Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Last on the Block


There are trends in knitting and then there are TRENDS in knitting. In this case, I am probably the only knitter I know who has not knit a Clapotis. Pronounced Clap-oh-tee. It appeared in Knitty in 2004 and here it is 2009. Better late than never.

I have to say that one of the things that held me back is that I really hadn't seen one I loved. It was an issue of yarn. Wool is generally just not drapey enough. That even goes for the one they used for the sample in the photo.

I chose rayon. I order a lot of this rayon from Yarntopia Treasures on Ebay. The type of base yarn they use has finally become consistent and it's a really good deal. The way it is with handdyed yarns though is that you never know how it's going to knit up. Especially with a pattern like this. So, I had one skien and I had sold the second one to my friend Duffy, months ago. I thought I'd try it scarf width to see if I'd enjoy knitting it.

You know what happened next. I ran out of yarn. I ordered new yarn and the color was off and then I asked Duffy if she would trade me. My buddy not only agreed on the trade by she drove it right on over, to my lame protests. She of course is laughing right now because of course I spent the weekend finishing my Clapotis so that I could wear it.

This one was so much fun to knit that I've started another one, full width. The colors on this one really "pop" and I'm rather pleased with it.

There are less satisfying projects in the works as well, right now. I'm hoping that some time with the knitting gals tonight will help me get over my pattern struggles.

I'd like to end this post on a serious note though. I knitter that I have known from my online knitting community for many years, Witt, just passed away. It was unexpected to us all and I am here to tell you that knitters are just the most wonderful people and Witt was one the of the best. We will all miss him.

2 comments:

PNWBookGirl said...

You're not the last on the block. I *still* have not knit one. I am resisting mightily. I think partly for the same reason as you, I haven't had a yarn speak to me that it must be knit up in this pattern.

Yours looks great!

Cassia said...

1. I also have not yet knit a Clapotis
2. Thank you for keeping me from actually saying "Cluh POT iss" out loud.
3. That is really beautiful!