I found this originally posted by Cat Bordhi on Ravelry within the Sock Summit 2009 discussion group. I’m reposting it here because I felt it summed up a lot of what I’ve been feeling lately.
November 3, 2008
Heal the Election Wounds and Embrace Humanity with a Moebius
By Cat Bordhi
I awoke this morning realizing that publicly knitting a beautiful Moebius scarf as I begin to float (I live on an island), drive, and fly toward Stitches East on Tuesday would be a beautiful and profound public expression of my hopes and dreams for the world, as well as a symbol of the healing that our country will need after the election.
If you want to follow along, I recently made a Youtube video which will clearly teach you how to knit a Moebius whether you have my books or not.
So - here is why the Moebius is a perfect expression of the best of humanity, and the healing of the fractured country and world that I trust is coming:
The Moebius appears to have two surfaces and two edges - ie, polarities such as black and white, right and wrong, good and bad, Republican and Democrat - but when you follow the surface around you will run right into your starting point without ever having changed to the other “side.” For there isn’t one. Everything flows into itself. Polarities are an illusion. What lies beneath the apparent polarities is oneness, beauty, and grace. In a Moebius you can see it, hold it, be awed by it. Once the frenzy dies down, hopefully those with opposing views will slowly rediscover their common humanity.
Like the surface that flows into itself, so too does the Moebius’s single continuous edge - thus everything is recycled. In fact, I would not be the least bit surprised if the ultimate alternative energy involves a Moebius form or dynamic. By the way, the recycling symbols (2 are in common usage, one with a single twist, the other with 3) you see everywhere are actually Moebii (too hard to say Moebiuses - try it!). I think we are all hoping for significant and effective new discoveries in alternative energy - and the Moebius would be a great symbol for this global effort.
Once you complete the first ring (it takes 2 rings to make a round - watch the video) of your Moebius, you are in for smooth and happy sailing. All you have to do is to knit the stitch in front of you, then the next stitch in front of you, with not a care in the world for what came before or what has shifted into the “future”. You’ll look at the mysterious shape on your needles and wonder how “those stitches” can ever come to you … well, they will, without your needing to understand how. And they will all come in perfect sequence, resulting in a beautiful and graceful Moebius. The Moebius rewards your faith in its mystery with the easiest knitting you will ever do. And the result is always graceful - for this is the very nature of the Moebius. You can knit along while you watch the election results, while walking, while standing in line at the store, wherever you may find yourself during these days to come. You will be knitting the graceful healing and ease that I believe is flowing toward us, requiring only of us that we stay true to the powerful sense of loving kindness that resides in the center of every person. No one could ever possibly understand enough to make the healing happen, but if we all just knit the stitch before us, as they come, marveling at the innocence and sweetness of it all, with our oh so familiar continuous strand of yarn, the healing will happen. We need not understand either one fully - the Moebius or the world. They both operate with inherent grace.
I looked through my stash and chose a luminous yarn in deep watery colors from Blue Moon Fiber Arts - LSS (Luscious Single Silk), and did not realize until I looked at the label that the colorway is absolutely apropos: Lunasea. Tina no doubt named the colorway after the moon and the sea - and after lunacy. So let the lunacy of the election months give way to Lunasea - the grace of the moon, the sea, the Moebius, and the beautiful heart of humanity, of all people, the “us” and “them” who merge into one. I shall be winding the skein on the ferry tomorrow, then knitting all the way to Baltimore. I hope to see many, many of you there.
With love from Cat Bordhi
Note: If you alternate sets of knit and purl rounds, you will have purl ridges all around. Then your Moebius will not curl along the edges when you are done.
I’ve seen too many people hurt over this election. Please let the healing begin, and no matter what the outcome after today, let’s get behind our new president and band together as Americans and support eachother to make this world a little brighter, better place.
Once again, I’ve tossed all my other projects aside because I’ve become smitten with something new. I cast on this Wonderful Wallaby sweater on Sunday night, and here’s the progress I’ve made thus far (please excuse the picture quality as these were taken with my cellphone)…
Pattern: Wonderful Wallaby by Cottage Creations Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in “Grape” (#9871)
That’s my progress as of lunchtime on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (today). I’m ready to start the ribbing at the neckline, then the hood, and then I’ll be ready to weave in all the ends and be done! Wowee was it ever a fast knit! Then again, it’s only a children’s size 2, but we’ll ignore that part, heh.
Anyway, I need to finish my little fling with this project so I can get to all the other things waiting on their needles for my attention. Christmas is right around the corner, I’m afraid, and though I got an early start, I’m falling woefully behind on my holiday-knitting. Bah-humbug!
Once again, I have to apologize for falling off the face of the blogosphere. Life has just been crazy lately. I went home for a week to visit, then my mother came to Nashville to visit us, and this upcoming weekend my in-laws are coming. I’ve been knitting, but I haven’t really been blogging about it. My Ravelry account (both my projects page and my yarn stash) are really in need of updating. I feel so behind!
I’ve been in what some might call a knitting-rut; but to be perfectly honest, I think I’m facing a severe case of pattern-addiction. But really, it’s not as if it’s a bad thing. It’s just a new thing for me. Normally I’m a knit-it and leave-it kind of girl. I knit a pattern once, or maybe twice (Monkey socks being the only ones that have had multiple goes). But suddenly I’m a changed knitter. I currently find myself compelled to knit the same three patterns over and over. I can only say that there must just be something extra special about these that has me addicted. If you haven’t tried them, I suggest you do; quite possibly you’ll get caught up too.
Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise Jacket — I’ve knitted three of these so far, and have the yarn to cast on a fourth. I’m teaching classes for it on the 7th and 21st of September, so I have an excuse… right?
Jared Flood’s Turn a Square Hat — I’ve knitted three so far, and I’m on to number four. This is such a quick, fun, and gratifying project!
Pepperknit.com’s Leyburn Socks — To be honest, I haven’t finished my first pair of these yet, but I’m absolutely in LOVE with the pattern.
I’ve also been working on a custom project: a Charlie Brown sweater!
The one I’m knitting is going to be a Christmas gift. My friend, Pam, from the knit shop had wanted to make one for her nephew and asked if I could come up with a pattern. Once I started test-knitting my zig-zag chart, I decided it was just TOO cute to not knit one myself as well. We’re both knitting it in a children’s size 6 and using Encore Worsted yarn. I can’t wait to see how it turns out.
One:Twist Collective is up and running today. Go look. Now. Seriously. Spectacular sock patterns and sweaters - WOW. I’m loving the Lily sweater and I can’t decide whether to start the Oolong socks or the Empoisonnée socks first.
Two: The 2nd anniversary kits are up for sale at The Loopy Ewe. I placed my order this morning. A TLE coffee mug?! TOO CUTE!
Three: Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to my Secret Pal partner. I’ll be e-mailing you later to thank you personally, and I’m sorry I haven’t written you sooner (life has been crazy). Just look at this…
Go see the Flickr page for the image to see labels on exactly what each item is. So many lovely scents… my favorite, lavender, along with some berry and mango scented items thrown in for variety. Yum! AND a fantastic Envirosax bag (::squee::) and as always, a wonderful personal note. Seriously, ya’ll… I have the best secret pal ever.
I finished my lovely hemp capelet. I washed and blocked it, wove in the ends, and sewed on the buttons. I put it on. It fell off my shoulders.
I was so bummed.
My first thought was to move the buttons inward away from the edge to sort of “suck up” the extra inch or two that needed adjusted. But I was too frustrated to deal with it immediately.
So I took it to the knit shop when I went in to teach a couple classes on Saturday. Sharon suggested a crochet edge for the neckline, and was even kind enough to do it for me. Ya know what? It did the trick! Now it fits perfectly! It looks great and feels great.
Right now it’s on display at the shop, so if you want to check it out in person, that’s where you’ll find it. Feel free to try it on, and be sure to grab a copy of the pattern and some of the beautiful allHempLUX6 to knit one up for yourself!
Tonight I’ll be at the knit shop again (it’s my home away from home, seriously) to start on the Firefly Mobius.
The pattern was designed by Sharon Shoji and was in the Fall ‘07 issue of Knitscene. (You can purchase the back-issue here or the individual pattern here.) We’re doing this as a knitalong rather than a structured class. (Thanks to Becky who stumbled upon this pattern and got us all interested in knitting it!!)
Also on my needles: St. Louis socks in Socks that Rock Lightweight, in the “Pond Scum” colorway. I now know why people love STR so much. Mmmm. Can’t wait to place another order from Blue Moon. (*ahem* Not that I don’t have enough sock yarn or anything…) I started turning the heel on the first sock at lunchtime today. I’ll try to get a picture to post in my next entry!
Before I left to work yesterday morning, I was looking for a project to bring with me to work on during lunchtime. I nearly always work on socks, but today I was in the mood for something different.
So I dug all the way to the bottom of my knitting bag, and crammed in there was my Gust Scarf. The poor thing has been hibernating in the bottom of my knitting back since back in April when I cast it on at a class that Julie taught.
I was relieved to find that the yarn wasn’t broken off or tangled up. I expected it would have been, because it’s a delicate cashmere and silk blend: Filatura Di Crosa Superior. Working with it, it almost feels like it is going to break apart in your fingers. (In reality, though, it’s much stronger than it seems.)
I’d put this scarf aside because at the time, it felt too difficult. I could only work on it in absolute silence, else risk getting my YOs and K2Togs all messed up. But working on it this afternoon, I discovered how far I’ve come along as a knitter. Suddenly it wasn’t difficult anymore. I made it through almost one entire chart repeat in a little over a half hour. While that’s still slow by some standards, it was pretty fast for me.
I think that knitting lace on socks has helped me progress quite a lot. Being a bit thicker and less fuzzy, lace with sock yarns just wasn’t as intimidating as this scarf initially was. Now that I’ve worked my way through some lace with fingering weight yarns, I feel much more able to tackle this. Now I can’t wait to finish it! I wish you all could feel it… it’s so yummy.
I also had the opportunity to pick up some really fun new yarn at the knit shop this weekend. They’d recently gotten an order from Hemp for Knitting. The allhemp6LUX caught my eye, as did all the lovely patterns. I wound up with 4 skeins of the allhemp6LUX in the veridian colorway along with this pattern.
I started knitting it on Saturday afternoon and I cast off late Monday night. It was a super quick knit! I washed it Tuesday night and it’s was still a bit damp last night, so I left it to dry. It should be dry enough tonight so I can weave in my ends and sew on the buttons, and it will be ready!
I’ll let you know how it turns out. I’m really anxious to see how the hemp feels after washing, and I can’t wait to see how it looks on!
Oh ya, I’m bustin’ out the big-size picture for that one! This is the new color from Namaste, apparently. It’s called “peacock.” At least, I know I haven’t seen it before and it wasn’t available when I ordered my bag a couple weeks back. I’d ordered the olive color, which is definitely lovely. But this color… is my color.
As a matter of fact, I cast on a Clapotis tonight out of Malabrigo Worsted that just so happens to be pretty much the exact same color! Hey, at least I have consistant taste when it comes to my color choices.
So anyway, I am so freakin’ excited about this bag! Like I mentioned, I’d ordered the Cali Laguna a couple weeks ago and it was due to come in sometime in mid-June, I believe. Well tonight, Pat (the owner of my much-loved LYS) walked in with this bag on her arm, which I believe she brought back from TNNA. Everyone fell in LOVE with the new color. I commented that I’d wished I had waited to order mine because I liked this color even better than the olive … and she let me have this one!
… So yes, I think that makes reason #9,879 why I love my LYS.
I’m planning on carrying this as a purse and knitting bag. I already found spots for my wallet, checkbook, chapstick, and cell phone (I’m a just-the-essentials kinda girl when it comes to that stuff). I still have tons of room leftover. I think I could easily carry three small projects (like socks or small lace scarves) or one big project and a small one. I can’t believe how roomy this bag is! No more carrying two bags to work every day! I’ll have pleny of room to tuck a paperback novel in here too. Yay!!
Speaking of projcts, I have maybe 20 more rows to go and then I’ll be done with my Hug Me shrug. It’s technically supposed to get a crochet edge, but I think I may leave it off. I could always go back and put it on later if I feel like it. I can’t wait to take it to work. I’m planning on keeping it in my cubicle for those days when I get chilly (which is pretty much every day — our office’s a/c is COLD!).
So because I was almost done with that, I decided to go and cast on a new project. (Heh, heh.) As I mentioned, I’m working on my very first Clapotis, using Malabrigo worsted. I’ve never knitted with Malabrigo before, but I’d heard such good things about it that I was really psyched when my LYS got it in stock. I got 4 skeins in the Emerald colorway. Emerald doesn’t really describe it, in my opinion. It’s much more teal or peacock-colored rather than emerald. I noticed that the skeins are twisted so tightly that it’s kind of deceptive — it doesn’t feel nearly as soft on the skein. But knitting with it? Oooohh heaven. I think I have a new favorite yarn, at least for worsted-weight.
Finally, I started sketching a cute little fair isle pattern in my knitting-notepad today. I know it’s not very complex, but I’m really liking it. Who knows when I’ll actually have time to attempt knitting it up though. But I do have the yarn I want to use… he he.
Anyway, it’s late and I’m on this kick where I’d like to attempt to get my lazy arse out of bed early in the morning to exercise (I desperately need to shed some pounds, and it’s waaaay too damn hot to work out in the afternoons) and eat a healthy breakfast. We’ll see that goes. ;) But if I’m going to stand a chance, I best get to bed soon…
Thanks to accelerated/AP English classes in high school, I learned to hate reading. Or more accurately, I hated the reading that was assigned to us. On the rare occasions we got to choose a book to read, I usually liked my choice quite a lot. (A Clockwork Orange was one of those few.) I’ve only recently started learning to really enjoy reading again, and that’s because I came to the realization that reading doesn’t always have to teach you deep lessons on life, nor do you always have to pick books apart looking for themes and motifs and hidden meaning. I guess you could say I’ve rediscovered the idea of reading for just pure pleasure.
Just lately I’ve been devouring all the “knit-lit” that’s being published right now. Combining my interest in knitting with a good story? — Heck yes!
The first bit of knit-lit that I read was The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs. I absolutely loved it, and it’s still probably my favorite in the genre. I’ve heard there’s plans of making it into a movie too, which would be fantastic.
I’ve also been reading Debbie MacComber’s Blossom Street series. I just picked up the third book, Back on Blossom Street. I guess Debbie MacComber is “technically” a romance-writer. I know I feel awkward (and a bit dirty) browsing for her books in the romance section of the bookstore. (Not that there’s anything wrong with romance novels; it’s just that those Fabio-graced covers kind of squick me out!) But her books are well worth it. She’s really good at making you care about her characters.
Then there’s all the knit-lit books that fall into the mystery category. Both Maggie Sefton and Mary Kruger have written knitting mysteries. I’ve read Maggie Sefton’s Knit One, Kill Two and I’m almost finished with Needled to Death. Her books qualify as a sort of guilty pleasure. They’re rather repetitive (see Alison’s blog post) and maybe even a bit cheesy, but I can’t help wanting to read all of them. I’ve heard that Mary Kruger’s knitting mysteries are better, so I picked up her book, Died in the Wool, as well. Come to find out, that’s her second book though, so I need to go back to the store and get the first one.
Finally, while not knitting-related, Kelley Petkun’s blog recently mentioned the Coffeehouse Mystery series. Being that coffee-addiction and fiber-addiction are my two biggest vices, I decided this series of books was probably right up my alley as well. I can’t wait to read the first book.
Tonight I’ll be at the knit shop again (it’s my home away from home, seriously) to start on the 
