Gifts have been mailed. Packages have arrived. Boxes have been opened. I can begin the process of revealing the Christmas knitting. This is going to be a gradual process because after the boxes were shipped, plans got changed and now certain presents won’t catch up to recipients for several more days.

Today’s reveal is a scarf for Pam. My wonderful wife has sensitive skin – so sensitive that even the softest handspun baby alpaca from our softest animals can cause here skin to itch. I’ve talked, often, about the chin test. I despair of ever finding alpaca that will pass the chin test with Pam. I made Pam an alpaca hat which isn’t much of a problem because it’s worn over the hair – and not against the most sensitive skin of the neck. Pam can feel some itch in her hat – there are days she debates between the itch and cold ears. She loves the hat!

Pam’s neck gets cold. I’ve been wanting to make her an alpaca scarf to match the hat – and I’ve held off because she would probably be uncomfortable wearing it. A few weeks ago, I mentioned I was heading to Yarn Expressions to look for nice, soft, yarn.

That yarn turned out to be Ty-Dy by Knit One Crochet Too in a color called Cafe Latte. It’s not the softest cotton around, but it doesn’t scratch and we’re hoping it will soften up with wear. The color coordinates well with Pam’s alpaca hat.

The pattern is a very simple garter stitch – nothing fancy. The style is what we call a neck wrap – a short, medium width scarf – designed to go around the neck once with the ends tucked inside the jacket. The purpose being a scarf that’s very easy to wear. This one is about 4.5″ by 30″.

I can reveal this gift because it was never wrapped. Pam has been in on it the whole time and helped pick out the yarn. I did fold it and put it under the tree, but with the on-again, off-again threat of cold weather here, I wasn’t about to let Pam have a cold neck with a brand new scarf waiting under the tree.

Merry Christmas, everyone, and check back soon. I’ll reveal more projects as they get unwrapped.