Orchid Pearl
WRISTWARMERS by PATRICIA HART A bright burst of color combined with luxurious alpaca make these eye catching, deliciously warm and soft. Not in the mood for color? Turn them around, tuck the colored edge beneath your coat sleeve, and show off their goes-with-anything monochromatic side instead. With an effortless flare at either end, they'll be comfortable any way you choose to wear them.
YARN
Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight, 100% Baby Alpaca. 50 g, 110 yds / 100 m. One skein of each color. Shown: Grey 509 (main color), Magenta 57 (second color). The largest size uses up almost a full skein of the main color; if you increase the number of stitches or length, you may require 2 skeins.
NEEDLES
3.5 mm / US 4 set of double pointed needles (or size needed to get gauge). 4.25mm / US 6 set of dpn's to cast on and bind off loosely.
NOTIONS
Tapestry needle. One stitch marker.
GAUGE
20 sts = 4"/10 cm in stockinette stitch.
DIMENSIONS
Approximately 7 (7 V, 8)"/ 18 (19, 20) cm in circumference, and 7 %2" / 19 cm in length. More sizing information provided on other side of pattern.
SKILLS USED
Long tail cast on, knit and purl in the round.
Orchid Pearl
WRISTWARMERS by PATRICIA HART Along with a beautiful curled edge, a loose cast on and bind off create a slight flare. So when its chilly and you pull them down over your palms for warmth, your fingers can still move freely.
PATTERN NOTES
Curling at the edges will happen effortlessly due to the properties of stockinette stitch and will remain even after blocking, though it may relax slightly. Using larger sized needles for the cast on and bind off ensures those stitches will be looser, for an easy, stretchy, and comfortable fit. To determine your size: keeping fingers straight, fold your thumb in and then measure the circumference around the middle of your palm rather snugly. These can easily be sized up or down by casting on greater or fewer stitches. A note on gauge: Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight yarn develops a beautiful halo and can be knit at a gauge that may appear slightly loose at first but willfill in as the yarn blooms Overtime.
BEGIN KNITTING
Using long tail method and the larger needles, cast on 35 (37, 40) stitches. Divide onto 3 needles. Place marker, and join for knitting in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. Switch to the smaller needles when you begin knitting the first round. Knit 5 rounds. Purl 1 round. Knit 7 rounds. Purl 1 round. Continue knitting every round until work measures 4" / 10 cm from 2nd purl round. Without cutting main color (just leave the yarn in back), switch to second color and knit one round. Pick up main color again and knit 7 rounds. Switch to second color and purl one round. Knit 10 rounds in second color.
FINISHING
Bind off loosely, using the larger needles or a sewn bind off Weave in ends and block gently. Blocking is not absolutely required for these, but it will help the yarn to relax (making it feel even softer) and it also brings out the halo in the alpaca fiber.
