Fingerless Glove Perfection

I've somehow stumbled into a wonderful little community of people who have started making a tradition of monthly theme meals together, adorably dubbed "The Supper Club."  

Last night being the first Thursday of the month, I got to close up the shop and bike on over for a fantastically relaxing evening...especially because this month's theme was comfort food.

Mushroom Garlic Lasagne

(While I did not technically make this for last night's soiree, I have been eating it all week and didn't take any pictures at the party last night, and with its total chewy cheesy goodness, it's a good stand-in for what was actually consumed last night.)

It's a sweet little monthly tradition, and reminds me of the year I spent in Seattle before moving down here to PDX; I lived in a co-op of five, and every Sunday night we'd have "family dinner," a rotating potluck with a pretty solid group of 15 or so, held at a different house each week.  

I was always totally amazed at how much effort everyone put into the one thing they contributed, whether it was kale-and-red-quinoa salad or goji berry raw chocolate cacao spread (this should totally reveal the true character of this co-op I found myself living in, right?)

Same went for last night -- homemade chicken pot pies, caramelized Brussell sprouts with bacon, baked beans, cajun sweet potatoes, real mac & cheese, garlicky collard greens, green bean casserole, numerous bottles of wine, and orange walnut cake for dessert...it was incredible.

But what made it even better was that after dinner, retreating out to the host's adorable little wisteria-covered patio to sip hot toddies out of big mugs (as decadent as this sounds, it was no match for last month's supper club -- Mediterranean themed -- in which an entire bottle of Ouzo was consumed before the guests retreated home for the night), I realized that we are right smack in the middle of fingerless glove weather.

We've got this pattern for sale in the store, too!

I'm one of those people who gets really nervous about being cold, so I always over-layer and arrive places with my bag bulging with whatever scarf, hat, or jacket I haven't donned yet.  But last night, enjoying the evening in some hand-knit fingerless gloves, I was totally at temperature equilibrium.  The hot toddy may have also helped.

Evolution Mitts by Miriam Felton
Purchase the pattern for these gloves online, or when you come into the shop!

Make 'em for yourself, make 'em for your friends.  Fingerless gloves only take about 2 oz. of yarn, and whip up quicker than a pair of socks.  Kits are here in the store for $8 each (includes enough yarn for a pair of gloves, and the pattern), or make your own yarn out of your favorite colors!