Getting Ready For My Valentine Tradition: Yarnbombing!

Look Up, Valentine!

Thanks so much everybody! Your responses to my question about blocking has cleared things up for me. I think the best plan is for me to weave in ends but not cut them until after blocking.

This is the time of year I get ready to yarn bomb! The above picture was taken back in 2011 when DH and I went out late the night before Valentine's Day and hung stuffed knitted hearts in one of the trees downtown. They stayed up until January the next year!




So we did it again. And have done it every year since. I use the stuffed heart pattern I found from Jackie Z Knits. I don't felt them just add extra yarn between two of them so I can throw them up high if needed. We've found that the higher up, the longer they stay.



These from last year are still up!
Have you ever yarnbombed?

Maybe someday I will assist the Knits for Life team. Their installations are clever and inspiring.

 Happy Knitting!
Tricia

Getting Ready for the New Year: Organizing Yarn

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. We've enjoyed all the happy activities that were shared in the comments. I can't believe it is almost time to ring in 2015.

Congratulations to our contest winners:

Debbie is the winner of the pretty Plucky yarn.
And we decided to choose two more lucky knitters to receive an IGK Pattern of their choice.

Congratulations Marcy and Kelly-ann!

Please private message Irish Girlie on Ravelry to arrange for the prizes.



Taking time to fill out a new calendar and think about the year ahead always gets me excited about all the possibilities. Right now I have visions of an uncluttered and organized craft space of my own. First on the agenda is to get a handle on my yarn stash.

I did a bit of poking around and Webbs (Yarn.com) has a whole series on organizing yarn with wonderful tips on destashing, organizing patterns, and (my favorite) organizing yarn.

I'm leaning toward putting yarn together by weight rather than color or fiber. It seems when I dive into the bags o yarn that I have, it is in search of something pretty to go with a pattern / project.

I've started a pinterest board for yarn organizing ideas and while I'll never have space the size of a yarn store, a knitter can dream.

Lucky Hanks "Yarn Office"

How do you organize your yarn? Does every skein have a project and every project have a place?

Almost Nine Days til Christmas

Are you freaking out or counting down with excitement? Hopefully, it is the latter (and if you are freaking out, I've got some last minute gift ideas at the end of this post). I've been trying to get a jumpstart on the holiday to-do list things since I'm getting more and more tired each week. But, well, reality is setting in. I'm definitely not going to get much baking done this year, but I had two little elves who helped this weekend.



Mimi's sugar cookies still remind me on my childhood and I miss Grandma, Mimi and Cotty more than ever around the holidays.

Most of the gifts are almost done. Just a few things left. How about you guys? As much as I'd like to knit more things this year, again, just not going to happen. The one favorite teacher present of cashmere toasties is just about done. I've been wanting to knit a little hat for the magpie and so Saturday night I started with this....



Here are the makings of a not-just-for-Christmas hat for the magpie. A skein of Plucky Knitter Primo Sport in Blazing Saddle (that fabulous red!), and a bunch of minis that I picked up from Canon Hand Dyes when she was here for Interweave Knitting Lab I've had this particular color combo idea on my mind for awhile.(beware, clicking the Canon Hand Dyes link takes you to her fabulous etsy shop filled with Downton Abbey inspired colorways. I try not to click often because it is soooo hard to resist!).




Knitting away by the fire last night. I stayed up late so that she'd look like this today...





We had a fabulous day at the Dicken's Christmas Fair today! I'll show you more photos this week...too many for this post!

Anyways, I can check that gift off the list now :)  I have been coming across some fun last minute gifts that I thought I would share with you guys, in case you have a few items you still need to check off your list. Or put under the tree yourself!

In the book department...


Melissa Leapman's new stitch dictionary is lovely, with both charted and written directions.


Clara's new book is fabulous as well!


Still my favorite cookbook of the year. Hoping to try more recipes over the holidays too!


I loved this book! I read it this fall (well, Audible read it to me! Thank you guys for convincing me to finally try audiobooks!).



I'm reading The Book Thief now because I've had it for forever and really, really wanted to read it before I see the movie.


This was my favorite read this summer. In case I forgot to tell you :) 

 
Well, this one is more for people like me who can't wait for this one to come out. Pre-order. March will be here before you know it! Just love the cover too and from what I can tell, looks to not be knitting related- I kind of love that because if you read her blog, Steph has a funny spin on pretty much anything!

Ok, that's it on the easy amazon links. If you do by chance purchase through those links, whether it be the books or anything else once you click through, a little bit goes back to me, so thank you!

I do love Joy the Baker's book of winter reads....quite a few of those are on my to-read list.

Now in the knitting department.....


Many of you know that I love the yarns that have been released this year from Anne Hanson's Bare Naked Wools line, so of course it is on my list!I'm really hoping to get the Herrington Cowl on the needles at some point, which is what I ordered the Breakfast Blend shown above for. I'd also strongly suggest signing up for The Bare Naked Yarn Club! It starts in January!

I love the ladies from Sincere Sheep and Knitted Wit and am very familiar with the different clubs they offer through their Among Friends collaboration. So I clicked on this ad above when I saw it in my Ravelry group and was so excited that they had also joined up with Canon Hand Dyes! This kit looks fabulous, but I just ordered the gradient minis kit!  No hexipuffs for me, I'm just loving the idea of using these gradient minis creatively...I'm feeling inspired! Plus, the kits ship this week, so under the tree for me.



Remember the lovely gradient yarns I ordered last month from Black Trillium? Well, through Dec. 16th, she's having a birthday sale (info here, but receive 20% off if use the coupon code FLASH). I'm trying hard to resist another set.


I do love my new ornament from Jennie the Potter. Ok, I love anything she makes. I hope she does these again next year! Although she is out of this ornament, her store is stocked with her lovely stitch markers, necklaces (I've purposely NOT opened the box with mine in it so I will be a little surprised on Christmas!), and more.

More yarn....The Plucky Knitter will be having her cashmere update on Friday, Dec. 20. Cashmere. Plucky. Done.

Other stuff on the list...

Nordstrom- Still time left to order online, free returns, love them. Especially for that hard to get for person.

Etsy- dangerous, creative, you can get lost here. Ok, actually, any of you have a particular jewelry store on there you'd recommend? Or other favorite etsy shop?

There you go. My last minute gift list. Hope it helps.

Don't forget you have til Monday night to enter my blogiversary bonanza contest or purchase any of the sale patterns that are 50% off. Details here. Feel free to share the info too!

Here's to a fabulous week ahead!

Happy knitting!!!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

TNNA: The Stuff

I've come to the conclusion that I can't fit all the goodies from my trip to TNNA in June into one post. Trying to do that results in me just not blogging about everything, and that's no fun, right?  So, I'll surprise you guys with some of the fun things I received.....bit by bit.

Let's jump right to the yarn, ok?



Two skeins of gorgeous Baah! Yarns La Jolla.  I knit my San Mateo out of La Jolla and just loved it, so am quite excited to put these two beauties together.



This gorgeous skein of Shalimar Yarns Breathless is calling to me to be cast on soon. I just love it!! It was so nice to meet Kristi, the dyer behind Shalimar Yarns, and Lara, one of my online blogging friends, who I finally was able to meet in person. Lara did a great job talking about Shalimar Yarns on her post here.



Anzula Cricket. One of my new favorite yarns. I couldn't resist a few baby girl colors since my sister is going to have a baby girl!! I knit Lilianna out of Anzula Cricket and it is the perfect one skein baby project, if I do say so myself (biased, biased, I know...but that yarn is heavenly!).



I'm about to cast on a solid color version of my Peekaboo Penelope baby sweater.  I just love this color, even though it isn't a traditional baby girl color. What do you think?



Not yarn, but one of my favorites that I saw at TNNA. New cards and gift tags from Knitterella. I bought them as soon as she made them available online. Love love love them!! Jill was kind enough to throw in an extra in my order, so one of our lucky KAL participants is going to win a great prize!!!  If you haven't heard, come join our IGK 3rd quarter KAL...this one is a hoot!!

In other exciting news, I'm hoping to get to knit nite tomorrow nite!! It's the small things, right?!?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P is for

• pink travel mug from Davids Tea

• painful head/migraine stuff today that kept me home from work

• Pom Tango tea from the Spring Collection at Davids Tea.  It is delish!

• perfectly pink yarn from Baah Yarns!

• prize winner!  G Marie (aka Gaylen) won the Sock Yarn Shawls book giveaway!  Congrats!!

• St. Patrick's Day is 6 days away.  That means time for the Annual IGK BOGO free pattern sale!! And I'm so excited to spend time with the family :)

• pattern prizes galore!!  Leave a comment sticking with the p is for....theme and I'll pick three random winners to receive two of my IGK patterns :)  Winner will be announced later this week.

Happy Knitting!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

TNNA: The Stuff

It has been a nice relaxing, holiday 3-day weekend so far.  One of my goals this weekend has been to clean and organize a bit.  It is amazing how much piles up when you are on the go all the time.  Time to actually put away all the stuff I brought home from TNNA a few weeks ago.  Especially since Stitches West is coming up this week.....



Speaking of Stitches West, I'm excited to see more of Zen Yarn Garden there.  Roxanne's colors are to die for!!

It is so fun to see all of the new yarns and books and stuff that are coming to yarn stores this spring! I was able to bring home a few fun things.  One of my favorites is my new Namaste purse!



I'm a sucker for a new bag!  Jimmy Beans has a whole bunch of Namaste bags to choose from too. You'll see I also scored some new books that I'll be reviewing here on the blog too! 



These two lovelies are from Baah! A gorgeous infinity scarf in one of these colors will be on the needles soon!  My local yarn store, Nine Rubies, carries this lovely yarn and I'm so looking forward to finally getting to work with it.





These are just a few of the pretties from Sabrina at Anzula.  OMG! I just love her yarns and can't wait to show you the new design I have featuring her Cloud yarn.  It should be released in the next week!  Then Dreamy or Wash My Lace will be on the needles for something new.

With summer coming, I wanted a few lighter weight yarns to design more infinity scarves.  I've found that they are perfect for my chilly air conditioned office in the summer.  These lovelies will also be on the needles soon...


Berroco Captiva Metallic


Lang Yarns Moina

But before I cast on anything with all these new pretties, I have to finish up my new sock design in Bare Naked Wools Breakfast Blend.  Considering I haven't had a sock on the needles in awhile, this one is knitting up quickly.  I blame the lovely yarn :)



So what are you guys up to this weekend?  Anything on your needles you are trying to finish up?  I have two other new things on the needles that I'll show you tomorrow.

Happy Weekend!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good Things.

1. 49ers are going to the Super Bowl! 

2. Being a SF Giants fan, Notre Dame alum, and a 49er faithful this year!!  World Series Champs, making it to the BCS, and now the Super Bowl, I can't complain :)  I think though Mimi is up there pulling some strings this year!

3. Blocking.  It is magic. I purposely chose this stitch pattern because I wanted more lace, more openness.  This was enhanced even more after blocking....I'm in love with this one.



4. Test knitters. Seriously, without them, I don't know what I would do.  Thank you ladies.  You know who you are.

5. New, or more like reformatted, and slightly new, designs.







I added a slouchy hat version to the Blackberry Brambles Hat and Cowl Set.  This new set is knit out of Fyberspates Scrumptious Aran, and it is just that.  So lovely!

Special thank you to Leslie for sharing her awesome smile, and to Tricia for capturing it so well!



And Jill for the pattern layout.  I've been keeping Jill busy all week with TNNA prep....more on that later! Thanks Jill.

Blackberry Brambles is on sale for $4.50 through February 4, 2013!   

6. Gorgeous new yarn that supports a good cause.  I've been meaning to try Fleur de Fiber Yarns, dyed by a wonderful sock camper friend, Angela, and her fundraiser for a family affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy was a good reason to try.  She's continuing the fundraiser through the end of January, check out her etsy shop.



Plus, she included tea with the yarn.  Talk about perfect :)  The lovely skein on the right is a laceweight seacell rayon and silk blend that I am just dying to cast on.  Colorway Clover, of course.

7.  A new KAL in the IGK Ravelry Group.  Come cast on a Naylor Street hat or Cotty Fingerless gloves!  Both patterns are on sale through February 4th too.  Disco has already finished hers!

8. Reading blogposts by some of my favorite blogging friends who are getting back into the swing of blogging.  I love it! Keep it up Disco, Tapmouse, Cockeyed, Cupcakefaerie, SnBLeslie, and Knittinggolfer.  Anyone else back on the blogging train that I missed, let me know!

9. Time off work for studying for my boards test next week.  So much studying to do, but at least I'm not working, right?!

10. Empty knitting needles. Not exactly a good thing, but I really don't want any projects to distract me from studying right now.  So I'm thinking to maybe cast on something mindless to keep my fingers busy for the next 6 days while I study...suggestions?  Toasty Mitts? Melody Scarf (but that cast on may require too much concentration)? I'm thinking maybe plain vanilla socks for dad? Help...

11. Downton Abbey. Yes.

What good things are happening with you guys?  I want to hear...a girl has to take a few study breaks, right?

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

More fun in Detroit

I can't believe it was a little over a week ago that I was hanging out with Erica, Melynda, Debs, and Jill.  After our lunch, we went to a charming yarn store, Ewe-nique Knits, in Royal Oak, Mi.





A skein of that lovely Spud and Chloe yarn came home with me.  I started a baby version of The Snowboarder Hat that Rocks for baby Padraig!

 

I trimmed the hat with a lovely gray from Shepherd's Wool, a yarn made in Michigan.  I really love how all of the shops I visited last weekend featured locally made products throughout their stores!



It was so nice to spend more time with Jill after all of our emails the past few years.  She has helped Irish Girlie Knits expand so much with her awesome graphic designs and pattern layouts and knitterly advice.  So nice to give her a big thank you hug in person!!!

The next day Erica took me to The Rust Belt.  Such a cool experience.  Local artisans set up shop there on the weekend...like a farmer's market for crafters and artisans. 









One of the best treats there was from Evil Foods.  OMG delish!  The brownie we had was so overthetop it made Erica smile like this..





There was also lovely tea.  Really, a perfect shopping experience at the Rust Belt.  I could see it being a great place for last minute holiday shopping too.

After The Rust Belt, we just had to stop at a local cupcake shop.  Have you heard of bumpy cake?  It's a Detroit thing I'm told. So of course we had to try the cupcake version :)



Such a fun weekend!! It really went too fast.  But it was so nice to finally meet Buddy...



and sweet baby Padraig!  Oh, the smiles this little guy has! Too cute!



After lots of fun traveling the past month or so, I'm really looking forward to staying at home for a bit and catching up with things...knitting, pattern writing, blogging, swimming, etc.  We'll be home for Thanksgiving which will be nice. 

Oh, and just in case you hadn't heard...this. 

Go Irish!!!
Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

P.S. Next post is all about knitting.  I promise.  I've actually finished things that I can share.  And our annual after Thanksgiving sale is coming up too.  Fun week ahead.