Phoebe the Alpaca by Kira Wharton

Phoebe the Alpaca

Knitting
November 2023
Avalon Springs Farm Percival
all 3 are used in this pattern
DK (11 wpi) ?
US 1 - 2.25 mm
US 2 - 2.75 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
Large - 10”/25.4 cm tall. Small - 7.75”/20 cm
English
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This gentle alpaca was inspired by a farm yarn from Avalon Springs Farm. Made from a combination of merino, mohair and alpaca this soft and squishy yarn is a perfect blend for toy making.

https://avalonspringsfarm.com/product-category/yarn/perci...

A few notes about the pattern
Phoebe is knit in the round from the bottom up. The arms are knit first and then set aside to be attached later. Next each leg is knit and then joined together to work the body. The arms are then joined before knitting the shoulders, neck and head. The stitches for the muzzle are provisionally worked with waste yarn which is later removed. The live stitches are then picked up and worked in the round to form the muzzle. The ears and tail are knit separately and sewn on. The sample alpaca has embroidered eyes, but tips for using safety eyes if you prefer.

Materials
Yarn
For large alpacas - Percival from Avalon Springs Farm, 120 yards/110 m, bulky weight. Sample alpaca used about 51 yds/47 m in Natural and 10 yds/9 m in Beaver for the contrasting hooves. For the sweater vest - Pendragon DK from Avalon Springs Farm, 275 yds/251 m. Sample vest used about 41 yds/38 m.
For small alpacas - Pendragon DK from Avalon Springs Farm, 275 yds/251 m. Sample used about 42 yds/38 m for the body and 8 yds/7 m for the hooves. For the sweater vest - Pendragon Whelps from Avalon Springs Farm, fingering weight, 100 yds/91 m. Sample vest used about 30 yds/27 m.
For Pocket Butterfly - 1.5 yds/1.5 m in both black and blue fingering weight yarn

Needles
You’ll need two sets of double pointed needles for Phoebe (one set for knitting and one for holding stitches).
For large alpacas - US size 6/4.0 mm or size needed to obtain gauge below.
For small alpacas - US size 2/2.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge below.
For Sweater vest - 24” circular needle plus three double pointed needles in the same size for the pockets. For large sweater vest - US size 5/3.75 mm. For small sweater vest - US size 2/2.75 mm.
For Butterfly - US 1/2.25 mm double pointed needles

Gauge
Make sure your fabric is tight enough so the stuffing doesn’t show through when stuffed at this gauge. I recommend at least two to three sizes smaller than the recommended needle size for your yarn.
Large alpaca gauge - 4.5 sts by 6 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly stuffed.
Small alpaca gauge - 7 sts by 9 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly stuffed.
Sweater vest gauge - Large - 5 sts by 7 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly blocked. Small - 7 sts by 10 rows over 1”/2.5 cm lightly blocked.
Finished size - Large -approximately 10”/25.4 cm tall.
Small - approximately 7.75”/20 cm

Miscellaneous- darning needle for weaving in ends; about 1/2 oz/14 g of wool stuffing (or stuffing of your choice); a scrap of fingering weight yarn or embroidery floss in black for the eyes, nose, and mouth; two 6”/15 cm scraps of DK weight yarn to hold stitches for the muzzle and pockets.