3/24/2005
Well, it became very apparent yesterday evening at Textiles that there indeed was not enough yarn to complete Clapotis at her current length. That was a total of 850 yds! However, the more I looked at the safety line I had put in to mark where I should have started the decrease section, the more I was convinced it would not be the length I wanted. What to do, what to do?
Buy more yarn of course! However, there was none left like what I had used. So, I decided to “tip” the last corner with a solid color that is present in the varigated variety. I was originally hoping for the peach that is jusr barely in there, but she only had the 100% rayon tape in that color and not the cotton/rayon blend. So, I pulled the lavender, green and blue. Of everyone there it was split 50/50 between the green and the blue. I really liked the green myself, but it seemed like it was maybe too subtle of a change. If I was going to make Clapotis assymetrical, it needed to look deliberate! Sooo I chose the blue.
Now, you can see I bought another 850 yds of this cotton/rayon tape in blue and I certainly don’t need that much to complete Clapotis. However, had I only bought one I probably would have had a good 325+ yds left and not a whole lot do with it. So, I picked up two and am going to make a coordinating shell to go with my Clapotis! I had a shell design in mind for using eith KnitPicks Andean Silk and Silk twist or two colors of Berocco’s Denim Silk. I might use it for that design, but I might go with something a little more simple, as the design in my head really calls for a contrasting yarn for a fairly large section and I’m thinking it wouldn’t look so nice with a wrap. But, I think I want to finish Clapotis and do the summer sweater out of my Cascade Sierra first so I have time to make a decision about the Clapotis coordinate shell. I might go as simple as the Sigma/Shapely Tank hybrid like I did last spring for my SIL2′s Seguential Sigma.
Now on Clapotis, I need to decide if I want to rip back to where I began the decreases, or exactly where I wish to start tipping it in blue. Last night I was thinking I’d do the entire decrease section in blue, but today it seems like that is more than just “tipping” it in blue. So, I’m contemplating doing another 12 row repeat in the varigated before changing or possibly even just run out of the varigated before switching to the blue. I’ll probably go for one of those last two options as I don’t relish trying to rip and pick back up this slick yarn without a life line, and I think the smaller the amount of blue the better, so it is more of just a slight accent.
Thoughts? Comments? I’m stuck in bed on drowsy enducing drugs today, so I have more than enough time to discuss and digest comments on this alteration of Clapotis…
3/23/2005
The friends I’ve made through Stitch ‘n Bitch are the best! One kept me busy yesterday instead of letting me rot at my husband’s job. Instead we had a great lunch and went to the LYS again and talked about spinning. And, today when I was feeling like a prisoner I get offers from TWO of them to give me a ride to TAM!
I know you all read this and you know who you are. YOU ROCK!
I’m on house arrest today stuck at home today with no transportation. There is a major drawback to taking your car to a tiny garage and that is that they rarely get a car returned in one day. The advantage is they actually FIX the car rather than break it further like the dealership has done repeatedly. So, DH’s car is still in the shop today, and DH has taken my car to work and I’m stuck at home.
Also, since it is an extremely rainy day I am unable to go to Textiles a Mano this afternoon because I do not have a waterproof jacket and DH also has my umbrella in my car. Nor is my back really quite up to the sort of walk that would be required with this moisture (no walking through the green belt today, so I’d have to do a ton of backtracking). I am soo bummed as I haven’t made it over there for a few weeks now because Wednesdays have been really busy with my on-line classes starting. I was sooo looking forward to this afternoon over there.
That said, I don’t think Clapotis will be ready. It’ll be close, but probably not done. It depends how much time it takes me to get through the posts to my various class forums this morning.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we are getting rain. Along the front range we need any rain we get, even if it ruins our plans so I will not complain about that…
3/22/2005
Sorry, no pics today. I’m stuck all day in retirement land today. DH’s car is in the shop and with my back I didn’t wish to spend 2 hours commuting so I’m camped out in his company’s meeting room, hooked up to their Internet connection.
I will get to pop out a meet a fellow SnBer for lunch today! I don’t think DH was real happy about that, as I think he enjoys having lunch with me. But, we’re going to a restaurant I’ve never eat at because their vegetarian selection leaves more than a little to be desired. It’s Bavarian, and being ~1/4 German, I’m quite excited by that.
Clapotis began decreasing last night. I put a safety line in again ( like I did with DH’s multidirectional), one repeat before I started the decrease section in case I run out of yarn. But, I think I’m safe. But, if I’m not, it’ll make it easy to go back and start the decrease section 12 rows sooner. I dropped a total of 14 stitches before decreasing, but despite the fact that my gauge appeared to be on, I don’t think I’m going to get the size given in the pattern and I’ll be using roughly 1000 yds! Yikes! Well, we’ll see what happens once I block it I guess.
I have successfully done all the work that needed to be done today already, and I grabbed my Gilmore Girls, Season 1, Disc 3 from Green Cine and will pop that into my laptop here soon and pick up Clapotis. My goal is to be able to block it no later than tomorrow morning so I can wear it to Textiles A Mano late tomorrow afternoon.
Of course, there is the chance that I won’t be able to make it. The last time DH took his car to this garage, they did a good job, but at the end of the day it was scheduled for they hadn’t looked at it yet and they had to keep it a whole second day. If that happens, DH takes my car to work tomorrow. Now, Textiles A Mano isn’t that far from my house (unfortunately there isn’t an easment from the green belt to her street) so I can walk it in about 30 minutes (I don’t walk fast due to my disability, so it’s probably about 1/2 mile or so), however, thundershowers are in the forecast. But, if I can get over there dry, DH will pick me up after work to go retrieve his car.
Well, time to go meet my peeps for lunch!
3/21/2005
After a bit harrowing Friday and Saturday I had a pleasant surprise in my mailbox to lift my spirits…
Click above to view the contents…
Not only was there a lovely pair of purple socks with a basketweave pattern in the leg made from Lorna’s Laces Shepards Sock and the extra yarn, but Dawn included a lovely card and a big purple flower which is crocheted I think. It’ll look great on a bag or perhaps a bucket hat.
They fit lovely and are of course one of my favorite colors!
Thank you so much, Dawn!
