Why Label It??

Paul says this to me from time to time, “why label it”.  He usually says it when I complain about being hungry and I’m on a diet.  Anyway… I caught myself saying it to Mom the other day in the shop.

I had just finished my Hawkshaw Cowl (which is an easy Brioche stitch) and wanted a new project.

I have been wanting to do another sample with Dyed in the Wool (because I love watching the color change which keeps me from getting bored).  So I found this freebie.  Sister Claudia by Claudia Eisenkoib.  It is done in Sport weight so Lux Adorna and Dyed in the Wool were the perfect combo.

Mom said “I don’t know…people are afraid of colorwork.”  And out it came, “why do we have to label it?”  I am by no means a colorwork expert or brioche expert.  After all, I am now classifying  myself  as an  “occasional” knitter.  My point it that when we “label” things or call stitches and techniques by their official terms, they sound scary and difficult.  We hear it all the time.. “oh I don’t know, I have never done short rows before.”  Heck neither had I the first time I did them.  BTW the first time I did short rows was the spring before we opened, when I did Color Affection by Veera Valimaki.  I wanted to make the shawl, and like I do with a lot of things, I learned as I went.  The short rows  were not perfect, but I made the shawl and it turned out great.

All of this was going through my head when Mom and I were contemplating whether or not I should knit the Sister Claudia Cowl.  I could have picked something easier with the same yarns…but I didn’t.  How am I going to get better if I don’t try…so I am making an effort to carry the yarns loose and catch my floats.  I had hoped to have more to show of my progress…but here it is.  The colors aren’t quite true here, but you get the idea.  Of course I choose blue (Library) and green (July, July).

Now I want to go back to Brioche for a minute.  When I saw Kate Burge (Spinster) making the Hawkshaw Cowl, I said that’s it… I’m doing it.  Kate told me it is addictive and she was right on.  It is also pretty easy.  You can’t be afraid to back out though.  I do have a couple of mistakes in my sample that I didn’t catch until it was too late.

I will teach a class if there is interest, but if you can’t wait and you want to try, it really isn’t that hard.  I was thinking it might be easy to do a hat where you don’t have as much invested, and after all, it’s just a hat.  Use DK scraps like Stephen West did with his Syncopation Adoration Hat  which is free.

Let Mom know if you are interested in a  Brioche class.

If you see something you want to knit or crochet, don’t be afraid to try it, it’s just yarn.

P.S.  And if you want to learn to make socks, don’t forget to sign up for Mom’s Sock Class which starts Sat. July 9th.   Joji is soon to come out with her first sock pattern,  so you might not want to be left out.

~Heather