I’ve found an interesting (alarming?) trend this season.  Scores of people have come into the shop asking for black yarn to make a scarf.  Seems like a simple enough request, but wait, there’s more to this phenomenon. 

And please, in advance do not be offended if you are one of these shoppers.  I have turned this black yarn experience into a fact finding expedition for myself.  Call it research.  Because honestly, I am puzzled.  Last year no one wanted black anything.  as spring rolled aroung I had to mark all of the black yarn down and put it on clearance. So what’s happening this year?  Psychologists, social workers, social commentators, please feel free to comment.

The requests generally start vague.

“I’m looking for black yarn to make a scarf.”

To which I excitedly start the inquisition.  More data for my research.

“A scarf. How lovely.  Do you have a specific pattern in mind?”

The answer for this ranges from no to garter to cables to lace and so on.  Scratch possibility number one – they are not all making the same scarf.

“Is it for yourself or for a gift?  Does this match a specific coat or jacket?”

This is when it gets really stange.

“Yes it’s for me.”

“Yes it’s a gift.”

“I want it to match my/her/his black/brown/camel/red/blue etc. coat or jacket.  Basically I want to wear it with everything, everyday.”

Wow, was this the secret all along?  Knit in black and this will be your or your recipients most cherished possession.  I’m not yet convinced.  Maybe, I think, they are looking for neutral colors. Although, honestly this is a tough concept for me.  I’m one of those people that believes plum and teal are neutral.

So I start by showing them grey blends, black/grey tweeds, dark charcoal.  I throw in some Noro laced with black for fun.  Inevitably it always ends the same.  They look at me as if I’ve lost my mind.

“Don’t you have plain black? All I want is plain black.”

“Oooh, you want plain black.” They’ve won after all.  I pull out the several lines of lovely black yarns.

Now they usually give me a long hard look utterly convinced that I am the densest person that have ever met. They leave with their purchase off the create the perfect scarf that will match with everything and be cheriched or coveted by all.

Maybe they are all right and I set off to cast on for a scarf to cast on for a scarf for myself – my hand hovers over the black merino/angora and slowly slides to the right and picks up the baby blue.  This probably won’t match a thing.  But I love blue.  Oh well.