FO: Clapotis #2 — the final journey

I’ve decided that knitting a Clapotis is a bit like childbirth. You love the baby, you forget the pain. But then you go into labor again and, oh yes, those contractions.

Please remind me: no more Clapotis projects for a while.

I love my first Clapotis and wanted a larger and warmer one for our sometimes cold winters. So I bought some Misti Alpaca and added a couple of repeats to the pattern. Why I would add even more repeats to a pattern this repetitive, I cannot say.

Okay, fine, I’ll say. I wanted it to cover my elbows.

In the future, if I want a large wrap, I will buy a length of beautiful, warm fabric and sew it up. I have years of sewing experience. I can do that.

I will save the knitting for normal-sized items, like sweaters, socks, scarves, and shawls of manageable dimensions.

I’m sure we still have plenty of Denver winter left during which I can wear this warm wrap, and it is very cuddly, soft, and cozy. Yarn is Misti Alpaca Hand-dyed Worsted; color is 03 Reds. The color is true in the top photo.

Seriously, it’s so soft I want to curl up and sleep in it.

Anyway, I have been on the lookout for shawl and wrap patterns that are easy to memorize but maybe not quite so mind-numbing.

As always, I learned some things with this project:

1.  If you knit a shawl in sockweight yarn and then knit it again in worsted yarn, the second shawl will be larger just because of the yarn thickness. You don’t need to add any repeats to the pattern. (duh)

2. Alpaca is warm and toasty, but dropping stitches in the Clapotis is more difficult with alpaca than with a less fuzzy yarn.

3. Chill out. Stay in the moment as you knit. Once you have crossed the line from relaxation to boredom, knitting can become tedious and no longer joyful.

4. A larger shawl feels very luxurious to wear.

Having said all this, I consider Clapotis to be a pattern that is easy and dependable. And you end up with a versatile garment that has a lot of flair.

In spite of the tedium of dropping alpaca stitches, the alpaca hugs my shoulders and is cozy to wear. And there’s nothing like the Clapotis for flattering lines and drama.

Although intended for around-the-house wear, this Clapotis will see some theater dates after all.