Moo Dog Knits

Genevieve Helm, wearing a qiviut, cashmere and silk neckwarmer, with “Charlie,” a strawberry roan 13-year-old Belgian gelding, part of the Stevens & Beatty Pulling Horses. Charlie is owned, trained and shown by Wally and Denise Stevens and Harry Beatty of Chaplin, Connecticut. The story and details: Cast on 131 stitches for a smoke ring lace pattern by Alaskan designer Beverly Shannon, size 5 circulars. The seed stitch beginning of the pattern went well, but the yarn forwards gave us all a new appreciation for knitters who can create lace-patterned garments. This Arctic Qiviut blend proved delicate yet strong – and a challenge to handle. Start to finish, the garment took approximately 100 hours to complete. A tip: When winding the yarn hank into a ball get a second set of hands to help, as the fiber likes to cling and is ultra fine.
Progress was slow going using nylon circulars with fairly “diggy” points. A personal belief that knitting should also be rewarding led a switch over to a handsome rib pattern and Signature circulars with stiletto tips. Then pure joy in knitting truly began. The work in progress became addictive, and went everywhere for impromptu knitting . . . and doing so provoked numerous conversations. People generally commented on the gem-like colors and the unusual hand-painted fiber of musk ox blended with cashmere and silk.

Gradual decreases spread evenly around helped shape the piece from more bell-like at the bottom to a narrower and fitted head opening. The goal in do so was to create a versatile piece that would fit under a riding helmet for early-morning warm-up rides, yet allow for a cuff to frame the face as a fashionable accent garment. That goal was achieved with an uber-lightweight and warm cowl that can be compressed to fit into a pocket, yet is flattering to the wearer. This yarn is highly recommended – worth the time and effort, functional, strong and quite beautiful.When cold, pull up the cowl; when warmed up, push down for a secure way to carry it home.

Available in an array of solids or hand-painted version from Arctic Quiviut; $138 a hank will create a generous sized smoke ring or cowl, with yarn to spare for future repairs.
Note: For more about the continuing series on luxury/exotic yarn and fibers (recommended needles, tools, WIP and more close-ups) see our review page.