Shieldmaiden

This pattern was initially inspired by fiber given to me by my aunt, who owns an alpaca farm (Sun-Spiced Alpacas in central Florida, for anyone interested in tracking down this fiber. The alpaca's name is Tiffany). It was long staple suri alpaca of surpassing quality, with a softness and smooth luster more like silk than most commercially available alpaca yarn. In fact, given the color and silky smoothness, it looked to me like the long white blond hair of Éowyn in The Lord of the Rings than anything else.

Therefore this cowl is made to be the sort of thing Éowyn would wear. The stitch pattern is both bold and feminine, incorporating lace-work through a cable pattern and with a subtle ruffled edge. I also think a cowl is obviously the most practical neck-wear for a warrior. It is very warm and insulating, but has no tails that could be caught in mail or pulled by an opponent and is also very yarn-efficient.

This is an intermediate level pattern with a unique stitch pattern an