January 29, 2008

cowl = cow + l, rhymes with towel

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement on the last post. It's refreshing to know that others struggle with the same things. The blogging community is a wonderful, inspiring place, but it poses a trap in the temptation to blindly follow others' work. I think that Blanche said a true thing: we create "unique art by building on or breaking down what already exist[s]." It's the consciousness of that process that I want to work on most.

After all that, I feel somewhat phony posting a project so directly inspired by others' work! After seeing the lovely cowls of Jenny and Ellybeth, though, I couldn't wait to make one for myself. Finding the right yarn slowed me down a bit - originally I thought green, but greens are tricky and nothing I found would suit. I settled on Nature's Choice organic cotton in Walnut, using a textured stitch to liven up the "putty-colored yarn" (my sister's words - thanks M).

window-pane cowl

While I love the way the cowl turned out, I'm still not quite sold on the yarn. I was excited at the outset - an all natural yarn that's readily available and doesn't cost a fortune! As soon as I started knitting with it, though, it began pilling. It is very soft and drapey and the stitch pattern distracts from the pilling somewhat, but still . . .

I shouldn't complain too much, though - seeing as I've worn it with everything the past 3 days! I wanted a more drapey, pashmina effect than the "orignals," and I'm quite pleased with the window-pane stitch I developed for it. It also looks great with the sewing project I finished up this weekend - but more on that later!

Note: Title is taken from a conversation with the 6-year old twins I babysit for. "Whatchya makin'? A cow?!?"

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh!! It turned out so beautifully! I just love the drapiness of it; really makes it look so warm... perfect for snuggling up with when its cold out. Must get around to knitting something similar for myself; my neck is forever cold! hehe.

Thanks for the "mini-review" of the yarn. Its frustrating when yarn you love so much has an little side-effect that you didn't anticipate, isn't it? *sigh* And I was so in the love with the pistachio color...

Keep on creating, searching, trying new things... You'll slowly start to light upon your unique creative "voice". But then again, I tend to think we each have that visible to others, we just so many times don't see it. :)

Kelly said...

^ True, true!

Anonymous said...

Hey Kelly! Thanks for your comment! :) I just wanted to let you know that the 50% off sale in my shop ends tonight at midnight! :) In case you were interested! Details on my Jan 24th post! :)

Cookie baker Lynn said...

It looks beautiful! I'm so impressed when people can knit. When I try it just makes me frustrated.

I know what you mean about just doing what other people have blogged about. I always feel like I'm being a copycat if I don't at least change up a few ingredients.

eatme_delicious said...

Beautiful cowl! :) I should start knitting again.

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