Clapotis is done November 6, 2007
Well, almost. I realized over the weekend that there’s no way I’m going to even attempt to block this puppy until I have blocking wires. It’s just not worth the hassle of trying to get straight lines with pins. This thing is huge! Can you imagine? Hundreds and hundreds of pins would put forth their efforts, and I’d still have a wavy edge. Or four. Just not going to even try. Because I’m not always a mean blogger, I won’t make you wait until then, not knowing when then will be. So, without further ado, here is my nearly finished Clapotis.
- Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
- Yarn: Rowan Tapestry, 9 balls (almost), in Whirlpool
- Needles: US size 9, Addi Turbo, 24 inch circulars
- Elapsed time: August 1 through November 2
- Pattern notes: I apparently have a low threshold of boredom when it comes to highly repetitive patterns that aren’t simple stockinette. I don’t know why. I can knit stockinette and be blissfully happy until the cows come home, but give me something just a tiny bit more complicated than that, but not complicated enough to keep my interest, and I get bored to tears. That’s what happened with this. Don’t get me wrong, I love the results, I just hated knitting it. Boring. Ho hum. And, clearly, it’s just me, as tons of people are knitting multitudes of this pattern, two, three, five at a time, and still love it. Yes, I’m strange. But we already knew that.
- Yarn notes: I have to say that I’m very disappointed in one aspect of this yarn. Yes, it has a lovely smell. Yes, the color’s fabulous.
Yes, it’s pleasing on the needles. Yes, it has a nice soft halo and a wonderful drape. But. But my word. There were a lot of flaws in the balls I had. See all these ends? This assortment of yarn ends is the result of knitting 8-1/3 balls of yarn. I don’t know that you want to count them. There should only be 18 yarn ends, two each for nine balls of yarn. Doesn’t look that way, does it? Does it look like a little more to you? Well, it should. There are 28 yarn ends in that pile. Yes. 28 of them. I don’t know about you, but it seems like rather a lot to me. All of those extras came from flaws in the yarn, knots that were so poorly tied that with a gentle tug they fell apart. Yes, I have to say that I’m very disappointed. I wouldn’t be so irritated if the yarn didn’t cost so freakin’ much. When I knit my Stone Patch sweater with all Rowan yarns a year ago I didn’t have a single extra yarn end. That’s what I’ve come to expect from a quality, high-priced yarn. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.
  
|
Miss T November 6
I agree, that’s way too many ends! Beautiful color, though.
Beth November 6
That’s WAY too many ends for the amount of yardage in those balls. If there was 3 times as much yarn for the same price though, I could let it go.
Christina November 6
Wow, I can’t believe that there so many problems with a Rowan yarn, I’ve always had such good results with their yarns. The final result is quite lovely and doesn’t even look like it needs blocking, maybe just a steam blocking? Of course I did my clapotis in bamboo and love the drape of it naturally without any blocking. I have enough yarn alreayd planned for a second and am thinking about getting something from the new Raven series from Blue Moon for a 3rd! I loved knitting it and what’s more, it’s the one knitted thing I own that wear all the time, it’s so functional and practical I feel like I should have one in every color! Ok, enough rambling.
~Kristie November 6
I’m definitely loaning you my blocking wires again. Although it’s beautiful, you’ll be shocked what blocking will do for it.
I’m thrilled to see that you’ve finished it and I know you are too. I’m so sorry you had so much trouble with all those ends. Rowan yarn should never be that way.
Micki November 6
Lovely! Too bad about the PITA yarn, but at least you ended up with such a pretty wrap.
Brenda November 6
I’d wait for the blocking wires too! The colors are just gorgeous. Too bad the yarn had so many flaws. I hate when that happens.
KarenJoSeattle November 6
Interesting. I’ve only used that yarn for a one-skein hat, but it had no joins.
In a pinch, I’ve blocked used thinner yarn threaded through the edges like wires.
Kristi aka Fiber Fool November 7
It looks pretty darn good, even unblocked! What a bummer about the yarn though. Knots are my biggest pet peeves of yarns.
Angela November 8
Oh so gorgeous! The color is beautiful too!
Susan B. November 8
I adore my clapotis - I’m guessing you’ll really like yours too, once the monotony of knitting it & the drudgery of those dropped stitches fades from your immediate memory. And the annoyance of those nasty little joins mid-skein.
My blocking wires are nothing fancier than a $5 package of surveyor flags (probably a bundle of at least 50 or so!) from the local Lowe’s with the plastic flags yanked off. Works wonderfully for all sorts of blocking large & small - shawls, my own clapotis, sweater sleeves, etc. Plus at that price I can afford to lose a few, bend a few - and still have loads left over with some extra change to put towards future yarn purchases.
Karen B. November 8
Beautiful results from what sounds like a beast of a yarn! Hold out for the wires if you can. Otherwise, your readers have come up with a couple of good blocking ideas.
Robin November 8
Nice Laura, I love the color.
Cheryl November 9
It’s beautiful! What a great yarn choice! I play with the tapestry every time I’m in the yarn store but I haven’t caved and bought any yet.
Jenna November 20
Gorgeous work, girl! It turned out beautifully. I’m afraid that I know nothing about blocking, so I can’ thelp, but I’m sure that you’ve figured something out already.
donnac November 29
I agree about the boredom factor. Sometimes I crave stockinette, but when you throw in a little more I get cocky and goof up. My clapotis had a major frogging early on due to not counting, using markers and other tricks I learned later on yahoo. (Thought I could just handle it all without, Ha…) Yours came out beautiful - I might have to try that yarn on the next one! Love your new shawl pattern btw.