OhSewCrafty Blog

• Pattern by Sylvia Hager for Blue Sky Alpacas
• Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light, Lavendar mix, 1317 yards
• Size/Needles/Gauge: to fit 34″, 6 spi on US 4’s
• Time to knit: 4 weeks in January 2012

I’ve had my eye on this pattern for a long time, so I cast on immediately after the SKC chose cables as the theme of our first quarter KAL.

The pattern is brief, and it has some errata.  The pattern gauge is weird bordering on impossible IMHO.  I thought I got gauge in my swatch.  The sizes are written with about 8” negative ease unstretched or 2″ negative ease stretched, so I decided to go up a size (to medium), which in theory should have given me zero ease with a moderate stretch.  Well, the medium was coming out with tons of positive ease, which does not work for this design, so I ripped and started over with the S size.  It was quite small, but blocked to a nicely fitted 34-35″.  I missed the errata until after completing one side, so I just did the other as a mirror image.  The sleeves I shortened to 19″ as 22″ is hand-swallowing length.  The pattern requires lots of sewing/finishing, so I wouldn’t recommend it to those without patience for that sort of thing.

The Ultra Alpaca line (50% wool/50% alpaca) is one of my favorites.  It’s soft and warm with a “cushy” feel and the heathered “mix” colors are to-die-for.  The “Light” sportweight is lightweight and lovely with good yardage (144 yards/50g).  Lavendar mix is a good example of it’s chamelon qualities, looking purple/pink/blue depending on the light.  Overall it’s just a gorgeous purple.  Copius guard hairs can be a drawback of Ultra Alpaca, but this batch had only a few.   Happily I’ve got lots more UA Light in my stash! The snaps and ribbon are from G Street.  I also shopped for a ribbon at M&J Trimming in NYC, but even if that palace of accoutrements, I didn’t find anything just right.  I’m pleased with the violet flower/diamond pattern on matte white. 

Something about this sweater feels regal to me.  I love the snaps, the ribbons, and the deep ribbing.  It’s soft and light yet cozy and feels luxurious against the skin.  I’m happy to have finally knit this sweater and it was a great stashbuster too.