Several years ago the Clapotis pattern was the hottest thing to hit the knitting blog world. I checked out the pattern - very cool indeed, but I had no desire to knit myself a Clapotis. Nothing to do with the pattern or style, I just don't have much use for a knitted scarf down here in the "tropical" part of the States. Heck, I'm too cheap to buy a real coat to wear the handful of days the temperatures are downright cold, so what could I possible want with a scarf.
Then my sister came to visit sporting her new Clapotis. It was knit in a beautiful wool, linen, silk and was so soft and drapey. Just perfect for a climate when it's only occasionally really, really cold. I bogarted occasionally borrowed her scarf during her entire visit. You could drape it over your head like a hood when it was raining or wrap it around your neck or whatever other fashion statement you were attempting to make.
After that, nothing would do but I knit myself a Clapotis. So I ordered some pricey Cherry Tree Hill wool and silk and started knitting away. And let me tell you that's a lot of knitting. But viola, my very own soft, cool, drapey Crapotis that was a perfect complement to my jean jacket.
Fast forward to last week. Yet another pile of laundry to be done and while I was sorting some "better" things for a load there was the Crapotis that could use a freshening up. Oh, this load will be okay, I thought, because this is all good stuff and of course, I won't put it in the dryer.
Now this is the part of the story where you are thinking: No. Stop. Don't be stupid. Because everyone who has ever knit knows that the key ingredients to felting are wool, hot water and agitation . . . .
Yep, that's right, I FELTED my Clapotis. Even though it wasn't Hot water, it was warm water and it was certainly wool and agitation. My scarf is only slighted felted, not a full-on make a purse felting, but a felting nonetheless.
This could certainly still be a scarf. In fact, a much warmer scarf, but I don't need a warm scarf - I need a soft and drapey fashion statement kind of scarf.
Anyone need a slightly felted Clapotis??
Major laundry error modeled by my witch dolls, Theodore and Pinki, by Annette Himstedt.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
I too have admired all the beautiful Clapotis' that soo many knitters have knit, but I don't think I could commit myself to such a huge project. Yours is beautiful, even though it is "slightly felted". Ouch, I feel your pain.
Posted by: Karyn | February 11, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Oh no! I would be so upset if I did that (and it's just the sort of thing I'd do too).
Posted by: Elizabeth K | February 11, 2007 at 10:37 PM
Sooooo sorry! I can't imagine the time it must have taken to make that! I'm the world's slowest knitter so I'd be crying right now if it were mine. Are you sure there's no way you could turn it into a purse? ;o)
Posted by: lindiepindie | February 12, 2007 at 02:57 AM
oh what a bummer. Well it's certainly a beautiful slightly felted Capotis!
Posted by: Sue B | February 12, 2007 at 04:06 AM
Bummer! (Although, a felted Clapotis would be perfect for our cold Boston weather this week! If you can't wear it anymore, I sure would ...)
Posted by: Danielle | February 12, 2007 at 02:04 PM
It's so pretty! I can't even tell it's felted! I am cracking up over the color of the yarn though. Take a look at the one I was telling you about on Saturday (I happen to have it on today!) http://tresbonbabble.blogspot.com/2006/01/clapotis-2-is-done.html
Posted by: Bonnie | February 12, 2007 at 03:17 PM
OOh, I can't tell either that it's felted slightly. It's still beautiful.
I think that is why I can only knit small things, mentally I can't commit to large projects-fear of things going wrong considering all of the time and money investment.
I did an impulse buy from Stitch Diva, for some downloadable sweater patterns, but I'll have to overcome my fears. I'll just keep knitting my toys and scarves while I consider them...lol.
Posted by: Coryn | February 13, 2007 at 11:52 PM