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On  March 11, 1989 my knitting life changed for ever. I was visiting my mother in Detroit, Michigan and remember checking the yellow pages for knitting machine dealers. I'd had my machine nearly five years but had only been  taking lessons for a few months from a woman in my area. She introduced me to charting and I will always be grateful to her for that but, she was totally against cut and sew and did not teach the technique. She often assured me  that shaping necklines in doublebed was not nearly as difficult as everyone made it out to be. She was an excellent knitter and not a bad teacher but I never recall seeing any doublebed work she did other than afghan lovely! She never taught me how to shape a neckline in doublebed. The one time I saw a garment knit doublebed  with the neckline shaped on the machine, attempted by one of her students, it was hideous! The one time I had tried to shape a neckband while knitting doublebed with the Deco, the result had been disastrous and nearly brought me to tears! 

The one knitting machine dealership I recall finding in the yellow pages that day was called Studio Crafts. I called and spoke with the owner, Shirley, who sold Passap and Brother knitting machines. After a short conversation with Shirley, she gave me directions and I drove over to visit the shop. I remember some parts of that day like it was yesterday. The shop was in a small store front, had green carpeted floors and dark paneled walls. I was excited because as soon as I walked in I spied a rack with Deco cards displayed. As we talked, I explained to her that I'd heard about cut and sew necklines but did not know anyone that could show me how to do one. Without a second of hesitation, she sat down at the DM80 and proceeded to demonstrate a cut and sew neckband. I don't recall taking any notes but before I left the shop, I  bought several Deco cards and Model Books and thanked Shirley profusely. I was in seventh heaven! I ran to my car and nearly broke the sound barrier driving the 60 miles back to Flint! The car, actually it was a red Chevrolet S-10 Blazer, had barely come to a halt in my driveway before I threw it in park, jumped out and ran to the door. I was so excited I could barely get my key in the lock. I ran into the house and plopped myself down at the knitting machine. I don't even think I closed the inside door I was so excited. I wanted to practice the neckband while it was still fresh in my mind. And practice I did. For the rest of the weekend every swatch that I could find had a cut and sew neckband on all four sides! 

Since that fateful day in 1989 I've come a long way. I've been to countless seminars and workshop even branching out to teaching others and writing patterns as well. But none of what I've learned  will ever compare to learning how to do my first cut and sew neckband. Learning that simple, yet valuable technique took my knitting from 0 to 10 in only 60 miles!