Cat Bordhi, a renowned knitwear designer, innovator, teacher and advocate for the fiber arts, died September 19, according to a Facebook announcement from her daughter, Jenny. Cat had been diagnosed with cancer and announced in July that she was dying.
In that note she released a free cowl pattern, the Rio Calina, pictured above. It’s a lovely ribbed strip with cables randomly scattered about (because “rivers never make plans”) then folded and sewn together to make a double-layered cowl. I may be casting one on today.
She also shared some thoughts with Ann Shayne, who generously shared them on Modern Daily Knitting, which are a lovely meditation on knitting and life. It reads in part:
My greatest joy IS being able to help my students discover that they are capable of so much more than they dreamed. They realize that they can make changes and handle the outcome, can be creative, and can trust themselves both in knitting and beyond. Knitting has the most marvelous ability to free up the knitter as a human being, while masquerading as innocent knitting. It is actually the best personal trainer you will ever find, offering spiritual guidance all along the way. I am so glad this is what shall carry me Home over the next week or so. That and the arms and love of my daughter Jenny, grandson Charlie, and small circle of devoted friends and family, and vast circle of knitters—like you. I thank you for your love and patience and goodness. May we all go Home with needles and yarn in our arms.
Her Momo Cowls collection is the last collection she released. It includes a dozen designs for moebius cowls (a technique she invented) using colorwork in a way that hides the floats even though there is no wrong side to a moebius. The technique is one she taught in retreats but wanted to release more widely before she died.
She says “Knitting a MoMo can be a springboard to freedom. In my island retreats, I’ve noticed that nearly everyone who knits a MoMo makes more than one, and many knitters design their own even if they’re never designed anything before.”
The ebook is $10.
You can also honor Cat’s legacy by knitting a regular moebius. If you have access to Craftsy right now, her moebius class is delightful (and it looks like you can download the patterns even if you don’t buy the class, though if you take good notes while watching you can complete the projects without the patterns as well). You’ll get a taste of how delightful Cat was from watching her explain her techniques and to see the fun she was having to share her ideas with others.
You can find all of her books and ebooks on her website, including books on sock knitting, moebius designs, felted footwear, fingerless mitts and more.
Do you have a Cat Bordhi memory or have you knit one of her patterns? I’d love it if you shared your stories here.
[Photo: via CatBordhi.com]
Check out these books dedicated to Knitted Cowl Patterns
still looking for more cowl patterns? Check these out on Etsy.
Thank you for honoring Cat’s legacy here. As a new knitter I was fortunate to travel to Iceland with her in February 2019. From the sheep to the mill to the dyer we learned yarn but her infectious enthusiasm, sense of adventure and hearty laughter taught us to love the process and practice of the craft. I feel very fortunate to have spent that precious time with Cat.
So saddened to hear this, Cat was a huge influence for me as a knitter and her patterns and general approach gave me the confidence to explore and design things myself ?
I’ve knitted over a dozen Anemone hats. Some folks have requested a second one. And as Cat said – they never fail to elicit a smile from a passer by on the sidewalk. She will be missed.
She inspired me to think about knitting in a different way. I loved her creativity. i never met her but am sad she is gone from our midst.
I first discovered Cat Bordhie many years ago when a LYS introduced me to knitting socks with two needles. Then I attended a seminar on the beautiful coast of Oregon. I learned about Mobius knitting. Magic. I followed all I could find about Cat Bordhie. The best seminar for me was sailing around the San Jaun Islands as we knit socks. I refer to her videos often. I cherish my memories.
What a loss for the knitting world. My favorite story – I was at a yarn shop in Anacortes, Washington. I was standing in line to pay and the lady in front of me was trying to decide whether to buy a book by Cat. I told her she should definitely buy it because Cat was a knitting genius. The lady behind me in line said, “Thank you!” I turned around and it was Cat! I was so glad I said something complimentary.
Oh that’s a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing!