Thanks for all the nice comments on my new look. When I was single I changed boyfriends, jobs and apartments (sometimes all three at once) when I felt I needed something new. Not so practical as a married housewife homeowner! Now knitting projects and my blog get all my pent up shiftiness. And while I do like purple with all its royal passion, I actually don't have a favorite color. I work up from the photo (that's the scrapbooker in me) and let the colors decide themselves. Also referred to a fantastic book on color called Color Works to kickstart ideas when I was fiddling with this page. I highly recommend it.
Now, speaking of color, I really love the colors of my first Clapotis. I love the bounce of the supermerino. Love it love it love it. Wanted to make another one just like it.
But it just doesn't do to repeat oneself too thoroughly. In fact, I've never repeated a pattern before this, but can now say it has its advantages. Last week I missed having a carry-around pattern. Something I could pick up and put down endlessly as is required in my life. Something to knit in the car. What could be better than as pattern I already know? Certainly goes even faster the second time...
Meet Clapotis II in Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool. In this photo the second ball has just been added, so this is a great yield per ball. May even be able to use just four skeins, but might barely tap into #5. The yarn specs US 6's, but I'm using 7's and not minding the looseness. This is the opposite of the ArtYarns Supermerino: neutral solid color, slightly rough but with a very soft hand, and much less bounce (though the wool does handle easily). I want a Clapotis for spring and summer that will go over patterned blouses or dresses. And I want it to look really different from the first one. This is working for me. Thanks goes to Michelle for asking me if I think the Lavold would work for this pattern. Decided she deserves a well researched answer.
And I get to groove on my glass markers again. And those birch needles with the neutral wool/silk ... ahhhh. We knitters get little quiet visual orgasms all the time the rest of the world just doesn't understand. Probably a good thing that guy on the subway or the next seat over in the coffeeshop doesn't know huh? OK, just deleted a few sentences taking this analogy further (maybe too far, gentle reader). There's just so much good Freudian material here - let your imagination run with it.
Some markers I like much better than others, but I have fun just reaching in and seeing what comes out of the bag. I don't use the longest ones to try and keep the needles light, but this blown glass is still heavy. Going to make some new ones with crystals soon.
Finally, here's how the dropped rows are shaping up. I like it. It's got lots more rippling going on than I expected considering the drape of the fabric. Will wait until I'm finished to decide whether or not to block. Not going to on the merino and may not on this one. And yes, "clapotis" on this rippled wood is no accident. Hey, I wrote a lot of art history and literature papers - it's deeply ingrained. (Stop her before she puns again!)
I did a plain Clapotis first - to start with I was worried it was a bit bandage like but now I just love her and always get lots of comments. I'm planning a variegated wool version for Winter. Yours is looking great - aren't those stitch holders doing your head in though?
Posted by: Sally | February 22, 2005 at 03:10 PM
i am insane. I see all these gorgeous clapotis shawls all over the web and ... and ... and ...
...and i have to learn to knit so i can give them away to the ladies in my life. even though my wife already knits.
i am insane.... ;)
Posted by: chris tate | February 22, 2005 at 03:53 PM
"...little,quirt visual orgasms..." indeed.A passion filled life.Fibre,colour,texture.The riches !
Just a matter of time until I succumb to the siren call of Clapotis.Both of yours are gorgeous.
Posted by: Emma. | February 22, 2005 at 04:25 PM
ooooh! it looks great! I like the ripple effect.
I just dropped the first stitch on my Clapotis. I was so excited. My son, not so much. He said, "Are you sure it's supposed to do that?" I wasn't able to explain the final effect in any way that made sense to him, so I showed him the pictures of your first Clapotis. He was impressed and said that I should make 100 of them. uuhh... no.
The yarn I'm using is a cotton/linen/acrylic blend (I wanted it for summer) and the fabric does not have nearly the life yours does. I already feel the need for a second, more rippley, one in wool.
This is not a good thing, because I followed your link to the EZ as Pi group and since I resolved some time ago to learn to knit lace... yeah. My book came today (Cananda Customs was nice enough to cut three of four of the books in the box when they cut the box open to inspect it. grrr). I'm really excited to get started, but really overwhelmed too. And with all this knitting, when will I sleep? ;)
Also... I was wondering... would you post some instructions for making those beautiful markers, please? I've seen them in a few places, but I don't know what kind of hoops to use etc.
HAHAhha.. I just read this over... I look like a weirdo cyber stalker person. I want a scarf like YOURS, I joined YOUR Pi group, I wanna make stitch markers like YOU! lol
*tries to look normal*
Posted by: Billi-Jean | February 22, 2005 at 04:50 PM
LOVE the new Clap! That Silky Wool - yummmmm! And the color is just perfect for spring/summer - would even look cute thrown over a tank and denim shots on a cool night.
Posted by: Jackie | February 22, 2005 at 04:56 PM
I love your stitch markers...I just started a collection of pretty stitch markers when I went to stitches. I wish I had pretty, jewelled stitch markers when I was doing Clapotis. It does make the experience that much better, visually.
Posted by: Moni | February 22, 2005 at 05:06 PM
Love, love, love it! Wanna finish mine up so I can start a solid one next! I have made the last of the straight rows - sshhh, don't tell it, it might rebel. Tomorrow I will decend into decreases! I love your idea of a lighter one - we may have to have one for each season!
Posted by: chris | February 22, 2005 at 05:33 PM
Ooh! What beautiful stitch markers! Love the second Clapotis too. It is equally as beautiful and unique as the first one you made. Lovely lovely!
Posted by: Liz | February 22, 2005 at 05:49 PM
Nancy - I love the new Clapotis! I got my Lorna's in the mail today...oooohhh! Can't wait to join you - although heck, there's no way I'm going to be able to knit as fast as you. Amazing. :)
Posted by: Anne-Caroline | February 22, 2005 at 07:29 PM
I love your collectionof stitch markers! I am still not sure I'd want to use all the marker for the Clapotis, though. Instead I am purling the drop stitches (a la Yarn Harlot).
I also have a Cozy on the needles in the silky wool. You can see my progress here if you like. It's actually longer than that now, but I haven't photographed it in a while. I am digging the silky wool to.
Posted by: Abigail | February 22, 2005 at 07:54 PM
wow! this place looks great! i've been a little mia these past two weeks just due to being busy and having a slight aversion to turning on the computer. i'm glad i'm back - your clapotis ii looks awesome. i have six hanks of silky wool that i never turned into ene's scarf as i had planned. i'm wondering if i should join you on a silky wool clapotis expedition and give it a whirl! thanks for the shout out :)
hope you're doing great out there and are safe from the pouring rains!
Posted by: michelle | February 23, 2005 at 04:38 AM
I love the look, I was wondering when someone would do one in a solid color. I was afraid that the pattern, though elegant, was too plain for a solid, but yours has just enough yarn texture. The markers are gorgeous and all I have are the crummy little plastic rings. The Harlot mentioned that she didn't use markers, just purled the stiches to be dropped. Guess that will be my strategy too.
Posted by: Julia | February 23, 2005 at 06:13 AM
Beautiful. I love your photography - the stitch markers pop.
Posted by: Julia | February 23, 2005 at 06:26 AM
Silky Wool is yummy stuff--can't wait to knit with some for a spring project. Great idea to use it for Clapotis.
Posted by: Colleen | February 23, 2005 at 06:56 AM
Thanks for sharing your Clap adventures with Silky Wool. I was wondering how it would knit up for that pattern. Yes, I've got the Clap itch (how's that for scratching your Freudian mental imagery today? Tee hee!), but haven't settled on a yarn. Scratch that...THE yarn.
Meanwhile, I adore your pretty bead stitch markers. I've been thinking of taking up beading precisely so I can make some of my own markers one day. Thanks for the inspirations!
Posted by: Rossana | February 23, 2005 at 07:20 AM
Beautiful
Posted by: todi | April 24, 2005 at 04:56 AM