Sometimes You Need A Cloud To See the Blue

Hello:

I have been stitching like a fiend lately, so much that I haven't even stopped to photograph my work.  But, I took a break last night to stitch with my neighbors in our new stitching group, and then again this morning to meet my stitch buds, Eastside Stitchers, at Crossroads Mall.

I have to say that I got 0 done at both meet ups.  The neighborhood group has some very new stitchers.  They are really doing well, and it is so much fun to see their progress.  They are so new at both knit and crochet, that they think I am the expert.  That about says it.  They are a really fun and nice group, and there is a lot of laughing.  I am really enjoying our Thursday evenings, but, I am not getting much accomplished there.  That was fine last night because I was waiting for Feb. 1 and both the new month of classes for HPKCHC and the February challenges in SKA (Sock Knitters Anonymous) and SolidSocks to begin.

But, today is February 1, and I can start knitting seriously, again.  I brought the beginnings of the Improvised Crossings Socks that I cast on last night, to the Friday morning meet up.  And I frogged them 3 times.  Honestly, I don't know what my problem was, but I am altering the pattern to Toe Up, and I just couldn't get the Judy's Magic Cast On to work.  I kept getting a ridge right on the tip.  You get this if you start with the wrong needle when you first start knitting.  I spent 4 hours not knitting anything.  I finally got 2 rows completed right before I left.  2 rows.  Since I am knitting these toe up, I cast on 6 stitches for each sock.  So, 2 rows of 12 stitches.  Yes.  That is all I finished in 4 hours of not knitting.

But!  I did manage to photograph the work of the OTHER Stitchers who came this morning.

Our newest member, CathyClove was weaving in about 1 gazillion ends on this beautiful afghan she has finished knitting.  I met CathyC at the Eastside Knitters Guild meeting on Monday.  She is new to the guild, and was also looking for a group to hang out with and knit.  I am so happy we met.  Anyway, CathyC says she is a new knitter, and has only knit this afghan.  Only!  It is just beautiful.

Lots of ends though!

Wireknitter was knitting swatches.  Lots of swatches.  For?  MADRONA!  The Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat in Tacoma, WA, is in two weeks, and a nice short drive for our group.  We will be down with some of us taking classes (hence the swatches), some just hanging out, shopping the market, meeting people and enjoying the fiber fun.

Redbird1 was also knitting for Madrona, but not a swatch.  She is determined to finish her Jared Flood BF Sweater.  Ok, it's not called the BF sweater, it is the Eternity Sweater.  Today, Redbird1 was knitting the sleeves, as she has finished the body.  Go!  Go!  Go!

VanesaPolo was working on another baby item.  Lots of Baby Showers, lately.  This little cutie is the Flared Baby Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman in Knit One Knit All.

Skeinherder, wearing a beautiful knit sweater,

I took 4 photos of this sweater and never caught the color.  It's green.

was starting her Smaug socks.  We are trying to knit 2 pair this challenge, and I will be casting on Smaug, too,  just as soon as I figure out how to knit more than 12 stitches. 

Even if my knitting was cloudy, hanging out with my stitch buds was great!  The sun was out when I got home.  Moogie is coming home for her birthday weekend.  I need to head out to the train station in Seattle right about now to pick her up.  Then, it's out to dinner!  Pookie is down in Portland for the National Science Bowl NW Regional Competition.  GO!  Interlake High School!

Hope I have my knitting act together tomorrow.  I need to knit like the wind to get those socks finished in this short month.

Peace,
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with 12 stitches.

Eastside Stitchers Come In Out of the Cold

Hello,  Look! Skeinherder knit a cat gnome to watch over our stitching group along with her Husband and Wife gnomes.

Eastside Stitchers met at Crossroads Mall for our regular Wednesday Stitch Night.  Our group is so full and busy now.  We always need to push tables together.  I just love how much fun we have.

Ellyol was there but had to leave early... And I did not grab a photo of her latest project.  Sorry, Ellyol.

In addition to bringing her new Cat Gnome, Skeinherder brought her Honeycomb Mesh Scarf by Churchmouse Yarn and Teas. Her yarn is Firwood Farm Alpacas, Alpaca and Silk.

Tara1682 has made huge progress on her French Press Felted Slippers.  I mean huge progress on her HUGE slippers.

Anerenbe started a new hat, Mezwolam by Tina Hees.  This is a bit of a deja vu since she just finished one of these hats, but since she is using different yarn on this one, Malabrigo Aroyo, does it count as a completely new project?

We shall check in on Anerenbe at the end of the night and see her progress.

Vanesapolo was working on her mitered mittens by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  These are from the book, Knitters' Almanac.

Vanesapolo also brought some gorgeous Yark yarn to show and tell.

MsWiz was knitting an entrelac cowl.  She is taking an Craftzy course.  It is really pretty.  The cowl I mean.

Colleen was starting a new baby  blanket in lavender.  Ha.  I know, we are thinking we have seen this before.  But, Colleen makes these blankets for kids who were born addicted to drugs, and there are some strick specifics on how to make them.  You have to use very soft yarn that is in soft colors so as to not over stimulate the kids.  Her yarn and color choice are perfect.

Our shy new knitter, Angel, is finally allowing me to debut her current project.  She is working on a pair of fingerless mitts.

GwenS was knitting a Super Secret Cowl.  Enough said.  I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Wajio brought her mystery kal socks.  The designer is KnitPurlHunter, and the socks are called Crimple.

Amigirl was still working on her Sprucey Lucy socks in Hazelknits.

 

Redbird1 has almost finished the body of her Fiber BF Jared Flood's Eternity Cardigan.  She is still on track to have the sweater finished in time for Madrona next month.

Finally, for a bit more Show and Tell, Skeinherder brought her January socks for SKA's January Challenge

Redbird1 brought her newest yarn purchases.  Most of these are from Portland, Oregon.

OOOOOOOOOOOO.   AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.  Beautiful yarn.

Hrvdmnky came near the end.  She brought 2 bags full of her show and tell doilies.

Hrvdmnky also brought her current socks to knit .

That's all for tonight, except for a second check of Anerenbe's progress:

Amazing!

That's all for tonight.  Can't wait to get together on Friday morning.

Peace.
yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet in some normal rain today.

Fiber Friday

Hello:

We are still having this weird freezing fog that never really lifts.  It was foggy all day, and is supposed to stick around through tomorrow at least.  We need some rain!

This morning I met my Eastside Stitcher buddies at Crossroads for some Friday Fiber knitting.  That is our new name for the people who can make it on Fridays.  Also, we call ourselves the Ladies of Leisure.  No, not out of work or unemployed knitters.... just Ladies of Leisure.

We had 3 of our new members join us but were also missing 2 regulars because of weather and sickness (or falling on ice injuries).

I was having so much fun chatting and knitting, that I didn't break out my camera until one of the new members, Wireknitter, had already left.  Oh well, no photo of the beautiful Carson by Romi Hill that she is knitting.

I am so sorry about that.

But whose projects DID I photograph?

 CodyJunk was still working on her Halloween Pumpkin Orange Cable Scarf

but had already finished a matching hat.

Redbird1 was frantically knitting her Eternity Cardigan by Jared Flood in Shelter.  She WILL finish it in time for Madrona.

Colleen was knitting a baby blanket in some Caron Super Soft in lavendar.

It looks a bit gray in this photo, but the color is lovely.

And Vanesapolo was starting a pair of mitered mittens by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Vanesapolo was using the MadelineTosh yarn that I gave her for the Christmas exchange.  Our shy member was there, also, but I am being sensitive to her "new knitter" status, and not taking any photos, ... yet..

A small but fun group.  There is certainly room at the table for you, if you have Friday mornings free.

Just make sure you have the 4-wheel drive. 


Peace
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with a cat in a bag.

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 STEEK! Video Proof!

 

Hello,

Horrible weather today and yesterday; that Pacific Northwest thing we get, where the temperature hovers right about freezing, but really just a few degrees above.  So we get sleet and some flurries, but it doesn't stick, then it's slushy, then freezing overnight when it dips to just below freezing, so we are all sliding around and falling down.  Then it warms to just above freezing during the day, but in the shady spots, it is still frozen.  And now it's all slushy again, and then it will freeze again over night.  It feels really cold.  But there is no snow to play in.  Welcome to our winter.

However, when I ran out on the deck to get a photo of the hills since the clouds had mostly lifted after the fog of this morning:

I saw a bluejay on our hedge.  I know that photo is a bit blurry, but,  a Bluejay!  I just love them.

This morning the "LoL" part of Eastside Stitchers (Ladies of Leisure, though we would be happy to have any men stitchers in the area join us) met to knit and eat brunch (that was me), and STEEK! a gorgeous vest at Crossroads Mall.

Who was there, and what were they stitching?

Redbird1 brought the most gorgeous show and tell. A Linen Stitch Scarf from Churchmouse Yarn and Teas. 

She is ready to trim the fringe, and then, all finished.  This is the 3rd or 4th? scarf knit by a member of our group.  I am thinking that I really need to knit one.  They are just beautiful.

Redbird1 was just beginning an Eternity Cardigan by her fiber-bff, Jared Flood.  She is using Shelter yarn, in the Soot colorway.

We had a new stitcher this morning! CodyJunk joined us at the big round table in the middle of Crossroads, right under the skylight.  It is so nice to make new fiber friends, and CodyJunk fit right in.  She was working on a  scarf, with the somewhat horrible name:  Halloween Pumpkin Orange Cable Scarf by Isle Gardenia.  CodyJunk's was just lovely in Cascade 128.

Skeinherder was finishing up her Snug as a Bug Sleep Sack by Robyn Devine.  She is knitting this in Ohio State colors.  I especially like how she did the graduated stripes.

That button on the "sack" looks just like a Buckeye.


Vanesapolo finished her Wingspan this morning.  She had to take apart her gauge swatch to have enough yarn for the bind off!  She used up the last of the Noro from her Strata Sphere.

She also brought her vest to steek.  This is her own design, and will be posted soon at her site on Ravelry.

She showed us how she had prepared the vest for steeking.  The vest was knit in the round.

 She wanted armholes.  So had crocheted 2 rows catching in the stitches near where she planned to cut so they wouldn't unravel.

And then she.... CUT HER KNITTING  (Just a warning, it was a bit loud at Crossroads that morning, and my camera picked up all of the noise, so turn down the volume before you watch this)

Isn't it amazing?

Peace.
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with brave stitching buddies.