Eastside Stitchers talk Turkey

Hello!

Tonight the Eastside Stitchers met at Crossroads Mall for some serious talk about Thanksgiving.  Tara1682 told us about trying to put together Thanksgiving while living in China, and having to substitute KFC for the turkey.  Redbird1, who is transplanted from the East Coast, was distraught earlier because she had left one of her Gourmet Magazines back in Massachusetts, the one with the stuffing recipe.  However, thanks to a very friendly King County Library researcher, Bellevue branch, she was able to locate the magazine, and get a copy of the recipe.  See the fun you are missing when you can't make stitch night?

At some point in the discussion, we actually started knitting.

Who was there, and what were we knitting?

Redbird1 brought her Guilder to share.  This is yet another Jared Flood design, but so complicated that Redbird1 doesn't actually work on it at stitch night, she just brings it to make us all drool.

She was starting a new Jeweled Cowl by Sachiko Uemura.  The big question was, which beads to use?

After some discussion and voting, she picked the lighter ones, bottom left in the photo above.

Anerenbe brought her almost finished 2nd Cecily Beret. She had a little more than half of her skein left after finishing the first one, so thought she would make a second.

She finished the beret before we left with just enough yarn to spare.

Tara1682 was knitting a Boho Lace Eternity Scarf designed by SweaterBabe.  The yarn is Chickadee, the sport weight yarn by Quince & Co.

Sorry, blogger flipped the photo, but I think you can still see how nice the stitch pattern is.

Vanesapolo was working on a secret, so I can't show the project, just the yarn.

She was using this yarn to design something... and will let me know when the design is ready to be released.  However, she had also brought some Christmas trees to show and tell.

She has been working on some designs, and has her first one up on Ravelry.  It is an I-cord Cowl.  Please check it out.

Vanesapolo also brought another of her designs, a scarf.  This design should be up on Ravelry, soon.

Amigirl joined us tonight, and it was wonderful to see her again.  She brought a newborn hat that she was knitting on 4 dpns.  There was some complicated story about where her size 3 circs were.  I can only say that it involved an UFO.

The hat was really pretty, I think she called the pattern the Sprout Hat by Melissa Goodale, and she is using yarn by Hazelknits.

Hvrdmnky made it before we had left.  I must say that once she showed up, we had a very interesting discussion about the Twilight books and movies in anticipation of the final movie's release this week.  I believe that Anerenbe and Hrvdmnky were the only two of our group who admitted to actually seeing the other movies.  Too funny.

Anyway, Hvrdmnky brought her beautiful Barndom by Stephen West.

You can't see the sparkle in this beautiful shawl, but the Christmas themed colors are visible.  I can't wait to see the FO.

So, a small group tonight, as we were missing some friends who were sick (skeinherder), working (GwenS, Ellyol, Allifer), on vacation (Wajai), or busy elsewhere (Chockelet).

We talked about meeting on Tuesday, November 20, next week, rather than the day right before Thanksgiving.  Please be sure to check the discussion threads for that information.  Also, if you can make it tomorrow at 2:30, we are doing High Tea in Redmond.  There is a thread with the restaurant's name and address in the Group on Ravelry.

Stay safe and well.
Yours,

f1bercat
shaping the planet with stitching buddies.

Eastside Stitchers Meet on Thursday

Hello!

The Eastside Stitchers met tonight, Thursday, November 1 instead of our usual Wednesday night meet up, at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue.  Last night we were all too busy Trick-or-Treating, but tonight the needles were clicking.

We missed some of our friends who couldn't make the day change, but we should see them next week, so all is good.

Who was there and what were they stitching?

Skeinherder was knitting Christmas Trees.  The  Purled Christmas Tree to be particular,  by Anna Sudo.

in cascade sport.

For show and tell she was wearing  her finished Windward by Heidi Kirrmaier 

knit in Malabrigo sock  in Eggplant.  She finished it just in time for the Malabrigo Stockpile contest.

Anerenbe was working on the Cecily Beret  by Melissa LaBarre in .... not sure what the yarn is.  It is fingering weight, because this hat is really fine work on tiny needles.

Wajai was knitting some Fingerless gloves in Renew Wool  .  

I was curious about the yarn so I checked them out.  This is what they say:

"Renew Wool is a sport-weight soft wool blend featuring 35% repurposed wool reclaimed from the mill. Its soft texture and depth of shade make it ideal for colorwork, textured pullovers, and felting.

Jan bought it originally for the Nordic Knitting Conference and didn't use very much of it, so was putting it to use now.

Tara1682 is knitting ANOTHER Linen stitch scarf by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

The first one she made was for a friend.  Is this one for herself?

Wearing a cloche hat so cute, sorry no info on it

Vanesapolo brought her finished Brioche Vest by Meg Swanson

Well almost finished that is.  She was still deciding on how to finish the front edges, and needs something to close it with.  The waist shaping was done by stopping the brioche stitch, and just doing regular knits and purls.  Such a clever designer.

She had a question about the vest finishing, and was able to ask Meg Swanson.  Meg really helped her out.  So cool!  I know someone who talked to Meg Swanson.

Vanesapolo was working on her multi-directional scarf, I think it is the one by Karen Baumer

Redbird1 had some wonderful show and tells.  First, I want to say how happy we all are that Redbird1's house back east was spared by the Sandy Storm.  And now, what did she bring:

She has finished the Magic Three-Yarn Scarf & Wrap by Churchmouse Yarn & Teas

This is the scarf that is knit alternating 3 very different yarns:  Debbie Bliss Winter Garden  , Rowan Frost

and Berroco Versa  

Redbird1 has also made great progress on her Guilder, by Jared Flood

knit in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter

She was not knitting on the Guilder, though, because she needs to concentrate when she works on this masterpiece.  She did bring a new scarf, a Linen Stitch Scarf by Churchmouse Yarns, just like Tara's   Redbird1 was just starting, but the colors are stunning.

And, finally, GwenS has made huge progress on her Guernsey Wrap also by Jared Flood.  This stunning wrap is in Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool Worsted in Pansy.

GwenS bought the yarn in Oregon! 

That's all for tonight. I need to get to bed because tomorrow I am driving up to Whidbey Island with Skeinherder to visit some farms.  I can't wait.

Just a quick reminder that the Madrona Fiber Arts Class Schedule is up.  People can start registering for classes on November 14, 2012.  http://madronafiberarts.com/

I hope to be able to go, if not to take some classes, just to hang out there and knit. 

Until then, it's Whidbey Island and KnitFit!

Stay safe and well.

Yours,

f1bercat

shaping the planet with a road trip tomorrow!

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