Finally ... Brioche!

I have wanted to learn brioche knitting for a long time. I took a class last spring, but it just didn't take. Yesterday I took a class at the Knit Circus Retreat with master teacher Amy Detjen and I think I finally understand it

I'm very happy with the way this is coming out -- but then how could it fail to be fabulous with that yarn? I know I sound like a broken record, but do check out the Knit Circus web site; Jaala Spiro has an amazing color sense.

As a teacher myself, I couldn't help but analyze Amy's teaching style yesterday. She doesn't just teach you a serious of steps; she teaches you how the stitch works. As a result, you understand what you are supposed to do and why. I actually frogged the above because I decided I wanted a tighter gauge. The fact that I was able to restart it all by myself speaks volumes for Amy's teaching.

It's been a great weekend. On Friday evening, Keith and I drove my parents to Rockford, where my dad's cousin, Phyllis Bramson, has a 30-year retrospective show at the art museum. I love Phyllis's work, and this show just blew me away. Here is sample of her painting/collage work:

She gave a gallery walk that was fascinating. She talked about how "desire" is one of her main themes and recalled the "girlie" calendars her dad brought home from work. (Her grandfather opened the first auto parts store in Madison, and her father ran it for many years. My grandfather started his career at that store, but then opened his own 50 miles away in Beloit, where I grew up.) She talked about her process and how she's always on the lookout for bits and pieces to incorporate in her work. She even pokes around at Joanne Fabrics on occasion!

I realized that I have never asked her about any of this, which may seem odd since I am so interested in art and creating. The fact is that I have always been in awe of her.

Phyllis is a "real artist." She has made her living as an artist. She has sold works to top museums around the world. She has won a Guggenheim Grant and been a Fullbright Scholar. She has taught at the University of Illinois in Chicago and the Chicago Art Institute.

Despite all this, she is a warm and friendly person. Outspoken, intellectual, funny. Who wouldn't be a bit in awe?

And for those of you who live in Chicagoland, this exhibit will open at the Chicago Cultural Center in Summer 2016.

I'm Captivated by the Brioche Stitch

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that Madison has (so they say) the largest Knitting Guild in the United States. At the moment, we have 493 members. Even though all the members don't attend every month, we have a hard time finding spaces large enough to accommodate our numbers.

I haven't gone to many meetings this year, largely because I am just too tired after work, but I made sure to go last night, when the guest speaker was the author of this book:

One of the cool things about having an enormous guild is that we can bring in world-class speakers every month. I have been lucky enough to be in an auditorium with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and Franklin Habit (not at the same time!).

I would put Nancy Marchant, the reigning expert in brioche stitch, in that same category. She is a great speaker, funny and self-deprecating and knowledgeable. Not only has she build a great career on knitting, but she lives in one of my favorite cities, Amsterdam -- a long way from her native Indiana.

Brioche stitch has intrigued me for a long time, but it just seemed so complicated. Marchant is a great speaker and her explanation demystified the stitch. Her slides of the stitches and projects she's developed drew "oohs" and "aahs" from the audience. She spent a lot of time exploring and experimenting with the stitch and has developed beautiful body of work.

But, what really got to me were the samples she brought. Brioche stitch has an incredible amount of richness and depth. I'm hooked. It's only a matter of time before I get my hands on her book and give this a try.

We always have vendors at our meetings -- and they always offer tempting stuff. I am so proud of myself for not succumbing to this beautiful table of yarn and resisting the urge to go home with at least one skein of yarn!

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