Serin Lace Wrap and Scarf pattern is graphic chevron design interrupted by a miniature diamond motifs offering textured detail while remaining light and airy.
The pattern is written in four sizes, offering variety based on what yardage you have on hand. For me, I gravitate to the larger wraps and buy yarn with that in mind. But I also understand that doesn't work for everyone. The yardage requirements range from 640 yards for the scarf to 1425 yards for the widest wrap. Details of the pattern and the sizing can be found on Ravelry.
The yarn used for this wrap was from a local farm, Eagle Bend Alpaca Farm and worked up to be a heavy lace/light fingering weight. Its 100% alpaca and was heaven to knit. The soft alpaca running through fingers was soothing to both my heart and soul. OK this sounds so corny, but its true. This was one project that I hated ending. Pure happiness.
I used a US#5 - 32" circular for this project, based on the yarn I was using. Swatching will help determine the needle needed to achieve the fabric you are after. Needle sizes US# 4 - 6 are a common range if using lace or fingering weight.
Normally any lace piece needs some serious blocking, soaking first then stretching it into shape on the blocking board. When knitting with 100% alpaca, its a little different, once blocked it stays in that shape. This is can be both good and bad. Good because the times you will need to re-block this piece is few. Bad because if its mishandled, the piece could be ruined or just misshaped. When blocking alpaca, I do what is called a Mist Block. I pin it into place while its dry, then mist it with water to set the stitches.
The reason to pin it dry is to avoid unwanted stretching. The fiber can easily stretch out of place, just in the movement from its bath to the blocking board. How do I know this? That's right......experience. This was one hard lesson to learn.
Other yarns I choose to Mist Block over Wet Blocking is pure mohair, angora, cashmere, camel and yak. What these fibers have in common is that the fiber is more like hair verses wool which is curly and springs back into shape. If any of these fibers are blended with wool, I will normally wet block these pieces.
Until next time.....
Happy Knitting!
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