Organic Alpaca Scarf

You have no idea how hard it is to get a good picture of a grey scarf until you set out to do it. It seems that any amout of flash muddies almost all the detail, making it seem like a fuzzy grey blob, when, in fact, it has a lot more character and visual interest than that.

Cottage Industry Organic Alpaca Scarf

This scarf, roughly 6" wide and not quite 6' long is entirely mistake stitch rib. I chose alpaca for this scarf because 1) it completely fits my aunt, who actually used to raise llamas many years ago and 2) because I wanted something that would stay where I put it after blocking. Alpaca, like silk and cotton, doesn't have a whole lot of memory. When you block it down, it does what you ask it too. So the blocking process took this scarf from looking like an ugly, poorly knit swatch of K1 P1 ribbing, so something that I think has much more panache and drapieness. Something that can do a little dressed up or a little dressed down and is always warm and snuggly.

Mistake Stitch Rib, Blocked

This scarf also has some special significance. My aunt sent along some lovely Christmas gifts with my parents when they came to Chicago for Christmas. I hadn't been able to think of anything good to get for her. So when my mom walked in the house with a lovely organic dinner it put the kernel of an idea in my head. And I told my mom we needed to go yarn shopping.

Nina's is conveniently located near the Wicker Park post office. So while taking my sister-in-law to run another errand, mom and poked our heads into Nina's. And there, sitting on the shelf was the organic alpaca yarn. Mom and I decided that the grey would be the nicest and most practical color (the other options were white and brown) and I set off on finding the right pattern and texture for the yarn, which was no mean feat. It resisted every lacy attempt that I came at it with. Finally, while browsing though Barbara Walker's first book, I was reminded of the Mistake Stitch Ribbing. And away I went.

Shortly after buying the yarn, my grandmother passed away and I got that lovely handful of crochet hooks. When I got towards the end of the scarf and started to put on the fringe, I reached into the glass holding the hooks and pulled one out. So now I like to think that multiple generations of women on my mom's side were involve in this simple scarf. Soon I will take this scarf and send it on it's way from the Wicker Park post office (and probably pay Nina another visit, since I am in desperate need of 5.0 mm double points). And the project will have come full circle.

Merry Christmas Aunt Bette!