A Birthday Scarf

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All quiet here for a while while I holidayed and knit this secret squirrel project and then celebrated with the giftee. My Mama turned 60 this weekend and she had to have a handknit gift of course. 
Pattern: Simple Basket Stitch
Yarn: Nimu - Helvellyn
Started: June 26th 2011
Finished: July 1st 2011
Ravelry page

I started knitting this in plenty of time as MeloMelo, the beautiful pattern written for this bonus yarn from last year's Knit Love Club, but I just couldn't get along with the lace on the 5mm needles and I was losing the subtle shifts of colour in the pattern. So last Sunday morning I ripped it out and basket stitched my way through this past week back at work, casting off with enough time for a rinse and block thanks only to the glorious sunshine we've had this weekend. Mama loves it and I do too. The yarn is a superstar and I love a simple pattern to showcase that. Worked on 5mm needles it drapes like a dream. It's the softest, most luxurious thing I've ever made and it was lovely to hand it over in person and celebrate her birthday with her. A big surprise for her as she thought she was away for a quiet weekend. Such happy memories made, just as there are happy times knit in to this. Such a harmonious matching of stitch and yarn made this version a very pleasurable knit.
I knew we'd never squeeze in a blog photo shoot so took some photos before wrapping. I love this last shot, do you see that white fuzz on the right, could be cotton wool or something? Something indeed. Something like the paw of a rascally Bingo cat who was only milliseconds and millimetres away from trying out the cashmere and silk for herself!

Comments

Charity said…
This is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! :)
4 July 2011 at 22:43:00 BST
Rose Red said…
It is so lovely, you are right, when you have a beautiful yarn, a simple pattern is perfect to allow the yarn to sing!

That's funny about that errant paw. I took a knitwear photo yesterday for the blog and a little errant hand slipped in at the last minute!
4 July 2011 at 22:56:00 BST
sara said…
Gorgeous! It looks like it has fabulous drape!
4 July 2011 at 23:08:00 BST
Spinster Beth said…
Yikes! Bad kitty! :-) It's gorgeous, really .... I've done basketweave lots of times, it's never looked that posh before!
4 July 2011 at 23:33:00 BST
Lynne said…
It is truly gorgeous. I'm glad you went with the simple basket weave pattern to show off the beautiful yarn. I can understand why Mama likes it - happy birthday, Mama.
5 July 2011 at 02:05:00 BST
Anonymous said…
it really is gorgeous, i can feel the silky smooth smooshiness from here! what a stunning colour, i bet its a dream to wear. a lovely gift!
5 July 2011 at 03:02:00 BST
marycatharine said…
It's beautiful! The simplicity of the pattern really lets the yarn shine. You have one lucky mama :)
5 July 2011 at 05:42:00 BST
Modelwidow said…
Lovely! even just looking at it I can almost feel the softness, the pattern works so well with the colouring too
5 July 2011 at 14:55:00 BST
behind the ivy said…
So lovely! Gorgeous colour, and such fantastic drape. What an excellent gift :)
13 July 2011 at 22:55:00 BST
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