Knitting Classes Extraordinaire

At Kiwi Knitting last weekend we were treated to some extraordinary knitting classes by Cat Bordhi Magical Moebius Knitting, Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas and New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I was delighted to be able to attend two of them.




Finding the Fountain of Fresh Knitting Ideas was a ton of fun. We combined design elements using random numbers and were challenged with planning a knittable garment. It was not only helpful to work together but increased the flow of ideas as we were inspired by each other's ideas and suggestions. The generation of ideas was in full flow when we invented the life story of an almost real person based on simple objects found in almost anyone's home. The stories were fascinating and poignant. Just goes to show what you can do with the mundane. Designs are everywhere.






New Pathways for Sock Knitters was all about the architectures of knitting socks that Cat Bordhi is known for - really amazing. There so many ways Cat has created to accomplish the same thing - a sock that is easier and more fun to knit and better fitting. She is also very generous. Check out her website for links to tutorials showing some of her wonderful heels and Cat's demonstration of Judy's Magic Cast-On - perfect for toe up socks.

All the photos were taken at the Fresh Ideas class by Linda McKittrick. Cat Bordhi shown teaching, smiling with Linda and Lynn, owner of Kiwi. The rest are students in a rare moment of seriousness.

I highly recommend all of her books and any of her classes. Now I have a host of projects ideas. Is there such a thing as a stash of ideas?

To all the Kiwi students to Cat Bordhi's classes - please post comments to the blog. We would love to hear from you.

Back Issues Anyone?
Did you know there back issues of magazines at Kiwi Knitting? Even better - they are 15% off until December 31st! Here is what is available:

• Knitters: Fall 2005; Winter 2007; Spring 2008; Summer 2008; Fall 2009; Winter 2010; K#102 2011
• Rebecca: NR 27, NR 42
• Debbie Bliss: Fall 2010, Winter 2010
• Knitting Traditions: Winter 2010
  
• Knit 'n Style:October 2011, August 2011
• Knit.1: Spring 2007
• Knit Simple: Winter 2005; Winter 2007; Winter 2008; Fall 2009; Spring 2010; Summer 2010; Spring 2011; Winter 2011
• Vogue: Fall 2006; Winter 2007; Holiday 2007; Winter 2008; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Early Fall 2011; Winter 2011
• SpinOff: Fall 2007; Winter 2007; Summer 2008; Fall 2008; Winter 2008; Spring 2009; Summer 2009; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Summer 2011
• Interweave Knits: Fall 2006; Summer 2008; Winter 2008; Summer 2009; Fall 2009; Winter 2009; Spring 2010; Summer 2010; Summer 2011
• Interweave Felt: Special Issue 2008
• Interweave Crochet: Spring 2008; Summer 2008; Fall 2008; Summer 2009; Fall 2009; Winter 2009; Summer 2010; Fall 2010; Winter 2010; Spring 2011; Summer 2011

Meet the Staff at Kiwi Knitting
Deborah Levine: Deborah has been beading since childhood and teaching since elementary school. She enjoys designing stitches, and improving her techniques to help students learn more easily. She especially enjoys watching students conquer new things and making beautiful jewelry that they had not previously imagined.

They're Here... the holidays that is. Are you knitting yet?

It seems early, doesn't it. I feel a bit jarred when I hear a Christmas commercial since it is weeks away. But maybe the retailers have it right. Either that or time is in the fast lane. I have dreams of leisure time to knit for the holidays, watch Christmas movies, enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations and listen to holiday music. It never happens - or definitely not leisurely. It seems that they are here and gone in a blink of a eye and frantically at that.

Well, we can still wish. I wish you lots of knitting time while watching movies and enjoying friends and family. Some of us at Kiwi's will be working on what we learn in Cat Bordhi's classes this coming weekend. There are even more classes coming up. See the newsletter or come by the shop and pick one up. Stay for a relaxing moment or two.

Kiwi Knitting News:

Did you know that there are back issues of knitting magazines available at Kiwi Knitting? A list will be coming soon.

Owner, Lynn Davis, was surprised this week with a book called Knit One, Purl a Prayer: a Spirituality of Knitting". This book includes two Kiwi Klub patterns and comments from an interview with Brigid Connolly. It is dedicated to Lynn!! as well as the owner of the author's other favorite yarn store in Rochester, New York. Look for a book signing event soon when copies of the book arrive in the shop!

The yarn storming is still in progress on the bicycle at Kiwi's. Here are some of the new additions- Daisy Spokes and an R2D2 Banner. See if you can find the tiny gnome. There is still space for more if you are feeling a little rebellion coming on and want to join the yarn storm.





Meet the Staff and Teachers at Kiwi Knitting:

Desi Leotaud: Hi. I have worked at Kiwi for several years but have not been around much in the last two years due to life happening. I am a late thirty-something with two active young kids -three years old and 21 months- and a wonderful husband. We are all native to Tucson and southern Arizona. In the summer months I sit out by a pool and help a friend with private swim lessons by day and am a knitter by night. In the winter months I am a knitter every chance I get day and night. The best thing about working at Kiwi besides all the wonderful yarn? - All the wonderful knitters I get to meet and knit with. See you on Fridays.

Kendra McNally: I was raised in Tucson (in the house where I now live). I went to the Northwestern University and vowed I would never be that cold again. I went to law school at the University of Arizona, spent two years practicing law in Casa Grande, then moved to Los Angeles where I was a federal prosector for 30 years. When I retired, I moved back to Tucson as fast as my feet would carry me. I was taught knitting as a small child by my Great Aunt Mary who was originally from Ireland. I lost interest (acrylic socks in Tucson were not a hit.) Then I started knitting again when I wanted a portable hobby to fill all those communting hours in California. I started teaching after retirement when I showed Lynn one of the the eight Kousa Dogwood shawls I have knit. She asked me if I would teach a class on that. I gulped and said yes. When one of Lynn's teachers moved out of state I was asked to teach more classes. I gulped again and said yes again. After all, I'm still learning myself. The good people at Kiwi have been tolerant of my learning curve and I have found a great community of knitters in a friendly space created by Lynn. I go every year to the Knitter's Review Retreat, have been to both Sock Summits and two TKGA converntions. My two most used teaching phrases are: "Breathe" and "It's yarn, not blood".