Newsflash! Knitters invade Safeco Field!

Yesterday was the third annual Stitch n' Pitch day at Seattle's Safeco Field. Thanks to a bus sponsored by the generous folks at Lantern Moon, a bunch of Portland knitters got to enjoy the festivities. And even though the Mariners lost, I think a good time was had by all!

I took a lot of pictures, so rather than filling this post with them and making it very long, I put them in a Slide for your viewing pleasure.

We started at the Hollywood Fred Meyer parking lot. After several coolers and baskets of snacks were loaded on, we boarded the bus and were off. I'm ashamed to say I didn't write down our bus driver's name and my memory is like a sieve, so I apologize! Suffice it to say that he did an excellent job in getting us safely to and from Seattle despite horrific traffic, logging trucks that almost clipped us when changing lanes, and construction that narrowed a very wide freeway to a very narrow one lane. I'm sure glad I wasn't driving!

Diana and Joel and the other Lantern Moon staffers gifted each of us with beautiful Provence bags filled with a silk tafetta bag (you know how much I love these!), a crocheted cake keychain, Destiny circular needles, a skein of ShiBui Sock yarn (courtesy of Knit Purl), a scarf pattern (again from Knit Purl), some Soak wool wash (courtesy of The Yarn Garden), a Stitch n' Pitch needle holder, LiveStrong bracelets and a blinky pin.

Of course knitting came out of bags and Harry Potter books, too, and off we went. It took a while (remember I mentioned all that traffic?), but we got there with plenty of time to look around before the game started.

Our seats were very high on the third deck, in the very last section on the third-base side. We didn't care. It provided an interesting perspective on the game and we were knitting anyway. LOL There were a lot of booths selling yarn and books and kits and fiber and all manner of crafty goodness. You could even sign up to get a free chair massage. Debbie Macomber was there signing copies of her books and giving out her very own baseball cards. Since she threw out the first pitch, I guess that came with the package.

I tried to resist, but gave in and bought a few things. I did, however, manage to resist buying more Seasilk, although it was priced very nicely, since I have some in my stash that I haven't knitted yet. I got some sock yarn, of course! One skein in Mariners' colors, which was available in self-striping, variegated, or fair isle striping. I got the fair isle one. I also got a skein in WSU Cougar colors, which will be a gift for a friend. Next, I bought a very cute kit that makes five catnip mice. It came with the catnip and the bells and I think my cat will love the finished product. Finally, I could not resist a skein of laceweight hand-dyed merino in a denim color. Gorgeous stuff! And one booth, Pacific Fabrics & Crafts, gave me a free traveler's coffee mug just because I had a knitting project with me. Cool!

Fox Sports Northwest was in the stands talking to knitters and zeroed in on one of the men in our group. I wasn't close enough to hear the interview and haven't been successful in finding an online version, but if I do, I'll make sure to link to it here. Dudes who knit are way cool! Blast the stereotypes out the door, guys!

The ride home took a bit longer than anyone planned due to road construction and a drawbridge that was raised, but we made it safe and sound. It was a very enjoyable way to spend a day.