Web-Letter, Issue 125 – Alpaca Sox Lace Ribbon Scarf There is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. With the cold weather on at full blast these days, it's important to have the right winter-wear—including a scarf to protect your sensitive neck area. This week's scarf pattern is an oldie, but goodie—first published in the Spring '08 issue of Knitty.com, and designed by Véronik Avery, the brain child of the new St-Denis Magazine and Nordique yarn.
The Story: Winter in New England can often be a challenge. Not only outdoors, but indoors as well. We work in an old mill building, which is, to say the least, “leaky.” So I really like a scarf that serves me well both inside and outside. When I came across Véronik Avery's Lace Ribbon Scarf on Knitty.com, I found a great solution. Knit with one hank of CEY's amazingly soft Alpaca Sox, the scarf can be doubled and wound European-style for cozy warmth, or more loosely draped to take advantage of the loose ladders when I don’t want to be quite so bundled up. I found the pattern to be an addictive knit—so much so that I made two: one in a solid rust color (1825 Rose), and one in a hand-painted blue (1892 Kettle-Dyed Vista Blue). They are easily my favorite go-to scarves; since there are so many pretty colorways of Alpaca Sox to choose from, I may even make another one! The Yarn: Alpaca Sox 60% alpaca, 20% merino wool, 20% nylon Alpaca Sox, CEY’s signature sock yarn, is spun from a blend of fibers designed to make a comfortable, warm sock. Alpaca provides warmth and softness, wool adds elasticity and cushion, and a little nylon lends strength and durability. The construction of Alpaca Sox is unique too. Most sock yarns are plied and tightly twisted to make them dense, smooth, and long-lasting. Alpaca Sox is a 2-ply yarn twisted just enough to be durable, but relaxed enough that the soft alpaca fibers can expand a little and show their halo. The yarn feels lofty and light and is as lovely in shawls, scarves and baby sweaters as it is in socks. Alpaca Sox is available in solid colors, hand-dyed multi-colors, and kettle dyes. The solids are great when you want to show off stitch patterns. The hand-dyes make effortless colorful socks when you want the yarn to do the work. And the softly shaded kettle dyes are the perfect middle ground; they provide color interest with a slight, easy shifting of color value that doesn’t hide or compete with stitch patterns.	more photos The Pattern: Here is the free Alpaca Sox Lace Ribbon Scarf pattern. The Stitches: The lovely lace ribbon pattern is much easier to work than it looks.  Left and right slanting decreases, yarn overs, and double yarn overs are used over a background of stockinette stitch to form the zigzagging pattern. For more information on these techniques see the links below: Left and Right Slanting Decreases Double Yarnovers Double Decreases
See this pattern now. Find this design on Ravelry. If you do not yet have access to Ravelry, it's easy to join.
If you like the design above, you'll like this too:
	Alpaca Sox Legwarmers Pattern available in Web-Letter #29
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