Alpaca Direct Blog

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Stretch Your Patterns: Make matching accessories!

by Kathleen Cubley August 09, 2018 3 min read

The Cosy Scarf: A Trip through Knitting History

by Kathleen Cubley July 30, 2018 2 min read

In 2012, designer Laurie Sundstrom took on a monumental task. In a sort of Julie & Julia method, Laurie decided to knit her way through Weldon's Practical Needlework.Weldon's was first published in 1888 in Britain; it was a compilation of the company's 14-page monthly newsletters featuring needlework patterns, most...

5 Better Buttonholes

by Kathleen Cubley July 24, 2018 2 min read

Knitting Needle and Crochet Hook Conversion Chart

by AD Staff July 01, 2018 1 min read

Choosing the right needle size or crochet hook size is critical to how you project will turn out. I often will change the size recommended by a specific pattern to make a tighter fabric or adjust the fabric for a specific yarn. Here is an example project where I adapted a pattern designed for chunky alpaca to work with a lighter weight alpaca yarn.

Build a Better Notions Bag

by Kathleen Cubley June 27, 2018 4 min read 1 Comment

A few years ago I took stock of my notions bags, weeding out the things that I didn't use very often and putting together one main bag that I took with me everywhere with my current project. I filled the other bags with leftovers and put them with my stash.

Since it's been awhile, I looked through my bag again. I had most of the old favorites in there, but I needed to add a couple things that had disappeared in to the void of a project bag somewhere. Here's what's in my notions bag!

Finding My Fade with Mechita

by Kathleen Cubley June 19, 2018 2 min read

Project Linus: Donate a Handmade Blanket to a Sick Child

by Kathleen Cubley June 12, 2018 2 min read

A Pairfect Pair of Knit Socks!

by Kathleen Cubley May 22, 2018 1 min read

Warm Up a Forgotten Soul with the Red Scarf Project

by Kathleen Cubley May 21, 2018 1 min read

The Red Scarf Project is a great idea for charity knitting. We've got the perfect free pattern and several options for affordable, easy-care yarns to use. Send a knitted hug to a foster child!

Learn An Easy Way To Choose Your Sock Heel Style | Sock Knitting

by Kelley Hobart May 12, 2018 3 min read 20 Comments

When working sock knitting patterns, there are a lot of options. You can knit socks on double points, use the magic loop technique, or knit on two circular needles. You can knit one at a time, two at a time, or two at a time with one nested inside the other.