Alpaca Direct Blog

Knitting is a rewarding hobby and a great skill to master. But getting started with something new can be overwhelming. In addition to our quick-start knitting guide, if you are a visual learner, these videos will really help you learn the basic stitches and then progress to more advanced techniques. We made the videos short and sweet (about 1 minute each) to just focus on the stitch so you can watch, replay, and learn. Have fun knitting!   

Kelley show you this technique in a quick 1 minute video showing you the versatile Old Norwegian Cast On technique for knitting.  This is also called the Twisted German Cast On.  

Well, 2018 is in the books, and I thought I would do a little review. We have a wonderful selection of free knitting patterns, and I wondered which were the most popular last year.

When I look at the top 10 downloaded free patterns from Alpaca Direct in 2018, I see a beautiful group of projects, and almost all of them accessories. That stood out to me—just one sweater and one blanket in the mix. We love our accessories, don't we?

The Zipper join is a great way to piece 2 squares of knitted or crocheted fabric. This is actually a crochet method that does not leave a lot of bulk on the back side of your fabric. Kelley Hobart from Alpaca Direct shares this clever knitting and crochet technique in a short video tutorial.

Don't mind me while I write your Holiday gift list for you. Just pass this on to your significant other, kids, and anyone who's in the market to buy you a gift!

This is also a great resource for anyone buying gifts for knitters. We've got the best stuff!

Stitch Markers allow you to keep track of your knitting and crochet, allow you knit faster, prevent errors, and keep you on track with your pattern. 
Kelley discussed locking stitch markers and loop stitch markers. She shares knitting tips on how to transfer the stitch marker to your other needle and use it to mark transitions in your pattern.

Join designer Kyle Kunneke on January 10th, as he leads knitter through the creation of the Lucio shawl. Worked in HiKoo® SimpliCria available at Alpaca Direct. You'll learn how to knit colorwork with one of the masters!

Kelley will also be knitting along with Kyle and sharing her insights. Be sure to post your progress in our Facebook VIP group!

Kelley Hobart shares a knitting hack on how to tighten up your stitches on the top and the bottom of the gusset when knitting mittens, gloves and fingerless mitts.

Kelley loved this design from Berroco and also wanted to try it with a new 100% Baby Alpaca yarn we're carrying called Amano Eco Puna. She shared tips on how she modified the pattern to match this yarn since it was a little lighter weight than the recommended Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky (Also a great yarn).  She then shared some tips on how to add the cables without a cable needle.

Every year, my husband and I set goals for our family—budget, health, travel, business, and so on. This year, I decided to make knitting and crochet goals, too. Check out my goals and join me in making the best of our knitting and crochet time in 2019!

Here's a quick video showing how to knit the Icelandic Bind Off. This bind off goes very well with a garter stitch because it has a purl bump edge. I paired it with the Old Norwegian Cast On to make the edge on my free knit blanket pattern, Kisses and Hugs Reversible Blanket.