Cachou Cowl

I'm very excited to be a part of the Tanis Fiber Arts Year in Colour Club this year -- as a long time admirer of her yarns, I was thrilled when Tanis asked if I would contribute a design. And now that we're nearing the close of May, I get to share what that design is.  Right now, the pattern is exclusive to club members*, but it will be available to the general knitter public in time for next spring.

Photo courtesy Tanis Lavalée

Cachou (which is a little candy used to decorate treats) is a springtime cowl made up of a simple lace pattern and scalloped edges that uses exactly one skein of Tanis' Blue Label Fingering Weight yarn. You can drape it around your neck infinity-scarf style, you can wrap it once for a lacey cowl, or you can wrap it twice for a bit more warmth when the air conditioning is on a little too high.

Photo courtesy Tanis Lavalée

When I first opened the package containing this yarn and saw the color I was going to be working with (the Thrills colorway), my jaw dropped. This is so my color. For me, it embodies spring and early summer. It reminds me of the sight and smell of lilacs, my favorite flower, that bloom at my parents' house only in March. It's the exact color that has been on my fingernails for two months. It's the color of my favorite nail polish in high school, the nostalgia for which prompted me to buy the current stuff. It's the color of my favorite shirt from 10th grade (plaid, short-sleeved, button-up, Gap) that I wore during the spring break I declared to my diary to be "the best week of my life" back in 1996, when I found my group of friends and actually spoke to and made friends with the boy I'd had an unrequited crush on for several months**. And it's the color (well, the yarn is much more lovely and nuanced) of the tube of chapstick I carried around that year because the flavor, Jelly Bean, had the same initials as the other boy I had an unrequited crush on.***  To me, it's the color of freshness and sweetness and fun. And, needless to say, I love it and knitting with it took me to a happy place.

You can find out more about the cowl here and I'll be sure to post about it again when the pattern opens up for public consumption.

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* If you would like to become a club member, it's not too late! Folks may join any time, and those who do will receive all the prior months' shipments in addition to the ones to come. See here for more info.
** I think his mom might actually read this blog from time to time -- if so, hi Martha!
*** Can't believe I just admitted that.