Last year, at the TKGA conference, or maybe it was at Stitches West, I can’t remember, I bought some Alpaca yarn from Honey Lane Farms. I had no idea what to make with it, but picked it up anyway. I had made a Leaf Cravat from IK a few years ago and liked the pattern so I thought I would try it with this yarn. It would be a little different, since the last time I made it was in Debbie Bliss Wool Cotton, and this yarn is very different. I started working on it right after I bought it and then got distracted by something more shiny. Plus, when working on the scarf, it would make my eyes water like crazy. I must be allergic to Alpaca, or at least whatever it is that’s around when Alpaca is processed, because the KnitPicks Alpaca bothers me too. So, if whatever was more shiny didn’t make me cry, I would work on that for a while and forget all about this project.
I finally picked it back up last week and decided to finish it. The pattern is pretty easy to memorize, and I will probably do it again with another yarn. Here it is right off the needles.
Here it is blocking on my deluxe blocking wires. They aren’t really deluxe, but it sounds more exciting when I say deluxe blocking wires than just blocking wires. Don’t you think? Please excuse the contrast-y towel I am blocking it on, it’s soaking wet after sitting in a bath of Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Castille soap and warm water. Since the scarf had been dragged all over the place while I was working on it, I thought it needed a wash.
And here is the final scarf off the blocking wires. It looks nice, I think. It’s a bit hairy though, so while I was wearing it today it made me itch like crazy. I will be able to wear it over a collar, but not next to my skin. I am too sensitive, I guess. But, after the wash, it didn’t make my eyes water like Alpaca usually does, so I think that whatever was bothering me that way was washed out. That’s a good thing.