Clapotis Cape Poncho Thingy in Berroco Suede

It was an innocent trip to the LYS - really. Just for needles. But I just loved this color of blue ... and I had been thinking about how Clapotis would look in a tape yarn ... so here I am. No further along on my challenge, but it is a FO that's wearable on vacation, so I say it's just a dark (blue) horse entered late in the race and won. But, what to call it? Is it a cape? A wrap? A poncho? If it only has one point can it be called a poncho? If a tree falls ...

You can click on any of these to open it in a window to try to get a close up of the yarn, but the back seam is a secret. As you can tell by my slightly psycho expression in my over-the-shoulder look, my DH took these photos. You do not want to hear the dialog! Not one photo was focused on the yarn and he didn't capture the back seam or the bottom edge in the back. And a woman would tell you that pose makes your butt stick out wouldn't she? If she was a friend? And not your husband obsessing over the camera dials and buttons? Obviously he does not think like a knitter or a woman! Oh, and if you've read this blog for a while you know I rarely say anything like this, but goodness, my hair is frightening! I really needed a cut two weeks ago only to find my stylist booked up, then on vacation until late this week. Just a few more days. So, a haircut, maybe a little makeup, and (this is truly deeply out of character) a little polish on those toenails and I'm ready for vacation. Btw, I type and say "goodness" for the sake of decorum and my small children, but my internal dialog is a bit spicier and usually strings together choice words from both secular and non-secular sources. Use your imagination. Nothing's nicer than to hear my child, MY child say "Oh my goodness!" just like Mommy. Miracles never cease.

Anyway, I love how the back edge mimics the handkerchief edge of the skirt. This whole outfit is amazingly comfortable to wear. After this pics I ran errands and didn't have to do major readjustments on the Clapotis Cape and could even drive (with seatbelt) with it on. Yes, I left the house with that hair, but we needed pearl onions. Ya gotta support a man making dinner.

The specs:
Berroco Suede, Wrangler 3704, 5 balls. Here's a good Knitter's Review article on it.
US #8 Brittney Straits
Knitty Clapotis - only 10 straight section repeats, but otherwise to pattern. After CO, I sewed the CO edge to the straight edge of the opposite end.

I didn't do a swatch and haven't taken gauge or measurements. I'd highly recommend a blunt tipped needle with this yarn as it's very prone to splitting. It also twists like a ... well, like nothing nice I can type. I really tried to keep the tape flat so the ladders would look nice and that slowed me down - this took at least 20% longer than it should have - that percentage is for you dear Risa ;). There are a few twists in there, but overall I managed. Found the best solution was to hold the yarn without wrapping it around my pinkie (as usual for me) and to rubber band the ball about every two rows and give is a good spin. Everyone I've read says to let the knitting drop and spin, but that gets pretty awkward as the piece grows and my knitting spinning out of control gives me the heebie jeebies. It's pretty satisfying to give the ball one wicked spin that twirls out the problem in seconds.   

I know I've been quiet for a while. I was in a deeply nasty mood for most of the last three weeks:  hormones, my children out of school and before summer activities kick in (i.e., nothing to do but follow each other around and touch each other, then tell me about it) and my DH very busy. This Clapotis has been the most positive thing to come out of this time. Well, I did go to the gym a few times without blowing out my back, so that's good. And ... drum roll please ... I bought tickets to NYC for Oct 14-17. Guess I'll have another race developing huh? More on that soon.