As I was designing this cowl, I was thinking about why we knit, which brought to mind my favorite William Morris quote, “Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” To me, this quote, along with Morris’ mindset of elevating everyday items to art through lovely, nature-inspired designs, is an excellent explanation. We don’t knit because we need another sweater, shawl, cowl, or pair of socks. We knit because we want to make something both useful and decorative, something that will last longer than a less expensive store-bought version, something that will delight us each time we see it. Looking at life through a Morris mindset makes me appreciate the small details that go into each knitting project, helping us to turn yarn into a cowl that will usefully keep us warm while beautifully ornamenting our outfit.
