Eastside Stitchers Make ANOTHER New Friend

Hello:

I awoke this morning to fog.  It was beautiful, but we could barely see past the house next door.  It took a while to burn off.  When I left at noon to go tutor a student in Math at our local high school, I am volunteering in the mentor program, the fog had started to disappear.  It seemed to be clearing from the top down

with the lake still shrouded in fog, but the rest of the area in sunshine.  At the top of our hill, I turned back and saw Mt. Rainier emerging from the gloom.

The rest of the day was crisp, clear, and C-O-L-D.  There is flu going around, so we were missing some of our friends from the regular Eastside Stitchers meet up at Crossroads Mall.  Also, some people were just too tired after work, so couldn't come either.  We missed them.  Our little group is getting big enough that we still needed 2 tables, but it is not the same.

However, we had a new stitcher.  Wireknitter, who we met at the Cat Bordi Class at Serial Knitters, came by to check out the fun.

She started out knitting some Turkish Bed Socks in a  Koigu yarn.

When Wireknitter got tired of working on these beautiful slippers, she put them away and worked on her Carson Shawl by Romi Hill.

Ellyol was crocheting a pair of socks in Plymoth Stilleto.  The pattern is Berries by Kim Kotary.

 You can see the opening for the Afterthought Heel.  It is a very clever design.

GwenS was knitting her second Daybreak.  Ok, her first one is very lovely.  I can't blame her for wanting another.

Redbird1 was knitting madly on her Eternity Cardigan in Shellter Yarn.  She is trying to finish it up to wear to the Madrona Fiber Festival in February.

Wajio has begun another pair of socks.  These are toe up, mystery socks by KnitPurlHunter, called Crimple.  The KAL is being sponsored by our newest local yarn shop, Makers Merchantile, a retail division of Skacel.

Colleen brought her lovely lavender baby blanket to Show and Tell.

Vanesapolo was finishing her 2 Piece Baby Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

She seamed it together with i-cord, and finished the edges with i-cord edging.  It makes such a beautiful finish.

Tara1682 came a bit late, but there was still room.  She was beginning a pair of felted slippers in Cascade 220.

Vanesapolo finished her EZ 2 Piece Baby Jacket before it was time to go.

Here is the finished front:

And here is the back:

There is some lucky baby out there.

We will be getting together again on Friday morning at about 9:30 in the center of the mall for brunch, lunch, and lots of knitting.  If you are near the Crossroads area, please join us.  Remember to bring your stitching.

Peace.
yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with stitching buddies.

freezing fog is in tonight's forecast!

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.