What do you do when the new year rolls around?
Cast on something new. I must admit to frogging about 3 times before giving up and going back to a tried and true pattern. I tried using the Bell Lace pattern but it looked awful. I also tried a few other patterns but with no success either. I think misplacing my 2.25mm was the problem. 2.00mm gave me too tight a gauge to work with the patterns that I was after and 2.50mm was too loose.
This might be a small project but I feel much better casting on something new for the new year.
Coincidence
I also managed to pick-up a package on Dec 24th* from the Alpaca Spinner. Some months ago, I stumbled onto her site and saw that she was about to shear Polly.
Of course, I had to put in an order, I mean, how often do you find an alpaca with your name being sheared? These beasts only get sheared every 2 years. As a child, I always lost on on personalised keychains, cups, etc. because Polly just wasn't that common a name. In their kindness, my relatives helped spawn an identity crisis, I mean I got personalised things too, usually with the names Paula, Patty and Penny. One time, I even got one named Peter, but I won't go into that.
I was duly notified when Polly was shorn and then told that there was another alpaca also ready for shearing, by the name of James.
So what's a girl to do, when they have an alpaca named after you and your husband.... the credit card got bashed. Along with Polly and James's hair, I also got a certificate of authenticity
for each of the alpacas.
I believe that it is really important to support local/small scale producers. These British alpacas yielded lovely hair. There's still a few other Limited Addition Alpaca Hanks Left, so if you know anyone named Polly, Linford, Truffle, Dizzy or Thunder ...
You'll only need 100g to make a pair of gloves and I'm going to make me some chocolate colour gloves.
Now, off to work on my 'thank you' letters for Christmas. I did resolve not to procrastinate, even though I really want to go knit.
* Said package had been held hostage at the post office for 10 days and I was told off for not going to collect it sooner. Me and the post-office were not good buddies this year. They used to open up at 6:30am (even though the official opening time was at 7am), but now they won't let you in until 7:10am, which makes it really hard for me to get my packages before going to work. Postie and I are currently not on good terms.
'Course - so many of you like the idea of wool from an alpaca of your own name - I could always handspin a hank especially if I get a list to source! Now that would be a novelty
Just a thought - but nothing is impossible - only difficult!
Happy New Year - Linzi (the Alpaca Spinner)
Posted by: Linzi (The Alpaca Spinner) at January 6, 2005 09:44 AMPolly - found your site when looking at my web stats!
May I put a link to this site on the Alpaca Spinner's site in the UK?
I would love to hear of progress with Polly and James and maybe some photos of what you made would be good!
Very best wishes from the UK - Linzi
Posted by: Linzi (The Alpaca Spinner) at January 6, 2005 09:17 AMPolly - found your site when looking at my web stats!
May I put a link to this site on the Alpaca Spinner's site in the UK?
I would love to hear of progress with Polly and James and maybe some photos of what you made would be good!
Very best wishes from the UK - Linzi
Posted by: Linzi (The Alpaca Spinner) at January 6, 2005 09:17 AMPolly - found your site when looking at my web stats!
May I put a link to this site on the Alpaca Spinner's site in the UK?
I would love to hear of progress with Polly and James and maybe some photos of what you made would be good!
Very best wishes from the UK - Linzi
Posted by: Linzi (The Alpaca Spinner) at January 6, 2005 09:16 AMI have no friends called Thunder or anything like that, sadly (sounds like a name from the Bold and the Beautiful), can one indulge anyway? I would love to stroke either Polly or James or both at Libertys on Thursday. A. x
Posted by: Amelia at January 5, 2005 01:06 PMI just love those Alpacas, they have the most beautiful eyes. And the most beautiful wool of course! James is a fantastic colour, all warm like toffee but it is Polly's topknot that fascinates me; there is just so much of it.
Your new socks are looking great, enjoy them and definitely knit more for you this year.
Posted by: Louise at January 5, 2005 10:43 AMPolly, you and your very beautiful alpaca photos have much to answer for - there are a couple of hanks shortly to be winging their merry way to Oz!
Looking forward to another year of your wonderful blog. Don't be too hard on your PO - opens at 7 am and on Saturdays too I believe??? Ours are lucky to be on deck at 9 am, no Saturdays either (well, not near me at all but I do believe some POs in Sydney do open Saturday mornings)
Posted by: Lesley at January 4, 2005 09:25 PMPolly and James are so cool! What a great story to go along with the items you knit from their gorgeous hair. Keep us posted on their progress!
Posted by: Niki at January 4, 2005 08:00 PMHappy New Year Polly. Thanks for all the interesting posts this past year and thanks too for including many photos of home - especially Richmond park the other day. You have made one homesick Brit very happy this past year.
I love the alpaca pictures - such adorable creatures. We have some living near us - much rubber-necking ensues whenever we drive past! Wonderful that you managed to bag both Polly and James - looking forward to seeing 'them' knitted up!
Best wishes for the New Year!
Posted by: Anita at January 4, 2005 11:28 AMomg, they are so cute! fantastic story and the yarn looks lovely. in fact, i just read in the paper yesterday that the first norwegian alpaca farm is starting up. i think i'll give them a call and inform them of my name!
Posted by: kris at January 4, 2005 09:01 AMPolly--this gave me the best smile of the day. I don't hate you because you're beautiful, really I don't! Very wise of you to corner the market on James as you don't want any other women knitting his fur, now, do you? It looks like lovely stuff, in addition to its wonderful provenance.
Happy new year! xoox Kay
Posted by: Kay at January 3, 2005 11:04 PMI've just bought some Polly and some Truffle, (no James left) but no idea what I'll make with it!
Posted by: marie-france at January 3, 2005 10:57 PMI would have done the same thing. I'm going to search for some named Monica and Charlie now.
Posted by: monica at January 3, 2005 10:25 PMHow cool is that? Let me know when Sissel is to be sheared, tee hee.
Posted by: Sissel at January 3, 2005 08:13 PMThat alpaca is so cool! What a great idea. And I totally feel your pain regarding the PO--my favorite is when they neglect to tell me the package is even there. Three weeks later I get a "Final Notice" and they yell at me for ignoring the "other" notices. Um, sure, but I NEVER GOT THE 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD!
Posted by: Jenny at January 3, 2005 06:40 PMWhat a great thing to get the certificate of authenticity along with the fiber... and put a face to it's origin! I'm feeling myself getting sucked in...
Posted by: barbara at January 3, 2005 06:24 PMI hope you get as much pleasure knitting Polly and James as I did with Sharon and Zoe last year - wonder where I'll find an Yvonne!
Posted by: Yvonne at January 3, 2005 05:14 PMHow neat is that!!!! James & Polly are absolutely beautiful as well as their fur! Thanks for sharing the Cert. of Auth. I think that is just the neatest thing! How you'll have James wrapped around ALL your fingers ;) if your make those gloves!.....and as far as the PO as long as you don't go postal!! ;)
Posted by: PJ at January 3, 2005 04:54 PM