Eastside Stitchers Mostly Discuss Their Cats

Hello!

Winter is on the way here in the Pacific Northwest.  The sun is rising much later, setting earlier every day, and it is getting C-O-L-D.

Perfect knitting weather!

The Eastside Stitchers met as usual at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue.  We drew names for our Christmas/Holiday Gift Exchange.  We discussed starting a spinning group.  Since Skeinherder and I bought all that fiber on Whidbey Island last weekend, we thought we should actually start spinning it up.  We are going to try to meet at my house on Monday nights.  This way, people with spinning wheels can bring them, and we can spin in relative privacy.  This is especially for those of us (me) who are new and a bit shy about our lack of skills.  The idea is to meet from 6 -8.  If you are in the area, and interested in joining us, but haven't been able to make any of the Wednesday meetings, please pm me on Ravelry.  We are always open to new members.

On to the knitting.

GwenS is on the home stretch with her Guernsey Wrap by Jared Flood. She has 30 more rows plus 7 to go.  I think that adds up to 37.  But that is how Gwen explained it to me.

GwenS was wearing (and showing off) her beautiful Daybreak Shawl in Malabrigo Finito.  It is so soft.

Anerenbe gave all of us a moment of deja vu.  Here is her knitting from last week:

It's the Cecily Beret by Melissa LaBarre.

This is what Anerenbe was working on tonight:

It's the Cecily Beret!  and no, she didn't have to rip back, this is her second one.  She finished her first one, and had quite a bit of the yarn left, so decided to knit up a second one.
She has been bringing her project in the cutest project bag.

Anerenbe was wearing a beautiful lace scarf,  the "I Want You-Shawl" by Loredana Gianferri.  The yarn is Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock Yarn in the Peony colorway.

Tara1682 is experiencing a bit of Deja Vu herself as she knits her second Linen-Stitch Scarf by Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.  The first one she knit was for a friend, and this one is a gift for a family member.  The yarn is this beautiful tonal purple by Evermore Studios. an indie dyer.

Vanesapolo was finishing the I-cord on the Brioche Vest by Meg Swanson.

As usual, she had some beautiful show and tell.  She was wearing a lovely entrelac sweater,

She brought her multi-directional shawl to share,

and the raffle prize she won at KnitFit!

Skeinherder brought something new, well new to us.  She had dug something out of her UFO bin.  It is called the Rill Scarf by Miriam Felton.  The yarn is by  Robincat Yarns, an indie dyer from Austin, Texas.

Ellyol brought her finished "bear" for show and tell.  This is her second knitting project, and her first attempt at blanket stitch.  It is pretty amazing looking.

Chockelet brought her finished Clapotis.Gorgeous with all that sparkle!

She had only about 13 g of the yarn left.

She has begun another new shawl with yarn made from mink fur.  The kind of happy mink who live on a farm and play with dogs.  The kind of mink who are brushed daily for their fur.

Hrvdmnky showed up at the end with a beautiful shawl by Stephen West, Barndom. 

That's all for tonight.  Have a safe trip, Wajai!  We missed you Alifer, and Redbird1.  Don't worry, Ellyol drew names for you for the exchange.  Hope to see most of you on Monday for spinning.

Oh, about the title... Honestly, we spent the last hour knitting and discussing our cats.  

Stay safe and well.
Yours,

f1bercat
shaping the planet with great 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 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