Blue Moon Alpacas

I think his name is Biscuit

You may remember these guys from a post way back, on Blue Moon Alpacas in Stawell, Victoria. Just over three years ago we were in Australia on one of my favourite trips ever, and I picked up a bag of beautiful, natural grey DK-weight alpaca from Glenda as we passed through the Grampians.

The good news is I finally put it to use in Gudrun Johnston’s Hansel hap shawl pattern. The pattern calls for contrasting colours in the hap shell lace portion, which I initially tried with some stash alpaca in teal, mustard and white. I ended up ripping it out and sticking with a solid colour, mostly because the Blue Moon Alpacas yarn is so special and I wanted to really highlight it.

The yarn is glossy, soft and springy, and I left the tiniest bits of vegetable matter in the throw, so we can have more bits of Australia in our Toronto apartment.

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Photos: Christopher Lewis

My sister is rightly concerned that I’ll never pop this cardigan in the mail. I love it! I have some Cascade Ecological Wool in my stash that is now destined to be an Aidez for me. Since the pattern calls for a super bulky yarn, it was indeed a quick knit. I finished the majority of it on the train and plane a few weeks ago. It made for perfect travel knitting; the five different cable charts are easily memorized.

Detail of the trellis cable back panel

Detail of seed wishbone pattern on sleeves

The pattern is a free one from Cirilia Rose via Berroco. I used the 100 per cent wool yarn called for - Berroco Peruvia Quick in Fumar – which is a really lovely, soft yarn that results in a lightweight but warm fabric.

[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

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View from the back of the VIA Rail panoramic car – Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan

Stopped in Hornepayne, Ontario

En route to Saskatoon from Winnipeg

En route to Edmonton from Saskatoon

Chris and I travelled 4,466 km by train last week. It was a fantastic, frozen trip on VIA Rail’s Canadian route from Toronto to Vancouver. This could qualify as the best birthday present ever – thanks, Chris! We spent four nights on the train and saw plenty of wildlife along the way – mostly elk, deer, wild turkeys and foxes as the bears are still hibernating – and made stops in Hornepayne, Ontario, Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Jasper, Alberta. If you’re interested in seeing some more photos, I have a set on Flickr.

I did do some train knitting. Mostly finishing up a birthday vest for my dad (Dr. G’s Memory Vest by Kirsten Kapur), and starting a birthday cardigan for my sister. We met our new niece for the first time – she’s pretty darn cute, if I do say so! – and brought her this little bunny (Sophie by Ysolda Teague).

Photo by Christopher Lewis

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I had to wear this sweater today – even though it hasn’t been blocked yet (gasp!). I inadvertently wore an appropriate sweater on National Sweater Day AND stayed very, very warm while making my home in the midst of an Alberta clipper!

The pattern is Erica Knits’ Broadcast Sweater and the yarn is Cascade 220 in Jet. The seed stitch fabric gives this pullover an exceptionally cozy feel, and I was happy for the cabled raglan detail once I got there! I wanted something fairly basic and not too clingy – a sweater to pull on over and over again during the winter. I get the feeling I’ll be wearing it a lot – the 3/4-length sleeves ended up a bit closer to wrist-length on me, which suits me just fine.

Stay warm!

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[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

Two of my most-worn knits of the winter – that’s a glimpse of my Fiddlehead Mitts in the background – and a new hat! I like to think it’s the qiviut (muskox fleece) that makes this lightweight hat so warm. The yarn is from Belfast Mini Mills on Prince Edward Island, which my cousin researched and gave me for my birthday last year. It’s a blend of qiviut, Merino wool, silk and bamboo, and has quite a nice sheen to it.

The pattern is a great free one – the Dimple Hat from the Purl Bee. The only change I would make is to knit a longer brim – probably two inches instead of the 1 1/4 inches written. I still have one skein left so I’m on the lookout for another great dk-weight hat pattern…

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[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

Happy New Year! I thought I’d kick off 2013 by sharing a cozy infinity scarf pattern – the Saltchuck Scarf. I knit this one up for Chris and managed to finish it on Christmas Eve – just in time to gift it!

I loved the texture of double seed stitch from his Sag(itarrius) Snood and came across the Sailor Rib, which incorporates a similar patterning complemented by twisted stitches. I’m a fan of the vertical and horizontal lines that the stitch pattern gives – with the added benefit of lying nice and flat.

Saltchuck is Chinook Jargon for the ocean. The pidgin trade language evolved in the Pacific Northwest where it was used to bridge the linguistic gaps between inhabitants in the 19th century. The most common word still in use in British Columbia is likely skookum, which means big and powerful. I chose the name because of its connection to seafarers as well as my personal connection as a coastal British Columbian.

Enjoy the pattern – I’m going to knit myself one in charcoal while the snow is still falling in Toronto!

Finished Measurements

140 cm (55″) circumference and 30.5 cm (12″) high

Yarn

4 skeins Worsted Hand Dyes – Blue Sky Alpacas (I used 2014 – olive)

Needles

5.5 mm – US 9 circular needle (61 cm/24″ or 81 cm/32″ long), or size to achieve gauge

Notions

Stitch marker
Scissors
Tapestry needle

Gauge

16.0 sts = 10 cm (4″) in stitch pattern in the round

Stitch Pattern

Rounds 1 & 2: k1tbl, p1, k2, p1
Rounds 3 & 4: k1tbl, p4

Directions

- Cast on 220 stitches using Long Tail Cast-On method
- Place stitch marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches
- Work stitch pattern until you have completed round 3 in the 16th pattern repeat (or desired length)
- Bind off in round 4 stitch pattern
- Weave in ends, wet block and lay flat to dry
- Brave the weather!

Happy Holidays! I’m taking a break from a Christmas goose-filled haze to share the last of my holiday knits. These mittens were so much fun to make. Not only is Ysolda Teague’s pattern a fantastic one, and Quince & Co. Chickadee really very nice to work stranded knitting with… but they have narwhals on them! Knowing how Jane feels about narwhals, they were a perfect fit!

Enjoy the rest of the year – here’s to a wonderful 2013!

Note: the main colour is Peacock (109) and the contrasting colour is Glacier (105)

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I’ve long been an admirer of Ontario-based yarn company Koigu but I think this is my first-ever project using their Merino wool. Nadia Crétin-Léchenne’s Livingston pattern took three skeins of the very lovely Kersti Merino Crepe. It’s a sweet little seamless raglan pullover, knit from the bottom-up and finished with a buttoned neckline. It was the perfect opportunity to pull these mismatched wooden Nani Iro buttons from my stash.

Ten Birds written and illustrated by Cybèle Young (Kids Can Press, 2011)

To finish off this Christmas present, Chris asked the very talented illustrator, children’s book author, and artist Cybèle Young to sign her counting fable Ten Birds to our niece. It’s a very beautiful book that won her the 2011 Governor General’s Award for Illustration – highly recommended for any little ones!

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A whole whack of holiday knits ready to be wrapped! I was taking my sweet time documenting them and since December is now here I felt the window closing… Canada Post does need an ample amount of lead time.

The top photo is Veera Välimäki’s Stripe Study Shawl in Tanis Blue Label, which made great travel knitting in France and Spain this fall!

The second is Jane Ellison’s Griffin in Classic Elite MountainTop Vista. Thanks to Jane for helping me pick out the colourway, which is natural and undyed 50/50 wool and alpaca.

Then we have another Veera design – this one Shimmer in Blue in Malabrigo Yarn Rios. I love the fact that the cables are reversible, and the wider opening at the bottom so that you can pull it down over your shoulders.

Finally, another of Michele Wang’s Eternity Scarves - this time in Tanis Green Label. I love this pattern and plan to make one or two more!

Happy December and happy knitting!

[Photos courtesy of Christopher]

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I drafted this pattern quite a while ago now – maybe even a year – but definitely got some use out of it this weekend. The temperature dropped, some snowflakes flew and I caught a cold. This hottie is cozy and cabled, and knit up in the aran-weight Diamond Yarn Galway Heather. I’m planning to re-work the pattern slightly before writing it up to share. I finished the side seams with a three-needle bind off. I think an I-cord would be neater!

[Photo courtesy of Christopher]

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