I blew off my yoga class this morning because I tweaked something in my back this week and wasn't really up for ashtanga. So, it was a perfect opportunity to listen to the almost unbearably suspenseful Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell and finish off Clapotis #3.
It's arguable that Clapotis could be the most over-knit, over-exposed, over-discussed pattern on the internet. I'm normally resistant to bandwagons, but this one kept calling my name. I knit my first Clapotis on Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, my second shortly after that, and then firmly resolved not to do another one for a....long time. However, I had gotten some Lion and Lamb for my birthday, and after seeing several beautiful clapotis in that yarn at the knitalong, began to covet. And, I was realizing that I wore my other two all the time - perfect for fall weather, easy to throw around your neck as a scarf and use later as a wrap. The versatility of its design made them among my most used, beloved, and cozy garments. This must add to the popularity of this pattern -it's not overly complicated, it's enjoyable to knit (it was for me, anyway), it's accesible to experienced beginners, and you end up actually using it. A lot!
So, I broke down and cast on for this clapotis last week.
It's a lot BIGGER than my previous two. My first one only omitted one increase repeat and one straight repeat, so I was really surprised at how much difference this made. Clapotis #3 is humungo in comparison. It's like a security blanket! An incredibly luxurious, cuddly, silky warm security blanket.
I also really prefer wearing it purl side out. Someone on the Clapotis knitalong pointed this out to me, and directed me to the Knitcast interview with Kate Gilbert where she says that it was designed to be worn purl side out, and unblocked, to emphasize the ripples. Unblocked is fine with me, since I have no clear space in my house to block something this size.
9 comments:
It looks fantastic, that yarn is gorgeous.
That's beautiful; I love the colours. I've got some laceweight HandPaintedYarn.com wool I'm going to try make one with after the Christmas knitting is done.
Ay! It's gorgeous - and you're tempting me to knit another one too... Must. Finish. Christmas. Knitting. First. :o)
This one is by far my favourite of the three you've done.
Would this shawl be nice in a fluffly mohair, or would the pattern get lost? In a must-buy-yarn frenzy, I bought some gorgeous variegated mohair that I don't have a plan for.
Andrea, I wouldn't, not in a fluffy mohair. It's not so much hiding the pattern that's a problem, it's being carted off in a straightjacket after struggling to drop the stitches - I think they would really tangle in a fluffy mohair.
OK, no straightjackets for me. I'm good with that.
That colorway is gorgeous. What yarn is that?
angela - it's Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb,the same yarn called for in the original pattern, in the colorway "Watercolour". It was definately a splurge, but I'm glad I did it.
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