Imagine having the kind of death that even decades - centuries - after your demise, someone's doing something and thinks of it. As I experiment with knitting cowls, scarfs and hoods to keep my neck warm whilst cycling, I think of Isadora Duncan, whose life was far more than her death, yet it is her death that I think of.

Isadora Duncan was known as the founder of modern dance. Dancing in the 1900's, her style was free flowing movement inspired by nature. Her dance was based on emotional expression, and was quite the break away from classical ballet, even dancing barefoot. She had quite a tragic life - her two beloved children died when their car crashed into the river. Her death was notable because the scarf she was wearing at the time - a beautiful, free flowing scarf gifted by a friend - got caught in the wind and wheels of the car and broke her neck.

I do not want this to happen to me on my e-bike, so my pre winter mission is to knit cowls that do not fly in the wind and get wrapped up in the spokes. The brown knit below is a swatch for a hooded cowl I want to make, but I'm intimidated by the cast on. This week is actually the first week I've wrapped my head around swatches.

I'm very much a beginner knitter - I've done scarves and blankets, and now a couple of cowls. Each time I start a project, I learn something new, even if it's tricky and takes me all afternoon to master. I'm glad I have my daughter in law who I'm calling my Knitting Consultant - if I come across a problem I can't solve, I'll text her. For example, this blue cowl for my grandson, which was going to be smaller of course than the larger cowl I knit my son this week. I only had a pair of circular needles with 100 cm cable, so the small cowl would not work on it. She suggested the magic loop method - I don't want to bore you if you don't know knitting, and if you do know, you don't need me explaining. What you do need to know is how awesome I am for taking on the challenge and figuring out a new method.

I've learnt a ton this week - it's actually the first time I've done rib stitch and stockinette too and the first time I've knitted in the round, adjusted a pattern for a swatch gauge, and learnt to weave in the loose ends.

I think I'll knit another green cowl as I have wool left over - it's perfect for pulling over your face on wintery cold bike rides. Here's Jamie modelling it for me - I was quite chuffed with it really.

Maybe Isadora Duncan should have had a friend gift her a cowl instead. Not as elegant or poetic or beautifully fashionable, but then, it wouldn't have broken her neck.

If you're interested in the cowl pattern, here's the one I used. YOu can adjust it for any needle size and wool size with a bit of maths.

With Love,

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