One Scarf's Story: 2014 My First Year Using Alpaca Fiber

I knit two bunnies from this fiber I bought at Sue's in Jamesport, Missouri.

I knit one bunny from the Boucle Mix, and the bunny hopped across the pond to live with friends there.

This luscious alpaca silk yarn I purchased from talented Rebekka's Camellia Fiber Co.

My youngest son and I visited Prince Edward Island in September.  I had dream's of absorbing the beauty of LM Montgomery's setting for writing Anne of Green Gables.  My son dreamed of playing golf.  Our dreams came true!  

While on the island one thing neither of us had dreamed of was visiting Green Gables Alpaca Farm, but we did that, too.  Tim took the photos of some of the alpaca on the farm.  The alpaca were not keen  on smiling for him, but rather were intent on enjoying a meal.  

When I got back to Oregon I ordered some alpaca fiber from Green Gables Alpaca Farm to knit a scarf for Tim for Christmas as a remembrance of our great trip. My friend Teresa gave me some guidance on knitting the scarf, 22 stitches on size 8 needles:

First Try...knit 2, purl 2,....get distracted... rip out.

Second Try...repeat first try...get distracted... rip out.

Third Try...knit one row, purl one row...get distracted...rip out.

Fourth Try...knit, knit, knit, knit...

Darling granddaughter came to visit.  Grandma looked up to see her darling granddaughter waving a pair of empty knitting needles around...the very needles that had held the Fourth Try.  Mercy!  Darling granddaughter said she is sorry and offers to help get the stitches back on the needle.  Grandma forgave her and hastens to say she will put the stitches back on the needle, then miraculously succeeds in doing so...both the forgiving and the getting the stitches back on correctly the first try!

I knit and knit and knit and finished the scarf on Christmas Eve!  Hooray!

After Tim unwrapped the scarf he immediately modeled it for me...I spared him the harrowing tale of the scarf's birth.

While I have not got the hang of spinning alpaca fiber yet, I have enjoyed knitting my first alpaca fiber projects this year, and just before Christmas I purchased 285 yards of 80%alpaca 20%silk in a logwood and iron shade that is begging me to knit something wonderful.  I had another scarf in mind when I bought the fiber, but it only took 180 yards to make Tim's scarf so I am debating whether to make a longer or wider scarf or something else.

Do you have any suggestions for my first alpaca project of 2015?

Happy New Year!!!

xx

Gracie

Gatherings Across North America

Taking flight from Portland, Oregon over a week ago I have found the odd moment to knit a dishcloth.

My last college roommate at CMSU, Ginger and her husband Charlie were my gracious hosts in Missouri.

Ginger drove our college friend, Betty and me to the Enchanted Frog antique market.  We saw a number of items from our parents' era, that were familiar to us, as well as items we recognized from our own youth, that prompted good memories.

We also saw some priceless treasures like these Native American arrow heads that caused us to marvel at the varied history of our nation's past.

Ginger drove us to Jamesport, Missouri, a community that is a delightful mix of modern convenience and the clippity-clopping of Amish horse drawn carriages.

This house looked right at home.

After leaving Ginger and Charlie's I attended my 45th !!! high school class reunion in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

Then I flew to Newark, NJ, where my youngest son, Tim, drove me to see my oldest son and family [photos in the next post] and then to Massachusetts to visit my 94 year old uncle, who told us about his varied career, including being a flight engineer on the plane that flew over Hiroshima to take photos the day after the bomb exploded.

He has a fantastic collection celebrating Native Americans, including some needlepoint pieces.

My sisters flew in from California so that we could all visit our uncle together.

Next, Tim drove he and I to York, Maine, to visit the Nubble Lighthouse on a fabulous, perfect day.

Driving to Prince Edward Island we saw the beginning of the changing of the leaves in Fall.

My son, Tim, took this photo soon after we arrived on Prince Edward Island.

We were amazed at the number of beautiful old churches we saw on PEI.

One night we enjoyed eating delicious muscles.

While I enjoyed exploring the Anne of Green Gables national park, Tim had fun playing golf :-)

Green Gables

We visited these beauties at Green Gables Alpacas.

PEI is known for growing potatoes and turnips, and harvesting seafood, as well as being the former home of Lucy Maud Montgomery who created the wonderful stories about Anne Shirley.  I had the best time soaking up the atmosphere on PEI and hope you visit it one day if you have not already done so.  Have you read any of Montgomery's stories?

Gracie xx