I used up a whole ball of yarn on this!

For my free inquiry project, I’ve decided to focus on DIY fashion, with an emphasis on developing more ethical and sustainable habits. In my head it’s still kind of a nebulous concept, but I really didn’t want to limit myself because the whole area is so interesting to me. So this is my first task – knitting a scarf. I bought two balls of yarn on Monday (while they were on sale), and promptly realized I would need a whole lot more yarn. I went back to Michaels today and bought four more (and of course they’re no longer on sale). Now, I’m not a total beginner at knitting – my grandma patiently taught me when I was around ten or twelve. There were many dropped stitches and tangles on my first, hideously orange scarf. After her lessons, I could never seem to remember how to cast on, so I was pretty dependent on her. After a couple of ugly projects with cheap yarn, I kind of gave up on it as I grew older. However, I got back into it last year with the power of Youtube tutorials, motivated to surprise my then-fiancé with a hand-knit scarf for Christmas. This time, I chose a warm grey which was both classy and masculine (that is, until he spilled mustard on it!)

Now, I decided to make something for myself. I wanted to try a new stitch that had been too difficult for me to figure out last year – the rib stitch. Basically, the rib stitch alternates between the two most common stitches – knit and purl. A Youtube tutorial finally opened my eyes to the fact that I had to keep moving my working thread from front to back in order to successfully make this stitch. So, since Monday, I’ve been eagerly working on this scarf and watching it grow longer and longer. Right now, it feels really warm and cozy, and I can’t wait to wear it this winter!

By the way, I chose a yarn that’s 80% acrylic and 20% wool. Now, acrylic is a synthetic material which is made of a polymer based on fossil fuels. So it’s definitely important to be careful about how much acrylic we are using and consuming. However, when I was looking at yarn, almost all the options were 100% acrylic! On the other hand, I wouldn’t be happy with 100% pure wool because it can be very scratchy and it doesn’t do very well if it gets wet. I need this scarf to be practical for winter weather. Also, pure wool can be extremely expensive! I already spent close to $40 on all this yarn. Overall, I like the extra warmth that wool provides, combined with the durability of acrylic fibres. As I continue this free inquiry, I want to keep exploring the pros and cons of natural fibres versus synthetic fibres. Right now, it seems that blended materials can often be a happy medium.

Another idea that I want to explore during this inquiry is the concept of reviving old-fashioned crafts. As a child, I was captivated by the stories of Laura Ingalls Wilder that my dad read to me. Her family lived in a forest in Wisconsin in the 1870s, a day’s ride away from the nearest town. Nowadays, I can knit and sew as a hobby, but back in those times, it was one of many life skills that people needed to know in order to survive. It amazes me that Laura’s mother was so capable and independent compared to me. When I need clothes I buy them at a clothing store; when I need food I go to the grocery store. But this woman knew how to to knit, sew, churn butter, chop wood, smoke meat, can fruit, and cook/bake almost anything you could think of. I really admire the resourcefulness of women who had to live off the land in the past. Although I enjoy living a modern life, there’s something that feels really special when you create something useful.

Anyways, that’s my progress so far! I have a few more ideas in the works and I hope to find the time to post about them soon.