Return of The Shire Knitting Circle

[Leilah Boffin]

SHIRE KNITTING CIRCLE

((Text stolen from the Way Back Machine circa. 2004- Probably written by Ea or Brandy! The SKC was always my favorite place on the Plaza- I had to bring it back!))

A short walk away from the center of Hobbiton is a small unobtrusive building with a wooden sign flapping in the wind. You see a lush green hill speckled with flowers of a wondrous variety just ahead of you. The flowers sway gently in the warm spring breeze. Your curiosity gets the better of you so you walk up the hill. As you get closer to the little hill, you notice a round green door with curved iron hinges and a bright yellow doorknob. Little oval windows with matching shutters sit on either side of the round door, their sheer curtains blowing softly in the breeze.

You quietly step inside the hobbit hole and are surrounded by wooden desks, benches, and chairs. Scattered throughout the room are various baskets and cubby holes filled with sewing materials and sketch books. Near the door there is a cluttered message board and a long, tattered scroll listing various names. A large but cozy hearth sits in the center wall of the room filling it with a soft light and gentle warmth. To the left is a small kitchen and dining area filled with a long wooden table large enough to seat many people. All the walls are painted a lovely cream color trimmed with chocolate colored wood that criss-cross at the ceiling. Hanging upon the walls are decorative paintings and pictures of hobbit lads and lasses. All about you is the sound of the members chatting, joking, laughing, and working on their projects. You look around the room and realize that you have arrived at the famous Shire Knitting Circle!

Please bring whatever project you might be working on to stitch, or weave, or mend with some company! The kettle is on and I just pulled out a tray of Rhubarb Crumb Cake.

The Knitting Circle is not currently taking orders- just opening the door to see if there are any members floating around out there.<3

[Leilah Boffin]

Tidying up the kitchen, Leilah was filled with such a deep sense of homecoming that she could feel the smile that positively cracked her face in two. Rubbing a cloth over the dark wood table top she could recall so many laughter filled lunches, teas and meals. Jokes and quips would fly effortlessly from the work tables to the chairs by the hearth. Apprentices would bring their projects over to more seasoned menders to work out a tricky buttonhole or solve the problem of a turned collar. Connection and camaraderie filled every loving stitch.

Humming to herself she plopped down into a well worn rocking chair by the window with a steaming cuppa and a square of Rhubarb cake. Taking up her cross-stitch she contemplated if it needed another embroidered moth.



The chairs were empty now, but with luck and the smell of baked goods- the Kitting Circle would be full again someday.

[Eamila Bolger]

Eamila Bolger knocked softly on the door of the Shire Knitting Circle, only to find that it was open already. She had to admit that it was the smell of Rhubarb Crumb Cake that had made her come. She had always wanted to be a good seamstress, but her talents laid more in writing, cooking, baking and gardening. Yet here she was... with a bag full of fabric in a beautiful greenish blue.
'Hello?' she said. 'Ah, hello Leilah! Good to see you!'. She walked in further and saw the stunning work Leilah was doing. 'Wow, that looks awesome! I have a friend from Rohan who would love it too, she makes things that are just as beautiful as that.' She looked again at the bright colors. 'Really beautiful. I should bring our teenage daughter some day, she used to love embroidering. Guess she has the genes of her great grandmother, they seem to have skipped my own mother and me.'
She laughed and sat down. 'Anyway, here I am. I am terrible at needle work, but I need to make a curtain to cover the door of our hobbit hole in the winter, when the cold wind seems to find ways to get in. I am not good at it, so I thought that perhaps I'd be able to get some help here. I want to learn!'

[Istya Alassea]

It was one of those mornings where there wasn't much to do back at Istya's hobbit hole. She figured she could cook, but cooking was such a chore lately and her husband Eldor felt it was his special duty to take over that homemaking role for the time being. It didn't matter so much that he liked to cook just as much as a hobbit lass normally would. At least, that's what he would tell her before he would dash back into the kitchen to try and find his favorite aprons and herbs from the galleries.

So Istya went about Hobbiton's favorite places for awhile until she noticed her old friend Eamila sneaking into what used to be the Shire Knitting Circle. Wondering if this meant it was re-opening, Istya dashed back towards her home for a few supplies (and a quick snack in case she couldn't eat the pie she had been smelling from the doorway) and then returned.

Istya rapped on the door a few raps before stepping inside. Better to be safe than sorry, she thought. But with the door slightly ajar, she felt a bit more confident about walking in.

"May I join you lasses?" she asked pleasantly, pulling out a few stray pink and blue threads from her sewing bag. "I have a few sewing projects of my own, and I can be a little helpless when it comes to making clothes. I wouldn't mind your company either. Good to see you, Ea!"

She then turned shyly to the other hobbit lass she did not know as well. "My name is Istya. What would your name be? Hope you don't mind me joining you both today!"

[Eldrith]

*If one decided to travel after so many years, one might as well make it a good journey. Eldrith did NOT travel. She'd not left Meduseld for years and the last few she'd practically lived as a hermit on the Aern Freablod estate, trying to keep things in order and be self sufficient with a flock of goats, chickens and a kitchen garden. And yet something within recently had been longing back for the days of the inn. The days of friends. She'd taken a scare, sure, but if there really WAS any danger, surely someone would have dragged her from her farm long before now. Taking courage in that thought it had still taken months before she was ready to take the next step: a visit first to a very, very old friend, the only connection to a past that even in Rohan was unknown. Unfortunately when she'd knocked at the door of the well known cozy little hobbit hole, expecting a to see Ea or her children, instead she found the latter perfectly happily playing under watchful eyes and telling her their mom had gone to the knitting circle and wouldn't she come in for a bite to eat. She'd waited years, but now.. she all of a sudden felt herself strangely impatient. And a knitting circle sounded.. nice. Easy. So having found her way around, helped by hobbits who always seemed to know each other's business, she finally hesitantly opened the door, looking for her friend, her materials carefully wrapped in white cloth.*

I.. am sorry.. I hope I am not disturbing...

[Eamila Bolger]

Ea had only just seated when Istya came in.
'Oh, nice of you to join us!', she said. 'Are you making baby clothes? I so love those tiny shirts and pants!' She pointed Istya at the empty seats. 'Do have a seat, it must be pretty heavy to carry your load right now. Even though you look fit as ever!'
She wondered if it would be impolite to get up again and walk over to get herself and Istya a piece of that yummy cake and some tea.
Just when she wanted to ask Leilah about it, the door opened again. Ea looked up, wondering why the light from outside suddenly seemed to be blocked.
'My my', she said. 'We have a visitor from far away, I guess? It's been a while since I met one of the Big Folk. Welcome, welcome milady. Be careful that you don't hit your head when you enter. We were just...' Suddenly her mouth didn't seem to function anymore. She knew this gentle face. She knew those hands, that showed how hard they could work. It couldn't be! Or could it?
'Eldrith! Is that really you?! Of all the miracles in this world! I had not expected you! You are so welcome! How did you get here? And why? I hope nothing serious has happened?''
She realized that she would start talking nonsense if she didn't shut herself up, so instead of talking she took the last two steps that parted her from her old friend and hugged her legs tightly.
'Come, sit down. Let me introduce you to Istya over here, and Leilah who is the owner of this beautiful place. I was actually just going to ask Leilah if I could pour some tea and serve the Ruhbarb Crumble Cake. Oh, we have lots to talk about!'

[Istya Alassea]

When a lady of Rohan entered the hobbit hole, Istya placed her sewing bag on top of one of the chairs so that she could be hands-free for the moment. She then took in all that was in the lady's hands, and a happy and delicious thought crossed her mind. These were definitely ladies who adored their crafts and who were probably better than her in the art of sewing. She could definitely learn from being in the knitting circle.

"Hallo!" Istya said to the lady of Rohan and to Leilah, who she now knew as the owner of the circle. "Good to meet you both. Or should I say, Westu hal? Please feel free to join us."

She finally made space for herself on the chair she had selected, and pulled out exactly what Ea had thought she had seen peeping out of her bag. "Yes, indeed. I am trying to make some basic clothes for our sweet baby on the way. I do not know if it will be for a boy or a girl, so I have to do something for both. My husband is hoping we are expecting a girl. So this little basic dress became my first project. But when I stopped to think about it, I knew we don't know for sure. So this little jumper for the boy became my second project. And that also means I have a lot to do! I feel behind, and I am still learning how to sew."

At the thought of trying rhubarb pie, Istya had to think for a minute. Was that something she could eat? She filed through her thoughts, and realized it more than likely was. So she looked back in the pie's direction, and said aloud, "I do think when my hands are not so tied up that I would like some. It does smell very tasty!"

[Eldrith]

*The moment of hesitance at the entrance was washed away when in the next moment she had her arms full of hobbit: as Eamane reached forth to hug her legs, Eldrith went to her knees to wrap her arms around her, tears rolling over her cheeks. The white cloth in which all had been wrapped forgotten, dropping on the floor with buttons and pins scattering everywhere.*
"No, no.. Nothing is wrong. Everything is well. Well, unless you count a goat helping himself to my cabbages as serious. I... *This, this was right. The same feeling that had finally nudged her out of her isolation had put her on the path to travel here. And now she knew why: she'd missed this. The one link to a past she'd burried. The one friend she'd kept, because she could not bear not to.*

Ah ehm.. *Eamane was the first to gather composure, it took her a bit longer. It took her even longer to start picking up the supplies from where she sat, looking up when her friend introduced Leilah and Istya.*
I am sorry for barging in on you like that. I have missed my friend. And well.. I do all my own sewing, so I figured it might not be inappropriate. That is.. if I take up to much space or am intruding, and congratulations.. *She added at the mention of a baby.* That is a wonderful thing indeed.. I would love some of that pie as well, though I'll finish the pie before I start working.. *she added with a chuckle, glancing at her old friend with utter fondness. Some things did not change.* Wouldn't want to get the filling all over it.

[Eamila Bolger]

Eamila's smile was so wide that she feared her face would split in two, but she couldn't help herself. 'It really is good to see you', she said once more.
'Let's see where you could sit... the chairs might not be comfortable for you, but there's a wooden bench here that might do fine. I'll get you and Istya some of that cake right now.'
She walked over to the table and cut three pieces of cake, each of the same size. After all, hobbits were smaller than big folk, but their stomaches were not...
'Here you go', she said to Istya. 'Do you need a side table or something? Or are you good at balancing plates on top of your belly? As long as your little one is asleep it might be safe, but when he or she wakes up...' She grinned because she remembered a situation about eleven years ago.
'What a lovely fabric you have for that dress and for the jumper! I am afraid that I am not the best teacher when it comes to sewing, but I hope Leilah will be able to help you with that. Or perhaps others? I know that Eldrith here is very good at needlework, at least she makes the most beautiful embroidery.
She looked in the pocket of her apron. 'Look! This is a handkerchief she once made for me. I have always kept it, as a token of our friendship.'
She shook her head. 'Can you believe how long we have been friends now? Really. You still know me by my former name Eämané, while most hobbits here call me Eamila now. I remember that Eämané sounded great when I was traveling through Middle Earth with the FAME like you were. It was... a phase I guess. When I came back, I was so happy to be among hobbits again, and to have left the war far behind, that I decided to go back to the name my parents once gave me. But Eämané brings back so many good memories!'

Suddenly tired, Ea sat down with her cake and decided that all she needed now, was something to eat. 'Like you said', she winked at Eldrith. 'No spilling over fabric... that would be horrible.'

When she had finished, she carefully washed her hands.
'Well now. I hope someone can help me with the mathematics of my project? I have measured the door of my hobbit hole, and from the ceiling to the ground it is 5 foot. It's 3 foot wide. So if I want to have a curtain on the inside of the door on a rod, how much fabric will I need?'
She gave Eldrith a smile. 'Once I have started, I'll be able to chat again! But I have promised Merioldo that I wouldn't only chat, but get some work done here too. I bet he would make an exception if he knew it was you who showed up, but still: I promised to work on that curtain!'

[SidraLockel Eltoran]

Elva Took

Elva shuffled slowly towards the round green door, even on a sunny day her old bones protested the moment. She looked down at her wrinkled hands that held her large wicker basket - full of mending and the corset she was embroidering for her daughter, Leilani – and sighed. Getting old was a terrible thing! One’s mind stayed sharp, but one’s body rebelled. She shook her head, and ran a hand over her hair – it was more gray than golden these days, but she had tied it back with a teal ribbon that matched her skirt and corset. No one said that you couldn’t still dress sharply when you were in your 80’s!

She gave a soft knock on the door before letting herself in. She smiled and gave a little bow of her head to the hostess of the Knitting Circle, Leilah. “Good day, my good Hobbits!” She said brightly to the room, “And what have we here? One of the big folk? Hullo to you too, dearie. I hope no one minds if I take a seat by the fire.” She said, shuffling over to an empty chair next to the hearth. “These old bones are always cold.” She carefully lowered herself into the chair, sighing with contentment once she was settled in her seat.

[Eldrith]

*She did gladly take the bench, and was grateful that she didn't actually need a table to do her embroidery. Instead, she started to assemble the slate frame that had been packed in four rods and four pegs before she took to the pie. She smiled seeing the handkerchief Ea produced, no matter the name, you were her friend.*
I fear I have so little time for stitching these days, I spent most of the time trying to keep the Freablod estate going. And yet .. these last few weeks there's been an urge inside me. Oh not to travel again, like with FAME. Traveling all the way was more than adventures enough. Especially after the goat incident at the estate. I am considering going back to the pub.. at least for a visit. I can help with basic sewing but I was never really good at making things look.. well.. stylish.

*She settled back comfortably on the bench letting her back lean against the wall, considering the curtain dilemma.* Well.. do you want your curtain to fall down in a rectangle? Or be round like the door? *She asked, munching on pie. she ate slower than you did, definitely, savoring the pie bite, by little bite. * It would make the difference between using the circumference or not... I could calculate it for you if you want.
*She looked up when the door opened again, seeing an elderly hobbit woman (Elva) enter and offered a soft smile in greeting.*
I would offer you welcome but it seems like that would be the wrong way around since I am here as a guest. *She said, finishing her pie and rising to go wash her own hands.*

[SidraLockel Eltoran]

Elva Took

Elva smiled at the lady (Eldrith), her grey eyes twinkling. It had been years since she had seen one of the big folk, and this one seemed to be friends with at least one of the Hobbits at the knitting circle. “Guests can always welcome other guests.” She said to Eldrith as she reached into her basket and started shuffling things around. “This isn’t my Hobbit hole, but still, I offer you welcome…to the Shire!”

She pulled a green corset out of the basket, and fumbled around again in the basket before pulling out a needle and a box of bright threads. “If you don’t mind my asking, dearie, where are you from? My daughter, Leilani takes quite an interest in far off places and people…it’s the Took in her.” She said, with a slow nod, as if that explained everything. “I told her she should have come with me today to the knitting circle, but that girl, she’d rather go disappearing in the woods with her cousins, than mending her clothes!” She chuckled to herself. “I am forgetting my manners though, my name is Elva Took. What’s your name?”

[Istya Alassea]

Once Ea introduced Eldrith and Leilah to Istya, Istya tried to get up off her chair. It took her a few tries, but then she finally found herself back up on her feet. "Sorry for being so slow to rise here. I apologize. I am no longer so quick on my feet!" She gave out a laugh and patted her tummy as it squirmed at her again. "But it is great to meet you both! And thank you for the congratulations. Less than two months to go now. And Ea, I think I would like an extra table for the pie. Thank you!"

She then considered Ea's sizing project, and was about to give her own thoughts on the length of the garment when another hobbit lass entered the door (Elva). She waved at her, and then sat back down as she gestured to the chair next to her. She wanted to make sure everyone felt welcome at this gathering so far! "Glad you could join us, Elva."

She started in on her work on the girl's jumper, fumbling a bit with the needle and thread but finally making it work. The thread got through the needle hole, and she was able to tie the knot before continuing on with the outfit.

But as she began to work, she decided she would ask Ea if she would prefer to be called Eamane or Eamila. She totally understood about a hobbit's preferences - she never liked being called Izzie! - and wondered what Ea's was on the matter.

"I may have forgotten your first name was Eamane! Would you prefer for me to call you that? I just ask because I want to hear what your preference might be."

[Eldrith]

*Eldrith's smile as she looked at Elva was warm and bit by bit it seemed as if she eased into the warm and undemanding company.* I live in Rohan. I held a pub there for many a year and then retreated to a small farm.

*It had been an estate once. The Freablod estate, long established and one of the foremost families of the mark. And they'd taken her in, simply on the base of friendship. When one by one the family dwindled and disappeared she had given up her work at the inn and tried to tend to what was left of it. It was a simple life, but a good one. And yet.. recently she'd had this feeling, as if something nagged on her, that she'd become not much more than a hermit, surviving alone. And her footsteps had started towards Edoras once more, before she made this great voyage here.*

I think I am trying to find courage again to live among other people. And seeing my oldest friend here would help, despite the journey it took. Oh..
*She interrupted her own prattling as she saw Istya trying to get up.*
Please.. you should not get up for me..

*There was the awe within her eyes as she looked at your tummy that only belonged to those who'd never had the joy or burden of bearing children within her own body. Though her question caught her interest. Ea had always simply been.. Ea to her, which worked for both names to be honest, but she was not very sure if it brought back memories that perhaps her friend would rather see buried. After all, they both had those.

[Eamila Bolger]

Ea couldn't help it: even though she was among those who were far better at needlework than she was, she did feel perfectly welcome and comfortable right now. She had had her doubts about bringing the fabric for the curtain: after all, this was a knitting circle and now sewing club, but it didn't seem to be a problem.
With a friendly 'Hullo there!' she greeted Elva and she was glad to see how warm Eldrith was greeted and welcomed as well.
'Do sit near the fire, Elva!' she said 'It looks like the perfect place for you. How about I pour you some tea? I was going to get a piece of cake for Istya here as well, would you like some too?'

After bringing Istya both the cake and the table, she noticed that Istya and Eldrith wondered about her name. 'Ah, there is a story behind that', she smiled. 'When I first came of age and left my parents home, I was in a bit of a tween phase I guess and I called myself...' she blushed deeply - *gasp* FriendofFrodo. Later I had an Elven phase in which I decided that Eámanë was a beautiful name. But when that phase too had passed, I realized that I didn't have to look far for a beautiful name. Since everyone had started calling me Ea, I switched to Eamila Bolger. A choice that my parents were very happy with, as they were the ones who originally gave it to me when I was a wee hobbit baby. I think Eámanë perfectly fits the hobbit lass I was when I met you, Eldrith. Longing to look further than our own borders. Wondering what the rest of Middle Earth looked like and especially eager to meet Elves. Well... the March for Therion was an adventure but it also showed me that there is no place like home. So 'Ea' will do all the time, 'Eamila' is really who I am now, but Eámanë brings back fond memories. Y'all may pick whatever name you like best!'

In the mean time, she hadn't done a thing yet but talking here. So she took out the beautiful blue greenish fabric for her curtain and laid it down on the table. 'Good question about the shape,' she nodded to Eldrith. 'I hadn't thought of that. But I think I prefer it not round, but all the way to the ground in a rectangle.'
She looked at Istya who seemed to have an idea about it as well.
'But so wonderful to hear you are going back to the Inn!', she now replied to Eldrith's earlier words. 'The Estate sounds wonderful, but... lonely indeed. But do tell us about the goat incident if you want to? It sounds like a great story to listen to while working!' She giggled because she could visualize lots of situations with goats that could make wonderful stories. Hopefully Eldrith's incident was a good story as well, and nothing too painful that she'd rather not speak of...

[Istya Alassea]

Once both the table and the slice of pie were in front of her, Istya couldn't help herself. Especially when Eldrith insisted she sit back down. Which was a relief for her feet! So she went straight for a bite of the pie, reveling the nicely cooked bite of the rhubarb with the pie filling, and then thanked Ea heartily. She then also made sure to elevate her feet slightly before lying back in her chair to hearing everyone's stories, taking her sewing and knitting work up close to her chest.

Istya continued with the sewing of the pink dress, as she considered Eldrith's story. She then nodded as she thought about Eldrith traveling all this far, and realized what that must have felt. "That is very brave of you to come all this far. So I am super glad you feel comfortable here! Especially to see a friend you are so close to - that makes it worth it!"

When Ea finally gave her reasoning for why she had no real preference, it also made sense to Istya. Ea it is, Istya decided. I think I have almost always called her that.

"Sometimes a name comes after much trial and error," she started saying knowingly to Ea. She then temporarily lost herself in her own life's retelling. "My real name is Lila! I just thought Istya - the Quenyan word for "knowledge" - might be a little more interesting to others I get to meet. And honestly, I wondered if that might really work here in the Shire. But then it really did stick not too lonfgafter I first moved to Hobbiton. But, then, anyway, sorry - enough about me! So, I will continue to call you Ea. I think it's such a pretty name that goes right off the tongue, and it suits you."

[Eamila Bolger]

'Thank you!', Ea blushed. 'It feels right too. Just like yours, Istya. I never realized it was Elvish until a short time ago. It was just... you! That's the nice thing about names. Sometimes you have no knowledge of the beautiful meaning behind them, they just belong to the person behind them and that brings enough good memories. Sometimes though a name can have a special feeling. I remember a hobbit boy long time ago when I was a wee lass. His name was Odo and he teased me all the time. He would throw my schoolbag in the mud, or hang my coat in a tree, childish things like that. For years I didn't like that name. The funny thing is that he ended up living two homes away from ours in Pincup and he is a great neighbor now. He even climbed a tree to help our cat come out, yesterday. I reminded him of my coat and he had no memory of that, can you imagine? All this time that teasing was such a big thing for me when he, as I later found out, just wanted to belong to our group.'
She shook her head and smiled. 'All he could remember is how we kept walking away from him and how terrible that had felt. It was a lesson that I taught my kids: always ask why someone is doing what he does. There may be a different story behind his behavior than you think!'
Ea chuckled. 'I better get on with this sewing instead of talking so much... My, your work is going fast Istya! It looks great!'
'And you, Elva? Are you mainly mending clothes or do you have some new things in mind as well?'