On a brisk fall morning at the Chester Farmers Market, I had every intention to skedaddle after visiting Jerry the produce man, however, an explosion of color demanded my attention.
I stopped at the beeline attraction to admire beautiful works of art. Inside the pop-up boutique, handcrafted shawls [for women], socks, mittens, ponchos [for men], afghans, scarves, vests, sweaters,and hats were on exhibit.
Who created these masterpieces? I wanted to learn more, but the booth was unmanned. Finally, the fiber artist made a special appearance. His story was worth the wait.
There was no doubt that the dapper-looking dude standing before me sporting a handlebar mustache and wearable art was the artisan in yarn. Seventy-four-year-old Ed Lowery of Chesterfield, a glorified "yarnie" who knits and crochets, introduced himself.
Daddy's a Hooker
After raving over his art, I asked Lowery to share how he came up with Daddy's a Hooker for the name of his business. He laughed and proceeded to tell his tale.
Lowery was summoned to the principal's office for something his son said to his fourth-grade teacher. Each studentwhat asked to share what theirfather did asa hobby.
"Your son says you're a hooker," the principal said.
"I told him heneeded to get hismind out of the gutter," Lowery said. "Hethought my hobbywas hookingon a street corner. I thought it was so funny and came up with Daddy's a Hooker. Most people laugh, others are offended."
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Generations of hookers
Lowery's grandfather learned how to knit while serving in the U.S. Army. He knitted socks in the warzone during WWII.
"When I was eight or nine, I was watching him do it and asked him if he would teach me," Lowery said. "He was like... okay, dumb kid."
After the war ended, Lowery's grandfather continued to make socks and also made toboggan [sock caps], sweaters, and other practical pieces.
"My grandfather introduced a rare stitch called Brioche to me," Lowery said. "It's a popular pattern nowadays. In the early 60s, he taught me that knitting stitch. I can't say for sure that he invented it, but it's possible."
Shortly after learning how to knit, Lowery's great uncle taught him how to crochet.
"I was knitting a sweater, and my uncle saw me doing it and wanted to teach me how to crochet," Lowery said. "They were competitive with each other."
Like his father and his two uncles, Lowery picked up crocheting pretty easily.
"My dad kind of kept his hooking hidden," Lowery said. "He made scarves and a couple ofsweaters for us kids."
Lowery's dad, a closet hooker, was nothing like his son, out loud and proud.
"My grandfather used to do it with his wife, and my father tried to teach my mother but she wasn't interested," Lowery said.
Lowery's grandparents hosted crocheting/knitting circles in the evenings. They sat around the house listening to the radio while their needles and hooks danced.
"Grandmother would crochet doilies. She was into home decor. He was more practical and made things that could be worn," Lowery said. "Back then, in the 50s, it was more a necessity than going to the store to buy a sweater."
Lowery taught both of his sons to crochet and knit, and they passed the trade down to both of their sons.
"Women taking over the art has basically shoved any men that want to do it in the closet," Lowery said. "It's an old craft and anybody should be able to do it if they enjoy it. Men are capable of doing this."
Crocheting vs Knitting
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Every morning Lowery wakes up, drinks some coffee, and then crochets or knits for an hour before going to work. When he returns home to unwind, he knits or crochets again for another hour.
"I'd rather knit or crochet than eat," Lowery said. "On my days off, my partner will say, 'Put that stuff down, and come and eat!'"
Lowery always has one of each type of project with him just in case he finds a moment.
"I don't care where I do it," Lowery said. "If you don't like it, look away."
Lowery refused to choose which fiber art is his favorite. He has a deep passion for both.
"I can't pick, because I love both of them," Lowery said. "I can make different items with each of them, but the end effect is the same. I usually have items on crochet hooks and knitting needles simultaneously."
According to Lowery, crocheting tends to be a bit more difficult to learn.
"You have to go in the actual stitch or into the space between the stitches," Lowery said. "Crocheting takes more concentration and yarn, also."
For the past 20 years, Lowery taught lessons in private homes until COVID-19 hit. He now teaches one-on-one lessons in libraries.
"Ed taught my boyfriend how to crochet," Sarah Broyhill, owner of BHill Craft Mill Gifts and Decor, said. "I gave my unpaid assistant some time off during the market. He had fun and said Ed's a great teacher."
Knitting geometric designs on a sweater or vest is Lowery's favorite wearable that he crafts. He starts off with a vest but ends up making sleeves for it.
Lowery's favorite crochet pattern is the "granny square" stitch used mostly for afghans, and as far as knitting goes, he likes "cables" mostly for sweaters and scarves.
No matter how hard a pattern might be, Lowery never gives up. He once spent three months on "tumbling blocks" until he mastered it.
Getting to know Ed Lowery
"I grew up in Bluefield, Virginia," Lowery said. "Those folks had some amazing patterns, doilies, scarves, shawls, sweaters. The sweater I'm wearing is one of those patterns."
Being of German descent, Lowery speaks a little of his ancestors' native tongue. He is also bilingual in Spanish which comes in handy at his full-time job in Petersburg. He keeps his personal and professional life separate. So, mums the word. Ha!
Lowery's other interests include growing vegetables in his garden and greenhouse, and he spends time nurturing his collection of 10 miniature bonsai trees.
"I sell excess tomatoes at the market," Lowery said. "I like the atmosphere at the Chester Farmers Market, and the vendor fees are reasonable for someone who doesn't make a lot of money at their craft."
Lowery occasionally does a little renegade vending in Richmond's Carytown where he sells for a couple of hours until they tell him to move.
"I'm not on Etsy," Lowery said. "I'm not computer savvy and don't have the patience for it."
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House fire destroys precious heirlooms
Eight years ago in Richmond, Lowery lost all of his possessions in a house fire. His favorite sweater escaped the flames because hehappened to be wearing it.
"Ashes were the only thing left," Lowery said. "I lost all my family heirlooms, photos and keepsakes from my grandparents, parents, children and grandchildren."
A prized notebook filled with patterns that Lowery had picked up from his parents and grandparents was also destroyed.
"One of the photos I lostwas taken at a family reunion in Nemours, West Virginia," Lowery said. "There were four generations of males knitting at the same time whileseatedin front of a log cabin that my grandfather built. I would love to have that memory displayedin my booth."
Happy hooker
I asked Lowery if he will ever hang up his hooks and needles. He responded, "No, I have carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands but continue on."
According to Lowery, he has enough acrylic yarn that he could knit for the rest of his life and never buy another skein.
"I have a 10 x 10 room lined with shelves of yarn, but I still buy more," Lowery admitted. "Once you get into the craft and enjoy it, it's addictive and so relaxing. It's better than going to the therapist."
Check out Lowery's amazing wares on Saturdays this spring at the Chester Farmers Market located on the Village Green at 11700 Chester Village Drive. The open-air market is across the street from the Chester Library and Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education.
Follow Chester, VA Farmer's Market on Facebook for more information. Read this story online at progress-index.com to watch a video of me interviewing Lowery.
— Kristi K. Higgins aka The Social Butterfly columnist is the trending topics and food Q&A reporter at The Progress-Index. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Contact Kristi (she, her) at khiggins@progress-index.com, follow @KHiggins_PI on Twitter, @socialbutterflykristi on Instagram, and subscribe to us at progress-index.com.
