Scaruffle

So, last week I finally got around to purchasing Clara Parkes: Knitter's Book of Yarn. I'm a little embarrassed to admit I'm just getting around to it, but sadly, it's true. I'd asked for it for Christmas and it wasn't under the tree and then other things just kind of took over and I didn't get around to picking it up.

Enough excuses, I have it now. I pretty much devoured it in one sitting. It's just that kind of book. I was humbled by it. If all goes well in the world, I may someday know half as much about yarn as Clara.

I immediately cast of the Scaruffle in Pinto Bean. It's yarn I picked up at my hair salon. The owners have a herd of alpacas and this yarn was spun from the fiber of one.

This was the third or fourth project that I'd cast on with this yarn. None of them were working. I kept splitting the plies on one so I quickly abandoned it. Another had lots of K3Tog that ended up being troublesome because the alpaca isn't as elastic as wool. I decided that I wasn't going to put up with it being that much of a PITA. Had I read Clara's book beforehand, I would have done a better job matching the yarn to the project and saved myself plenty of time and frustration.

The instant I saw the Scaruffle, I knew it was the project for me and Pinto Bean. Big needles, simple stitch pattern (OK, no real stitch pattern) and small. I love me some instant gratification.
And since we're still getting snow here in Chicago, I'll be able to wear it for several more months.