Monday, October 10, 2011

Alpaca Fun





















Wow! It's been awhile since I last posted. I have knit a ton of course but just haven't had a chance to take photos and show you what I have been knitting. I joined a group called "Warm Hearts, Warm Babies". The group meets one Thursday a month at a church in Arvada and takes knitted, crocheted or sewn baby items and delivers them to hospitals, unwed mother's homes, or clinics to distribute to needy Moms. So I have been knitting quite a bit of baby items of late. Have always loved knitting for the "wee ones" and now that my grandkids are getting bigger it gives me a chance to do just that.


















This weekend we went to an Alpaca ranch. Who knew that they are located almost in my backyard, right off of Indiana St. The owner, Cheryl, was kind enough to greet us and tell us all about her ranch. They also had beautifully soft alpaca yarn for sale. I bought some bulky weight yarn that came from a cream colored alpaca named Sophie Mae. It was the softest yarn ever. I bought 200 yards, thinking I would knit a hat, but found that I so enjoyed the feel of it that I wanted it even closer to my skin, so it is going to be mittens. Long mittens that will be sure to keep me warm this winter. The pattern I found was a free one on Ravelry, named Lofty Cable Mittens. After reading the comments from other knitters about the pattern running big and knowing that I have itty bitty hands, I changed the needle size from a size 9 to a size 8 for the ribbing and 7 for the remaining pattern. Perfect fit. One down and one to go. The brownish sport weight will be a hat to match a lace scarf I am knitting.


















If you ever have a chance to see these beautiful alpaca's, please do so. They have an open house every fall and have invited me to come to there shearing event around Mother's Day in May. Ancient Treasures Alpaca Ranch, 7870 Indiana St., Arvada, owner Cheryl Keydel.