I just finished a new handknit shawl made from a beautiful alpaca yarn from Purl Soho!
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to go to the Purl Soho Sample Sale, held at their warehouse in Orange County, CA. I arrived more than an hour before the start time and waited in an insanely long line. They were very organized, ensuring that the number of people allowed in the shopping area was controlled, which made it easy to shop (once we got in!).
Tents set up for the Purl Soho Sample Sale. The yarns were organized by weight under the tents. There was a table with unique yarns and a rack with cones.
I purchased a few wonderful yarns, one of which is this gorgeous Purl Soho: Goldenberry Alpaca yarn. I was first drawn to the color but then the softness of the yarn sealed the deal. It is a light worsted/DK weight yarn made of 100% alpaca spun as a single-ply yarn, which imparts a soft, halo-like effect when knitted. The kettle-dyed process yields subtle color variations that add depth to knitted pieces.
Rosebud Handknit Shawl
For 100% alpaca yarns, I prefer to knit accessories, so I chose to make a handknit shawl using Purl Soho’s free pattern, the Rosebud Shawl.
The Rosebud Shawl pattern comes in two size variations. Image from here.
This is a fabulous handknit shawl pattern for this yarn. The unique stitch pattern creates a field of rosebuds on one side and a textured motif on the other. Once you get the hang of the pattern, the project is definitely perfect for TV time.
The resulting knitted fabric is soft and very drapey. Wet blocking/washing is a must to relax the stitching and neaten the edges. Just lovely!
Here’s a detail shot of the rosebud pattern.
The Rosebud Shawl is a very flexible design. From the cast-on row, increases at each end create the tapered shape, so the size can be customized depending on the look you want and the amount of yarn you have.
Project Details
Pattern: Purl Soho Rosebud Shawl
Yarn: Purl Soho Goldenberry Alpaca (light worsted/DK weight; 100 g/219 yards per skein)
Needles: US 5 circular needles
I love how both sides of the stitch pattern are so pretty!