My Year of Shannon (see previous post) kicks off with Hudson, a bulky weight shawl knit in Briggs and Little Heritage. It's rustic, cozy, and perfect for Canadian Winters. The original from the book Within is knit in the colours reminiscent of the Hudson Bay Company iconic blanket. The Point Blanket has its own history - read The Canadian Encyclopedia for more information - that links back to colonization and the fur trade. At this time, the Europeans tried to deliberately infect Indigenous peoples with Smallpox, in Canada and in the United States. This part of Canada's history reminds me that all symbols can be used to uplift or to oppress, depending on the use. The blanket highlights the early origins of the trading company, but also underscores the systemic racism that is part of Canada's history as well.
My own Hudson is knit using Canadian wool in colours that I like to wear. I've used Briggs and Little, a Canadian wool produced in New Brunswick, Canada. It was a fun knit, easy and fast due to the well-written pattern and the large gauge. Love this and will wear it a lot now that winter has arrived!
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