What a weekend! The Magical Moebius Festival was even more fun this time around. Cat Bordhi was amazing as always. Her new sock designs are going to knock your socks off! Unfortunately for you, unless you were at the festival you won't be able to see the new designs until New Pathways for Sock Knitters comes out in June or July. We were sworn to secrecy, so I can't tell you or I'd have to kill you! Therefore, the photos in this post are cleverly designed to distract from that sock knitting business and get straight to the people, colors and moebiusness that made the festival so fun.
First of all, Cat and Nancy Parsons (who puts on the festival) had a little dance where in they tried to show how stitches are created. This left the rest of us in stitches.
Secondly, we had over 2 dozen amazing women to knit and share stories with. Notice the windows there that were overlooking the Pacific in all its glory.
Thirdly, the yarn available for purchase was amazing. Nancy brought a huge stash of Fleece Artist and Hand Maiden yarns. If you are interested in purchasing some of this luscious yarn check out her online shop, Colorsong Yarn. Michelle brought a whole bunch of different stuff from her shop (Fiber Nooks and Crannys) in Corvallis.
This is tilting blocks scarf made with Fleece Artist Sea Silk that I picked up in Portland last November. I finished it just in time for the festival so I had to make a beach trek to get a portrait.
We had two surprise attendees to the festival- none other than the Mason-Dixon Knitting chicks, Ann Shayne and Kay Gardner! They were kind enough to give a presentation on Saturday night and also signed books. I knew they were coming ahead of time and so had brought my copy. I was also thrilled to be sitting with Kay when we did the moebius and I helped her with the cast on! She was a quick study, so just a few pointers were about all she needed. Ann and Kay are really as funny in real life as they are on their blog, so it was a treat to talk to them.
They showed us some of the items from the book as well as this lovely new blanket made by their friend Ann Breuchner, who also attended the festival. This Ann is the one who made the gorgeous Flying Geese blanket in the Mason-Dixon book. She was also a treat to meet because she has so many incredible ideas. I absolutely love this blanket and was inspired to start my own.
We learned a great new provisional cast on created by Judy (who attended the festival) it's on Knitty and is well worth learning. It's called Judy's Magic Cast On. I started my toe up sock with this cast on. I'm up to the heel on this one, but I can't show you yet because it's made with Cat's sockitecture.
On Saturday morning we had a good rainstorm and the waves were huge. In the afternoon the sun came out and it was beautiful, though still chilly. I took a little walk before dinner where I saw this Vietnam Memorial. It's set up so that on April 30, which was the day the war ended, the spire will cast a shadow on the granite wall behind it. I'm still not sure of the significance of the egrets, but I thought they were cool.
I can't read the whole quote, but it starts, "Light is an appointment we must keep when we are all quiet..."
In the same park was this monument to the whales who pass by on their annual migration.
I also like this statue in the park.
On Saturday evening we said our goodbyes to Ann, Kay and Ann who had to leave for home early Sunday morning.
Cat, Nancy, Ann, Kay, Ann
me and Cat
Ann, Ann, me and Kay
How many knitters can you fit inside a moebius?
It was a glorious weekend full of fun and friendship. I hope some of you will consider it in the future!
