Unravelling Canada - by Sylvia Olsen (Paperback)

About the Book

Author and knitter Sylvia Olsen explores Canada's history, landscape, economy and social issues on a cross-country knitting-themed road trip.

Book Synopsis

Toques, mittens and scarves are all associated with northern climates, but the quintessential garment of Canadian knitting is surely the bulky and distinctly patterned West Coast cardigan. In the early twentieth century, Indigenous woolworkers on southern Vancouver Island began knitting what are now called Cowichan sweaters, named for the largest of the Coast Salish tribes in the region. Drawing on their talents as blanket weavers and basket makers, and adapting techniques from European settlers, Coast Salish women created sweaters that fuelled a bustling local economy. Knitters across the country copied the popular sweaters to create their own versions of the garment. The Cowichan sweater embodies industry and economy, politics and race relations, and is a testament to the innovation and resilience of Coast Salish families.

Sylvia Olsen married into the Tsartlip First Nation near Victoria, BC, and developed relationships with Coast Salish knitters through her family's sweater shop. Olsen was inspired to explore the juncture of her English/Scottish/European heritage and Coast Salish life experiences, bringing to light deeply personal questions about Canadian knitting traditions. In 2015, she and her partner Tex embarked on a cross-Canada journey from the Salish Sea to the Atlantic Ocean with stops in more than forty destinations to promote her books, conduct workshops, exchange experiences with other knitters and, Olsen hoped, discover a fresh appreciation for Canada.

Along the way, with stops in urban centres as well as smaller communities like Sioux Lookout, ON, and Shelburne, NS, Olsen observed that the knitters of Canada are as diverse as their country's geography. But their textured and colourful stories about knitting create a common narrative. With themes ranging from personal identity, cultural appropriation, provincial stereotypes and national icons, to "boyfriend sweaters" and love stories, Unravelling Canada is both a celebration and a discovery of an ever-changing national landscape. Insightful, optimistic, and beautifully written, it is a book that will speak to knitters and would-be knitters alike.

Review Quotes

"I love this book, for what it says about the artisans of the past and the present, for what it says about what gets passed on from family to family and between different cultures, for what it says about our country and the people who inhabit it. This book knits us together, not only with strands of wool but with compassion, intelligence, caring and storytelling of the most appealing kind."-- "Lorna Crozier, author of Through the Garden"

"Reading Unravelling Canada, I felt like I was travelling across Canada with two close friends. Sylvia brings a unique perspective to her story that is both relevant and timely. As she explains the historical intersectionality carried in every stitch of the iconic Cowichan sweater, she illuminates the Indigenous influence on Canadian knitting... This book is a must for anyone who loves a good road trip and for those who want to gain a better understanding of the fabric that holds our great country together."-- "Christopher Walker, founder of the label Cabinboyknits"

"Sylvia's book is a joy to read. It has so much: it's a book about knitting, a story of a trip across Canada, a personal memoir and a collection of tales from lives of knitters all over the country. Along the way, she explores what it means to be a knitter, and what it means to be Canadian. It doesn't shy away from the complications and contradictions of this country and its history, but finds kindness, shared beliefs and grounds for hope through creativity."-- "Kate Atherley, author of The Knitter's Dictionary"