Eastside Stitchers Discuss... Football (and Yarn)

New Seating Area at Crossroads

Hello!

Tonight was the regular Wednesday meet up for the Eastside Stitchers at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, WA.  I was there!  I am so happy to be back home with my husband, the Doc, my son, Pookie, my cats, Beena and Muffin, and my Yarn.  And, I am so happy to be able to attend my stitch night.  I love my family.  I love my brother and sister and Mom and Dad.  I miss my stitching buddies when I am out of town.

Enough about me.  Who was able to attend tonight, and the most important thing, What Was Everyone Stitching?

The first thing I noticed when I arrived was a gorgeous colorwork sweater sitting in the corner.

Well, there was a person wearing this beautiful sweater,  but I didn't know her.  The Sweater is the Nordic Yoke Pullover by Ruth Garcia-Alcantud, and was published in Vogue Knitting.  The person wearing (and who knit) this beautiful sweater is Vanesapolo.  She has actually been a member of our Group for quite a while, longer than I have, but she had never come to Stitch Night at Crossroads.  She told us a funny story about trying to alter the neckline of this sweater, and finally, getting it right at a knitting workshop helped by none other than Meg Swansen.  Yes, Meg Swansen touched this sweater. 

Vanesapolo was knitting a new Brioche Vest, designed by Meg Swansen.  I am seeing a pattern here.

The yarn is a beautiful red from Bartlett Yarns.

Redbird1 was wearing a beautiful Farthing Scarf, designed by Jarrod Flood.  She knit it in Loft, and said the knitted lace edging nearly killed her.

She was working on a new shawl by her boyfriend, Jarrod Flood.  (Ok, just kidding about the boyfriend part, but how about knitwear designer crush).  It is the Guilder, and it is really lovely.  She is using Shelter Yarn by Brooklyn Tweed in the "Faded Quilt" colorway.  I love the name of the yarn.

GwenS  has made some huge progress on her Daybreak shawl.  This beautiful pattern was designed by Stephen West.  Gwen is using ... you guessed it, Malabrigo Finito in the Aquas and Lavanda colorways.

Skeinherder was also knitting with Malabrigo.  I guess it is Malabrigo Madness time.  Skeinherder is knitting a shawl for the Stockpile 2012 KAL/CAL.  She is using Malabrigo Sock in Eggplant and making a Windward Shawl.

Tara showed up sporting a beautiful Stockholm Scarf.  "This old thing?"  she said.  "This was my first knitted cowl.

Tara used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Garnet.

Colleen and Ellyol were both working on pink baby blankets.

Colleen's

 

Ellyol's

 

Ellyol brought my prize from the Ravellenic Games.  I had been out of town during the Games, and she picked up my yarn prize for me.

It is a skein of Ella Rae Classic in a lovely pumpkin orange.  I am not sure what I will make with it, but I love the color.


We got into a lively discussion of college football at this point in the night.  Redbird1 is a rabid Alabama fan, while I cheer for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.  Tara is an Ohio State Fan, and told us all about an amazing video of a half-time show with the Ohio State Marching Band.  The band performed a tribute to video games.  It is really terrific.

Chockelet arrived at about this time and had brought her Guernsey Wrap for Show and Tell.  This is another Jarrod Flood design.  Really, sometimes I think Jarrod Flood and Stephen West should just join our group.

Chockelet bought the yarn, Shepherd's Wool in "Oatmeal," during our little mini-yarn crawl to Bellingham last month.

She is working on a very pretty Two Tone scarf.  She also got the pattern and yarn up in Bellingham for this project.

When Redbird1 reached a point in her shawl where the cabling was a bit too intense for our SnB, she brought out a new Magic Three-Yarn Scarf that she was beginning.  Redbird1 loves to visit Churchmouse Yarn and Teas, and had picked up the yarns and pattern for this interesting scarf on one of her visits.  The yarn is the weirdest combination:

The pattern uses (from top clockwise) Debbie Bliss Winter Garden which is baby lama, merino, silk and linen;  Rowan Frost which is alpaca and viscose; and Berroco Versa which is a cotton blend.  Amazing that these 3 so very different yarns could be combined into something so pretty.

Hvdmnky finally arrived, fresh from her Yoga class and full of healthful chants.  She was working on a pumpkin hat for a friend's daughter.

I love the I-cord vine.

Allifer joined us right at the end.  Too late to do any stitching, but we had fun chatting with her.

We discussed our Holiday Gift Exchange.  If you are not a regular SnB attendee, but want to participate, please check out the discussion threads for information.  Also, the meet up in 2 weeks will fall on Halloween.  We will change our day of stitching, so watch for that thread, also.  We will put up a poll for Tues, Oct. 30 or Thurs, Nov. 1. 

And lastly, we are always happy to meet new members.  If you are interested in joining us on a Wednesday for a bit of stitching and a lot of laughing, please stop by, and pull up a chair.  We meet next to the Starbucks and Half-Price Books.

Stay safe and well.
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with lots of Stitch Buddies

Eastside Stitchers Take Over Crossroads

We had a great turn out for Eastside Stitchers tonight at Crossroads Mall..  Lots of stitching and laughing. A really long discussion about phones... with many funny stories about old landlines, and the cords that came with them.

Who was there and what were they stitching?

The evening started with Redbird1 who finished up her Color Affection Shawl.  This is the second color affection knit by an Eastside Stitchers member (GwenS was wearing her gorgeous version), and I have to say, both shawls make it very very tempting to knit one of my own.  Redbird1 finished up the last row, but will wait until the morning to cast off.  She is taking no chances with this beautiful shawl.

When I look at this shawl, after wiping off the drool, I remind myself, "endless garter stitch."

Colleen brought her beautiful raspberry lace scarf.  It makes me think of raspberry sherbert.

Yum!



Tara1682 started a new project... a cowl?

Here is the yarn.  She had just cast on and was working the first few rows.

Love the colors.




Ellyol and Chatzy came together.

Ellyol's first project is a secret!  Shhhhhh!

I wasn't allowed to photograph it, because it is for a swap and is being mailed next week.  Her swap partner is really lucky.  Absolutely adorable.  I was able to get a photo of the baby  blanket Ellyol was hooking later in the evening.

Chatzy was knitting a hat for the Stitch N Pitch Charity.  The group is headed to a Mariner's Game in 2 weeks to join in the Stitch N Pitch fun.  Included in the goody bags was a suggestion to knit hats.  Chatzy has gotten a great start on hers.

Really electric glow in the dark colors.  This cute hat will make some lucky kid very happy.

GwenS, (wearing her color affection) was making good progress on her reversible cowl.

This is another Puget Sound LYS Tour project.

Hvrdmnky brought her blanket squares.

Such even stitches.  She is such a crisp knitter.

Jan wins for the worst photo.  Or I win for taking a horrible photo of Jan's WIP.  She was knitting a cotton washcloth.

Sorry, Jan.  We can almost see the really nice texture pattern you were using.

Allifer came later as usual, after work.  She brought her Infinity Cowl.

 This is another beautiful Puget Sound LYS Tour project.  I believe Allifer bought the yarn at Churchmouse Yarn and Teas, which was our last stop on the yarn shop tour.

I brought my better than French Vanilla socks, then made a stupid error in the seed stitch section and spent a lot of good knitting time trying to redo just those few stitches.  Ugh.  Still I love the yarn for those socks, and had fun (mostly) knitting them with the group.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

Yes!  I made it to the Y today and got in about 6 miles of biking/knitting,  and 1/2 mile of walking.  This puts me at 274.06 total miles and past Brownsville, OR.  I'm getting close to Eugene, OR.  I wonder if there are any good LYS in Eugene that I could visit next week?


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Where am I on the big map?


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I am about half way through Oregon. I can't wait to cross the border into California.  Not because I don't love Oregon.  I do.  I mean, Oregon is a very lovely state.  But I would actually like to reach my  destination.

Good night and sleep well.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet  with some great knitting buds.


MsWiz, WHERE ARE YOU?  We really miss you.

Eastside Stitchers Get Ready for the Puget Sound LYS Tour

Tonight, at Crossroads Mall, the Eastside Stitchers met to knit, crochet and discuss the Puget Sound Local Yarn Shop Tour.

I am so excited.

21 shops in 4 days.  The toughest part of this is that we are trying to really do it in 3 days because people have to work.  The shops are having "extended hours" to accommodate all of the crowds, but still, I think they are closing way too early.  But I am getting ahead of myself.  First, who was at Crossroads and what were they stitching?

Ellyol, yes, our own Ellyol of the amazingly fun crochet amigurumi and hats, was KNITTING.  I kid you not.  She is giving it a try.  She is making a washcloth in a knit and purl pattern so she can practice the 2 fundamental stitches of knitting. Because she crochets, and holds and tensions the yarn in her left hand, I encouraged her to try the Continental method.  You can do it, Ellyol!  Even if you always enjoy crochet more, learning how to knit will just broaden your repertoire.

Colleen has made some real progress on her beautiful lavender lace baby blanket.  I am always amazed that Colleen can work on it at Stitching group.  I try to find relatively easy projects to bring on Wednesday nights, because I know I will get off count if my WIP is at all complicated, or involves counting.  But Colleen often brings these beautiful, complex works, and just plugs away.

GwenS is still working on her Color Affection Shawl.  I love the colors, and she is doing a beautiful job.  This is her first project with color.  The endless garter stitch is getting a bit dull, but the shawl certainly does not show it.  This pattern is very popular on Ravelry right now, and I think you can see why.  It will be beautiful.

Chockelet has joined the sock bandwagon.  She was working on a pair of 2-at-a-time socks in a pretty brown color.

Allifer was hooking her last placemat.  You might remember that we are giving these as a housewarming gift to my sister, K.  Allifer has been busy playing Diablo3 and not hooking... Get to Work, Allifer!









We missed our good buddies who could not come because of ... well life.  Hope all is well with every one of you, and that you will be able to make it to knitting next week.

The big topic of conversation tonight was the Puget Sound Local Yarn Shop Tour.  The tour starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday.  There are some sweet prizes, $500, $100, and so on, to spend a shop/shops of your choice.  The best part though, other than getting to spend tons of time with my knitting buddies, is that this tour is pushing me out the door and into 21 different LYS in the Puget Sound area.

Here is our tentative schedule:


Thursday:
18--So Much Yarn (Seattle)
15--The Knittery (Renton)
16--The Yarn Stash (Burien)
17--Seattle Yarn (W Seattle)
Friday:
7--PinchKnitter (Stanwood)
10--Great Yarns (Everett)
11--Main Street Yarns (Mill Creek)
12--The Fiber Gallery (N Seattle)
20--Tea Cozy Yarn (Ballard)
19--Bad Woman Yarn (U District)
Saturday:
1--Beach Basket Yarns & Gifts (Blaine)
3--Apple Yarns (Bellingham)
2--NW Handspun (Bellingham)
4--Knot Just Yarn (Burlington)
5--Wild Fibers (Mt. Vernon)
6--Anacross Stitch (Anacortes)
8--Coupeville Yarns (Coupeville)
9--Knitty Purls (Whidbey)
Sunday:
14--Serial Knitters (Kirkland)
13--Acorn St. Shop (U District)
21--Churchmouse (Bainbridge)

Saturday, especially will be absolutely crazy.  The most stitchers can attend that day, so we thought we would try to hit the northern shops since those are the ones we are least likely to know well.  We are meeting at 7:30 am, and heading up to almost the Canadian/US Border to be at Beach Basket Yarns and Gifts by the time it opens at 10:00 am.  We will wind our way south, across the Point Deception Pass onto Whidbey Island (the largest Island in the United States), ending on the island for dinner since the shops close at 6 pm, then ferry back to Everett, and drive back home.

I hope I see some of you on the tour.

I have made a list of the projects I know I will make next year (mostly 12 solid color socks), and I hope to buy yarn (on discount) for those projects.  I am really going to try not to go for shiny things, and just get the yarn I know I will use.  On the Saturday trip, we may be so pressed for time, that we will just have to run in and out of the stores getting our passports stamped.  However, we are hoping to get back north in maybe 3 weeks, and hit the stores we liked the most in a more leisurely fashion.  At the very least, we should get a "taste" of the individual shops.

That's all for now.  I need to get my rest.  I am Yarn Crawling Tomorrow!

Stay safe and well.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one stitching group at a time.

2012.15.16 B lack Bart Iris

One Eastside Stitcher Spins (the rest knit)

2012.03.22

Hello,  f1beristas!

Eastside Stitchers
Last night the  Eastside Stitchers  met, as usual, at Crossroads Mall, in Bellevue, WA.  People started arriving at about 3:30 pm, and well, I'm not sure how late they stayed since I had to leave at 8 pm to go defend a fort.  (Long story, especially if you do not play on-line games).  But, who was there, and more importantly, what were they working on?

In no particular order:

Cleothyla started a pair of lace i phone Mitts.
 She brought her second Brambles Beret, as well,

and this really cool tool for making cord called a Lucet 

Chockelet brought some recently spun yarn to share, some fiber,

AND her drop spindles for a demonstration

MsWiz brought a WIP that I can actually post as it is not a secret.  It is the lace shawl she tried to start a few weeks ago, but couldn't because counting and Eastside Stitchers, do NOT go together.

KateSchechter showed up.  She has been working on some fiberbombing projects in Redmond, WA, and was working on a swatch for a new stripe for one of the trees.

Colleen brought another Fun Fur Scarf.  She is making these for the YMCA's fund raiser.  Did I mention that I saw Colleen at the Y last week?  It was one of those weird seeing your teacher at the mall experiences.  She recognized me right away because I had my knitting bag with me, since I am knitting while riding the exercise bike.  But as she did NOT have any knitting, I had one of those, is that Colleen??, moments.

She also brought another mint baby blanket.  She makes these in super soft yarn for preemies.

Guess what I was working on?  You are right!  Sweater sleeves.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

Today I knit for 6.43 miles and reached 89.1 total miles knit!    On my way south, I stopped by Faith, Fiber & Friends Yarn Shop and Fiber Arts Studio, in Yelm, WA.  

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They have a farm!  16 alpacas, chickens, and a babydoll sheep.    They carry handspun yarns, and process and spin their own fiber from their own alpacas.  They mix it with other fibers, too, like wool, cashmere, and angora.  And that is not all, they also carry a nice selection of "factory" yarns.  The owner, Rustine, is very nice.  Remember, if you stop by, tell her, hi from f1bercat.

and on the big map:


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It's funny, I think I am making progress.  And, then I look at the big map, and I am still all squished up at the top.  Well, nothing to do but keep knitting.  At least I am no longer stuck on the side of the road by   Lewis-McChord.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the world, one successful fort defense at a time

(time to go take a nap)

Eastside Stitchers Meet for Pi Day or Beware the Ides of March

2012.03.15

Hello, F1beristas!

The Eastside Stitchers met yesterday at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue, as we do every Wednesday from about 4:30 pm ish until they toss us out at 9:45 pm ish.  Some people come early, some people come later.  All are welcome to join us for stitching, good food, laughs, and friends.

So?  The big question is, Who Was There and What Were They Working On?

Chockelet was working on her knitted chess set, but the exciting news is she brought her Spinning!  Her first spinning attempt on her new Fricke wheel was some "Superwash Blue-Faced Leicester combed top. The colorway is Lace Fan, and it is from Llady Llama Fiber Co on Etsy"

here is what it looked like unspun:

And here is her finished product!



Isn't it beautiful?  Chockelet is hoping to bring her drop spindle next week and give us a demonstration.

Colleen brought another fun fur scarf:

Cleothyla was knitting a Brambles Hat:

Cleothyla was wearing her beautiful Pinwheel sweater: 

Our own Jenknotsed8 was knitting her very first pair of 2aaT Toe Up Socks!

You Go Girl!

Ellyol started, well tried to start, her first crocheted top, but was having trouble counting the chain.

It's 1, 2, 3, 4, Ellyol, just in case you need some more help. 

She finally gave up and switched to a baby version of her octopus hat.  She had brought the FO to show and tell:


Later on, as we were walking out, I spotted Ellyol in the mall with her hat on.  So cute.






Allifer was there, but as she came pretty late, running in for the last 30 minutes, I FORGOT to photograph the place mat she was hooking.  I am such a bad mom.

OOOOO MsWiz was there, of course.  But again, she was knitting a surprise, so I can't show her WIP.  She will again be represented by this coffee cup, as that is what she was drinking.









Remember, there is lots of room at the table for more.  And, if we fill it up, we will simply drag over another table.


Where in the World is f1bercat?

Today I knit a total of 6.35 miles for a total of 54.34 miles.  This puts me about here:


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Look!  I am right at the tip of Joint Base Lewis-McChord!  This is the base where my friend Lewk is stationed, when he is in the country.  O No!  I had better get knitting on his sleeves.


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On the big map, I am here:


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It looks like I am about 1/3 of the way to Portland.  Wow, I can sort of (sort of, I mean if I am really optimistic) see some progress!

Good night!  It's 11:42 pm and I am still having trouble falling asleep.

Darn you Daylight Savings!

F1bercat
shaping the planet one stitching group at a time