I wanted to come up with an idea that would answer the pressing need of the last minute gift without sacrificing quality, a gift that we can give without sheepishness or apologies. In fact, one that will be given with pride and received with gratitude, and one that, not insignificantly, you can start at the beginning of a movie and finish before the final credits roll!

Materials

• 3 skeins of Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky, 50% alpaca and 50% wool. This color is "Grasshopper" #1212. (Alternatively, you can use 1 skein of Cascade's Magnum, 100% wool.)

• Skacel's US size 36 knitting needles, either 32 inch circular or 14 inch straight

The Pattern

Gauge

3/4 stitch = 1 inch in seed stitch

Finished Size

5 inches x 70 inches

Note

The yarn is doubled throughout this pattern. For the first two balls, just pull one strand from each ball. For the third ball, you have a couple of options. One is to pull one strand from the center of the ball and one strand from the outside of the ball (my preferred method). The other is to wind the one ball into two balls as evenly as possible.

The How To

Cast on 7 stitches.

Row 1: Slip 1 knitwise, *p1, k1; repeat from * two times.

Repeat Row 1 for every row.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Weave in the ends. (It's neater to weave each strand in separately rather than keeping the ends doubled.)