Alpaca Kiss

A while back, I was browsing the free patterns available on Michaels.com for ideas on things to make.  This one really struck me and I knew I'd finally found something I wanted to make for myself.  So when I got back up to school for the winter term, I set about making it happen.

The front and back pieces were crafted using an I-9/5.50mm hook and two 374-yard skeins of  Sensations Goldenrod in neutral multi - it's super soft and super warm, and I need something warm here in the not-so-frozen north.  The neck used a H-8/5.00mm hook and about 110 yards of my $23 hank of "Goldie" - an alpaca I met over the summer.  She gave me a kiss.

The front and back pieces took a week together and the neck two weeks on its own.  The pattern was a bit confusing and required several do-overs until I understood what it was I was supposed to be doing.  The neck took so long because the special stitches that allowed for the pattern (I'm not sure I did them right because the instructions were a bit vague) weren't ones the hook could do on its own.  I had to physically pull a loop over in every single stitch.

But it was totally worth it in the end because it fits and it's warm and it's gotten a number of compliments.  I did modify the pattern a bit (as you'll notice with the hook sizes); I reduced the number of triangle stitches at the widest point from 31 to 25 and the piece was still a bit big.  I did not fringe it, as I have cats and that's generally the better way to go, but I might in the future.

I think the best thing that came out of this was the comment that my grandmother would be proud.  She was an avid crocheter - though I have no memories of watching her (I was very young when she died), we have a lot of her works around the house.