Fun
Shelley and Brad Come to Town
Dear everybody,
Last week was kind of a whirlwind. Shelley Brander and Brad Knull rolled into town to shoot the class we’re teaching for Knit Stars, Season 10.
Aren’t they adorable? They are the definition of chipper, and we loved the chance to hang out at my house the day before filming to discuss all the important topics: dog adoption, Gulf coast lifestyles, the fortunes of the New York Liberty WNBA team, and why I have a mountainous pile of bags that contain bags of other bags filled with yarn. Needless to say, the appearance of Shelley’s furry friend Charles Barkley, the knitting world’s most famous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, sent Kay into a reverie of wishyness about getting a new pooch of her own.
Our reunion was very tender with Brad, who had filmed our first Knit Stars class back in 1934. He is the Martin Scorsese of textile cinematographers—though he modestly let us know of some pretty splashy projects on his calendar that apparently have nothing to do with knitting, crochet, or even Tunisian crochet.
We began the day feeling like Dolly Parton. The higher the hair, the closer to God! Reinforced to survive an F5 tornado.
Note that the MDK team basically fled the place in terror that they might hear us talk about log cabin knitting. Again. Or end up on camera.
Shelley and Brad, however, gave the appearance of being endlessly fascinated by two women talking in molecular detail about log cabin knitting.
We had our term paper ready to turn in, margins all neat and tidy, but we didn’t have time to AI the thing so we made up all kinds of malarkey about the history of log cabin knitting beginning in Abraham Lincoln’s childhood home or whatever and the probiotic benefits of log cabin knitting and the way log cabin knitting can reduce osteopenia, I mean: Brad and Shelley had no idea what they were about to unleash when they turned on that camera.
It was comprehensive.
Brad was masterful.
Shelley was unfailingly generous.
The whole thing left us feeling very grateful to have the chance to sing our song of log cabin for Knit Stars. Hats off to this amazing pair who have traveled to three or four continents at this point, capturing the classes for the upcoming Season 10 of this beautiful series. It will all launch in November—15 masterclasses in all—so if you’ve already signed up, thank you! And if you’re curious, enrollment will open again in October.
Love,
Ann and Kay
What an enjoyable read ! I am so looking forward to season 10 and the log cabin knitting course.
I am *SO* looking forward to immersing myself in your made up malarkey, from neatly set margins no less!
To be honest, log cabin knitting prob has more probiotic benefit as the stuff being marketed to me constantly!
Thanks for these fun behind-the-scenes photos. Shelley’s unfailing buoyancy has always amazed me. Can’t wait to see your enthusiastic smiles.
I’m so looking forward to Season 10. I may have been curating a kit purchased more than a few years ago with Rowan Denim. Now I have grandsons who will appreciate it.
1934? Really? You don’t look that old and neither does Brad!!!
This typo had me LOL —
…Brad, who had filmed our first Knit Stars class back in 1934…
Yes, we know it is an historic technique.
WAIT, whaaat??? No picture of Charles Barkley????
Sorry to rain on your parade, but it seems everyone in the knitting world is effusively demonstrating their support of Knit Stars. I know it’s because there is incentive. But for a while it was a constant barrage from every knitting person I follow or bought patterns from.
As more and more things in the knitting world become monetized, it leaves out a significant portion of knitters who can’t afford it. Cruises, retreats … when some of us merely endeavor to buy decent yarn and patterns and support our LYS.
I’m so very very tired of all the over exposure. Best wishes to all, but I stopped reading the emails a while ago.
I’m with you, Gail. I used to devour every MDK email, but now I try to avoid those that seem to be basically ads, which seem to come in more and more. No offense; to each their own. I really enjoy those postings from contributors and from Ann and Kay when they’re instructive – or entertaining!
Hearing that you two, Franklin Habit and Clara Parks are in season 10 pushed me over the edge to sign up. And possible probiotic effect and improved osteopenia? Its a no brainer. Looking forward to this!
To quote Bart Scott: “Can’t wait.”
I loved your first Knit Stars class and can’t wait for this one to be released!