I’m kind of embarrassed to post this. I swear, I do things other than sit around and knit (although admittedly I do that a lot!) The cropped cardigan is finished.
My best attempt at copying the model photo
Pattern: Cropped Cardigan by Blue Sky Alpacas, size XS
Yarn: Frog Tree Alpaca Sport #12(charcoal), doubled
Needles: US 10.5 and 9
Notes: I think this would be a great beginner sweater. Since it’s knit with doubled yarn on big needles, and since it has neither long sleeves nor a full length, it’s the fastest knit sweater I’ve ever made by far. I swear, I wasn’t even trying to finish this thing! It just sort of happened. I followed the pattern exactly as written except for the needle sizes. I was really nervous about making an alpaca sweater. My verdict? Not itchy. It was slightly itchy, although not horribly so, before I washed and conditioned it, but now there’s no real itch factor. I am not someone who is sensitive to such things anyway, so YMMV. Apparently I don’t have a sensitive nose either, because while Marc could smell the “wet alpaca” smell during blocking, all I smelled was hair conditioner. I wore it around for awhile to see if it would overheat me, but then I remembered – I’m the pianist at church who spends every homily in the bathroom trying to thaw out her fingers. I have issues with the cold, so I’m not sure I can be overheated. I loved knitting with the alpaca so much – it felt like butter sliding through my fingers. I’m definitely going to be making another alpaca sweater soon!
The edges rolled before blocking, but they settled in pretty nicely. I also like it with a pin.
This is a nice wardrobe basic for me. I actually don’t have any other sweaters this color – I don’t buy black because of the cats, and I think this is a nice compromise.
Does anyone else have cats that go crazy over alpaca? My cats are totally obsessed with it. They want to smell it, and roll around in it, and I even think they would eat it given the chance.
Green apples - Stitchywitch Creates 
wowza lady – every time I read your blog you have a new sweater. good for you….man, i’ve got to start knitting to keep up!
That is so very cute – everything you knit looks fab on you.
You are a knitting speedster!! I love it! I definitely have to go back and rib mine the correct way… someday… maybe…
It turned out beautifully.
Wow, that was fast!! Looks wonderful!
i don’t believe you. It’s not humanly possible to knock off sooo many knitted SWEATER projects in such a short amount of time. KNITTING TAKES SO LONG! How do you do it? Do you have angel wings to help you or something?
Wow you are a speedy knitter. Love the sweater. Everything you knit looks great on you!! I have the pattern, geez now I want to start that one too! I actually have the yarn for this one all wound and ready to do. Maybe I’ll swatch today!
Looks great! I passed over that pattern but you make it really appealing.
My cat goes nuts over alpaca.
I love it! It’s a flattering look for you. Love the color too.
I didn’t really like or dislike this pattern when I saw it on the internets, but now I’m going to have to add it to my list of future knits! Thanks for the inspiration!
That looks so nice on you! And such a versatile colour too.
I don’t know how you manage to knit so fast! Well done.
This is stupid, but I have to say:
I love your hair colour!
It’s the shade I wish I had, and not the dull black naturally in place above my head…
Sorry, I know, weird. Just forget it…
But I like it. Seriously
This is cute, the cardigan look very good on you.. now I’m really tempting to knit this.
Thank you for the fabulous photos, I was thinking of buying this pattern but the pattern photo just didn’t show the details. It looks really graceful and lovely.
I love the sweater! You did a wonderful job!
Do you think it could be knit with one strand
of a worsted weight yarn or would the edges curl?
This is so beautiful! i’m getting ready to start mine, and i think i’m going to go for the deep charcoal color too.
my cats adore alpaca. in fact, they adore all knitting. last night i had a knit bag i had just felted on the table and i thought it was developing a weird bump. when i walked over, i discovered it was a cat who had crawled into the drying bag and was rubbing his head all over it.
Thanks for the marvelous posting! I certainly enjoyed
reading it, you may be a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from now
on. I want to encourage yourself to continue your great work, have a nice weekend!