Holbrook

The bright side of knee surgery is that I've had a bit more time to knit.  Well, not counting that first week after therapy when the pain meds made me too sleepy.  That is how Holbrook came to be.  The idea was there since the first mystery sock clue was released in January.  Then at TNNA, I swatched and found the perfect yarn with Anzula's Dreamy yarn.

Once I finally cast on, this lovely shawl flew off the needles.  It is worked from the outside edging in, and then uses short rows for the crescent shape.





We had such perfect luck on the day of the photo shoot.  A rainy February morning resulted in lovely weather in the afternoon at our neighborhood park, Holbrook Palmer Park. The blossoms served as a perfect backdrop for the shawl!









I love how versatile this one is to wear.  I've been wearing it more like a scarf the past few days when it has been chilly, but I can see it draped more like a shawl as the weather warms up.



Thayer, my gorgeous model, looked as lovely as ever and Tricia captured some great shots as usual!! This photo shoot was fun because there were some special friends there, as well as cute doggies, which I didn't take pictures of, but made the afternoon just perfect!

Thank you to Jill for doing another fabulous job on the pattern layout!



I hope you all enjoy knitting this one as much as I did!  Jocelyn, my super speedy test knitter, worked her shawl up quicker than me! Thank you Jocelyn!!

I'm offering Holbrook at a special introductory price of $4.50 from now until Sunday, March 11, no coupon necessary!

Pattern:  Holbrook   

Suggested Yarns: ~ 385 yards heavier fingering weight yarn such as Anzula Dreamy, BMFA Socks that Rock mediumweight, Cephalopod Yarns Bugga!, A Verb for Keeping Warm Annapurna Cashmere Yarn, The Plucky Knitter Primo Sport

Gauge: 20 sts and 32 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch, after blocking

A perfect stash-buster for those single skeins of yarn, don't you think?!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Good stuff, bad stuff.

You take the good stuff with the bad stuff, right?  It has been like that the past few days.  Mostly good, but a little bad, or perhaps, just sad.

Good stuff.  I needed to find my vintage buttons to use for the baby sweater.



Bad stuff.  These buttons just make me miss Cotty so much.  They were her buttons.  She loved to sew and was so proud of my knitting.  She would examine each stitch and detail...not in the looking for the mistakes way, but in the look how much time and thought went into this way.  And of course, then I was really missing Mimi, because she would have told me how much Cotty would have loved the sweater.  She would have liked it too, but she also would have shared a fun story about Cotty.

Good stuff.  In finding the buttons, I found yarn needles that are so vintage they only cost 25 cents :)




Sad stuff.  Last month when my mom was in Reno going through some of my aunts' things, she asked if there was anything else I could think of that I would want.  She'd already brought me home a few special things, so I didn't think so.  And then I said, "Don't forget the button box."  Dear mom said, "Already packed for you."

Good stuff.  Cute, quick, wee baby things!!  In decadent Plucky Knitter Primo Sport yarn, colorway Bashful. Love. love. love.  Need two weeks BEFORE the baby shower?!!  Unheard of.



Bad stuff.  My doctor wants me on crutches still.  And 2 crutches, none of the 1 crutch stuff that I've been doing for the past 2 weeks.  No more TinyTim as Debbi would say :)   I know it could be worse and I have been gradually feeling better each day, but I really, really thought I'd be done with the crutches by now.  Shit, I thought I'd be done with them 3 weeks ago.  Ugh.

Good stuff.  My doctor is pleased with the progress so far and says this is where I should be 6 weeks out from knee surgery.  So I'm going with that.  And then I went to the pool and walked for 30 minutes.  Only thing I am allowed to do.  I'm going to be so excited this summer when I can swim laps and laps! No more taking that for granted!!

More good stuff.  I cast on for a second wee baby sweater.  Need a sample and a baby gift.  And probably another baby gift, but I already have another idea for the next wee thing.

Bye bye monday.  The rest of this week, I'm focusing on the good stuff!  You guys have any good stuff to share??!!

Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

I Can't Explain It

But I'll try.

First, I bought some yarn at Stitches West.



This is not that yarn.  For a number of reasons, one of them which is I told myself I couldn't buy anymore blue or pink yarns.  This yarn is perfectly pink, so it must not be from Stitches.  Wait.  I did actually end up buying pink AND blue yarns, but it is still not from Stitches.

Second, this yarn did not arrive by itself.  Nope, it arrived with A LOT of other lovely Plucky Knitter yarn that I had pre-ordered back in January...I think just days after my knee surgery.  Hence, the pain meds-induced yarn splurge.  I don't remember ordering all that, but damn, I'm so glad I did.  It is just gorgeous!!  However, receiving it right after a weekend haul at Stitches...um...can anyone say yarn diet?  Commencing now.

Third, I don't have a new design on the needles and had planned to wind some yarn from Stitches intended for a new design.  I did actually do that last night.  But I couldn't keep thinking about my bag of pretty Plucky Knitter yarns that had arrived and so I wound that lovely skein of pink happiness.

And that is where I don't know what happened next.  Sure, I have a few baby showers coming up, but I wasn't expecting what happened next.



An amazingly quick new baby sweater design, featuring the motif from my Maryanne socks, suddenly appeared.  I think I cast on around 10pm last night.  And I'd finish it tonight if I could but I must go shopping with my sister.  I blame the new sport yarn that is just perfect.  Well, and the wee cuteness.

I mean the baby shower is still a few weeks away.  This just seems weird.  Efficient.  Timely.  Again, weird.

But I'm hooked!

Happy Saturday!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Raindrops on Roses

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things.

A favorite song inspired this shawlette.  The raindrops trickle down onto the rose edging, creating a perfect little something to add to your wardrobe this spring. A new favorite thing.

I'm so excited to finally release my Raindrops on Roses Shawlette.  It seems fitting, with the rain that we have finally been getting here in the Bay Area. 

A very special thank you to Zonda for knitting a sample out of the lovely Madelinetosh Tosh Sock yarn.  We used it for the photo shoot and it was just perfect! Thanks Zonda!

And if you are in Portland this weekend for the Rose City Yarn Crawl, you'll find the sample and patterns available at Twisted, my favorite Portland yarn store!

Thank you to the lovely Thayer for her beautiful modeling and Tricia for capturing those images so perfectly.  I am truly blessed to have such talented friends!   Thank you too to Jill for her amazing pattern layout!

Pattern:  Raindrops on Roses Shawlette  add to cart

From now until March 4, receive 20 % off when you use the coupon code:  favoritethings  For the coupon code, click add to cart link above as the "buy now" button won't enable a coupon code.

Note: Instructions are written for a top-down shawlette.  Both charted and written instructions are provided for the lace edging.

Suggested Yarns: 390 yards of fingering weight yarn such as Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, Miss Babs Yummy Superwash Sock, The Plucky Knitter Primo MCN Fingering, Stricken Smitten Smitten Merino Nylon Twist, Knitted Wit Superwash Merino Fingering

Materials:

·         Size US 5 (3.75mm) or size to obtain gauge, knitting needles

·         Tapestry needle

·         Blocking pins

Gauge:  26 sts and 32 rows= 4” over st st

Finished measurements: 51” wide and 19” long at center points, after blocking

So grab that special skein of sock yarn and get ready to cast on!


Happy Knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Quick Stitches

Courtesy of the pictures on the iPad, courtesy of a tired girlie.





My first purchase from my favorite LYS, A Verb for Keeping Warm. Lace weight?! this is going to be fun, I think!





Treats for my IGK meet & greet at Knitted Wit's booth. So nice to meet a few of you and help Marcy pick out pretty pretty sweater yarn!





The wonderful Anna Zilboorg was doing a book signing in the Blue Moon booth. She also shared with us some of her new designs that incorporate embroidery and they are stunning! And that is the awesome Debbi standing next to Anna....I heart her to bits!





My favorite purchase of the day were these gorgeous earrings by Romi!

My favorite tip of the day...the awesome Carson Demers showing me the proper way to walk with one crutch. My knee will be sooooo much happier thanks to him! Thank you Carson!

One more day of fun! I promise to share a bit more when I'm not exhausted :)

Happy Stitches!!
Xoxo Carrie

Time for Stitches Fun!

I can't believe Stitches is here! I look forward to this event every year since it is right in my own backyard!  I'm not going to let these crutches stop me from having fun!  As always, you'll find me hanging out in the Blue Moon booth.  But I'll also be having a special Meet & Greet at Knitted Wit's booth on Friday (see info below).  

I've made a mental list of potential yarns I'm looking forward to seeing too!  My shopping list is below as well!

STITCHES WEST, February 23-26, 2012

Santa Clara Convention Center, CA

Come by and say hi at the Irish Girlie Knits Meet & Greet!!

Where: Knitted Wits Booth #1041

When: Friday, Feb. 24 12-1pm

There will be candy and buttons so please stop by and say hi!  

Lorajean, the dyer behind Knitted Wit, has fabulous yarns and colorways!  She also carries all of my Irish Girlie Knits designs AND you can sign up for her new yarn club, Among Friends, for which I will be designing for!

 

 My patterns can also be found at the following retailers at Stitches:

Miss Babs Booth #826, 925

Kollage Yarns Booth #620, 622, 624

Blue Moon Fiber Arts Booth #522, 621

 

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My mental shopping list....

 

1) A Verb For Keeping Warm- one of my favorite LYS and I just wish Kristine's lovely store was a bit closer.  She's been posting some gorgeous colors and I can't wait to see them!  I'll also be picking up a copy of Ysolda's new Whimsical Little Knits 3 book and probably a shawl pin from Romi.

2) Cocoknits- I met Julie at TNNA and fell in love with her knitted necklaces.  I'm picking up the pattern for me and Disco while I'm here!

3) Fickleknitter Designs- Michelle's designs just inspire! And she has been so supportive to me as I try to navigate my way in this designing world.  I don't think I'll be able to resist her Ballerina Shawl, out of Knitted Wit's yarn!  I'm so thrilled that Michelle will also be designing for the Among Friends Club.  I really feel among friends :)

4) Sock yarn.  I know I have a problem.  You know I have a problem.  I have a hard time resisting it all online.  In person.  Where I can touch it.  WHere the gorgeous colors leap out at me.  I am weak.  It is my birthday month.  Here's some that I am really, really looking forward to:

Anzula

Becoming Art

Blue Moon Fiber Arts

Knitted Wit

Little Red Bicycle

Miss Babs

Zen Yarn Garden

So what's on your list??

Happy Stitches!!

xoxo Irishgirlieknits

Now that's better.

I'll admit that when I am designing, unless I'm at the easy, not thinking part of the design, my overall knitting production slows down.  I'll find myself watching tv without knitting in my hands because the project I'm working on isn't in quite the right spot.  This past December, I took a lot of my lingering, long overdue, UFOs off the needles as they were either not satisfying or just not right.  So I haven't had an easy go to project on the needles for the past month or so.

Well, I fixed that yesterday.



Cotty socks.  Thought it was about time I joined my own KAL!  Cutiepatootie's mom requested another pair of socks.  Hopefully I get these done by her birthday.  In June. hehehe

Do you have an easy, on the go project always on the needles?  I think I need to start keeping one of these on the needles.  But only one.  More than that at it just gets added to the pile of UFOs.  We'll see how I do with these socks :)

Happy knitting!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits

The Perks

There certainly are a few perks to this knee surgery/recovery thing.  Lots of rest and elevating my knee has meant lots of time hanging out in my room, catching up on all the TV I've missed, watching Downton Abbey over and over, and tons of doggie snuggles.

Seriously.  I think the doggies are so excited to have me home so much.  They've even been posing for pictures I think.





Another perk definitely has to do with the extra help I've been getting. I've been staying at my dad's while I've been recovering and he has been awesome about bringing me ice, food, etc. It was nice today to have the energy to be able to walk a bit and so I made him homemade chocolate chip cookies. Well, technically he hinted how nice it would be if "someone" could make them :)  And although I dread going to the grocery store on crutches by myself, when I have gone, everyone has always been so helpful :)

Last week I did a photo shoot for a few upcoming patterns and my friends were absolutely amazing with helping me!  I couldn't quite get to everywhere we were taking the pictures, so Cupcakefaerie was able to do the styling and primping.  Of course, they did tease me when I hobbled over to fix one or two things.  Thayer was fabulous as usual, but the weather turned during our shoot and it was quite cold.  Check out the gorgeous model trying to keep warm in between wardrobe changes :)



She looks fabulous even in this Shabby Chic look!

The other perk is more knitting time.  I've been able to decrease the pain meds that make me so sleepy, so I'm actually getting some time to knit!!  Remember that design I showed you the other day?  Somehow it flew off the needles and I finished it yesterday.  I'm so excited with how this turned out.



Recognize that lace edging?  Yes, it is the one featured in the Blathnat socks.  I've been thinking about this since I first cast on the socks and I'm so glad it turned out the way it did.  I didn't expect it to knit up so quickly either.  All I need to do is finish writing up the pattern and get it to test knitters now!  Oh, and if you haven't downloaded the Blathnat socks, please do so before the end of the month.  Come March it will no longer be offered for free as the KAL wraps up.

I was excited to use my new blocking wires that I bought from Inspinknity for my birthday.  They were fabulous, by the way!  Michelle, of Fickle Knitter Designs, recently did a great tutorial on blocking lace shawls if you need a quick reference. 

I also took some time to finish adding my patterns to Craftsy, a new website that is a bit like ravelry but for all crafts (e.g., sewing, quilting, jewelry-making).  The site offers classes too.  I recently signed up for Laura Nelkin's Lace Shawls class.  Now I just need some time to watch it!

Despite these perks, I can't wait to get rid of these crutches!!  Slowly but surely is my plan.  This week I was able to go to the pool to start some rehab.  Walking in the pool for just 20 minutes exhausted me.  I can't wait to be able to swim again and I certainly won't take for granted the journey to get back to that once I can. 

Sunday is my sister's birthday, so can you all help me wish IrishDaisy a happy happy birthday?!  The rest of the weekend will involve pattern writing and last minute prepping for Stitches West!!!  More about that next week.

Happy Weekend!!
xoxo Irishgirlieknits