Snuggle-up in soft pastels for A\W
‘Postcards from the edge’ photo-story from Vogue, November 2008
Delicate mohair, lightweight cashmere, and pastel hues take a soft spin this autumn…
That’s according to British Vogue, and who are we to argue. The November 2008 issue features the photo-story ‘Postcards from the edge‘, presenting pale, dreamy knits juxtaposed with a backdrop of stark, Hungarian architecture. Downy textures are complemented by simple, classic silhouettes.
You may not live in an Eastern Bloc high-rise but you can replicate this luxe look with the gorgeous mohair yarns available.
Colinette Mohair in ‘Elephant’s Daydream’
Colinette Mohair comes in a range of hand-dyed shades including contemporary pastels; ‘Elephants Daydream’ (pale ice blue), ‘Whirley Fig’ (pale pink) and ‘Marble’ (variegated pink/white) are great choices. Colinette Mohair is great to work with and knits up into soft, cosy garments – perfect for frosty autumn days. However, like most mohair blends you can expect some shedding.
For a mist-like effect, choose a lace-weight mohair blend and knit on 4-5mm needles. Open-knit mohair sweaters are great layered over dark colours. Colinette Parisienne in ‘Wasabi Squeeze’ (chartreuse) or ‘Pastures New’ (pale green) is perfect for this look, as is luxurious Rowan Kidsilk Haze, which comes in a range of subtle pastels.
It’s worth mentioning that pure mohair yarns and mohair silk blends (like Kidsilk Haze) have very little stretch and can be hard to knit with, which is why mohair is normally blended with nylon.
If fuzzy mohair is a bit much for you, you can get a subtle halo effect with a conventional knitted texture using angora and alpaca blends. Or try Rowan Kid Classic which is 70% lambswool – check out the ‘Glacier’ and ‘Sherbet Dip’ shades.
