I finished this mini cowl (Vanilla Velvet pattern by Anne Hanson) a few months ago, but I finally blocked it. I used Shady Grove Alpaca farm yarn, Moonstar Sock with added nylon. When I first got the yarn back from the mill on 2016, my friend Lolita took a look at a few of my sample projects and exclaimed that this was the yarn that would show cables and lace the best. Sadly, it took me 9 years to give it a try. She was right!
I also washed the yarn before I knit the pattern so the yarn would preshrink. When my mom knit the sample socks, they shrank a few sizes after washing. I went down to size 1 needles, thus making the cowl much smaller than I intended. Since I already started knitting, I decided to make a tiny cowl with less pattern repeats. If I make it again, I will select the larger size and knit the recommended pattern repeats.
Two ways to wear: as a cowl and folded under as a turtleneck under a sweater. In spite of the added nylon, I still feel itchy while wearing, so I guess it's not the answer to my alpaca alergy.
The before pictures: I think prewashing the yarn made a big difference in the product, and the blocking was still needed to make the stitches appear smooth and expanded.
Happy Knitting in this early fall weather!
I also washed the yarn before I knit the pattern so the yarn would preshrink. When my mom knit the sample socks, they shrank a few sizes after washing. I went down to size 1 needles, thus making the cowl much smaller than I intended. Since I already started knitting, I decided to make a tiny cowl with less pattern repeats. If I make it again, I will select the larger size and knit the recommended pattern repeats.
