I’m getting excited. Next week, Monday through Friday, is Cat Bordhi’s “Visionary Retreat - Self-Publishing for Knit Designers” at Saint Andrew’s Monastery in Valyermo, CA, on “how to happily and successfully marry the mechanics of self-publishing with the magic of knit design and creativity.” Here is the link to her Calendar page (which I realize won’t show this Retreat after next week, but maybe she’ll put it in her 2007 Calendar then).

I was first on the waiting list, and have been on pins and needles since October over whether I’d get to go. My friend Janel, who got the last spot, canceled at the last minute, knowing that since I was first on the waiting list I’d be able to share with her what happens.

So tonight I have to get back to the alpaca basketweave cardigan that I thought I’d have done by Christmas (a-hem). I’m almost done with the back, but I need to do some figuring for the fronts and sleeves before I can cast on. In fact, I’ll be casting on first for the pocket linings, and since I want angled pockets, that’s going to take some thought. I want this ready to knit without further figuring while I’m at the Retreat. I’d also like to try Cat’s cast-on for a moebius before I go! Realistically, though, that may not happen.

I have spinning guild tomorrow, and on Sunday I have to do mondo laundry, and I have to clean out the car because I’ll have two carpoolers going with me, whom I will pick up from their hotel near Burbank Airport. One of them is a name well-known to knitters. Another widely-known name (besides Cat) will also be in attendance at the workshop. I’ll tell all after it’s all over and everyone’s home.

So of course this begs the question: Am I working on a knitting book? Yes, as mentioned in October. I have high hopes for it, naturally. Having written most of two chapters so far, I can see that a lot of the work — and a lot of the book — is going to be the photos. I need something like 50 photos just for those two chapters. I knew I was right to buy that camera! I also need knitting to photograph in all those photos! Some pieces will be used in several photos; still, that’s a whole lotta knitting I gotta do. I want to plan it carefully, so I’m holding off until after this Retreat, since it’s something I’m sure will be discussed.

Oh, the pink cable socks? I pushed and pushed to finish them because I’m sick of looking at them, and I got to about 6 rounds from the end of the toes — and ran out of yarn. They’re Patons Kroy 4-ply, which has a little less yardage than the Opal and Regia I usually use (usually with plenty left over), plus the cables take up more yarn than plain stockinette, and I didn’t figure for any of that like a dope. I don’t even have the labels anymore so I don’t even know what the exact color is, let alone the dye lot, so there’s not much hope of a perfect match.

I found a skein on ebay that sorta looks like the right color, but I can’t really tell. However, whether it is or not, that’s what I’m using. When I get it. Until then, the socks are still on the needles. Unless I get it tomorrow (unlikely), they won’t be finished until I come back from the Retreat.

The other thing that has to happen when I get back from the Retreat is I gotta get a job — fast. I’m dead broke. Seriously, I need a miracle here, folks. Send me some money mojo, willya? Thanks.