The whole Cat Bordhi Thing

If you don't know who Cat Bordhi is this story won't mean a whole lot. So here's a brief who's who. Cat lives on an island and knits. She thinks in ways of island people - outside the box. This thinking shows up in her ideas about knitting socks. She also used to be a school teacher, This also shows up in her knitting. If you want to see her in action go to youtube and search Cat Brodhi. She has several videos on different knitting techniques. If you want to see very different techniques in knitting socks go to Amazon or your favorite book store and look for her books.

Now on to the story.

Two years ago I headed to Chicago to Stitches Midwest to take a couple classes and enjoy the company of some knitting friend from Ravelry. One class was with Cat Bordhi on sock knitting techniques and I was amazed at some of the ideas she came up with. During class I managed a few minutes of her time and we talked about machine knitting vs. hand knitting techniques and somehow I mentioned I love to use garter rib for socks because it's such a quick rib to knit up.

Garter rib is one row of k2p2 and one row of knit. This creates a knit 2- garter 2 rib. Because you're only purling every other row it goes quite quickly.

Back to the story - Cat said she had never heard of this rib and thought it was a great idea and would try it on her grandson's socks. Cool.
I went home with wonderful memories of Stitches Midwest and naturally did a bit of babbling about the classes at my next knit night. The ladies started teasing me that I was Cat Bordhi's new BFF because I talked about her probably more than I should have. I may have mentioned I taught Cat Bordhi something (the garter rib) during my babbling.

Over the next 2 years it has become a running joke in the group. People join our group and I'm introduced as Cat's BFF. I've lived in fear these past 2 years that somehow this story will get to her and she'll think I believe it and I'll end up with a restraining order where I can't come without 100 feet of her. (I know I'm basically paranoid and this would never happen but - if she did hear about it, I would be embarrassed).

Last fall, one of the ladies in my knit group went to Wisconsin and took a Cat Bordhi class. She took a picture of herself with Cat and declared she was now Cat's BFF. This went on till Yarnover. At Yarnover last month Cat was the keynote speaker and also taught a class at Amazing Threads on Sunday. This same lady and another wrote that they were Cat Bordhi's BFFs on the board in the classroom and convinced Cat to take pictures with them. At this point the whole story came out and even though she doesn't know me from a hole in the wall cause this lady teaches over 1000 people a year, well, I was in disbelief. I couldn't believe they had the guts to do this, I wouldn't. But the gauntlet was thrown down and I won't be stopped.

I wrote Cat an email rather tongue in cheek and thanked her for being so kind about this bizarre group of people and wouldn't it be nice if we could prove who her real BFF is and not these "posers". She's such a sweetheart. I got a return email a few days later saying she hopes we can all get a group picture some day and signed it "Your BFF". Will the story continue? Who knows....

Of course, I still have my Elizabeth Zimmermann stories to keep me warm at night and I've let Meg Swanson know she owes me $.23 from a debt her mother left from the late 1970s. Meg is a kind person too and hasn't thought me too bizarre. Knitters are a very strange group of people, me included!

What a Month!

I suddenly realized I hadn't posted anything since before Yarnover. OOPS! The weekend of April 15-19 was an incredibly wonderful and busy time. There's no way to share everything but here's a few highlights.

Thursday-April 15 I picked up a couple Raverly friends at the airport at 2 different times, 2 different terminals and they stayed with the Boys and me for the weekend. I've met many friends through the She-Knits Podcast Small Talk Group and this weekend many of us were going to meet here in Minneapolis. I did get both picked up in time to head over to my regular knit night -another Ravelry group. How great is Rav for meeting knitting!

Barbara and Angela

So when Friday came along we got ready for the gang to meet here at my house for supper and a knit night. The largest gathering of She-Knitters to date and Sharon (She-Knit) would be coming up from Chicago to join us.

Chief was the official knitting bag inspector and, trust me, he did not let one bag go without a proper inspection. His favorite was the felted knit bag - good taste Chief!

Yup, this bag is okay to store yarn. But maybe, I'd fit in there too! - Chief

There was food. Angela made a HUGE batch of lasagna. To say it was good would be an insult to her lasagna. It was Fabulous! We also had the usual - salad- garlic bread, etc. And Lorri brought Snickerdoodle cake and cupcakes. YUMMY!

We managed to stop eating and talking and knitting long enough for a group picture. I have to make a confession here - most of these pictures are not mine. I was a bit busy and forgot to get my camera out for most of the night.

The group comes from all parts of the country - Washington - Minnesota - Massachusetts - Colorado - Oregon - Illinois. I was totally impressed that they would travel so far to come to visit us in Minnesota. But then that's what knitters do - travel anywhere to knit!

Friday ended and most headed back to the hotel to get ready for Saturday and Yarnover.

Saturday was wonderful starting with Cat Bordhi giving the keynote speech. I have to mention over the weekend my biggest fear concerning Cat Bordhi happened. A couple members of my Thursday knit group told her about our running joke about who is her BFF. I knew it would happen one day and I just grateful she has a good sense of humor and didn't take out a restraining order on me! But - I'll save the story for another post. (this is know as a cliff hanger)

Meanwhile - Saturday night we all met up for dinner at a local diner and met a few who couldn't make it Friday night.

Sunday was a small shop hop to Lila & Claudine's and Borealis. Much yarn went home with the gang and a good time was enjoyed by all.

Monday I got Barbara and Angela back to the airport and planned on cleaning the house but Bert had other ideas. Once I piled the bedding on the sofa he declared that this was his new place to sleep and I would be a terrible Mom if I took it away from him.

Normally, he spends one or two nights in the new spot so I figured the bedding could wait to be laundered. There's also a pile on the guest bed that he has claimed. Apparently one pile is for night and one pile is for the day nap.

So here it is 2 weeks later and I still haven't done the bedding because Bert gives me his sad "you won't take this from me" look and I give in. (either that or I'm really lazy and just haven't gotten around to it yet - you decide)

Happy, happy , happy. I love my new nap place! - Bert

Oh Angela - there's still plenty of lasagna in the freezer and I've been enjoying it very much!

And so the fun begins

I've been getting ready for Yarnover weekend lately. I had to finish the top I want to wear. Had to clean the house cause people are coming over. Had to organize the stash closet cause when knitters are around you know they will be getting into the stash! I've done just about everything to get ready except get food. Guess making some brownies and going shopping is on the list for this afternoon.

I've mentioned a few times that a bunch of my Ravelry buddies are showing up this weekend for knitting fun. From Thursday afternoon till Monday morning all I'll be thinking about is these friends and knitting. What could be better!

So I won't be posting for a few days but come Monday I hope to have lots of fun pictures of knitting and knitters, the places we have all been, and the projects we are all working on. Hope your weekend is just ad fun (but I doubt it!!)

Side note - while I'm having fun, Chief will be playing host and Bert will be hiding. I hope my poor scared little guy survives several days of people in HIS house!

If you need me I'll be in the closet - Bert

Healed Heel & Fun Yarn shops

I've had the past few days off and have enjoyed them quite a bit. Today was a doctor appointment. We took x-rays and poked my foot. In the end he declared my foot healed. It will take time to be fully back to a normal foot but there's no reason to come back to see him unless something bizarre comes up. The doctor continues to be amazed at how quickly I healed and how much strength is already back to my tendon. I managed to wear a real shoe for a couple hours yesterday and today but I can tell my foot isn't ready for a full day of normal shoes yet. But - I'm getting there faster than normal. Yea foot!

The fun part of the past couple days was getting ready my visitors next month. As part of Yarnover the weekend of April 17th I'm hosting several ladies from the SheKnits Podcast group on Ravelry. We've known each other for quite a while but most of us have never met in person. That weekend we'll be having a big party.
Thursday night there's my regular knit night group and some of the She-Knitters will be coming along.
Friday night will be knit night at my house for the group.
Saturday is Yarnover with a dinner at a local restaurant that evening.
Then Sunday for those interested we'll be doing a Shop Hop. So naturally I had to go visit a couple shops I don't normally get to and check out directions and schedules to be sure they are open Sunday.

Yesterday I went to Borealis. I live on the west side of the cities and don't get over to the east side too often. At Borealis I was greeted immediately and when I explained I was there to check out the place for a shop hop I was given a tour of where the yarns were and had a great chat with the staff member (sorry I can't remember her name). Not once did she try to sell me anything. She was just friendly and wanted me to be comfortable. That's the kind of service that makes you want to come back and buy at that shop.

Today I drove to the northeast end of the cities and went to Lila and Claudine's. I had heard about this shop and would have gone there sooner but its down a flight of stairs and I wasn't sure my foot could make it there until now. All I can say is - WOW! The shop is my kind if place. Colors and yarn and big stuffed chairs to sit in and knit. Friendly people. My first impression was like walking into a Mary Engelbreit picture. When I talked to Kirsten and one of the ladies who works there (again sorry, I'm terrible with names) I felt like they were old friends.

Planning a Knitting Party

This weekend was very exciting. A few weeks ago a conversation got going about some of us in the She-Knits Podcast group on Ravelry getting together live and in person. I casually mentioned the Minnesota Knitter's Guild Yarnover which take place in April. We're in the middle of the country - the list of teachers is GREAT - we have a ton of Yarn Shops for a yarn crawl the same weekend. I pretty much was bragging up Minnesota. Then something happened.

Some of the gang said they were going to come. Sometime during this weekend it became a very real thing and the party is on! I'm having some of them staying at my house. We're talking other things to do before and after the Yarnover. It's totally taken on a life of its own. YEA!

Now - here's the problem. I have 6 months to get the house into the shape that I think it should be for people to stay who will probably never see the house again and this will be their only opinions of my homemaking skills. I know - they'll all say, don't worry, it'll be fine. But - I was raised by an obsessive hostess/must do for everyone else kind of person. It's been drummed in my head to be the perfect hostess. This is the reason why I rarely have people over to the house - I live with my mess and a lot of cat fur hanging around the house (see last post).

Time to make a list. Paint the bathroom. Set up the loom. Clear the crap from around the studio. I can do this and still maintain my life and sanity because - unlike my Mother - when I fail to get everything I think should be done complete -I'll still have everyone here, I'll enjoy myself, and I'll make some self deprecating jokes about what a terrible housekeeper I am and that will be that.

Yarn events in my future

Around the country we have billions and billions of yarn gathering opportunities. Come fall everyone starts talking about Rhinebeck. recently was Stitches Midwest. Before that Sock Summit. Of course, there are also smaller gatherings - local knit groups, classes at your LYS and so much more.

Having all these choices really can be traumatic. I wanted to go to Stitches Midwest but decided I couldn't get enough time off to make the trip to Chicago worth it. Now I've got some friends from Ravelry trying to convince me to go to Rhinebeck. I really want to go, but finances in these current times are tight. Rhinebeck is a huge gathering and would be great to go. I know I'd have fun. I really want to meet up with my net-friends. Will the airfare fates be kind to me? Looks like I have some serious airfare hunting and thinking to do this weekend.

Another yarn gathering coming up this spring is the Minnesota Knitter's Guild's annual Yarnover. Every April this group of volunteer's gets teachers from around the country for a one day event. It's held at a local high school and includes a vendor area. The keynote speaker this year (April 2010) will be Cat Bordhi. Other instructors include: Beth Brown Reinsel, Carol Rhoades, Cookie A, Edie Eckman, Franklin Habit, Gayle Roehm, Ginger Luters, Jared Flood, (aka Brooklyn Tweed), Judy Pascale, Lily Chin, Lucy Neatby, Margaret Fisher, Romi Hill, Susanna Hansson, Meg Swanson and Amy Detjen. (list is from the Ravelry Yarnover 2010 group). Pretty impressive for a local gathering! If you join MKG for 2010 during the month of December you get first pick at classes. This is one event I will not miss and I'm hoping some of my net-friends will be able to come and enjoy it with me.