The Knitting Experience Café

Last night we held our annual Knit at Night Halloween Party. As always, the knitters stepped up with fabulous costumes and incredible food. 

Amanda and I were ready for any challenge that the night might present. She was looking adorable as a cowgirl and I simply couldn't resist the Wonder Woman costume I found at Target.

Mary Ellen and Lesley planned a very creative team costume - the patient and doctor! 

Luanne found the best wig EVER and it was an honor to have Cleopatra at our party.

Barbara was adorable in her mini witch hat. Those nails made knitting interesting!

Barb was a stunning Laverne. That hair was a outstanding. 

Donna was a little devil. If you look closely at the picture, you will notice that she has some evil red eye going on. And check out the stunning moebius. She used Dream in Color Starry and knit the whole thing using the continental knitting!!!

Karen was simply fahbulous dahling as a fashionista.

Jenna made sure that the undead was well represented. Loved the peeling skin make-up.

Michelle was a gorgeous fortune teller. 

With a little itty bitty crystal ball. 

Shots from around the room:

Thanks everyone for a great night! Knitters definitely know how to have a good time. 

What is the perfect thing to knit on this week of Halloween? You could try to whip up a last minute costume. But, that is a lot of effort for one day of wear. How about something that can be used all winter? Something elegant, yet inspired by the spookier side of life? 

Marielle Henault designed the perfect project: Bella's Mittens.

These gorgeous mittens were inspired by the mittens worn by Bella in the first Twilight movie. You know, the movie based on the insanely popular vampire series?  

A word on the books and movie:

I was a skeptic. I just didn't think the vampire thing was for me. Becka convinced me to give the books a try. Sister was right. I got sucked in and couldn't put them down. They are a fun, fast read. The movie is fabulous. So much so, that I'm actually heading out with a good friend to the midnight showing for the release of the second movie on November 20th. 

These mittens have become almost as popular as the books and movie. They are designed using about 200yds of a chunky yarn. Our sample -made by Amanda- is knit using Spunky Eclectic Biggie Yarn. Other fabulous options include: Cascade 128 Superwash, Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky (David made Becka a pair out of the alpaca. Lucky, lucky girl.), Spud and Chloe Outer, Cascade Eco Wool. 

The pattern is free and can be found on Ravelry here. Or on the designer's webpage. 

The timing couldn't be more perfect for knitting your very own pair of Bella's Mittens. Not only will you have them to wear to the next Twilight movie, you can enter them into a contest sponsored by the designer. Details can be found on her blog. Basically, all you need to do is knit a pair of Bella's Mittens, take some cool pictures, post them to the Bella's Mittens flickr pool, and perhaps you will win some fibery, vampirey stuffs. 

I'm skipping Inspiration Monday today in honor of the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. It was a fabulous weekend, with amazing fiber folk, and gorgeous fiber everywhere you turned. 

The journey began friday morning when Lesley picked me up. She is my hero for driving the entire route, especially since the weather on the way home was of the white slushy variety. See that stuff out the window? That's what we - or rather, Lesley, - faced for 6 hours yesterday.

(And that's Spunky Eclectic Amy being adorable for the camera.)

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. The trip started without snow, and we drove with Spunky Amy and David of Southern Cross Fibre. 

I finished my very first pair of handspun, handknit socks for the occasion. The fiber is Panda from Spunky Eclectic in the Sherwood colorway and I am silly proud about how they came out.

My camera angle was poor, but I had to try and capture our arrival.

We arrived early enough on Friday to meet up with Beth from The Spinning Loft, who was there to teach classes all weekend.

And score some Socks that Rock.

Silliness ensued.

Saturday was a beautiful day. 

Chilly enough to necessitate all the warm wooly things people were sporting, including us. 

As we turned the corner out of one of the barns, we had the happy surprise of running into Anna! She was wearing a fabulous new design of her very own creation. She reported that the finishing touches were added in the car on the way to NY.

Penny and Donna were both stunning in their new sweaters. 

And Lizzie got spotted for wearing a Clapotis shawl in the wild!

This year we skipped the hotel route and stayed at a rented house with a great group. Many, many thanks to Carolyn (dinner was amazing), Nicole, Jen, Adrian (cheese party - yum), Amy (wonderful breakfast!), David, Lesley, Maryse, and John for the fun. A million thanks to Adrian for the brilliant idea and arranging everything. After a full day of shopping, we got to relax back at the house, knit, and enjoy the charming local deer.

So, what goodies did I get?

400yds of pure cashmere from Still River Mill in Eastford, CT.

I'm thinking it needs to be a Pretty Thing, the new cowl by the Yarn Harlot.

A skein of sock yarn from Socks that Rock. I couldn't resist the colors.

8 ounces of handdyed BFL from Briar Rose Fibers

And 4 ounces of superwash merino in Lagoon from Fiber Optic Yarns, as well as 4 ounces of superwash merino  pencil roving with seacell in "Days of Wine and Roses."

I'm already looking forward to next year!

Colonnades are popping up everywhere!

I finished mine - for the second time. It debuted at KAN last week.

Then got blocked and worn again.

Now Isabella is modeling it until I steal it back for the trip to Rhinebeck.

The amazing Donna, who started us all on the Colonnade craze -and saved mine from disaster - was looking smashing in hers:

(Notice the Noro sweater in her lap? I do believe that, as well as the Colonnade, will be seen at Rhinebeck this year.)

Luanne looked stunning in her Malabrigo Colonnade. 

The color combination is perfect!

Sue recycled a sweater to make this lovely green version:

Barbara has perhaps the best name for her Colonnade. It's called Mine! Sometimes, when we have been knitting and knitting for all the loved ones in our lives, it it time to claim something for ourselves. 

Susan made a beautiful mini Colonnade out of Mini Mochi.

Terri put together a gorgeous color combo out of Cascade 220 for her Colonnade.

Pam is using the Baby Alpaca Chunky and was about at the same point as Terri.

Wendy - our long distance KALer - finished hers and we might get to see it in person when she visits this month! She used Malabrigo Worsted.

And while this next photo isn't a Colonnade, it is perhaps the most exciting project of the week. Jerri finished her Rogue Hoodie from our very first KAL at TKE! Congratulations Jerri!