Alpaca Direct News and Perspectives

Say “I Love You” with an Alpaca Bear

A Super Soft Alpaca Bear is the Perfect Valentines Gift!

Valentines day reminds us to take a few moments out of our busy lives to reflect and remember someone special.  Along with a card and some heartfelt words we often will bestow a gift to show our love and appreciation.  

When I look back on the gifts that have meant the most over the years they were often unique handmade “From the heart” gifts or gifts that showed a deep understanding of the recipient.  A few years ago, my husband bought me a Stihl BR420 backpack leaf blower for Valentines day...and I was thrilled!  With 7 acres and 50 animals to care for, that blower saved me hundreds of hours and allowed me more time with my family, our horses and our alpacas.  

This year I’m making my husband a special hat from our warm and soft Alpaca Yarn and I’m sure he will love wearing it on our evening walks down to Hayden lake.  Are you looking for something unique for your special person?  Many of our local customers know us for our huge selection of luxury yarns and super warm alpaca socks, however we also have wonderful Alpaca fur gifts we hope you will come by and see. 


Super Cuddly Alpaca Bears

For the man in your life, we have super warm Alpaca Socks that will keep his feet toasty warm while hunting or camping.  Somehow the truckers running the northern route up Highway 95 discovered us and are now pulling into our little store with their big rigs to stock up on socks before heading into Canada. 


Our Super Warm Alpacor Winter Alpaca Socks

Our stuffed toy alpaca bears and stuffed alpacas are also a Valentines favorites.  They are of course made with super soft Alpaca fur and are very cuddly and available in a variety of sizes.  As with many of our products there is a story to share with you about these stuffed toys.  Each one is unique and handmade for us by a family in Southern Peru.  We first met this family a few years ago during a trade conference in Lima Peru.  Each year the Peruvian government holds a lottery and a few artisans are allowed to travel to Lima and show their products at the international trade show.  At the show we met Marco and his wife and were very impressed with their handmade alpaca products.  Through a translator we were able to establish a relationship and now are the primary source of income for them and their growing micro-business in Alpaca fur products. The beauty of this is that the money goes directly to Marco and his family  instead of going through several layers of distributors, wholesalers, etc.

Two years ago we were back in Lima Peru at the trade fair and this time we brought our daughter Lauren.  She was thrilled to be sitting up front during the high fashion runway shows hosted by Vogue seeing and meeting all our commercial suppliers but the true life lesson was still ahead.

 Lauren and me at the Fashion Show in Peru

Lauren  and me in front of our Hotel in Lima Peru

After a long week at the show I had an email from Marco requesting to meet us on a Sunday morning before we departed from Peru. He didn’t of course win the lottery that year so was not able to be at the trade show. We were tired and ready to go home, but I knew how hard Marco had worked for us and told him we would be happy to meet him at our hotel in Lima.  Upon arrival Marco looked very tired as he mentioned that he and his wife had travelled 15 hours by bus to meet with us that morning. At that moment we experienced the importance our business relationship and the commitment they had to work with us to create quality products.   

In reflecting back on this experience, it was great that our daughter Lauren was there to experience first hand how true commitment and partnership in business translated into the products we sell in our store and on our website.    
If you come visit our store and hold one of our stuffed toy alpacas or slip into our hand made alpaca slippers, you can rest assured that your purchase will help support a wonderful family in southern Peru.

 

We visited Marco's family workshop in Arequipa last year


In case you have not heard about us, Alpaca Direct is a direct merchant of high quality yarn, apparel,gifts and socks. We stock a full line of fiber art accessories, including needles and thousands of yarns. Our unique selection of products also includes Peruvian alpaca sweaters, hand-loomed lace scarves, performance alpaca socks, cuddly alpaca teddy bears & unique international jewelry.

Our building is handicap accessible, with ample parking and is easy to find. We are located on Hayden Avenue, just two blocks west of Hwy 95 at 1016 W Hayden Ave. in Hayden.

Our Alpaca fiber experts are on call 11am – 6pm Tuesday through Friday, and 10am – 3pm Saturday. Visit us at 1016 W. Hayden Avenue or online at www.AlpacaDirect.com– your local destination for luxury yarn, apparel & gifts. “Like” us on Facebook and Yelp for exclusive coupons, product spotlights & news!

Knitting News from our store in North Idaho

Hi There, this is Maria with just a quick post to show off and brag on some of the fellow fiber artisans I work with here at Alpaca Direct.

First is Kjirsten from our Customer Service Department in a beautiful sweater she knit with her own hand spun yarn! The photo doesn't do it justice. This woman has some serious talent.

The next three photos are projects knitted by our very own Kelley Hobart, owner of Alpaca Direct. Kelley is an avid knitter, completing projects big and small faster than I can cast on. I am serious. Not only is she fast, her work is lovely. It rivals, even surpasses the skill of many seasoned knitters I've known.

I am blessed to work with talented, funny, and smart people who enjoy needle crafts as much as I do. Stay tuned for more peeks at what our team is making!

Spring and Summer Classes at Alpaca Direct

Join us at our Hayden, Idaho storefront to learn new skills & make fiber friends! Call us at 208-209-7079 for more information or to register for any of these upcoming classes.

Beaded Gloves · April 10 & 17 · 6 pm – 8 pm
Pattern is included, materials are sold separately. Gloves are so much fun to knit and wear; we’ve come up with a little beaded pair just for warmer weather.
Skills you’ll need: basic knitting skills required
Skills you’ll learn: how to work beads into your pattern

Beaded Gloves Con’t · April 17 · 6 pm – 8 pm
This follow up class is designed for anyone needing any additional help to complete their pretty little gloves.
Skills you’ll learn: how to work beads into your pattern

Crochet Hawaiian Scarf · April 24 · 6 pm – 8 pm
Yarn and pattern included, bring your own hook, or purchase separately. This class is designed to take the beginner to a novice in no time.
Skills you’ll need: how make single and double crochet
Skills you’ll learn: how to read a pattern.

Socks on Circulars · Part 1 · May 8 · 6 pm – 8 pm & May 12 · 1 pm – 3 pm
10% Discount on required materials.
Discover the joy of making socks. This two part workshop will introduce you to sock knitting on circular needles.
Skills you’ll need: knit & purl, increases & decreases
Skills you’ll learn: how to knit small items in the round on circular needles

Sock on Circulars Part 2 · May 15 · 6 pm – 8 pm & May 19 · 1 pm – 3 pm
This class is designed to build on the skill set of previous class.
Skills you’ll need: completion of sock cuff
Skills you’ll learn: heel and gusset shaping

Learn to Knit - Part 1 · May 22 · 6 pm – 8 pm & May 26 · 1 pm – 3 pm
10% Discount on required materials.
All of knitting is based on just two stitches, knit & purl. Master these two stitches and the possibilities are endless.
Skills you’ll need: none
Skills you’ll learn: casting on, knit & purl

Learn to Knit - Part 2 · May 29 · 6 pm – 8 pm & May 31 · 1 pm – 3 pm
This class is designed to build the skills set of previous class.
Skills you’ll need: practiced skills from previous week
Skills you’ll learn: picking up dropped stitches, ripping back, increases, decreases, and binding off

11 Pattern Scarf - Knit Along · June 5 · 6 pm – 8 pm & June 9 · 1 pm – 3 pm
10% Discount on materials to complete scarf project.
Come join us for this fun little project and enjoy the company of other knitters while learning a few new pattern stitches.
Skills you’ll need: basic knitting skill required
Skills you’ll learn: 11 new pattern stitches

11 Pattern Scarf - Knit Along · June 12 · 6 pm – 8 pm & June 16 · 1 pm – 3 pm
10% Discount on materials to complete scarf project.
Missed the first week…? No worries, it’s not to late to start this sweet little scarf, pull up a chair, bring out the needles, & join the party, we’ll supply the coffee or tea.
Skills you’ll need: basic knitting skills required
Skills you’ll learn: 11 new pattern stitches

Learn to Crochet Part 1 · June 19 ·   6 pm – 8 pm & June 23 ·  1 pm – 3 pm
10% Discount on required materials.
Not sure if crochet is for you? Find out at our 2-hour beginner’s workshop! You’ll practice making a starting chain, as well as 2 types of common crochet stitches.
Skills you’ll learn: chain, single crochet, double crochet

Learn to Crochet Part 2 · June 26 ·  6 pm – 8 pm & June 30 ·  1 pm – 3 pm
Don’t get discourage by ch 8 & ch 10! Let us help you decode crochet patterns & learn how to work in circles.
Skills you’ll need: chain, single crochet, & double crochet
Skills you’ll learn: reading patterns, and working in a ring 

 

 

Summer Class Offerings at Alpaca Direct: For all classes: Tuition $30.00 fee per 2 hr class.

 

 

Golf Socks I · July 3 · 6-8pm & July 7 · 1-3pm

To secure your spot, please register for classes at least 5 10% Discount on required materials. Of course you can make these sporty little socks. Worked from the toe up, this two part workshop will introduce you to sock knitting on days in advance by calling or visiting Alpaca Direct. How- ever, drop-ins are welcome if the class is not already full circular needles.

Skills you’ll need: knit & purl, increases & decreases

Golf Socks II · July 10 · 6-8pm & July 14 · 1-3pm
This class is designed to build on the skill set of previous class.

Skills you’ll learn: heel and gusset shaping

Learn to Knit - Part I· July 17 · 6-8pm & July 21 · 1-3pm

10% Discount on required materials.
All of knitting is based on just two stitches, knit & purl. Master these two stitches and the possibilities are endless.
Skills you’ll need: none
Skills you’ll learn: casting on, knit & purl

Learn to Knit Part II · July 24 · 6-8pm & July 28 · 1–3pm

This class is designed to build the skills set of previous class.
Skills you’ll need: practiced skills from previous week
Skills you’ll learn: picking up dropped stitches, ripping back, increases, decreases, and binding off 

 

Dye-For-Me · Fiber Dying Workshop · August 4 · 1-3pm

10% Discount on required materials. Be prepared to get messy and have a lot of fun. All students will take home their own custom hand-dyed yarn or fiber.   Skills you’ll need: none

 

Beads & Lace Workshop · August 14 · 6-8 pm

10% Discount on required materials. Come join us for this fun little workshop and enjoy the company of other knitters while learning to add beads for embellishment.
Skills you’ll need: basic knitting skill required

Skills you’ll learn: two methods of knitting with beads

 

3D Three Dimensional Needle Felting · August 18 · 1-3pm

10% Discount on required materials.
Skills you’ll need: none Skills you’ll learn: dry needle felting from combed fiber

 

Learn to Crochet Part 1 · August 21 · 6-8 pm & 25 · 1-3pm

10% Discount on required materials. 2-hour beginner’s workshop! You’ll practice making a starting chain, & 2 types of common crochet stitches.

Skills you’ll learn: chain, single crochet, double crochet

 

Learn to Crochet Part 2 · August 28 · 6-8 pm & Sept 4 · 1-3pm

Don’t get discouraged by ch 8 & ch10! Let us help you decode crochet patterns & learn how to work in circles.
Skills you’ll need: chain, single crochet, & double crochet Skills you’ll learn: reading patterns, and working in a ring

 

Other Class News:
Crafters of all skill levels, from beginners to experts, are invited to join the Alpaca Direct family:
• NEW - Join us on Saturday afternoons Sip & Knit. Bring a fun project and enjoy a relaxing afternoon with other fiber enthusiasts, and we’ll supply the coffee or tea.
• Knitting Group twice weekly— bring your friends or make some new ones at either of our free knitting group sessions
• Featured Projects— an Alpaca Direct exclusive! We partner with our favorite vendors to offer you hot projects at very special prices.
• Classes— stuck in a fiber funk? Join one of our weekly classes to revitalize your knitting & crocheting, practice the tough stuff or learn a brand new craft.
• And come visit during store hours for free access to our yarn winder, comfy chairs, crafting library & knowledgeable staff!

For all classes:

• Tuition for each 2-hour session is $30
• To secure your spot, please register for classes at least 5 days in advance by calling or visiting Alpaca Direct. However, drop-ins are welcome if the class is not already full
• Classes may be cancelled if too few students register. Those who have already registered will be notified of cancellation at least 3 days before the first class session
• Upon registration, you’ll receive a list of the materials you’ll need to complete the class, including yarn, needles and/or hooks, sewing notions, etc.
• Registered students receive a 10% discount card to use on materials not provided with class tuition for materials purchased at Alpaca Direct.
• Tuition is refundable up to 5 days before the first class session, but you may only receive a partial refund if you have already used your class materials discount

Project Tutorial: Owl Study Gloves

These cute & studious little cabled owls will keep your hands toasty & the textbook pages turning! 

Materials:

• 1 hank Cascade Chunky Baby Alpaca (or 100 yd similar yarn)
• Five US 10 double-pointed needles
• stitch marker
• cable needle
• Four 1/4″ buttons, plus sewing needle & thread

Stitches & Abbreviations:

• dpns— double-pointed needles
• m1— make 1 new stitch by picking up the running thread from the back & knitting it
• c4b— slip 2 stitches to cable needle & bring to back of your work, knit 2 regular stitches, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle
• c4f— slip 2 stitches to cable needle & bring to front of your work, knit 2 regular stitches, then knit 2 stitches from cable needle
• k2tog— knit 2 stitches together
• [instructions]— brackets don’t need any special treatment; they are just to help keep instructions organized

Directions:

Left glove:

Cast on 20 stitches & divide evenly between 4 dpns, being careful not to twist the cast-on. Place marker & join.

• Rounds 1-12: *k2, p2* repeat around (2 x 2 ribbing)
• Round 13:  knit around
• Round 14: *k4, m1* repeat around— 25 stitches in round
• Round 15: knit around

Now, you’ll rearrange the stitches on your dpns to make the counting easier. From the marker, leave 2 stitches on the first dpn. Place the next 12 stitches on the second dpn. Place the next 9 stitches on the third dpn & leave the last 2 stitches on the fourth dpn. The brackets will help you see what happens on each dpn.

• Round 16: [k1, m1, k1], [k2, p8, k2], [k9], [k1, m1, k1]— 27 stitches in round
• Round 17: [k3], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k3]
• Round 18: [k1, m1, k2], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k2, m1, k1]— 29 stitches in round
• Round 19: [k4], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k9], [k4]
• Round 20: [k1, m1, k3], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k3, m1, k1]— 31 stitches in round
• Rounds 21-24: [k5], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 25: [k5], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 26: [k5], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Rounds 27 & 28: [k5,], [p2, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 29: [k5], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 30: [k5], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 31: [k5], [p2, k8, p2], [k9], [k5]
• Round 32: knit around
• Round 33: [k5], [k12], [k9], but don’t work the last 5 stitches on the fourth dpn

Slip the first 5 stitches  of the round & the last 5 stitches of the round onto a piece of scrap yarn & set aside— these will become your glove’s thumb later (10 stitches total). Cast on 1 extra stitch across the gap to connect the remaining stitches in a round, and rearrange evenly on your dpns (22 stitches total).

• Rounds 34 & 35: knit around
• Round 36: purl around
• Round 37: *k2tog, yo* repeat around
• Round 38: purl around
• Round 39: knit around

Loosely bind off the 22 stitches from your dpns.

Slip the thumb stitches back onto your dpns & distribute evenly (you may only want to use 3 dpns here). Pick up & knit 1 stitch in the gap where the thumb meets the body of the glove (11 stitches total).

Rounds 1-3: knit around

Loosely bind off all thumb stitches.

Right glove:

Cast on 20 stitches & divide evenly between 4 dpns, being careful not to twist the cast-on. Place marker & join.

• Rounds 1-12: *k2, p2* repeat around (2 x 2 ribbing)
• Round 13:  knit around
• Round 14: *k4, m1* repeat around— 25 stitches in round
• Round 15: knit around

Now, you’ll rearrange the stitches on your dpns to make the counting easier. From the marker, leave 2 stitches on the first dpn. Place the next 9 stitches on the second dpn. Place the next 12 stitches on the third dpn & leave the last 2 stitches on the fourth dpn. The brackets will help you see what happens on each dpn.

• Round 16: [k1, m1, k1], [k9], [k2, p8, k2], [k1, m1, k1]— 27 stitches in round
• Round 17: [k3], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k3]
• Round 18: [k1, m1, k2], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k2, m1, k1]— 29 stitches in round
• Round 19: [k4], [k9], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k4]
• Round 20: [k1, m1, k3], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k3, m1, k1]— 31 stitches in round
• Rounds 21-24: [k5], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k5]
• Round 25: [k5], [k9], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k4]
• Round 26: [k5], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k5]
• Rounds 27 & 28: [k5,], [k9], [p2, k1, p2, k2, p2, k1], [k5]
• Round 29: [k5], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k5]
• Round 30: [k5], [k9], [p2, c4b, c4f, p2], [k4]
• Round 31: [k5], [k9], [p2, k8, p2], [k5]
• Round 32: knit around
• Round 33: [k5], [k9], [k12], but don’t work the last 5 stitches on the fourth dpn

Slip the first 5 stitches  of the round & the last 5 stitches of the round onto a piece of scrap yarn & set aside— these will become your glove’s thumb later (10 stitches total). Cast on 1 extra stitch across the gap to connect the remaining stitches in a round, and rearrange evenly on your dpns (22 stitches total).

• Rounds 34 & 35: knit around
• Round 36: purl around
• Round 37: *k2tog, yo* repeat around
• Round 38: purl around
• Round 39: knit around

Loosely bind off the 22 stitches from your dpns.

Slip the thumb stitches back onto your dpns & distribute evenly (you may only want to use 3 dpns here). Pick up & knit 1 stitch in the gap where the thumb meets the body of the glove (11 stitches total).

Rounds 1-3: knit around

Loosely bind off all thumb stitches.

 

Diving in Deeper:

What is with all the brackets?

Yeah, I know… knitting patterns aren’t supposed to look like math textbooks, right? But bear with me here for a minute. If you haven’t started a pair of these gloves, this probably looks super threatening & you can’t imagine how such ugliness could ever be helpful. Here’s the dealio, though: when you reach that part of the pattern, you have your 25 stitches split very strategically across 4 double-pointed needles. The brackets help you see what is happening on each of the 4 needles— they’re just a way to visually break up the round into bite-size chunks!

“Split very strategically?” Want to elaborate a little there?

In my Holly Holiday voice: I thought you’d never ask! While the gunk inside the brackets looks like word soup at first glance, there really is a pattern from round to round. Take a look at the left glove, for example.

• The first & last brackets correspond to the stitches on your first & last dpns. They start off with only 2 stitches each, but increase every other round until they hold 5 stitches each. Then, they sit tight & get knit until it’s time to turn those stitches into the thumb of your glove.
• The second bracket is where your owl will take shape. The written-out directions are hard to visualize, but the chart below might help you see what’s really going on under all that purling & cabling.

• The third bracket is plain-Jane knit stitches, every single round! This chunk of stitches will become the palm of your glove.
• Then, to make your right glove, it’s the same process, just with the 2nd & 3rd brackets switched!

Why the floopy yarn-overs at the end of the glove?

This is a purely stylistic choice that you are, of course, welcome to modify or leave out altogether. From round 37 onward, you’re creating some raised eyelets for the top edge of your gloves. They are there for two reasons: first, to combat the rolling tendency of plain old stockinette stitch, and second, to look classy as hell. Who wants ribbing at the top of fingerless gloves, right?

Finishing:

Weave in ends & trim. Sew buttons into place as the owls’ eyes— the little square of purled stitches marks where they belong. Now slip them on & never choose between cute & smart again!

Ready to turn your screen off & start knitting?

Download Owl Reading Mitts tutorial for a printable version of this post, or

Download Owl Reading Mitts pattern for a no-nonsense printable pattern.

XOXOXOXO, Meg :)

These pretty little gloves were knitted with Cascade Yarns Chunky Baby Alpaca in Cafe Au Lait.

© 2011 Meghan Bosanko

Your cheap cashmere sweater's real cost

Read this very informative article in the Chicago Tribune  about the true cost of the Big Box Cashmere sweaters and their impact on the environment and pollution now affecting America.  See our brief summary on Alpaca vs. Cashmere for the quick overview. 

 

CBS - Channel 5 Is Coming To Our Shop on Oct 24th!

Please come and join us to welcome CBS Channel 5 as they highlight local businesses and will be at Alpaca Direct from 10am - 12pm on Saturday, October 24th.   We'll have a few of our baby alpacas in front of the store so bring the kids and have fun petting the Alpacas and telling the News Crew at CBS 5 why you like shopping Local at Alpaca Direct!  

Customer Reviews Gets National Coverage in Internet Retailer Magazine

We were recently interviewed by Internet Retailer Magazine regarding our recent implementation of Customer Reviews.  We know our customers love our products and now with our reviews, our customers can tell each other.  It's a been a big success for everyone.  Here's the  magazine article posted online today.