It is hard to write a post of loss that hasn’t happened yet, but is impending. And yet, my thoughts are consumed by this person, and I need to write about how I’m feeling.
Yesterday I received a letter of goodbye from the notable knitter Cat Bordhi. As I read through her explanation of how she is coming to terms with the end of her life, I was both saddened and inspired. Cat always has written from the heart, with passion, enthusiasm and humor. This letter was both to us and for us so that she could leave us on her own terms, and do so gently.
Long before I met her, I saw a pattern for a cowl made with a Möbius cast on. At the time I didn’t have a clear idea of what that meant or just how ingenious this form is in knitting. I can’t even begin to understand how she figured out how to do it. As I learned more about her process for inventing and reinventing the architecture of socks, I had to say that her brain is located in a completely different universe. I am grateful that she had the amazing ability to break down these very complex ideas into pieces that are easy to understand and execute.
The Möbius is an interesting mathematical construct.
A line drawn along the edge travels in a full circle to a point opposite the starting point. If continued, the line returns to the starting point, and is double the length of the original strip: this single continuous curve traverses the entire boundary.
Wikipedia
I confess I never did make the cowl because it kind of broke my brain, but I did learn more and more from Cat through her many books and patterns, as well as her YouTube videos. Finally in 2014 I discovered that she was taking a small group of knitters to Peru. Machu Picchu had been on my bucket list for just about forever, and like Cat, the textiles of Peru had provided me with endless inspiration. I couldn’t think of a better way to experience that wonderful place than with a creative, like-minded knitter.
During the trip, we worked on a design for a cowl that didn’t yet have a name. In 2016, it became the Rio Calina Cowl, a “Let the River Carry You,” Design. What makes this design so much fun is that other than the shape of the cowl and number of stitches cast on, there really are no instructions. The cables are placed randomly and impulsively. To quote from the pattern, “Rivers never make plans.”
A River Runs Through It 
This photo of me with Ana taken (by Lauren Altieri) at the main plaza of Ollantaytambo in Peru, is without a doubt my favorite both of me and from that trip. When any one of us were knitting, people would come right up and take our work out of our hands and add a few stitches. They wanted to share themselves with us and be a part of our journey.
This is our community — people who make and give with their hands; people who share a common bond in every corner of the world. That is in part why our connection to each other and to Cat Bordhi is much more of a Möbius than a circle. If Cat is located at one point on the edge of the Möbius and you begin walking, after passing everyone else on that edge, you will end up next to Cat again, and will have passed every other person she has touched. Cat is all of us, and is within all of us. And for that, I am fully grateful.
When we first met you were known as “the sock knitter”. Most of the patterns were Cat’s as I recall. She has imprinted a place in all our hearts and will be missed. I hope the end of her journey is peaceful.
Sara, thank you for so beautifully capturing our magical trip with Cat & her contagious spirit of creative curiosity. Her moebius pattern was one of my early knits & the first piece I sold because someone fell in love with it! When I first happened on news of her Peru adventure; it was a siren song not to be denied! Steve & I are so grateful for the people with whom we shared that journey, like you, the people of Peru who continue to nourish my heart & soul daily through memories & lessons of their culture, skills & personal warmth. Cat was, indeed, a seed from which all that could bloom. Blessings to her courageous spirit on it’s journey.