Inka

nka doesn't sparkle or shine so much as glow. Light catches the viscose fibers, creating a soft luminosity that shifts as the yarn moves. It's a fitting effect for a palette inspired by gemstones.

The yarn combines lustrous viscose and soft baby alpaca in a fine chainette construction. Despite its delicate appearance, the chainette holds together without splitting and glides smoothly along the needles. A subtle alpaca halo adds just enough grip that dropped stitches tend to stay put rather than running away. It's surprisingly pleasant to work with for a yarn that looks so slippery.

The finished fabric is exceptionally lightweight, with fluid drape and a soft glow that becomes more apparent across larger areas of knitting. Shawls, wraps, and flowing garments give the fabric room to move and catch the light. Simple stockinette shows off the luminosity, while open lacework allows light to pass through the stitches.

Viscose has essentially no memory, and alpaca offers considerably less elasticity than sheep's wool. The finished fabric won't spring back the way wool does, so Inka is better suited to projects that welcome drape rather than depend on firm structure or elastic recovery. A generous, washed swatch will help you understand how the fabric behaves before committing to a garment.

Mirasol Yarns was created to help support the Mirasol School in the Peruvian Andes, where children from alpaca-herding families receive education, meals, and a safe place to stay during the school week. A portion of every Mirasol yarn sale helps fund this work. Learn more about the Mirasol Project.

Pattern Ideas

• Nebula Shawl(crochet)
• Love Note
• Draping Moss (crochet)
• Newtown Shawl
• Close to You (free)