Been Missing My Eastside Stitchers

Hello!

Yay!  I finally got to actually see my Eastside Stitchers Buddies.  Tonight was a regular meet up of the Eastside Stitchers at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, WA.  We had so many people that we needed two of the large round tables.   Still, there is room for more if you are interested in joining us.

Who was there and what were they knitting?

MsWiz was back.  I hadn't seen her since the beginning of summer, and it was great to have her join us again.  She is always so much fun.  She brought presents:

A dog sweater for Chockelet, and some baby Alpaca fiber.

She was knitting Sheepish by Alana Dakos in Plymouth Baby Yarn.

Welcome back, MsWiz!

Skeinherder was wearing her beautiful Windward shawl, even though the ends are uneven...

She was knitting a Spa Day Facecloth in a cotton yarn by Knit One Crochet Too.

Vanesapolo had on a beautiful delicate lacy Storm Cloud Shawlette by Hanna Breetz, 

and she was knitting a Cross-Stitch Scarf by Margaret Halas.

Anerenbe brought her finished Phenomenon Mittens to Show and Tell. These were on the needles for three years, but were well worth the wait.

Anerenbe, who is the fastest knitter I know, started a new hat tonight, the Chunky Chullo by Ses Springett. 

And here is what her hat looked like at the end of the evening:

See what I mean about being fast?

Redbird1 was knitting a Milanese Loop by tante ehm in Cascade Venezia yarn.  The stitch pattern is beautiful, but Redbird1 is not having fun with the yarn, it is very splitty.

Colleen was making a scarf in some fun novelty yarn that she had dug out of her stash.

GwenS brought the beautiful Spectra by Stephen West.

Tara1682 was just about finished with the 2nd of a pair of beautiful fingerless gloves, the October Leaves Fingerless Mitts by Abbie Tilden.  These have a really cool design on the thumb gusset.

Hrvdmnky was trying to start a new Pogona Shawl by Stephen West  in this beautiful yarn named for Geilis Duncan who is a character in the Outlander Books by Diana Gabaldon.

After a few beginning stitches, she decided it was making too loose a fabric, and she needed to frog back and start over with smaller needles.  The small amount Hrvdmnky had already knit didn't go to waste, though.  She was able to find a good use for it.

Chockelet came a bit late, but brought her Summer Lace Scarf.  Sorry I can't find a link for the pattern, but Chockelet got it and the yarn at Mrs. Hudson's Yarn and Teas in Bellingham when we were up there on our mini yarn shop crawl.   The yarn is Swan's Island, and the scarf is lovely.

So much fun and laughter.  I believe there was a bit of talk about the upcoming College Football National Championship Game that will be played on January 7 between the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.. and some school from the south east.  Hmmm O yes, I believe it is the Crimson Tide of Alabama.  Redbird1 and I are alums of these fine schools, and so are working on a good bet for the game.  Nothing too humiliating I hope, as Alabama is favored to win.

Time for bed.
Peace.

f1bercat
shaping the planet with 2 full tables of stitching friends.

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.