Update Sept. 27/19: The pattern–Porcupine Ridge–came out on Ravelry today. Click the link for full pattern details and to buy the pattern.

Three weeks ago I was in Whitehorse, up in the Yukon, visiting my sister. She took me to her local yarn shop, because she knows me. They had qiviut yarn, because it’s the North.

My sister saw the way I kept looking at that yarn. She insisted that I take some home. We pooled our funds, and lo, I found myself in possession of 190 yds of gorgeousness from Nunavut Qiviut.* I cast on on the flight back to Calgary.

A cowl. A small cowl. In lace, both to make the most of the yardage, and because (as my sister wisely pointed out) this yarn was going to be stupidly, insanely warm, and putting holes in the fabric would be a good idea.

In Calgary I spent my days helping Dad get ready to move, and my evenings knitting repeat after repeat, throwing in an occasional decrease for shaping.

I reached the bind off on the second last night of my visit, and blocked the cowl when I got home. I loved this little thing before blocking; now I’m a bit obsessed. This coming winter had better include a serious cold snap and/or another visit up north, so I can wear this bit of luxury. And would you look at that: not quite enough left over for one more round.

There will be a pattern, and I’ll be making another sample—probably in Backyard Fiberworks Prairie—for a different look (and a more affordable yarn alternative). It’s such a quick, addictive little project that I may make a few. At least, that’s the plan.

*The yarn is a merino/Arctic Fox qiviut/silk blend. I know some will question my choice, and I thought a lot about it: Nunavut Qiviut’s yarns support traditional Inuit lifestyles, and I support that goal. It is very much not my place to tell indigenous people how to honour their traditions.