Knitting with Peruvian Yarns: 25 Soft Sweaters and Accessories in Alpaca, Llama, Merino and Silk

Jane Ellison, author of some of my favorite Noro yarn books has written a new book,  Knitting with Peruvian Yarns: 25 Soft Sweaters and Accessories in Alpaca, Llama, Merino and Silk . It is a very interesting knitting book. It talks about the Mirasol Project, named after a Peruvian girl named Mirasol "and all that she represents. The company has always had the interests of its employees at heart but felt it was time to go one step further in trying to change their lives for the better." Mirasol comes from a people who live in very harsh conditions, few are literate, the temperatures are chilling in the winter and horribly hot in the summer. Families live in one room huts without windows or a door and most are in poor health. Mirasol and her brother tend a flock of 350 alpacas in Peru. The people come from a "rich heritage of textile artistry. The Mirasol Yarn Collection was started with the aim to raise enough money from the sale of alpaca, wool, silk, and organic cotton yarns, from Quechua and around the world, to support the Mirasol Project. The aim of this project is to build a school for the children of Alpaca shepherds. So far, things have gone as planned and a boarding school has been built. It is necessary for the children to board because most of them live at least ten miles from their families. They get to go home on weekends. The school opened in 2008.This book contains patterns that utilize Mirasol yarns: baby llama, alpaca, merino wool, and organic cotton. It has four sections: 1 ) Cardigans and Jackets, 2) Sweaters, 3) Dresses and Tunics and 4) Hats, Scarves and MIttens. There are some lovely patterns in this book. My favorites are Qina - a three-quarter sleeve, wrap cardigan; Miski, - a sweater with elongated neck-opening; Akapana - sloppy-joe inspired, raglan sweater; Sulka - seed stitch, floppy hat; Akapana - mittens with finger-flap; and Hacho - lace, skinny scarf.The book has beautiful photos of Peru and the llamas interspersed throughout. While some of the patterns are not as inspiring as I'd like, the project as whole is wonderful and gets a double thumbs up. I would modify some of the patterns from short sleeve to long sleeve, short waisted to long waisted, etc. Luckily, all of these modifications are easy to do and would be simple for even a beginning knitter. I think the whole idea of the Mirasol Project is wonderful and I heartily give this book a '5'.

This book was classified as in very good condition. The only thing that was in very good condition was the cover of the book! Every page in this book was stuck together and had to be prayed apart!

This book was a disappointment to me. I didn't care for any of the patterns (this of course is a matter of taste) and finding out that the particular items could ONLY be made from those special yearns was also a set-back.

only worked on one pattern so far

I have made 3 sweaters and a dress from this book. I even substituted Knit Picks "Comfy Worsted" instead of the Mirasol yarn, and it came out beautifully. I can't say enough good things about this terrific book!

Of course, these sweaterrs are "to die for". The yarn is hard to find but substitues are readily avaiable and worth the effort of finding and knitting.

Excited about getting new ideas

An exquisitely beautiful and very readable book! A feast for the senses...with its "yummy" yarns, breathtaking scenery and stunning photos ....along with those wonderful patterns, too.

This book is great.... so was what I was expecting. Easy patterns, clear instructions, loaded with pictures! Happy Knitting!

Lovely book

Have knitted a two of the most unusual patterns within this book. The problem is trying to get the wool which the pattern recommends. I resorted to guessing an alternative make of wool, and my cardigan turned out a little small. But still wearable. The initial chapter tells the story of the Peruvian people and how they began a co-operative for rearing llamas and spinning the wool. And now there is school for the children of the workers. Very, very interesting and an added bonus with the book.