Category Archives: alpaca

FINISHED Algoma Cardigan

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Algoma

I just finished a new store sweater for myself, Algoma by Tara-Lynn Morrison. It’s a roomy retro inspired cardie made with light, fluffy, airy yarn. I used two strands of Drops MELODY held together and 10mm/US15 needles and once I figured out the tension and stuff it FLEW! Its VERY cozy, very light, very soft, and not too hot over a T-shirt (although I haven’t really given it a proper winter wearing, so I can’t really speak to that fully).

I did my swatching, I cast on for the second size, but it was coming out a bit large for my taste (and I was swimming in it), so I ripped it back to the underarms and I went down from the second size to the first size and made a few mods (see notes below, or on Ravelry). As I worked I was feeling a bit shy about the the fuller sleeves, so I opted for the narrower ones and more fitted profile, but now I’m feeling like maybe I would like to try making a second one with a fuller silhouette and see how I enjoy that (ya know, let go and live … it’s just a sweater, after all). I’m also looking at the marled version the designer made (see pictures below and on Ravelry) and thinking that could be cool ….. You know how it goes, one day I’m feeling very charcoal grey, and the next I want Barbie pink.

Size

  • (XXS/XS) S/M (L/XL) (XXL/XXXL)
  • Finished Bust: (19” / 48.5 cm ) 21 / 53.5 cm (22” / 56 cm ) (24 / 61 cm)
  • Body length: (18) 19” / 46.5 cm (20” / 51 cm) (22” / 56 cm ) or desired

Materials

We think Interchangeable needles are a great way to go when a pattern calls for a bunch of sizes you don’t normally use. The Knitter’s Pride tips can be a great value, while the Addi Interchangeables are the premium option and Chiaogoo make excellent sets too!

Modifications
I made a few modifications, and the pattern also offers a few choices along the way, so I took notes …

The size was coming out a bit large, so I ripped it back and I went down from the second to the first size and made a few mods:

  • Collar: cast on 50 sts for collar. Worked in K2P2 rib, slipping the first stitch of each row.
  • After Collar: after switching to larger needles, I worked the K4 garter border edge as ribbing – (WS) Sl1 Pwise, K1, P1, K1 …. K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, and as (RS) Sl1 pwise, K1, P1, K1, P1 ….. P1, K1, P1, K1, P1
  • Before separating for sleeves: worked body as smaller size until I had 23 front sts, 36 sleeve sts, 44 bag sts. measures approx 19″ laying flat.
  • Sleeves, followed instructions for narrower sleeves and decreased until 32 sts, worked until sleeves measured 19” from pickup.

NEW! Drops Wish + Projects

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NEW! Drops Wish

Drops Wish is a dreamy, super bulky weight, blown yarn made from baby alpaca blown into a core of merino wool and pima cotton. Wish is cosy, light, airy, soft, fluffy and absolutely itch-free. Wish is a great choice for sweaters, accessories (hats, wraps, scarves, cowls, shawls, etc), blankets – you name it. To make for a REALLY thick knit, you can hold 2 strands of this yarn together and use 15mm/US19 needles. We also love that Wish is made in the first world, and made exclusively with natural, biodegradable fibres (no synthetics).

SEE OUR FAVOURITE PROJECT IDEAS

Needle Hack

If you do not already have the needles for this project we recommend buying interchangeable needles. They are very versatile for top-down sweaters and have more longevity for future projects (if you need a longer or shorter needle you can purchase an inexpensive new cord, rather than an entire needle. If you are buying individual tips and cords, that Knitter’s Pride are the most affordable option. If you are thinking about investing in a set, the Chiaogoo Twist Red Lace 4″ Tips: 2.75mm – 10mm have the best range and versatility for an assortment of projects.

Pattern Hack

I don’t love the way Drops formats their pattern, I find it makes them harder to follow. If you find you have the same issue consider copying the text into a free, cloud based text editing program like Google Docs and cleaning up the formatting to your liking – I find it’s worth the time to separate the sections. If you have a more pronounced learning disability you may even want to put it into a spreadsheet program like Google Sheets to break it down into line-by-line instructions – you can even make it into a chart and tick off your work as you go. 

Harvest Queen

Harvest Queen is a cozy, oversized pullover that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features a yoke construction with pretty cable and lace detail. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages). 

Size

  • XS(S, M, L, XL, XXL)
  • Bust circumference: 36.75(40.75, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 56) inches or 92(102, 108, 118, 128, 140) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 8(8, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 7(7, 8, 9, 10, 11) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.

Shout for Winter

Shout for Winter is a cozy, oversized cardigan that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features raglans sleeves with a pretty mock English rib detail. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages).

Size

  • S(M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
  • Bust circumference: 40(43.25, 46.5, 51.25, 56, 60.75)inches or 100(108, 116, 128, 140, 152) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 10(, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.

Just Right

Just Right is a cozy, oversized pullover that’s knit in one piece from the top-down. It features raglans sleeves with a pretty cable detail and puffed sleeves. It’s knit on 9mm needles, so it works up fast! The yarns recommend are blown yarns, making it a lighter, airier textile than expected. Video and written tutorials are provided at the bottom of the free pattern (they even have a place you can ask them questions about the pattern, and the pattern is available in 15 languages).

Size

  • S(M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL)
  • Bust circumference: 40(41.5, 44.75, 49.75, 54.5, 59.25)inches or 100(104, 112, 124, 136, 148) cm
  • Fit is oversized

Yarn Options

  • Drops Wish: 10(, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15) skeins  
  • Drops Air: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}
  • Illimani Amelie: 9(10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins {2 strands of yarn are held together}

Needles & Notions

Online Support

Drops has tutorial videos to support their patterns. See the bottom of the pattern webpage for links.

PROJECTS Over Easy, Kelowna & Kinikin

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In my last post I talked about tension, why it’s important and how to do it properly. In this one I’m sharing two projects that inspired me to swatch. In that post I mentioned that it’s a great idea to upload your swatch data to your Ravelry account for posterity, which is already proving handy today as I’m writing from home, without my swatch at hand! All the patterns today are beginner friendly, accessible and affordable.

Photo: Espace Tricot

Over Easy

This is the pattern that got me swatching, Over Easy. I thought it would make a great, quick ‘n easy fall knit, especially for the less experienced knitters. It’s knit in the round from the bottom up, the upper front and back are each worked flat, the shoulders are seamed, and then the sleeves are picked up and knit from the top-down. It’s worked up on BIG needles, and the yarn is fuzzy and hides a multitude of sins.

The yarn I was testing out is Drops Melody, a super soft, light and fluffy blend of alpaca and wool. What I really love about this yarn is that it looks like a bulky mohair, but it feels like a baby’s bum! Seriously, every time I touch a ball I’m shocked that it doesn’t have new-baby smell. The reason I was testing it was because I recognized that it would look great worked holding multiple strands together, but I didn’t precisely know how it would respond on different sized needles, or the difference between holding two or three strands together. It turns out my first instinct was right, I think this pattern would work best with12mm/US17 needles and holding two strands together. If you find you knit tightly on larger needles (some people do, but I don’t) then you’ll want to go up to a 15mm/US19 needle.

Photos: Espace Tricot

Size

  • Sizes: 1 (2, 3, 4)
  • Body circumference: 64 (69, 76, 76)”
  • Sleeve length: 8.5 (8.5, 7.5, 7.5)”
  • Length from shoulder to bottom: 18 (18, 21, 23)”

Use the following as a general guide for sizing based on bust measurement:

  • Size 1: if you have a 28″- 34″ bust
  • Size 2: if you have a 36″- 44″ bust
  • Size 3: if you have a 46 – 52″ bust
  • Size 4: if you have a 52″ + bust

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 5(6, 7, 8) balls
  • 12mm/US17 – 32″ circular needles (15mm/US19 if you knit tight)
  • 12mm/US17 – 16″ circular needles OR double pointed needles (15mm/US19 if you knit tight)
  • Stitch marker to indicate beginning of round
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • FREE Pattern
Photo: Tara-Lynn Morrison

Kelowna

This is the other sweater that got me swatching, Kelowna. This one is knit in the round from the top-down, and is approachable to everyone- at any knitting level. For this sweaterI’d use two strands held together and whatever size needle gets you gauge (my swatch was closest with a 9mm/US13, but you might want go bigger … it’ll be a great opportunity to practice checking your tension!

This might be my next COVID sweater (I haven’t been especially prolific), but I’m not sure which colour …maybe the petrol green?

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 6 balls
  • Check the pattern for exact needle size and lengths (they suggest 8mm/US11, 9mm/US13, and 12mm/US17)
  • Stitch markers (4)
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • Pattern

If fuzzy isn’t your thing but you like the bones of this sweater check out Frid by Tara-Lynn Morrison – You can use Malabrigo Rasta or Cascade Spuntaneous. If those options are a little too spendy for you right now, try Drops Andes and go down to a 9mm/US13 needle and go up to the larger size).

Photos: Tara-Lynn Morrison
Photo: Tara-Lynn Morrison

Kinikin

Kinikin is a cardiganzied version of the sweater above with a looser tension. Based on my tension swatches I’d use 12mm/US17 needles instead of 15mm/US19 and hold two strands of Drops Melody together.

Materials

  • Drops Melody (holding 2 strands together): 6 balls
  • Check the pattern for exact needle size and lengths (they suggest 8mm/US11, 10mm/US15, and 15mm/US19)
  • Stitch markers (4)
  • Tapestry needle to weave in ends
  • Pattern

FINISHED Infinitude ‘Scarf’ Cowl

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Infinitude ‘Scarf’ Cowl

I really love how this project came out! It’s soft, airy, light, cozy, and with the pattern being free and the yarn only costing $20, it’s a pretty cost effective knit too! If you’re starting to think about holiday gift to knit, this is a great go-to project.

The pattern is called a scarf, but I don’t know why because it’s actually a cowl. We made the smaller size and in the yarn we used (Drops Air) it can be worn either once or twice around the neck. I also found that the “twice around” brings the ‘full goldilocks’ – it isn’t too big or too small, it’s just right (in my mind, that means it doesn’t gape, letting cold air in). If your finished project looks small just wet-block it, mine stretched from 20″ x 10″ to 24″ x 9″.

The Pattern

The pattern, Infinitude Scarf, is a simple little thing that combines knits and purls in the easiest way. The skills are pretty simple: casting on, working in the round, using a knit & purl stitch in the same row, and binding off. We made the smaller size, but had extra yarn so just kept going in the welt pattern by adding an extra 3 pattern repeats (so we did “Knit 
4 
rnds,
 purl
 4 
rnds” a total of 6 times).

The Yarn

We used two skeins of Drops Air, a new yarn for us this year. It’s a super light and airy alpaca that knits easily and looks great! It’s a ‘blown’ yarn, which means it consists of a loosely knit chain core made of polyamide and then the Alpaca is literally blown into and through this core, coating it in a delightful halo of the softest alpaca. The result is an extra depth of colour because you can see a bit of the core through the translucent outer layer. Drops Air comes in both heathered and solid colours, but I think the heathers are extra pretty, with that extra dimension of colour added. Did I mention that it’s also super soft? Yeah, it’s crazy soft, it totally passes the neck test. Drops Air comes in a bunch of colours, made in Peru and the European Union, and it only costs $9.97 a skein.

Materials

The Final Assessment

This project was a WIN. Pattern: Good. Yarn: Goooood. Finished Product: Great!

P.S. the SWEATER in the pictures is Paprika, make with Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk, and the details are HERE.

Exploring Brushed Alpaca

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Last time we chatted I was showing off my latest project, Paprika, but like all accomplishments, a bit of work went into it before it happened. Before starting, I swatched … I know, you hate swatching, you avoid swatching, swatching is gross, swatching is boring, blech. I think I understand how a dentist feels, telling their patients to floss – it’s a Sisyphean task. Instead of listing all the important (aka. boring, grown-up) reasons to swatch I think I’m just going to share ….

I once read that designer Veronique Avery learned how to knit, and design, by making swatches EXCLUSIVELY for a year. That’s right a YEAR of swatching. When I read that, I thought “Wow, this lady is single-minded.” But you know what, I bet by the end of that exercise she REALLY understood hand knitted fabric. She understood how different fibres, different tensions, and different stitch patterns behaved.

Designers understand that swatching is knowledge. But swatching is more than just the way to make sure your project is going to fit. Swatching is a way to experiment with yarn, explore it’s potential, see how it behaves. It’s a way to decide how you like it, how you don’t like it. Will it do what you want it to do, will it look like you want it to? Most people remind you that swatching is a way to avoid being disappointed, but it can also be a way to find new things you like!

Before I started my Paprika, I experimented with the yarn I was thinking about using, Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk ….

Initially, I was thinking about making the sweater with some colour. I grabbed 3 warm colours and cast on a little cowl based on the Snap hat I made a little while ago. Yup, that’s right, it’s a swatch AND a project. Squares swatches are ok, but not so much fun. To start with I was playing with colour, so the tension didn’t matter, and I made something that made me happy – an actual garment (which is what the end product will be, anyway).

I initially thought I’d be into this colour combo, but once it was done it was full of NOPE (at least for this sweater)! Such is life. But I did find out how the yarn knitted at a new tension, what it looked like on both sides of the fabric, how some of the colours looked combined, and I have a great little cowl! (all of the project details are in my Ravelry Project Notes)

Materials

Following up on my colour-speriment, I thought maybe I’d rest my eyes and try a neutral ombre/colour gradient. So I made a cowl to swatch the tension and colours. The fabric is lovely, the colours blended well, and my swatch, a cowl, is lovely (an added bonus). But as I thought about the sweater, I decided simple was better, and that figuring out when to change the colours in the sweater felt like too much work for me. Sometimes the KISS (Keep It Simple Sister) principle is extremely effective!

Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk is a great yarn to play around with colour gradations and colour combining. The strands stick together and the texture blends nicely. As far as a swatch, it gave me my tension information, helped me narrow down my colour concept, and its a really nice, light, airy cowl! I haven’t written the cowl up as a formal pattern, but all the directions and details (needle sizes, yarn colours) are in my Ravelry Project Notes.

Materials

Following the second cowl (and a couple other swatches that I really did not enjoy, and I pitched the results) I learned a lot:

  • The yarn is really nice and soft, very cuddly and cloud-like
  • It’s quite versatile, it adapts to a whole bunch of different tensions
  • I like combining the colours in some projects but not in others
  • If I’m going to make an ombre sweater, it is best made from the top-down (so I don’t have to think too much about colour placement, matching the arms to the body, etc.)
  • I now have a reference for how some of the colours look combined

And of course, the most important thing I learned from the process, was that I really enjoyed working with this yarn, and I wanted to keep exploring it in different ways. At the risk of sounding like the final paragraph in a serial mystery novel … I did, and the results were unexpected! But You’ll have to wait for the next instalment to find out more.

PROJECT Paprika

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Paprika

I’m sorry it’s been so long since you’ve heard from us, I’ve had the Flu for what seems like an ETERNITY! While I’ve spent a good amount of my spare time dosed to the gills with Dayquil/NyQuil, I’ve managed to get a few things finished … including this sweater, Paprika.

I love the look of mohair, but I don’t love the itchy feel, so I’ve been doing some experimenting with Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk. It looks like mohair, but it feels like happy. Plus, it’s light as air! I made Paprika with two strands held together, on 8mm/US11 needles. It was a fast and easy knit, worked in one piece from the bottom-up, so no seaming – nothing fussier than picking up stitches.

The style is oversized and roomy. I made a medium but I could have easily made a small. It was definitely an affordable knit, coming in under $50 (I used 8 skeins of Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk).  

When you’re ready to make yours you should definitely take a look at our pattern notes on Ravelry, I found a few quirks with the pattern and noted my modifications & etc. I also feel that the sleeves are way too long and I’d make them several inches shorter. Other than that, I’m pretty pleased with the results!

Size

  • S(M, L, XL)
  • Finished Bust Circumference: 45(48, 41, 54.5) inches or 112(120, 128, 136) cm

Materials

  • Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk: 8(9, 9, 10) balls. (holding 2 strands together, shown in colour 3 gray)
  • 6mm/US10 -36″ circular needles
  • 6mm/US10 double pointed needles
  • 8mm/US11 – 29″ (or longer) circular needles
  • 8mm/US11 double pointed needles (or 16″ circular)
  • Pattern
  • Our Notes on Ravelry

PROJECT Classic Ribbed Hat

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Classic Ribbed Hat

We just finished this easy Classic Ribbed Hat, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. The pattern was a freebie, so yay! We used a single skein of Diamond Baby Alpaca Sport, which is a BULKY weight, supremely soft 100% baby alpaca, and it feels marvellous! We used 5.5mm/US9 needles, so the tension is tight and the fabric will hopefully be a bit on the dense side, and more Canadian winter friendly. I kinda really like the colour, sometimes pinks and purples can be so surprising. And of course, we topped the whole thing off with a Raccoon Fur Pompom – I think they add a little polish and finish the look. I think it makes a beautiful, personal holiday gift (and it works up fairly quickly, so you can get it done in time).

Modifications

I wasn’t sure about the sizing, so we cast on for the child side to fit an adult S/M, and then followed the instructions for the adult size. We also did an extra round of decreases at the end, to make the top more manageable to close. We always try to write out mods in the project notes on Ravelry.

Materials

SHOP ONLINE

NEW Handmaiden Wanderlust

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Handmaiden Alpaca Merino Wanderlust DISPLAY .png

Handmaiden Wanderlust Islands Alpaca Merino

Handmaiden’s LIMITED EDITION collection, Wanderlust Islands, just arrived! Inspired by their lust for travel, Handmaiden has created 13 new colourways inspired by their “bucket-list” islands. Some are exotic and some familiar and the colours are designed to shine on their own or coordinate for multi-colour projects.

The Alpaca Merino base is a soft, squishy, versatile 2ply yarn that’s perfect for all kinds of projects, from shawls, wraps, sweaters, scarves, hats – you name it! A pretty sport-weight yarn, it’s not too thick, and not too thin, and has lots of yardage. Plus, it’s Made in Canada!

  • 70% Superwash Merino, 30% Baby Alpaca
  • 100g/300m (329yds)
  • Sport weight
  • 3.25mm/US3 needles
  • 24 sts = 4″(10cm)
  • Hand wash, lay flat to dry
  • MADE IN CANADA

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

Handmaiden Wanderlust Islands Combo Blog.png

Update: later the same day

Don’t wait, seriously, we’ve already sold out of some colours!

SALE & FREEBIES Cascade Lana Grande

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Cascade Lana Grande BLOG

SALE 20% Off Cascade Lana Grande

Cascade Lana Grande is a lofty, super bulky/polar weight yarn made with 100% Peruvian Wool. It knits up beautifully and FAST – plus it’s very affordable!  See it at work in patterns like Umaro by Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed), the Weekend Pullover from Knitting Pure and Simple, the Big Snowy Owl, and it’s ideal for the Button Bear Cowl. It’s great for beginners too, we use it frequently in our classes. It knits up fast and is great for making gifts (it’s never too early to start).

  • 100% Peruvian Highland Wool
  • 100g/80m
  • Super Bulky Weight
  • 9mm to 12mm (US size 13 to17) Needles
  • 8 sts = 4″ (10cm)
  • Made in Peru
  • Project ideas on Ravelry
  • Read our Blog Post with project ideas

 

Shop Online Button Turquoise 250w

 

Sweet

 

 

Gaptastic COMBO

Photos: topstitchgirl & morgpet

 

Gaptastic Cowl

 

 

unoriginal hat 1

Photo: madorange

An Unoriginal Hat

FREEBIE Nour

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Nour

One ball of gorgeous yarn makes a hat – it’s a no-brainer holiday miracle gift! And yes, we sell fur pompoms (both real and synthetic) and excellent pompom makers!

Yarn Options

Materials