It’s been over a week and I think I can finally bring myself to write this post. My knitting bestie, Kim, died last week of cancer. Loyal readers would have read about Kim many times over the years. I did share this news on Instagram, so those who follow me there already know.
Taken January 2, 2020 as we model our newly finished weather scarves. From left to right: Kathy, Mary, Me, Kim, and Beth. Ellie is the photographer.
I met Kim several years ago when I was teaching classes at my [then] LYS. She was funny and quirky and I just plain liked her right away. It’s hard as an adult to make friends outside of work, so I asked Kim to meet for coffee and knitting. No coffee for Kim, but there was knitting! Eventually she started coming to our weekly knitting group at Panera’s. The rest is history!
In 2011, we decided to go to Meg Swansen’s Knitting Camp. I had gone a couple of times and it was her first. First timers are supposed to attend Camp 1, but we went straight into Camp 2.75. We attended every year after that, until COVID shut things down. Every year but one. That year was 2013, when Kim announced that since her DIL was expecting their first grandchild, she just couldn’t risk missing the big event by being at Camp. Sally stepped in and then attended several camps after that. Really special times. We would get so inspired that on several occasions we stopped to shop on our way back through town!
Besides Yarnover and other Minnesota Knitters Guild (MKG) events, our annual tradition was going to opening day of the Great Minnesota Get Together, aka the Minnesota State Fair. We would get there by 0900 so we could be at the Creative Activities Building as the doors opened. We made it most years! Especially nice when my husband John started dropping us at the main gate!
We would enter with eager anticipation and look for our knitted items. Some years that was quite a feat! But our real interest was in the ribbons. What ribbons had we won??
We never looked at the results ahead of time — we wanted to be surprised. 2017 was truly the best year ever. We walked into the building almost smack dab into a large glass case. In it was Kim’s masterpiece, her Kauni Damask blanket, festooned in ribbons! I also did well, winning two sweepstakes (in linens, and seniors). We were beside ourselves!
We were shameless. We would kind of lurk around close to our award winners and wait for comments. If they said something nice about Kim’s blanket, I’d say, “Oh, my friend Kim made that!” Ooooh, ahhhhh!! She would do the same. Then we would go eat our faves: corn dogs, Tom Thumb Mini Donuts, fried cheese curds, and Big Fat Bacon. All to kill time until we could go back and look at the knitting again. I looked forward to it all year long. And then COVID took the last two years away.
When COVID hit, no Camp, no Yarnover, no state fair, no weekly knitting at Panera’s. So, Kim and I texted constantly. We would also share a lot of Instagram stories that we liked. Even now, I see something and think, Kim would find that funny or ridiculous or interesting.
The most important thing in Kim’s life was her family: she left behind a husband of over 40 years, two sons, two grandchildren, loving parents, and a brother. Her life revolved around her family. Period.
I will miss Kim every day. She was a special friend and a wonderful person. This picture really captures Kim — I saw her make this face many times!!
Here are some more examples of her beautiful knitting.
Bohus Scarf
Shhh!
Widdicome Fair
Alfur
Kim is still on Ravelry under the name Luckydogknits. And, no, I don’t know what it means! 🙂
Farewell, my dear friend.
A lovely remembrance and tribute. Her knitting is beautiful. How difficult this loss for you. ??
Comment by annie — July 1, 2022 @ 5:21 pm
I will miss Kim dearly. As Susan said, the three of us went to knitting camp together a few times, and I’d see her occasionally when visiting. She was very funny and very kind.
Comment by surly — July 1, 2022 @ 5:38 pm
I LOVE the image of you two hanging around your knitting waiting for compliments on your ribbons. Hard to lose those special friends we do life with. Warm hugs.
Comment by Sue — July 1, 2022 @ 6:21 pm
To Sue: We tried to be subtle!!
Comment by Lv2knit — July 1, 2022 @ 7:20 pm
Funny, kind and a knitter: the Trifecta. So sorry to hear. What a great tribute.
Comment by Chloe — July 2, 2022 @ 6:18 am
Susan so sorry for your loss. Your memories were a wonderful tribute to a dear friend. May her memory be for a blessing. Hugs for you and her family.
Comment by Robin F — July 2, 2022 @ 8:41 am
So sorry to see this. Kim seems like a wonderful person & the world is poorer with her passing. My thoughts are with you & her family.
Comment by Samina — July 2, 2022 @ 8:57 am
I’m so sorry to hear this news. I remember that Camp when Kim was working on the Kauni blanket, making sure the colorway lined up perfectly for the border. She was a real jewel of a person.
Comment by Mike — July 2, 2022 @ 12:37 pm
I’m so sorry for your loss. She sounds like a beautiful person, and her knitting is wonderful. Thank you for sharing this tribute with us.
Comment by Pam — July 3, 2022 @ 2:30 am
What a wonderful tribute to Kim. She was so much fun to be with at camp and we will miss her so! I know your heart is heavy over the loss of your dear friend.
Hugs to you, wish I could do it in person, but hoping in a year, we will be raising a skein in her memory.
Comment by Penny — July 3, 2022 @ 3:51 pm
Susan, please accept my condolences for this mighty loss. Peace.
Comment by poodletail — July 4, 2022 @ 9:43 am
So very sad. What a wonderful gift you both got with your friendship over so many years.
Comment by Robin — July 4, 2022 @ 9:55 am
What a beautiful, humorous, and engaging narrative about your knitting friend Kim. It has been such a tough bunch of years, with collective and personal losses. Knitting memories–both the friends and their beautiful works–we must keep these close to our hearts and cherish them. Your friend Kim created some gorgeous and treasured items. I hope you find comfort in these.
Comment by Laura — July 4, 2022 @ 11:25 am
How very sad, Kim sounds like the perfect knitting (and other) friend. Don’t cry but smile as you remember her, I’m sure that’s what she would want.
Comment by Pru — July 5, 2022 @ 8:31 pm
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your friend and knitting buddy. A lovely post which gives me a glimpse into someone very special. Her knitting is fabulous, and I love the story of you two waiting by your entries at the fair. What a hoot! I hope you and your knitting group can find comfort in sharing your memories of her.
Comment by Amy — July 6, 2022 @ 3:37 pm
I haven’t seen that second photo of Kim before. It’s a great one! You are absolutely right about that face she is making! What a great person she was and will continue to be in our hearts. I am so aware that she is missing every time we meet! She is the second knitting friend we have lost in the last 2/3 years to cancer. Cancer SUCKS!
Comment by Kathy W. — July 7, 2022 @ 12:17 am
I am so sorry for your loss. What a wonderful friend!
Comment by gail snowden — July 8, 2022 @ 11:46 am
What a lovely momento of your friend. Some years from now you will be paging through blog posts and you will come on this and you will surrounded once again by her spirit that comes out so clearly here. I am so sorry that you lost your friend.
Comment by Needles — July 14, 2022 @ 11:20 am
Such a lovely tribute to your friend
Comment by Marlys — August 7, 2022 @ 12:15 am
Kim was a former coworker of mine. Your beautiful tribute completely describes the kim I knew and loved! I feel so lucky to have a knitted piece from her, and will continue to treasure it. I would assume her user name is tribute to her beloved dogs, she used to make their dog food!
Comment by Becky — August 26, 2022 @ 3:31 pm
Today is Tue, August 30, 2022. I am still missing Kim! She was such a light for all of the Penelope Knitters!
2 weeks ago her dear husband Mike came to our Panera to talk to us! He promised Kim that he would. We sat for well over an hour talking, remembering and seeing photos of their home which they had been working on for at least 2 years – until…. It was so beautiful and they had worked so hard and dreamed about for so long! Kim was the designer and chief interior decorator and WOW! So beautiful and so Kim. Michael was and still is the one who got all the structural, mechanical work done! He continues to work on it! What a great guy! We never got to see her to say goodbye due to her totally compromised immune system but Michael said he will have eventually some kind of gathering to honor her! It brings a lump to my throat just thinking about all this! We love you, Kim! You can rest in peace but know we will never forget you! Kathy W.
Comment by Kathy W. — August 30, 2022 @ 1:42 pm