Knitch Magazine

Yarn Name: Rowan Alpaca Chunky
Review Date: September 1, 2011
Date Introduced to Market: Fall 2011

The Look

Alpaca Chunky is a luxuriously thick rope of premium alpaca. The chainette construction looks rather like a rope of I-cord, and promises to add textural interest to anything you knit with Alpaca Chunky. Fall fashion abounds with super bulky applications like coats, shrugs, sweater jackets and shawls. Warm but light, alpaca is the ideal fiber to ward off fall chill. In this super bulky weight, Alpaca Chunky will knit up very quickly so you can show off your style and knitting skill before the leaves turn color.

The Feel

Alpaca is a fiber noted for softness and silky texture without the prickliness of wool. As expected, Alpaca Chunky is exceptionally soft and earns a #9 on the softness scale. With no lanolin (as in sheep’s wool), alpaca is also considered hypoallergenic.

Softness Scale

The Patterns

Rowan yarns attract great designers who utilize the qualities of the fine Rowan materials to their fullest. Alpaca Chunky is no exception to this tradition. There are bundles of excellent designs to choose from, including socks, shawls, coats, sweaters and attractive home accessories. Martin Storey designed an entire collection around Alpaca Chunky in Winter Warmers. It includes ideas for quick and easy handbags, hats, and scarves. Projects that can your space into a comfortable cave include textured, intarsia and lace pillows or an easy seed stitch tea cozy.

Color Range

Alpaca chunky is available in four natural shades strangely named for birds instead of alpacas (dove white, sparrow brown, wren silver and pigeon grey). There is a range of 22 natural colors in the alpaca spectrum, from black to rosy fawn to cream. The shades of Alpaca Chunky reflect the variety of color in alpaca fiber, and have all the liveliness of natural un-dyed fibers. The colors coordinate beautifully with one another and dyed yarns as well.

Working It

Knitters who like to fondle their yarn, will really enjoy working with Alpaca Chunky, and will surely regret that it works up in such a short time. They will want to knit on and on with this yarn that slips like silk through their fingers and never snags, or twists. The chainette construction adds extra dimension to every stitch. The super bulky heft of Alpaca Chunky requires very large needles — you won’t want to crush this lofty yarn — so why not go for big texture. In this larger scale, all stitches will look a little bolder. Simple double moss turns into a bold diagonal weave. The chainette construction also adds resiliency. Soft, silky alpaca fiber doesn’t have much crimp so the knitted fabric has more drape than springiness. However, the unique chain construction of Alpaca Chunky adds twist. This beefy yarn works up well in textured, garter, or stockinette stitch, but ribbing and cables will still be relaxed.

What I’d Like to Make with It

Indulge in small scale projects that make a big splash like the decorative pillows Martin Storey designed for Rowan. Beginners can develop a lot of skill in a short time by knitting the combo of lace, textured and intarsia heart pillows. For a quick gift, knit the simple seed stitch tea cozy to fit over a ceramic tea pot. You’ll want one for yourself, too.

Knitting Outside the Box

Capitalize on the warmth, softness, and silkiness of Alpaca Chunky to knit these cozy house socks. Simple and elegant, these socks will make you happy that you know how to knit.

Blocking It

Lay flat to dry out of direct sunlight.

Washing It

Hand wash in lukewarm water using mild soap for wool. Alpaca absorbs lots of water, so support the knitting while wet to avoid stretching.

Wearability

One of the many good qualities of alpaca is its strength. The long fibers won’t pill as readily as wool and garments knit of alpaca tend to be long wearing.

Overall Recommendation:

Alpaca Chunky is luxury multiplied in a super bulky yarn. It earns a #9 recommendation.