Aug 29 2007
Alpaca Possiblities
Right off of the Plaza de San Francisco in downtown Cusco, we found a little yarn shop. There were cones full of alpaca and wool, and a variety of blends. One wall was dedicated to naturally dyed (or undyed) yarns, while the others used synthetic dyes. And in the display case below, there was a treasure trove of baby alpaca. Neatly arranged in bags of ten.
TEN balls of beautiful local alpaca for about $25. $2.50 a ball. Yeah, that was worth it. I bought three bags.
This was the only “commercial” yarn shop I found in the city – and I got this tip from one of the women working at the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. The yarn that is produced by all of the spinners on the street is immediately put to good use by the family – whether for weaving, crochet, or knitting. Yarn is not seen as a profitable product – only the finished textile. Luckily I found this place, who seemed to cater to wholesalers and larger mill shops.
It was at the Pisac Market that I found the last bag of yarn, just slightly more expensive, but in a beautiful blue shade. Four bags seemed more than adequate.
The wheels in my head started turning – I needed a project for all of this yarn. I remembered the RYC Classic Alpaca collection that I picked up last fall, and my mind was racing… once I got home to Maryland, I confirmed that this yarn would be the perfect substitute for the RYC’s Baby Alpaca DK, with a little added yardage too! (and about five times cheaper than the Rowan equivalent…)
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The idea of stripes immediately appealed to me, and I asked Kris how he felt about the Oxford sweater. (The colors were almost a perfect match.) I didn’t get an enthusiastic response, so I regrouped and thought that one of the natural shades would actually make a perfect Linden pullover, one of my favorite patterns in the book…
Nice, right?
…and the stripes are for me too! I do love the Oxford, so why not the charcoal and blue version for me?
I am feeling a very strong pull to this yarn – I think I just might be spontaneous and cast on with it soon… jumping over the other beautiful knits in my queue.
Which one should I cast on for?
The linden is gorgeous! Truly. But the oxford would be faster….. I vote the linden though. Special.
I vote for the Oxford. Love those stripes!
The Oxford, love the striping action!
Linden! I love it
So glad you are back safe and sound! First chance I’ve had to respond to you as we just hauled our 3rd oldest off to college!
I can just see you in the Linden sweater! Beautiful!! Both you and the sweater
Linden.
i vote for linden — nice use of a lace stitch in a wearable design, and depending on how dressy work is for you, it would be something that could go to work or out on the weekend.
I vote for stripes, just to make use of that pretty blue.
Just gorgeous! I agree with the others – go for Linden, it is truly a charming pattern.
Stripes! I can’t wait to see that knit up!!!!!
Hey! I just started reading your blog and love your knitting, and your writing, and your knitting. Where in Maryland do you live? I just moved from Baltimore to Reisterstown, soon going over to Manchester… I want a knitting group with fun peoples. Or just a cafe with one or two more knitters …
Oh, and I vote for the Oxford: a simple look with luxurious feeling? I can’t pass up pajamas that I can wear outside. Just can’t.
Ha! I was there, I bought that yarn only to regret not buying more, only for it to sit in my stash as I was waiting to make something special.
I vote for Oxford.
I’ve gotta go with the Linden. That’ll be so pretty on you!
If it were me, I would do the Linden Pullover, b/c horizontal stripes for me make me nervous that I could look wider. I like the lace inlay in the Linden and think that you could dress it up or down and look gorgeous!
Linden. I think the vertical lines suit you better.
Linden! Linden! It’s so subtly gorgeous, perfect for such special yarn. Does the belt come with it???
I love Linden! I think it’s so pretty and flattering. It would look gorgeous in that dark brown color on you!
Either is going to be beautiful! I can’t wait to go to that store myself…. Thanks again for the directions!
Ooh, I vote for Linden all the way!
Stripes! I love stripes!
The chill in the air this morning says that fall is coming fast and that sways me to the stripes. The price of that yarn is amazing!
Oxford! Stripes are the thing for fall.
I vote Oxford! You are so excited about the stripes, run with it!
I vote Linden. For me, I am always careful with horizontal stripes, esp. wide ones. They tend to make me look heavier. The Linden is gorgous. I love the picture that you took of the yarn shop. It reminds me of the yarn mills that I went to in Florence!
I cast my vote for Linden! I love the femininity of the sweater and I think it will look great in the lighter natural color you bought. . . . just my 2 cents.
Oh and I love reading about your trip to Peru! It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit. Someday, someday.
Why, both of course!
ps: Your writing suggests you want the oxford. Go with your gut.
I love the linden, but maybe I’m just eyeing that gorgeous belt in the picture! =)
Lucky you, you found such wonderful yarn!
Oxford! I like both patterns, but I have a serious weakness for stripes.
Lovely yarn buys, first of all.
I love the simplicity of the striped Oxford pullover…something about the yarn and it’s traditional, practical (albeit, beautiful) applications seems to make me want to see it knit into a lovely and sumptuous, but practical sweater. It just seems to beg to be something really useful, comfortable and beautiful.
Though, Linden would be an amazing choice as well.
I vote for Linden, too, in that gorgeous taupey color. Whatever you make, it will be special!
I vote for the Linden too. But then again, I’m a bit biased. I love that sweater. The Oxford is nice too. But the lacey cables of Linden are so much fun!
If it were me, I’d shy away from the vertical stripes because they just don’t work on me. But I love the way they look on the model! Linden is great too, but you seem to want to do stripes right now, so I’m happy to enable.
Glad you’re home safe, Lolly. Go with the Linden – alpaca knitted into lace is truly beautiful. And the design of the Oxford makes me wonder how well it would really hold its shape since alpaca is so drapey.
Welcome to the wonderful world of weaving!
Holly
You show the resourceful lengths knitters will go to to find yarn in foreign places – very clever
I like the lacy pullover because alpaca is so warm – it will be more versatile in different types of weather. Really, either one will be divine. Hope you had fun in Chi-town!
I vote for Linden! It’s just stunning. What a score with that yarn!
I vote for the Linen as it looks like it would be a very enjoyable knit. The yarn you picked up was a great value and beautiful!
I vote for Linden. It looks like such a sweet sweater.
Linden, Linden! Of course, you could always cast on for the Oxford at the same time, one could be a “home” project and one an “away” purse project.
I think those little eyelets in Linden will keep the alpaca from being too freakin’ hot. What amazing yarn buys!
i vote for linden, because of the flattering vertical patterning, and its femininity
OMG! what a score! That yarn must be absolutely delicious!
Go for the stripes! Go for the stripes!
Linden!
I’m always a sucker for stripes. Do it!!
Linden, for sure. And you can knit me the stripes….hehehe
Linden…AND Stripes. Those are my two fav patterns from the book too!
I like the Linden, no the stripes, no the linden, aackk! Both!
I vote for the Linden!! Wow, all that alpaca – yum!
lolly linden!, nice ring.
I bought some of that alpaca on eBay a couple of years ago – gorgeous stuff!!
Ooh, start with stripes – perfect for fall! Linden strikes me as more of a cozy winter sweater
Lol!!! Amazing “Lolly” Blue,… even in Peru. Do they call it “Lolly” azure there?
I think the Linden and maybe in the blue, but you know me, I’m all about blue. The stripes would work better in muted, subtle shades. Either way, they will both be lovely! XXOO
how awesome was that little “shop”!!!!
I vote for the Linden! I love it!
You’re on your own sister. I can’t decide between the two. Those bags of alpaca are a steal! What a great price, and when you’re done, what a great souvenir.
What a place to shop!! I love the Linden !!
I think Baby Alpaca yarn is one of my favorite yarns so far. It’s so squishy soft:)
The Linden. I love the lacy effect. It will be pretty on you.
Hey!
I vote for Linden.
I forgot to tell you my blog address this afternoon, so here it is. And I’ll email for directions to that shop–if we can coordinate it (the work part of our trip is to Lima) we’re going to Cusco.
That’s easy. Linden
What a wonderful little shop — I love the photo! It sure makes me appreciate the selection we have here, but glad you got to contribute to the local economy there.
The stripy one! Stripy, stripy, stripy.
I was looking at the exact same pattern today thinking a) I want to make this, and b) I’m sure I’ve seen this somewhere recently. Yep, on your blog!
I’m loving the oxford!
Ha! My husband visited that shop while in Cusco! (I told him he’d better not even THINK of coming back without yarn!) He took a picture of that same man and all the yarn, too! He also brought me a bag of the baby alpaca and a cone of dark green alpaca. I used the baby alpaca to make the Icarus Shawl from Interweave and found the yarn to be buttery soft and VERY warm. A little splitty, but not too bad if I paid close attention. Happy travels!
p.s. I vote for Linden!
stripes! stripes! i love that sweater and it looks so wearable and fun.
and heavens… i think i would have fainted in that shop
the linden is gorgeous!
and thanks for the pictures and stories from your trip. definitely heartening.
[...] Terrell presents Alpaca Possiblities posted at Lolly Knitting Around, saying, “travel story: knitter goes nuts in yarn shop in [...]
Gosh, what a steal on that yarn! My vote is for the Oxford… I love the men’s version too, I may have to show that to my hubby!
Either one is a great sweater. I think you would be pleased with whichever you start next.
I’m partial to the first one but either would look good on you.
[...] Alpaca Possiblities [...]
I was in Peru in April of 2007–I ended up buying 10 pounds of alpaca yarn! We had to buy a duffel bag to bring it all home.