Let’s Talk Yarn Sets

Before I show you all the amazing patterns I’ve curated for this post, let’s talk a bit about these mad times we are living in…  If you prefer to skip, just scroll down to the happier stuff.

The dystopian feel to every day is…disconcerting.  This virus has turned our everyday on its head.  It has shut us down, slowed us down, and is forcing us into unknown territory, socially speaking.

For the most part, we are social creatures by nature, we humans.  We are also trained by the world around us to be BUSY.BUSY.BUSY-GO.GO.GO all the time.  The trend of “so busy I can’t stop to breathe” is not healthy.  We need time to stop, to calm our minds, and our souls.  We need time to take in the minutes that are passing us by that we will never get to experience again.

This virus, while it is dangerous, deadly, and horrid, is giving us a chance to come back to ourselves.  Hopefully, we will never get this particular kind of chance ever again.  One pandemic in my lifetime is one too many, but, I will take the chance it has given me.  The chance to reclaim my breath, re-institute a calmness of self, a chance to slow down, to stop, to relax into myself as never before, all from the safety of my home…once the dusting is done, of course.   I do not have kids running around, all bonkers and elbows, to disrupt my calm. Two 80 lb dogs, yes, but no kids.  For those that do have children home, I’d take your calm where and whenever you can find it and best of luck to you! I can’t even imagine how trying these times are for all the parents out there.

So, what is going on with The Alpaca Yarn Company during this time?  We are filling orders as they come in and monitoring emails regularly.  For the foreseeable future, email will remain the best way to reach us, as we are not in the office with any regularity to check phone messages.  We will continue to work from home, as much as possible, and remain eager to light up the warehouse and fire up the dye pots when all returns to normal.  

 

 

Even with all the weirdness, April is for Spring, here in this half of the world… Spring with its temperamental weather, its rainy days, and the rays of a warmer sun…  Spring doesn’t care that a virus is running amuck, upending our lives, it just knows that the show must go on, it is time for blooms, buds, green, new beginnings and fresh starts…

Here in York, Pennsylvania, I am busy throwing open windows and airing out the shuttered stuffiness of the dreary cold months behind us. Beth is gearing up to shearing time! 

It’s a time when everyone starts thinking of finer projects with lighter yarn; a lightweight cowl instead of a turtle neck sweater or a shawl to keep the chill from my shoulders instead of a jacket.  Maybe a new pair fingerless mitts to replace full gloves.

We’ve decided that this month we will feature our yarn sets.  What’s the difference between a “yarn set” and a kit?  A kit comes with a pattern, a yarn set does not.

 

 

 

Yarn Sets:
Kindred Spirit Braids
and Mini Madness

10% off all yarn sets and braids 
during the month of April
Code:  set10

 

First up, Mini Madness, our 10 skein mini fingering weight sets!

While kits are pretty self explanatory, it’s yarn sets that stump people. I am asked, all the time, “I bought a Mini Madness set, what can I make with this?” Well, it’s 1100 yards of fingering weight, so…LOTS!!  I’ve put together a list of several patterns that would work perfectly with our Mini Madness…  Let’s take a look!

 

This gorgeous shawl is called Make Your Own Luck, by designer Lisa K. Ross.  Lisa is a busy mom and a prolific designer!  Follow her on Instagram and make sure to check out her website, HERE!

This pattern would be perfect in our Mini Madness sets that have 10 different colors, such as Viva Las Vegas, our bright neon set, or Victorian Times, a lovely subdued color palette.

 

 

 

 

Next up, we have designer Jamie Hoffman and her lovely, and light Scrappy V t-shirt!  What a perfect knit for warmer weather!  You can follow Jamie’s knitting adventures on her Instagram and website!

This would also be stunning knit up with our Kindred Spirit braids.  Just alternate the two yarns as you please!

 

 

I found Fall River by Katya Novikova ages ago and stuck it in my favorites wholly intending to use one of our Mini Madness to hook this up.  I haven’t done it yet…but, I will.  😉  Katya is an amazing designer from Moscow!  Check out her Instagram!

This would be lovely in any of our Mini Madness or you could use two of our Half Mad sets if you wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting Ziggy is another great crochet pattern for mini skeins! Designer Sandra Paul uses a chevron stripe for this lovely wrap.  She has a multitude of patterns available in her store, check it out HERE!  You can follow her adventures and listen to her podcast on her website, CherryHeart.  Catch her on Instagram, too!

This would also be brilliant worked in one of our Kindred Spirit braids, too!

 

What if you buy a Half Mad kit,  but you aren’t ready to try Mosaic Knitting?  Like I said before, just because it comes with a pattern, it doesn’t mean you have to use it!

Stephanie Lotven designed a cowl that I think would rock our Half Mad sets!  The Shortcut Cowl uses several stitches and several colors to create a super fun, a touch of wacky and whimsy, cowl that is perfect for those of us that get bored quickly.  She has a Raverly pattern shop full of awesome patterns!  You can follow Stephanie on her blog and her Instagram feed.

What’s more… Stephanie has generously offered an amazing coupon for our readers! When you purchase the Shortcut Cowl, use the coupon code:  SHORTCUTFUN  It is good for 40% off the cowl pattern until April 30th!!  Thank you, Stephanie!

 

Moving on to our Kindred Spirit sets,  what a glorious match!  The Kindred Spirit sets are comprised of  one skein of our Mariquita yarn and 2 skeins of our Halo Watercolors, that we package together by way of a simple braid.  The sets are offered in 16 combinations, you’ll be sure to find one that is perfect for you. I’ve combed Ravelry for a few patterns that I think would be perfect for the Kindred Spirit braids.

 

 

Good Vibes is a shawl using two yarns individually.  Designed by Nadia Crétin-Léchenne, Good Vibes combines easy knitting with some lace to keep you focused.  I can see it with the Mariquita as the main body and the Halo as the lace, so airy and light!

This would also work with our Mini Madness sets, or our Half Mad set plus a full skein of coordinating yarn!

Here is a pattern that is actually written for a silky yarn and fluffy yarn… It’s Floatini by Cally Monster of Monsterknits.  Cally designed this shawl to make the most out of the differences between the two yarns, resulting in a shawl that is airy and artistic!  This shawl will absolutely glow in any of our Kindred Spirit combinations!

 

 

 

 

The Starlight shawl is for all you crocheters our there looking for some action involving beads!  Designed by Rachy Newin, this shawl has an amazing border that uses beads and lace to make it shine!  Check our her website and Instagram, too!  While this pattern calls for two colors, it would look amazing in our Kindred Spirit braids, using the Mariquita for the body and the Halo for the border.  Just think how stunning that border would be with the airy haze of Halo with glittering beads nestled in!

 

Here we have a stunning shawl by Ambah O’Brien.  It is called Kallara.  While the pattern calls for two colors, it would be delicious knit in a Kindred Spirit braid, alternating the Halo and Marquita as the pattern calls for.
Ambah is a prolific designer, you can follow her on Instagram and her website!

Ambah is currently offering 30% off all her patterns through April 30!  What a generous offer!! Use coupon code: knitlove

 

Mind blown yet?  That is just a handful of patterns that would be a perfect match for our yarn sets.  There are so many more, too.  Just open your mind, think outside the suggested yarns, and bring some AYC magic into your crafty life!

Here’s a peek at what we have been making with our yarn sets…

All patterns can be found on Ravelry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In closing, let me add that we are offering a 10% discount on all yarn sets and braids for the month of April.  The discount code is: set10  Grab a set, and cast on!!  Make sure to share your projects with us!  You can email us:  [email protected] or tag us on Instagram and Facebook!  We always love to see what you are making!

So no matter what you choose, use this time, if you have it to reflect on all the good things in life that you enjoy and are blessed with.  Share the joy you find in your craft with others that need to be uplifted during this difficult time.

Happy Knitting friends ~ Heather & Beth