You know I’m pretty much a monogamous knitter. I like having one, or at most two, projects on the needles. That makes it easier for me to get things done. Right now I have two projects, my Half the Knit Sky KAL and the emPower People Brioche Bandana. Oh, didn’t I tell you about that one?
The emPower People Project is “a craftivism project aimed at uniting crafters of all mediums to engage people across communities to spark conversation, engagement and action in the political process to uphold social justice and human rights.“ Link here. The project is a bandana to knit, crochet, Tunisian crochet, or sew as a catalyst for conversation and change. And now there’s a brioche knit version by Nancy Marchant, so I decided to try it. You can download your pattern at the link, but the version of the brioche pattern on Ravelry is currently much more complete than the one on the website.
OK, two projects on the needles. But now comes word that Cat Bordhi is dying of cancer. She has always been such a bright light in the knitting community with her brilliant inventive mind and warm personality. Her grace-filled post is here. She’s offering the gift of her Rio Calina cowl pattern to everyone. She says, “It teaches you to let go and allow the spatial brilliance and inherent grace of nature create a unique stream of cabled rivulets. I like to imagine that this technique can soothe and heal all manner of troubles…and is so so beautiful to watch emerging. And I would love for thousands of knitters to be knitting this design…it is truly beautiful.“
How can I say no to that appeal?
I met Cat Bordhi at Sock Summit 2009. I had a six hour class on different sock architectures with her. Such a great teacher.
It was in this class that I met Elizabeth DeHority, when she shared her Cat Bordhi Aha yarn with me. Elizabeth was on a Make a Wish-type trip for Sock Summit, and I had the honor of knowing her for a few years. She passed away in 2015.
Sock Summit blog post here, if you want a blast from the past.
In the meantime, I’ll be looking through my stash to see if there are two matching skeins of worsted.
PDXKnitterati 
Jesus, Michele – you bring terrible news. I have loved Cat Bordhi for a long time, across the thousands and thousands of kilometres. She is (as are you) a kind and generous woman, and I’m appalled to discover that we’re going to be without her. I’ve just been sending an email to her special address, and there are many tears.
She is a shining star in the knitting world. I’m going to send her an email in the next few days, once I get a bit of Rio Calina looking like it’s going somewhere.
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What a lovely idea, Michele !
On a lighter note, that’s a really lovely photo of you ..
I am so happy she put the word out. Cat can see the tributes to her and know how much she meant to everyone whose lives she touched this way.
Yes, exactly. I’m going to write to her after I get Rio Calina up past the first few inches. Pictures!
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That is sad news – I have never met her, but she seems like a lovely lady, and so creative and kind.
On a lighter note -When a project comes along, you must WIP it!
‘Zactly!
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