Power Outage Postpones Post

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Well, last night 4 of us die hard Eastside Stitchers showed up at Crossroads for a bit of fiber fun before the Thanksgiving craziness started.  While were were stitching, I got a text from one of my neighbors asking me how long the power had been out.  WHAT?  I texted the Doc, and he said we still had power.  When I got home, after Crossroads closed at 9, I saw that our power was still on, but the rest of our street was OUT!  ha ha ha ha  The power grid in our neighborhood is so weird.  Although we still had power, our cable was out, so no internet.  Then, about 11:00 pm, our power went out, too.  It was back on when I woke up, and the clocks were all behind about 2 hours.  So, I assume it came back on at about 2 am.  Anyway, who actually showed up to knit on Wednesday, and what were they knitting?

CathieC brought her MacArthur Park Poncho.  She has finished swatching and has started the actual poncho.

Skeinherder brought her stocking ornaments (here is a slightly blurry photo)

Skeinherder also brought her newest project, a lovely cowl  (sorry, I forget the name).  She bought the pattern and yarn at Tolt Yarn and Wool last Sunday, and cast on immediately... all 400 provisional crocheted stitches!

Wireknitter brought an Entrelac Cap she was knitting in a beautiful variegated yarn.

She also brought her beautiful Windward.  Wireknitter decided to add a bit of a border to lessen the stockinette rolling, and has some ends to weave in.  Stitch Night is a perfect place for weaving in.  All the chat keeps your mind off how boring it is.

I brought the last two rows of my newest afghan, the one I am making for my OWL in HPKCHC.  I didn't take photos of my own work, but as I hope to have it all finished tomorrow, I will try to post some photos of the whole thing then.

Hope all of you had a wonderful day today.  We ate too much, then went to the movies (at Crossroads, of course!) to see Catching Fire.  It was even better than The Hunger Games.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with two kinds of pie.

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 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 Halloween and Dr. Who

Hello!

Tonight was the regular Wednesday night meet up of the Eastside Stitchers, and thank goodness.  It is always so ... refreshing... to spend time stitching with my buddies.  Truly, no one understands my fiber feelings, but other stitchers.

The evening started off wonderfully for me because Jan attended and wow, she brought me some new fiber to spin on my spindle.  She knows I am just beginning to learn how to spin. and wanted me to have some new fibers to play with.  She brought me a bag of Cheviot and another of Alpaca.

They both felt really neat, the alpaca was especially soft.  Jan also showed me how to comb the roving to get it ready to spin.  I can't wait to play with these, and compare them to what I am currently spinning (I have no idea what it is other than WOOL).

But enough about my wonderful fiber presents and on to the important part of the evening, Who was there, and What were they knitting?  I can say "Knitting" tonight because everyone who came tonight had a knitting project.

Jan was working on a scarf.  This is for a local charity for seniors.  Most of the scarves that have been donated so far are obviously for women, so she thought she would make something that could be for a man, too.

Skeinherder was working on her Windward Shawl in the luscious Malabrigo. 

For Show and Tell, she was wearing a very pretty scarf; I think it was the Directional Colors Scarf by Lion Brand Yarn.

GwenS was knitting her Guernsey Wrap by Jared Flood.  The yarn is Shepherd's Wool.  She bought it during her own solo Yarn Crawl in Portland.

Too bad my photo is so awful.  You can just barely see the beautiful textured patterns.

Vanesapolo was a vision in red.  She was wearing her red February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne, knit in Knit Picks Swish Worsted in the color Serrano.

Vanesapolo was knitting in red, too.  The Brioche Vest by Meg Swansen in Bartlett Yarns.

When it was time to go, Vanesapolo put on a coat, a RED coat.  I'm sensing a pattern here...


Redbird1 had on a lovely pink Saroyan by Liz Abinante.

She has finished her top secret test knit and it should be in the mail tomorrow.  Tonight she brought her Three Yarn Magic Scarf to knit.

Colleen brought a beautiful mohair scarf in a stunning red.  Sorry the photo is so bad but my camera just hates red.

Chockelet brought a variety of projects.  She has been knitting up a storm.
First was her two-tone scarf  she is knitting in Shepherd's Wool.

But Chockelet spent most of the  night working on her Clapotis.

Anerebe was making good progress on her Cecily Beret by Melissa LaBarre.

I'm sorry again that this photo is not the best.  Anerebe had some really cute stitch markers in her knitting.  You can just barely see one of them.

My worst photo, though, is of Ellyol's bear.  She is doing a fabulous job.  I am so impressed at how quickly she picked up knitting, and how quickly she is improving her skills.  Note the change of color.

Ellyol also started a knitted hat tonight.  I did not get a photo, but she successfully joined it in the round, and was well on the way to a neat ribbing when we had to pack up.  Practice makes perfect, and she is really cranking out the knitting practice.

That's all for tonight.  Allifer came right at the end again.  We missed Hrvdmnky who was at Rhinebeck!  Tara who was... missing,Jen who was probably at work, and our other good fiber friends.

O!  I forgot to mention the title of this blog.  We will not meet next Wednesday as it is Halloween, but on Thursday, instead.  And for some reason, this caused a big discussion of Dr. Who.  I don't actually remember the tie-in.  But I am always ready to discuss Dr. Who.  David Tennant is my favorite Doctor.

Stay safe and well.
Yours,

f1bercat
Shaping the planet with great stitching buddies