Nothin’ But Blue Skies
Hooded Pullover from Blue Sky Alpacas, by way of Kpixie.com.
How cute is this hooded pullover from Blue Sky Alpacas? Kpixie.com recommends using BSA’s worsted alpaca/wool blend or the company’s organic cotton, which comes in amazing, naturally occuring colors. (I would also use faux suede or leather cording instead of the genuine articles, but that’s because I’m a crabby herbivore.)
And while knitted skirts are usually hit or miss, this one completely rocks my socks.
Sylvia of BSA told me over the phone (see, RESEARCH—don’t say I don’t love you) that they source their yarn directly from mills in Peru. BSA also works closely with Heifer International, an organization that aims to end world hunger and poverty by providing gifts of livestock and fostering self-sufficient communities.
So next time you’re knitting with BSA’s alpaca yarn (or any fair-trade fiber, for that matter) and someone clicks their tongue at you for buying more yarn, you can fix unto them the COUNTENANCE OF THE RIGHTEOUS and tartly inform them that you’re FIGHTING WORLD HUNGER. (I’ve found this also works with chocolate because, you know, heaven help the person who gets between me and fighting world hunger.)
A bit of rooting around on the Internet also uncovered this from The Green Guide:
Alpacas are incredibly earth-friendly animals. Their hoof-less, padded feet don’t damage terrain, they eat grass and chew their cud (i.e. they need very little, if any, fossil-fuel-generated feed), and because they’re descended from camels, they don’t need to drink much water to survive. Furthermore, Alpaca wool is naturally thick and resistant to ticks, fleas and other pests, rendering chemical dips unnecessary, and it grows in 22 colors, so most Alpaca wool clothing comes in the color in which it was grown on the animal, not from a harsh, artificial dye.
I need to find a delicate way to tell the hub to move out because buying yarn fighting world hunger and saving the Earth is going to require a lot of storage space. We all have to make sacrifices.
Adelin said,
February 14, 2006 at 8:17 pm
Alpacas are great animals — they are also cheaper to keep than dogs or cats, and typically are healthier. They also have very pleasant dispositions despite being related to camels.
Hey, remember my yarn project? :)
The Worsted Witch » Something Red said,
February 15, 2006 at 1:03 pm
[...] In a bit of serendipity, Wendy Bernard of Knit and Tonic has designed a chic red cardigan with Blue Sky Alpaca’s dyed organic cotton yarn. (Say it loud, say it proud, TAKE A HIKE DDT cloud!) [...]
Elaine said,
February 16, 2006 at 12:46 am
it grows in 22 colors, so most Alpaca wool clothing comes in the color in which it was grown on the animal
Really?! Alpacas grow wool in 22 differently colours?? ;-)
The Worsted Witch » Still Hungry said,
February 17, 2006 at 12:59 am
[...] I may kid about fighting world hunger with chocolate, but global poverty is a very serious, all-too-real problem in much of the developing world. [...]