Clapotis

I finished this last week but couldn't get photos until Sunday. And then I found it hard to capture the shawl well. It's at its best when worn. But there was no one to photograph me in it and no model for me to use.

I made do instead with the tomato cages in the front yard!

Pattern: Clapotis, Knitty, Fall 2004.

Yarn: Briar Rose Fibers' Wistful (50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% silk blend).

Needles: size 8 Clover circular bamboo.

Modifications: I was knitting this as a sample for Briar Rose Fibers (which means you can see the real deal at one of their upcoming shows, assuming it passes muster with Chris!) and was to use only one hank.

I started to get nervous about half-way through and decided to do only 6 repeats in section 3 (the straight rows) instead of 12. It was the right call. I ended about a yard short overall, but only had 9 or so stitches left at this point and could "just" bind them off. I don't think it's very noticable and I tend to be pretty critical.

I should note that I checked gauge half-way through and saw that I was at 4.25 stitches per inch rather than the 4.75 called for in the pattern. This difference certainly accounts for my not having enough yarn to finish my final rows and may even mean I could have gotten a few more repeats in the center section. I was using 10% more yarn than the pattern anticipated...

Notes/Thoughts: I'm glad to have made this. I'd wanted to for a long time. Having done it once, however, I do not feel the need to do it again. It is one of those patterns that looks pretty simple but is more complicated than you'd guess. I especially admire Kate Gilbert (its designer), for figuring out how to keep the pattern intact even as you're increasing on one end and decreasing on the other.

I just realized this is my first experience knitting on the bias. Maybe all bias knitting is complicated in the same way. The complications kept it interesting, but must have been a challenge to figure out.

As with all shawls, I just can't imagine when one would wear it. That is my main reservation about making another one.

The yarn was, as always with Briar Rose Fibers, beautiful. The color changes were so fun to watch. I wouldn't be able to wear this shawl. It was still a little scratchy on my neck, even though it felt so soft to my fingers.



This is all the yarn I had left after weaving in ends!