We have made no secret of the fact that we love Town End Alpacas’ yarns. A truly, totally English set of yarns in gorgeous natural alpaca colours. Kim sorts and grades the fleeces herself and only the best gets sent off to be spun. Last year we designed for the Alpaca DK, this year we’ve used her Alpaca with Shetland Aran for 3 garments for slightly older children.

Blackett is suitable for boys or girls, a classic, textured cardi in moss st, garter stitch and a fleck stitch, again with a slightly vintage-y feel, we like to think that the Blackett girls would have been dressed in similar cardis growing up before they were being piratical in the Lakes aboard the Amazon.

If you’re confident about what’s a knit stitch and what’s a purl stitch then you should be able to knit this. We’ve knitted in pieces and sewn up because we think it gives a bit more structure to garments as they start getting bigger, plus we don’t like having big chunks of knitting on our needles if we don’t have to, but if you really hate side seams and you’re confident then you should be able to knit the body in one piece.

Sizing: Five - to fit ages 2(3, 4, 5, 6) years, actual chest size: 64(68, 73, 78, 82)cm / 25(26¾, 28¾, 30¾, 32¼)”, buttoned.

Tension: 16.5 sts and 33 rows to 10cm / 4” over garter stitch (every row knit).

Yarn: Town End Alpacas Alpaca / Shetland Aran, 90% Pure Alpaca, 10% Shetland Wool, 74m(80yds) / 50g ball.
5(5, 5, 6, 6) balls, shown in Ivory.

OR

Town End Alpacas Pure Alpaca Aran, 100% Pure Alpaca, 66m(71yds) – 82m(88yds) / 50g ball (metreage is dependant on colour, yarn quantities given for lowest metreage available)
6(6, 7, 7, 7) balls.

Buttons: 5. Ours were 2cm diameter.

Pattern is written, with spec drawing for easy mods.