Eastside Knitters Celebrate Boxing Day

Hello:

I heard a lot of cawing this morning, looked out and there was a murder of crows (that is the name for a flock of crows.  Don't you love it?) in my front yard.   Actually, the above photo is of our neighbor's yard, because when I went outside to try to take a photo of the birds, they all flew across the street.  It was so weird.  Not only were there a ton of them on our grass, but when they flew away, a bunch went over my head as there had been a lot on the roof, too.

Very weird. I felt like I was in The Birds.

Except that they didn't attack.

Tonight, I met up with my Eastside Stitchers at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, as we do every Wednesday night.  We had a smaller group tonight, only needed one table, as some people are out of town, and others were celebrating Boxing Day.

Ok, enough about who was not there, and on to who WAS there.

Hrvdmnky has finished her Pagona  by Stephen West, with just a few inches of yarn to spare.

She bound off tonight.

This washed out photo does not begin to catch the beauty of her yarn.


Wajai was working on some new socks.  She is using the Shur'tugal pattern by Alice Yu.  This beautiful sock pattern uses twisted stitches and traveling stitches. The yarn is Renew Wool by Universal Yarn.  It uses 35% repurposed wool reclaimed from the mill.

2-at-a-time on 2 Circular needles.  I almost always use 2-at-a-time magic loop, and Hrvdmnky said that she likes to make socks 1-at-a-time on dpns.  Go Diversity!

VanessaPolo has started a new hat, Habitat, by Jared Flood (Redbird1's boyfriend).

She brought a friend from across the Lake (Washington) to join us tonight, Fincharm.  She was knitting one of VanesaPolo's designs, the Garter Stitch Keyhole Scarf.

Later on, the two brought out Owls sweaters, by Kate Davies.  They are knitting them in a mini-KAL.

Colleen was knitting a charity scarf for the Bellevue Y.

She was wearing her Irish Hiking Scarf.  The cable work is lovely.

Since she had finished her shawl, Hrvdmnky began crocheting a cowl in a yarn, a merino/silk blend from Fresh from the Cauldron, called "Poseidon."

She had her yarn and hook in a beautiful project bag from Second Avenue Swag, on etsy.com.

That's all for tonight.  I won't be able to meet with the group next week... boo hoo.  But on January 5, I will be celebrating St. Distaff's Day with NwRSA (Northwest Regional Spinners Association) in  Everett, WA at Cavelero Mid High School, in Lake Stevens, WA.

Peace.
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with friends who stitch.

the sun TRYING to break through the clouds

 

Eastside Stitchers Eat Tea

Hello,

Today some of the Eastside Stitchers, the um... unemployed ones, met for afternoon tea at The British Pantry in Redmond, WA.

This is a pretty authentic british pub, restaurant, and shop.

Some of our little group are truly in the know about Great Britain, and explained that not only is this restaurant run by real Brits, but the food uses ingredients FROM Great Britain, so it really tastes right.

We had a cute little room all to ourselves.

Everyone wore something special.
And ok, I'm going to confess right here before I start showing the photos of our knitwear and what we brought to knit during the tea, that all of the photos are horrible.  Apologies to everyone in the group.
And, also to you who are reading this. 

Anyway,
Vanesapolo was wearing an Owls by Kate Davies.

Redbird1 brought her Magic Three-Yarn Scarf & Wrap by Churchmouse Yarn & Teas.

And Skeinherder had on a cowl, called Pretty Thing,  from a pattern by the Yarn Harlot.

We ordered, and the very nice waitress brought us our Teapot. (Love the cozy.)

And a pot of jam.

I had "Afternoon Tea."  Which consisted of cucumber sandwiches (yes!  just like in my favorite Oscar Wilde play, The Importance of Being Earnest), fresh fruit, a scone and a tea cake.

Skeinherder, who had not had lunch, had the "Emperor Tea."  Much the same as mine, but with a ham quiche instead of the cucumber sandwiches.

While we ate our tea, we....
knitted, of course.

(And this is where the really bad photos come in.)

Vanesapolo was working on her newest design.  I am not allowed to post a photo yet, but I can give you a link to the newest one she has posted on Ravelry, a really cute Garter Stitch Keyhole Scarf.

Skeinherder was working on some Turkish Bed Socks by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.  They are "lemon-ginger tea colored."  Honestly.

Redbird1 brought her Linen Stitch scarf also by Churchmouse Yarns. 

Anerenbe was starting on some amazing mittens.  The pattern is Phenomenon, by Carine Ancel.

After we finished eating (and drinking) our tea, we looked around the shop at all of the very British things.

We shall definitely have to do it again. As Paul McCartney sang,

Would you care to sit with me
For a cup of English tea
Very twee, very me
Any sunny morning

What a pleasure it would be
Chatting so delightfully
Nanny bakes, fairy cakes
Every Sunday morning

Stay safe and well.
Yours,

f1bercat
shaping the planet in a very civilized manner.