I finished this reversible cabled scarf over the weekend. It's Vintage Velvet by Lisa Daniels from Scarf Style. The pattern is written for (and shown in) Touch Me (5 skeins), and I'm sure it feels amazing worked up that way. There’s no denying Touch Me is luscious to the hand. But my experience with Touch Me, and the sort of messy appearance my Touch Me scarf has (especially with the numerous tight little loops/twists hanging all over it) would make me hesitate to make something cabled out of it.
When I picked up 3 skeins of Debbie Bliss's Alpaca Silk last year at ImagiKnit, I did so with the idea of a cabled scarf in mind. The shade of purple is so soft and peaceful that it just called out to be cabled. As I contemplated patterns, the one in Scarf Style kept popping up in my head. That the Vintage Velvet scarf is reversible made it really appealing, and I'm so glad I tried it.
It's a simply beautiful pattern, and so easy to work. I started it before Christmas but, reluctantly (for I'd hoped to take it home with me to wear), put it down in the pre-Christmas rush. Feeling like a little break, I rescued it from a pile in the floor. (It really hadn't even made its way into a bag in December!) After working on long rows on my Shoalwater shawl, it was wonderful to switch gears, pick the lavender scarf up, and do 40 or so rows during a tv show. It's a 22 row repeat, but it really only involves 4 different rows (two of which have a very simple cable), so it's easy to remember and just flies along.
The yarn is amazing. It feels so good. I fell in love with it as soon as I started using it. It's simply a joy to work with, and while I tend to gush over colors, I rarely gush over fiber itself. But this stuff is amazing. (I seem to have a real love affair with Alpaca going!) The overall effect of the scarf in this yarn is elegant yet classic. I have to admit, I’m pretty sick of garter stitch scarves, so this was a welcome change, and it's a pattern I can definitely see myself making again. The only thing to note is that it could have been longer. At the end of my third skein, I went ahead and cast off, but if it ends up feeling not quite right, I might pick up another skein or two and lengthen it.
Pretty!! Enjoy!