The kea is one of the world’s most intelligent birds, and the only alpine parrot. In its native New Zealand, its penchant for mischief is legendary – stealing the sandwiches of unsuspecting tourists, laying waste to parked cars and even preying on snowbound sheep. Their curiosity has not always been so appreciated and that is one reason why they are now endangered. The other reason is that invasive species like the Australian brush-tailed possum prey on their eggs and young. I’ve been unreasonably obsessed with these birds since I was a teenager, and finally travelled to New Zealand three years ago to see them. I bought some possum yarn, and this is what I made. I like to imagine that the kea would approve.

Size
This pattern comes in both a scarf (skinny) and shawl (wide) version. The photos show the scarf version.
Scarf version measures about 80” 203cm from tip to tip and 14” 36cm across at the widest point after blocking.
Shawl version measures about 80” 203cm from tip to tip and 17” 43cm across at the widest point after blocking.

Yarn
New Zealand’s ecosystem will thank you for knitting with possum yarn, but you can use any lace or fingering weight wool.

The sample was knit in Zealana Performa KIWI Lace (40% merino wool, 30% possum, 30% cotton; 445-570 yards 407-522m/82-105g): 12 Wild Lime (Main Color), 2 balls for scarf version or 3 balls for shawl version; and Naturally Amuri 4 ply (75 merino wool, 25% possum; 185-210 yards 169-192m/35-40g): 4026 Red (Contrast Color), 1 ball.

Techniques
German short rows
Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind-off or similar stretchy bind-off