There is a brilliant woman (and knitter) named Kate Gilbert who
is an American living in Paris. Being inspired by the way the French women wear their scarves Kate designed a pattern for this lovely drapey, ripplely, flowy scarf/wrap that she named Clapotis (which, as it happens, is French for “ripple”). John says that’s pronounced “clap-O-tee” and I hope that he’s right because that’s how I’ve been saying it and now it’s one of Christy’s favorite words. John is quasi-fluent in French (he might take issue with the word fluent-but I promise he knows more than most) and he doesn't seem to be bothered by my "What's the French word for __________?" questions. I don't think he'd lead me astray....The pattern for Clapotis was published by the on-line magazine Knitty (see link below). Kate also has a website with a blog called Needles on Fire.
The Clapotis has something of a cult following. There are message boards and websites solely dedicated to it and it's draping ways. And its way of hanging about the shoulders is so lovely. It feels light-weight yet substantial all at once.I am the only one of *The Knitters that is Clapotis-less. While I was in visiting my friend, Christy, in SoCal I decided that I would really get serious about finding yarn for my Clapotis. I knew the weight I needed. I knew the feel I desired and that I wanted a variegated yarn. But I had yet to find something that wouldn’t turn my Clapotis into a $100 project.
At The Black Sheep in Encinitas I found yarn of the right weight, feel, variegated coloring, and (most importantly) the right price!!! Tahki Cotton Classic Color in #110. I’m crazy about the colors-beiges, blues, roses, and pinks.
I did what turned out to be a practice swatch and now have begun my Clapotis in earnest ...which Oscar Wilde said was important. ;-) Much of the joy is in the knitting. Yet I can’t wait until it’s done so I can be among the Clapotis-elite!
*Katie, Sarah B, Sarah H.
You can find the pattern for Clapotis here: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html
4 comments:
That yarn is so purdy!
And see I was saying it "Clap o tis" which just sounds like a veneral diseasre of some sort.
ha ha! One time at my church one of our worship leaders said, "Yes, let's give Jesus the clap!" Of course she meant applause. I had to bite the inside of my lip to keep from laughing in front of the whole congregation.
kate gilbert no longer lives in france. she's in montreal. but still brilliant.
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