I recently took stock of my many works in progress and realized that every one was destined to end up in our Lenox Store as a sample. At any one time we have from twenty to twenty-five garments on display plus several throws and well over forty accessories. More sample knitwear fills shelves, a hamper and four over-sized plastic storage units in our back room. And yet I continue to knit for the store with the same enthusiasm as a new grandmother does for her first grandchild. So here’s my latest sample – a ruffled edged, two –color lace scarf.
I chose a small arrowhead lace pattern for the scarf for several reasons. The pattern multiple is small; easy to do decreases are paired with the yarnovers; the four pattern rows are quickly committed to memory; the direction of the arrowheads looks the same when the scarf is turned up or down; and the pattern is very attractive.
I chose Misti International’s Royal Baby Alpaca yarn. We offer this alpaca yarn in our Lenox Store and online but it hasn’t received the attention that it should. The yarn is spun using the rarest and finest alpaca. Its diameter of 20 or less microns compares with the micron count of some cashmere yarns which means it has the feel of cashmere but being alpaca it is lighter, warmer, silkier and is resistant to pilling. Historically this alpaca was reserved for Inca royalty and today’s production is extremely limited. And it came in the two colors I wanted to use: chocolate brown and sky blue. The idea for these two colors was planted in my mind from a recently received catalog and from one of its pages of baby garments.
The scarf starts and will end with a ruffle worked in garter stitch.
I’ve nearly finished the scarf and will post the instructions on our website under Free Patterns. I need only to confirm how much yarn I’ve used and to decipher my abbreviated notes. Coming to the end of this project I am filled with the same feeling I have when I come to the last pages of a really good book – a slight regret tinged with sadness at losing an evening’s companion but at the same time an eagerness to start anew. |
