First up is Clapotis. Please ignore the picture where I look rather "jolly" modeling it. In short, I love this scarf/stole/wrap/thing, and wore it last night to a cocktail party. It kept me warm and feeling oh-so-sassy. My favorite part was the back of it with the ripply drop stitches, and against my better sense, I still blocked it because I needed it to grow quite a few inches in length. Once I dunked it, I immediately felt regret but still went ahead with hanging it on a hanger to give it some length.
Ridge-y and stockinette sides pre-blocking
Project: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Brooks Farm Solana (Superwash); 2 skeins, approx 640 yards
Needles: Susan Bates Silverado 24" US size 8 circular needles
Start: September 25, 2007
Finish: October 10, 2007
Thoughts: Even though I struck out at my first attempt at Clapotis, I love how it turned out this time. I followed Teresa's directions on how to use up most of your yarn on the project. I'll spare you my poor attempt at being scientific, but I ended up doing 9 straight repeats before decreasing. I wish I had enough yarn to do all 12 straight repeats, but I didn't want to drive up the cost of this project.
I really enjoyed this project for a myriad of reasons, the great yarn, the interesting pattern that gives you enough of a challenge to keep you interested and looking forward every 12 rows to dropping stitches, yet stockinette-y enough so you can bring it to social knitting. For some reason, I thought the pattern called for 600 yards but after looking at it just now, it's about 820 yards. Oops, my bad. If you haven't made one yet, I strongly suggest it. It's a whole lotta fun. Just be sure to choose a yarn you love.
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Second up are the blue koigu wristwarmers from a few weeks ago. I sat around on my lazy butt and didn't weave in the ends or block it, until this week. Promising a FO Parade to you does wonders in motivating me.
Project: 3x3 Wristwarmers from Capistrano Fiber Arts
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM in blue variegated (don't know the color number because I lost the ball band), 1 skein
Needles: Addi Turbo 24" US size 2 circulars, 2 wristwarmers on 2 circs method
Start: God only knows... maybe July 2006?
Finish: September 2007
Thoughts: I got this pattern at our Orange County yarn crawl when we visited La Petite Knitterie and fell in love with Lori Lawson's Capistrano Fiber Arts yarns and patterns. These were supposed to be for a kungfu friend for her birthday, but then she ended moving away shortly after and I lost touch with her. So, they'll wait patiently for a reason to gift them to another friend. As for the pattern, they're a nice 3x3 rib, almost a little too nice. The pattern is fine but a little boring, obviously if I put this project down for a year and forgot about them. I doubt I'll make them again, as I like a little bit more something going on with the pattern. I'm already thinking about making another pair of fetchings for teacher gifts.
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The honor of Parade closer goes to Ms. Wobbly Circles Tote herself.
Project: Wobbly Circles Tote by Leigh Radford from IK Spring 2006 issue
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, 3 skeins in hot pink, 1 skein each of limelight, purple and orange
Needles: Addi Turbo 32" US size 15 (I think) circulars
Start: April 2006
Finish: September 2007
Thoughts: Started in April 2006, I *hated* the yarn bundles and gave up after finishing two thirds of the first side. Through the inspiration of my summer knitting goals and the large coffee table at the coffee shop at Montrose Mondays, I challenged myself to finish it, and I'm glad I did. I love this bag, especially for what it stands for, but I really dislike the project as a whole, the intarsia, the chart, and the yarn. My favorite part? The fibonacci stripe sequence on the second side. Once I had the rows charted according to the fibonacci sequence, I assigned colors to the rows and it took me about three or four days to finish it from there. It must be the geek in me and the lure of the quick project.
Special thanks to Madgik who not only helped me felt this baby in her mighty washing machine which is the mecca for all great felty goodness, but more importantly, told me to dig in and just get the dang thing done. Thanks also to my knitsters who put up with all my whining and pouting about this project and still supported me through it. You're welcome to haul out and give the bag a whack or a kick when you see it next.
BTW, if you're interested in making the fibonacci stripey side of the bag, leave me your email addy and I'll send you my excel chart. You can substitute in your own colors. The chart, of course, is from Leigh Radford's pattern, and I take no credit for it.
Still here? Have a great weekend!
