Sunday night!