Pretty In Pink

It was such a wonderful weekend and even while enjoying, savoring, and reveling in every minute, time did not slow down.  How can it be Monday?  The weekend, while seeming to fly by, was very productive and there will be much to show for this last week of NaKniSweBloPoMoFo.  The next 5 days will be used to show everything off, with the Piece d'resistance on Friday...so, please stick around for the big finale!

Today's finished project is the sweet, pretty and very classic Portrait Scarf by Véronik Avery. Right from the first sighting of this scarf, I knew I had to make it and, when I saw Anne's beautiful mohair/silk at the Great Basin Fiber Fair, I knew it was the perfect yarn.  This soft, silky, luscious beauty has adorned my neck all week.

What better way to show if off than a classic Calvin Klein, the Cable Cardigan from Vogue Knitting.  This sweater was knit in 1988 or 1989 in a yarn called Knitaly (if memory serves) and it weighs a ton!  This sweater is big, as clothes in the 80s were, and yet, it's still wearable, warm and classic (don't you think so?).  It was knit at a time I didn't want to do my own finishing, so the LYS sewed it together and machine knit the front bands.  The buttonholes are also machine (sewing machine) made. Few people believe me when I say I knit this sweater by hand (except that band).  Knitting 8 stitches in 1x1 rib for 800 feet just didn't sound fun (and it still doesn't!).  Back in 1988 I could see this sweater being worn for years (one reason I went to all the trouble), with the elbows worn through and suede patches covering the holes.  Today, I don't think the yarn will ever wear through...its more like steel...heavy and strong.

Anyway, back to the scarf.  It's fun to wear, very pretty, thus it makes me feel pretty.  It's also warm and soft.  Count me a very happy knitter.

Pattern: Mohair Portrait Scarf from Knitting Classic Style  by Véronik Avery
Yarn: Kid Mohair and Silk – American Beauty by Wooly Wonka Fibers
Needle: Addi circular size 6
Time to Knit: 10-03-07 – 11-16-07
Pattern calls for DPNs, but circulars made the knitting much more fun.

Comments

[Grace]

You look beautiful. The sweater and the scarf are just gorgeous. Its looks so soft!
I hope someday I can say I made this back in, I have only been seriously knitting 4 years and have only made myself one sweater, but I expect this too will change,
Fabulous items Margene!!!

[Manise]

For a minute I thought you had knit yet another sweater this month- hehe. Both sweater and Portrait are lovely.

[DebbieB]

VERY pretty. Like a pink cloud!

[Laurie]

The scarf is beautiful.

I love classic knits. I didn't peg it for late '80s. I have Mom sweaters from the 1970s that are still going strong AND look up to date.

[Vera]

The scarf is like cotton candy.

[Jennifer]

Wow - that scarf is gorgeous and I'm drooling over the cardigan. What a great combo!

[Carole]

The scarf is wonderful and that pink is very flattering. Love that black sweater, too.

[Sarah HB]

Looks lovely and the sweater you have from 1988 also looks nice too!

[susan]

Great sweater (and scarf, too). I loved that Knitaly yarn. Superwash, worsted weight wool. No sadly discontinued.

[Kathleen]

Vera is right...like cotton candy. Granny often talks about machine sewn button bands and holes and grosgrain ribbon. Does it have the ribbon too? I also love Knitaly. Granny is slowly running out of it. I knit my brothers socks in it. As Cameron likes to say, "Still lookin' good!"

[Wanda]

That is just gorgeous Margene. Such a pretty piece of pink delicacy. I can see why you love it.

And that sweater looks great and very much still in style. That's what I love about classic knits. You can't go wrong with it.

[Lola LB]

Oh yes! I so loved that yarn! Wish it hadn't been discontinued. I still have a sweater that I haven't work for years because the sleeve edges had unraveled some. I think it's time to reclaim the yarn for another project.

[Dianne]

Pretty In Pink~~The scarf is quite lovely and you wear it well~

[Paula]

Dahling that scahf is mahvelous!

[Norma]

What a wonderful combo and contrast -- the super-soft cloud-like pink at the neck of the steel sweater. Love it. You knew I would LOVE a classic sweater that you still wear! Awesome.

[bellamoden]

*adds yet another mohair confection to the queue*

It's gorgeous! The pink is just perfect.

And wow! I hope I'm wearing my sweaters that far in the future too. It's gorgeous. And classic.

[Cara]

You are too cute!!!

[Marcia Cooke]

I remember Knitaly! And all those cables! I think I'd have had it professionally finished, too. The scarf is just perfect, like the foam on a strawberry ice cream soda! (You are making me look like a slug: one lousy sock finished this weekend, sheesh.)

[ruth]

The scarf is so pretty. I was toying with making one, but after seeing yours, I'm convinced.

[jess]

Love how the scarf turned out! I started one in a thicker gauge mohair but it's slow-going for me!

And yes, that sweater is completely classic -- love it, and I hope I'm still wearing some of my sweaters years from now :)

[Teresa C]

Dontcha love it when you knit so many sts and for so long and you can still wear it these many years later? It is a great sweater and the scarf complements it wonderfully.

[Chris]

The scarf is pretty, but I was really admiring the sweater and wondering when you snuck in the knitting on that one. :) I can't believe that it's almost 20 years old.

[Lolly]

The scarf is so pretty and feminine. A lovely little knit. Nice cardigan too! Nothing like a good cozy piece that is a classic style. I wonder how I will view the knits I am making right now in 20 years? I hope they have the stay power that your cardi does!

[Sarah]

I love it!

[Kathy]

I think that sweater looks great. And the scarf is absolutely lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing what else this week brings.

[Anne]

I liked it very much with your new cardi on Thursday, but I really like it against the dark dark sweater. That is a PERFECT marriage for it. Nice!!

[Danielle]

That sweater is a classic! Nice work. And the frothy pink scarf is the perfect contrast ...

[Heather Joins The Round]

And it makes you look pretty, too!

[Margaret]

Oh it's beautiful! And mohair/silk is warmer than it looks for such a featherweight fiber. Love the black sweater, and I still have a couple of balls of Knitaly in stash from a sweater's worth I bought in 1988 and never knit for me It made great nephew sweaters though. Fire Engine Red.

[Cheryl S.]

A lovely combo!

[Kim]

So light and pretty!

[Julia]

I have an old sweater from that era that I made from a Vogue Knitting mag pattern and it was a Retro pattern from the 60s that they reworked for an anniversary issue. Still wear it every year - even though is largish. The scarf is lovely and softens the look of the big black sweater. The bad thing about the 80's bag sweaters is that besides the amounts of yarn required to knit those big things, they covered your ass. The good thing about them is they cover your ass - don't know about you, but mine still gets cold in the winter. Ah, knitting nostalgia.

[margaux]

love the something new/something old knits, both are so pretty! I keep thinking about how the sweaters I make today will look a few years from now... hmmmm!

[Rosa]

I love the pinkness of it all. It looks so light and airy. Wear in good health!

[Bliss]

The sweater is classically beautiful, and the scarf is awesome.

[claudia]

You were making much better project decisions in the '80s than I ever did! Very nice sweater and scarf.

[Wool Winder]

What a treat to wear such a luxurious scarf!

[marti]

Oh, I love that sweater! And the scarf isn't too bad either. I know what you mean about this Monday, after 4 days off work I am having a hard time getting into the grove of reality.

[Vicki]

Love the scarf!! Love that old sweater, too. I agree with Claudia -- my knitting decisions in the '80s were pretty iffy.
; )

[Tonia]

So pretty. It looks so light, yet so warm. They go together very well.

[Cookie]

Fabulous!

[Carol]

Both fabulous! They can have their fads, classics are forever and you're living proof!

[Pat K]

Both beautiful! Nothing like swathing yourself in handknits, is there?

[Rachel]

So beautiful, both! and looks like they keep you well warm, good :)

[Kelly]

Beautiful scarf and model!

[eyeleen]

Lovely scarf!

[debbie]

both knits complement each other so well! you deserve that lovely scarf - so nice to see a happy knitter!

[Jolynn]

Yay!! It looks so pretty! I have been reading your blog for a while and have been anticipating the finish of this scarf. Great job!

^_^

[paula]

Such a pretty, pink, frothy thing.

[Lynne]

oooo...super pretty. And hey, big knits from the 80's are back in style, so you are one sylish mama!