By Kerry Bettinson

Choosing Your Yarn…

Weights

If you’re a newbie to knitting alpaca, and desperate to get some yarn on your needles it’s important to decide on how you would like your final object to be before choosing a pattern. 2-ply, 4-ply, Double Knit and Aran weight knitting yarns all vary in nature and texture. As alpaca is a very warm natural fibre, be aware that less is more with regards to the weight of the fabric, and you’ll benefit little in warmth from making a garment very heavy. Be careful to choose a yarn weight appropriate to the object you’re knitting.

As some rough guidelines I would recommend:

2-ply for Fine Lace Knit Scarves, Fine Shawls, Baby Garments

4-ply for Scarves – lace and rib knit, Baby Garments, Ladies Cardigans, Gloves

Double Knit for EVERYTHING! – Hats, Scarves, Wristwarmers, Cardigans, Sweaters, Baby wear, Teddy bears

Aran for Handbags, Teddy Bears, Tea Cozies, Mittens

These are just rough suggestions of how to use the yarn. I have seen some amazing knitwear produced by knitters purchasing our yarn who have used it in ways that we don’t. A lady recently completed a stunning Aran weight sweater- an amazing piece of work in a yarn worthy of the hours of time put into the piece. I have also seen wonderful hats done in 4ply and 2ply ladies sweaters (not for the faint hearted knitter).

Color

One of the greatest features of the alpaca is that is comes in such a wide spectrum of natural colors. From white through to black with grays, browns and fawns in between. If you are going for natural undyed yarns you should be aware that although all coming off the same breed of animal, the texture and handle of the different colors can sometimes vary greatly. The white and cream yarns are usually the softest due to far more years selective breeding in South America. However, there are exceptions to this, and the UK is now producing top quality brown animals (check out our credentials in the BAS National Show Ring 2006/2007). ‘Baby Alpaca’ blends are guaranteed to be incredibly soft and slippery, as these batches only contain the softest and youngest fleeces regardless of whether they are grey, black or cream.

Tension

Due to the softness and soapy texture of alpaca, some knitters find that in order to get the correct gauge they move onto a smaller needle size than recommended for the weight. If you are aware that you generally are quite a loose knitter then I would advise doing so. ALWAYS check your tension before you begin a project because you are using a new natural material and it will not always respond in as unformed way as mass produced and computer-spun acrylic.

Needles

I have known people recommend using wooden needles to knit alpaca with. The ‘give’ in the natural needle, in comparison to the steel or plastic needle, seems to give you greater control and pleasure over knitting with the yarn. This is in no way essential, it’s just a nice thing to have when ‘knitting natural’- in fact most of my knitters choose to use steel needles.

Washing

As you’re knitting with a natural fiber it is important to hand wash your knitting after you’ve finished. I would recommend using a delicate/natural detergent, something as easy to get hold of as Woolite (which can be bought at all supermarkets) is fine. Fill your sink with tepid water and allow your item to soak for 10-15 minutes. After you have rinsed you can gently spin the item in the washing machine to remove excess water. Dry flat to avoid any misshaping. I would recommend allowing your item to dry slowly – don’t force dry on top of a boiler. The handle of alpaca seems to alter when it is dried out too fast – it almost goes brittle to touch. Patience is the key to retaining the buttery soft feeling.

Voila – easy alpaca!

The Toft Alpaca Shop

Article Source: Kerry Bettinson / Knitting With Alpaca – A Few Handy Tips

By Toby Russell

Don’t be fooled by the image.

When you think of knitting the first image that comes to mind is that of a granny knitting socks or something for her grandchild. However, this is far away from the image you should have about knitting.

In fact, it’s fair to say knitted clothes and accessories are always in fashion and even many Hollywood stars and celebrities are featured and like wearing knitted clothes. Likewise, many top designers often feature knitted garments in their collections – just glance through any fashion magazine and you’ll see loads of knitted clothes.

Getting started

For many of us, we are just happy to wear knitted clothes. Others start knitting themselves and really get the bug. If you are looking for a hobby or a way to spend a pleasant time but not without a purpose with a great result at the end of it, you should consider starting to knit. You will soon love knitting and will start trying different patterns and different yarns to achieve different effects, as you become more adventurous.

Relax & Enjoy

Knitting represents a hobby for many people because it is so relaxing. Some enjoy knitting in front of the TV, while others even knit in a group. Some people who have started knitting say that the repetitiveness of it is very soothing. For others, knitting is a form of artistic expression. Even more than that, it’s an extremely useful art form. We just have to think of how many interesting things we can make, from clothes to kitchen accessories.

People enjoy knitting because it combines the creativity they have with practicality. Art is about expressing yourself and so is knitting, but knitting has the added bonus of making things people can use and enjoy including giving friends and family handmade gifts that are truly individual.

Consider your projects carefully

Of course, you have to be very careful for whom you knit because some people may not appreciate your efforts. There is also an old rule that says : “Don’t knit a sweater for your boyfriend until you have dated him for three years,” i.e. you need to know the person you’re knitting for fairly well. And then be careful that you don’t make the mistake of making your present too large or too small. You can overestimate the size and make something your friend will never wear.

Don’t be afraid to become a knitter, it’s not an old fashioned past-time as many would believe just start by looking for knitting instructions in books, magazines, and patterns. You will see that it is not as hard as you thought. Just start with simple things like scarves and your skills will develop. A word of warning – Do not decide to jump to the difficult things unless you have practiced the basic methods. But most importantly get started and enjoy.

Toby Russell and his website http://www.knitting4beginners.com aims to offer simple advice and help for those starting out in the hobby of knitting.

Article Source: Toby Russell / Knitting – It Is Not Just For Your Grandmother!