I took the “Combination Knitting and Cable W/O a Cabling Needle” class. It was such a blast! There were 19 women in the class (plus 3 more that didn’t show up) and Annie Modesitt is one very funny teacher.
The whole class was laughing most of the time. She’d use her body to demonstrate stitches and how they sat on the needles, she had huge wooden needles that she’d hold aloft and demonstrate knitting. And her analogies for the techniques were hilarious.
Her class had philosophy…
Annie Modesitt’s Rule of 5 - Give everything in your life at least 5 chances. With knitting, give it at least 5 rows
And recipes…
She says there’s a dip she loves and uses with Frito’s: Mix a little bit of chopped red onion with equal parts ketchup and peanut butter. Yes, the whole class was a little grossed out and she knew it but she said, “As gross as it sounds, someone in this class will go home and try and then let me know how good it is!”
And the information. Wow! Combination Knitting is wonderfully efficient and makes for a more even tension. If you find some “rowing” in your knitting, I highly suggest you learn this technique. “Rowing” isn’t something I’ve really had a problem with. It’s when the rows in your knitting, particularly stockinette stitch, look uneven. It’s usually because your purling is looser then your knitting. I also like Combo knitting because it takes less yarn, which means… more yarn for me, right? Whatever. Anyway, it’s a great technique.
The class went a little over the designated time frame and when I got home, I was all aglow. Dave said, “You’re never that happy at home!” I corrected him and told him that I AM that happy at home, but since he sees me every day and all day on the weekends, he forgets what it looks like. I told him that if I got out of the house more often (especially in the company of other knitters), he’d remember this happy face more often.
Now for the super-spectacular part of the day…
I got to give Annie a massage! Yes, I emailed her and asked if she’d like a massage Saturday after the classes and she said yes, that would be great! We emailed back and forth and settled on a trade. She gave me (I can’t even think about it without giggling madly) a private lesson!!!
I almost felt bad about it, she was tired and had had a long day already. She taught me all kinds of little things and she ended by showing me how to do an afterthought heel on a sock. The demo sock was one she was making for her son. The yarn was dark and she was having a hard time seeing the stitches she needed to pick up so I helped her (I was closer to the light). I helped Annie Modesitt make a sock! (just kiddin’)
She kept saying she felt like a charlatan showing me these small things and I said, “No way! It’s enormously helpful and I’m learning a lot!”
Then I got to give her a massage. That was so cool! I also felt like a charlatan. It was her first massage ever and while I am a pretty excellent massage therapist, a person’s first massage (with a few unfortunate episodes I’ve heard of) is usually awesome.
We talked and laughed and I, personally, had an excellent time. When we were done, she tipped me with wine, ice cream, her flip-books and this book (which she was gracious enough to sign for me).
What a day, what a night, what a fine time.
Still glowing, Ruth!
P. S. Yes, that's me wearing the Annie Modesitt designed sweater from Stitch and Bitch that I made. It's the first sweater I've made with sleeves! She said it looked really good on me, very flattering and I said it's because it's such a flattering design. (I'm such a geeky suck-up!)
