Knitting on the job.

It's very rare to find me sitting and knitting at the store - usually there is just so much to be done, and I am easily distracted by a shelf that needs to be re-arranged, or a customer with a fun story to tell. But yesterday was different. We had just received this amazing new yarn, which I ordered only the week before from our fabulous rep, Gale. It's called "Alp Oriental" and is unlike any other yarn I've ever seen.

Like its popular cousin, "Alp," it is made up of many different yarns, color-coordinated and tied end-to-end. Unlike Alp, it is a bulky gauge, comes in a giant ball, and has a bohemian texture that is completely irresistible. Oh, and get this: It comes with fringe already PRE-MADE. The only way this could be faster and easier is if they knit the scarf for you. To demonstrate, I whipped up this vertical-knit scarf while at the store. It took me a couple of hours from start to finish. Just ask Gene or Harriett, who saw the whole thing!


This is going to be a gift for one of my kids' teachers - I can't say who, because she might read the blog ;-)
We have Alp Oriental in lots of colors, and we're awaiting the little booklet that has a pattern for the scarf, a shawl, and even an amazing sweater (Gale was wearing one when she sold me the yarn - nice sales tactic!). Meanwhile, here's the pattern for the scarf. Cast on 120 stitches on a #17 circular needle, 32" or longer. Knit until you're almost out of yarn - I got 16-18 rows I think, and had a fair amount left. Cast off LOOSELY (I was a bit tight, which made the edge of the scarf curve a little - you can use a #19 for casting off to help avoid this, but I kinda like it). Use a big crochet hook to pull the pre-made fringe through the ends of the scarf, matching up the yarns to the vertical rows if you like. Pull long ends of fringe through and you're done!

P.S. Please shop early for Alp Oriental - we only have about 16 balls left. It may be another mad rush like the Ozark Handspun - and BTW we have already gone through our second shipment of Ozark - but more is on the way!

- Shelley
shop online at loopsknitting.com