Miski Magic 2011-02-10

I'm designing for the next season and this week I am using Miski from the Mirasol Collection.

Miski is made from baby llama and is such a dream to knit. I am so lucky to be able to design with such a beautiful yarn.

I have also been looking into the history of alpacas in Peru (here is my very basic and highly edited version of the history, there is much more to it than this and to me, is amazing.) and one of the stories is that alpacas were loaned to humans by the Goddess, Pachmana or the Earth Mother. They could stay for as long as they were properly looked after and respected. The fleece of the alpaca was considered the most prized. However when the Spanish came to Peru they didn't recognize the most highly prized treasure instead they were blinded by the sparkle of the abundant gold, silver and precious stones. (I love this idea, that the most precious thing is ignored. Can gold keep you warm? Make you feel proud and happy when you create a beautiful unique textile. Though gold can be sold to keep you warm so I should stop and take off my rose coloured glasses, but then to be fair you have to find someone who has made the thing to keep you warm.... anyway, I'll stop rambling and get back to knitting!)

At the moment I am wearing a new design, a Miski cowl and it is so gorgeously soft and light. I'm planning on having one in lots of colours to go with what I'm wearing....after I've designed for the rest of the books!