The Project takes its name from that of Mirasol an eight-year-old girl who, with her younger brother, tends a flock of 350 alpaca high in the oxygen-starved sierras of the Andes Mountains in Peru. Her face is pretty but burned by the sun and ravaged by the fierce winds. Her family’s meagre existence from herding alpaca is hard won in such a harsh environment.  The Project, based at the Mallkini ranch, aims to raise enough money from the sale of alpaca wool and cotton yarns to finance the building of a boarding centre for the children who with their families tend the alpaca herds. The purpose of the centre is to provide an infant and child-care programme and also after school support for older children and thereby address the nutrition and education issues that make these Quechua-speaking children and communities so disadvantaged.  The people of the Puno region, where the Mallkini ranch is situated, have one of the lowest levels of health and education in Peru with an illiteracy rate of 95 per cent. Families live at subsistence level in mud huts that lack plumbing and electricity and have only an open fireplace for warmth. Living without windows or doors in their houses, the people sleep fully clothed to cope with the ice-cold temperatures.

The Mirasol Project was set up in 2006 and money already raised from the sale of yarns has enabled the building of the centre to begin. The architectural design of the boarding-house makes use of local materials and know-how and is in keeping with the cultural traditions of the area. Despite difficult weather conditions in the Peruvian highlands during the winter, construction has continued with only minor delays. All the walls are finished and work is under way on the electrical wiring and water and drainage installations. Concrete floors have been laid and timber has been purchased to build the roofs. Recently, Kari Hestnes from Du Store Alpakka in Norway, one of the distributors of Mirasol Yarns, visited Mallkini to see the progress for herself. She says, “I must admit I had tears in my eyes when I saw how far they had come. If I were completely honest, I don’t think I really believed that this dream could be fulfilled. But the dream is almost realized: a couple of rooms lack roofs and the walls have to be plastered and then it’s just the decorating that needs to be done.” Furniture and paint have been bought and are stored in a shed next to the school. To avoid jealousy between the children who work for the Mallkini ranch and the children in the next village of Neke Neke, two more rooms will be added to accommodate more children. So as Kari explains, “We just have to go back home and raise more money because there are still a lot of things that need to be done.” The children of Mallkini and their parents appreciate what is being done for them. Taken on a guided tour of the buildings, they are wide-eyed with amazement, “Can you believe we will have a boarding-house here? It will be the best place in the whole country.”  Before Kari and her husband, Per, left for the return trip to Norway they decided to buy the building workers a bottle of beer each to thank them. Beer is a luxury item in the Puno region. She recalls, “We were greeted with cheers: beer at nine o’clock in the morning is a welcome break from work when you have been up since five. Speeches were made and beer sacrificed to Pachamama (Inca mother earth).” Photos were taken and hugs exchanged.

Four yarn companies are involved in distributing yarn for the project. As well as Du Store Alpakka of Norway, there is Knitting Fever in the USA, Diamond Yarn of Canada and Designer Yarns in the UK. For the summer, three yarns are being featured in new designs: Samp’a, T’ika and Cotanani. Samp’a is spun from organic cotton. The story of the growing of organic cotton is an interesting one. Firstly, the fields are sown with nitrogen rich plants such as clover or pea instead of using artificial fertilisers. Once the cotton is growing, weeds are eradicated by natural methods such as hoeing rather than using chemicals. Pests are dealt with in pheromone traps or through the daily care of the farmers, again avoiding the use of chemicals. The ripe cotton is picked by hand and goes to a nearby spinning mill which deals exclusively with raw organic cotton. Cotanani and T’ika are made with pima cotton. Peruvian pima cotton is the softest, finest and longest-staple cotton in the world. Since ancient times native Peruvians have been growing pima cotton due to its softness, fineness and durability. Grown mainly on the northern coast of Peru where there is a year round microclimate, the cotton has a long and fine fibre that needs to be hand-picked rather than machine-picked, in order to avoid tangles. The main difference when compared with other cottons, is its lustre and softness. Cotanani is a pima cotton and wool blend. The wool is dyed but the cotton is left white which gives it a unique quality and wonderfully subtle colours.

The Mirasol Project is based on Fairtrade where producers receive a price which covers the cost of sustainable production plus an extra premium that is invested in social or economic development projects to benefit the producers, in this case the building and running of the boarding house at Mallkini. A committed supporter of the Fairtrade venture is the young talented British designer, Jane Ellison. Early in 2007, having visited the Mallkini ranch, Jane was inspired to produce a book of patterns to support the sales of the yarns. Later, she was invited to visit knitting stores in Canada to give workshops featuring the Mirasol yarns and designs. She met with an enthusiastic crowd of knitters who especially liked Mirasol Miski yarn:  ‘a baby llama yarn, that is as lofty and soft as a whisper,’ was how one devotee described it. 

After this very successful debut collection of garments and accessories, Jane has now produced a second collection, creating garments for spring and summer. The designs feature three Mirasol yarns: Samp’a, T’ika and Cotanani. Jane explains that Cotanani gives a unique look, “It has a faded look like denim and a comfortable, old feel to it like a favourite sweater.” The designs, which are featured in this book, are varied enough to suit every possible taste and knitting preference. There is a three-quarter length sleeve cardigan, a long dress, a boat neck jumper, a kimono top knitted sideways, scarves, bags and cushions.  Jane comments on the short-sleeve cardigan, “You might put your vest top or dress on and there is a slight chill in the air, so it’s nice to have something to put over your shoulders. Or on a hot day you might want to protect your shoulders from sunburn in these health-conscious times.” The inspiration behind the designs has often come from very practical considerations. Her aim is not to copy what is available in the shops but to design a garment that will complement what people may already have in their wardrobe. She asks herself the question, “What can I design that would make the outfit a little bit special?” Knitting sideways, as in the kimono top, creates a different look. “It is the ultimate in a fitted garment because it drapes around the body,” she explains. She has included some cable and lace patterns but comments, “They are not complicated to knit. It is important to me that knitters should find my patterns straight-forward and enjoy their knitting.” Jane hopes that yet more people will be encouraged to choose a pattern and buy Mirasol yarns to support such a worthy cause and she reminds us, “I feel it is good to know that I, like many consumers, can make a difference – no matter how small it may seem.”

Michele Matheson