Hooray! The kids are finally out of school for the summer! I really have no excuses for not blogging, except:
- Facebook Scrabble
- Hanging out with my family
- Reading
- Facebook Scrabble on my iPhone
- Avoiding finishing knitting projects
- More reading
- Getting ready for summer
- Getting my arse kicked on Facebook Scrabble
Well, you get the picture. Actually I haven't a clue where my knitting mojo went. I had 2 finished projects and have had them done for weeks and weeks but haven't wanted to battle the weather/reluctant models/getting out the camera... But the sun is shining and I thought I'd better get to it.
So here's my 2 projects - clapotis (how do you pluralize that?):
Yep, 2 of them:
Totally inappropriate for summer but oh well. The regular size one:
The mini one:
The were both knitted on US #8 needles:
The yarn was Blue Moon Fiber Arts Luscious Single Silk in Jengu:
I used 1 1/4 skeins for the big clapotis including 3 extra repeats.
Since I had so much yarn left, I made another and used 3/4 skein for the 2nd mini clapotis.
I increased until I got to 59 sts, instead of 107 sts, but I did knit the extra 3 repeats to make it just as long as the big clapotis.
Now, I don't know what to be knitting. It feels really strange for me. So while waiting for inspiration to strike, I've been knitting Barn Raising Squares for a future blanket. Any recommendations on what to work on? Hope you're all enjoying your summer or winter, whichever you are heading into! Now back to more Scrabble for me!
Now you can stop asking me when I'm going to blog, Mom!
they are both gorgeous Tiennie...really...and don't apologize for enjoying yourself...and really are you that bad at facebook scrabble??LOL!! I must look up this yarn...divine choice.
Posted by: theresa/t does wool | June 24, 2009 at 02:52 PM
Nice summery calpotii (?spelling)!!
Lovely yarn!!
Missed you but glad to hear you've been keeping busy with other interests. The knit mojo will return... in the meantime enjoy your summer!!
Posted by: Suzy Girl | June 24, 2009 at 04:19 PM
these are lovely!
i suppose you could say clapotises. i'm not sure if there's actually a plural for it - it's french for "lapping," like the sound waves make. i'm not a native speaker, though =)
Posted by: monica | June 24, 2009 at 04:55 PM
We seem to be rocking the same boat about what to knit next. Something interesting will come up and meanwhile, just focus on the small projects like these two and enjoying the summer with the kids!
Posted by: lucy | June 24, 2009 at 05:16 PM
YAY -- a post from you!!! I just knit a Clapotis too -- wasn't it a fun knit!
Posted by: Kathy | June 24, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Gurl FB has me all caught up too!! ;op And I just sent you a request! Haha!
Enjoy your knit break!! And both clapotis came out pretty (yeah how do you make that plural lol)
Posted by: Stacey _CrimsonPurl | June 24, 2009 at 06:10 PM
i am so glad your mom had you post! :)
lovely clapotis... and as for a knitting project... i am no help. i want to knit everything i see!
Posted by: leslie | June 24, 2009 at 06:18 PM
Delightful! Your Clapotisisesesss are gorgeous :) Luscious choice of yarn ~ it's one of my favorite knits ever. You will enjoy wearing it.
I vote for Fall fingerless mitts for all the children to wear when they return to school :)
Facebook Scrabble? I had no idea. Must check it out!
Posted by: MrPuffy | June 24, 2009 at 06:20 PM
lovely projects!
glad to see you back.
Posted by: kristyn | June 24, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Your clapotis are lovely! It sounds like you're having fun. I'm sure your knitting mojo will be back. I'm working on the Ulmus shawl which is quick, fun, and a good stash-buster. You can find it on Ravelry. There's a KAL in the Through the Loops group.
Posted by: linda | June 24, 2009 at 07:27 PM
I don't know, tiennie, I could see how you might need a breather from the knitting what with the multiple knitting that you do all the time. I love that barn raising squares blanket. I have a couple of those in my knitting basket as well. I am sure you blanket will be done first, though!
Posted by: nova | June 24, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Your clapotis is pretty. Summer is always a busy time for me. Right now my knitting time is fighting with spinning time. I have a hard time deciding which. :)
Posted by: Trish | June 24, 2009 at 07:41 PM
I wondered where you'd gotten off to...expected you to show up with a dozen of something......
and you did not disappoint! They are lovely claps (I'm going for my own unique slang pluralization) in a pretty color.
These are totally appropriate for the weather here in Maine. Somebody needs to tell Mother Nature that it is no longer March. I think her needle's stuck in the groove.
Posted by: marissa | June 24, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Glad to see some more finished projects! What to knit next? How about some knitted toys? Have you done that yet? I like to knit them in between larger projects - the kids love them. Some of the patterns can be fiddly, but I love seeing the children sleep with the toys at night :)
Are your summers less busy than the regular school year? I thought my summer would be less busy, but I mistakenly front loaded the summer with a bunch of small camps. Hope you are able to relax, knit, and enjoy some time with the family.
Posted by: kelly-ann | June 24, 2009 at 07:52 PM
White Clapotis! Great idea and they look fab! Ooh, I like that suggestion of fingerless gloves for the kids.
Posted by: domesticshorthair | June 24, 2009 at 08:19 PM
Beautiful Clapotis(es?).
I think you should just enjoy the summer. And you *are* knitting! You're making squares; that counts.
Posted by: MicheleLB | June 24, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Hi Tiennie, nice to see your not the only one addicted to facebook. I am off to add you to my friends list now so when you see Suzanne Warren dont freak out and wonder who it is! I havent played the Scrabble game as yet though, I have been playing some others which is a lot of fun. Your clapotis' look so nice. I cant wait to see what you knit next.
Posted by: Sue Warren | June 24, 2009 at 09:13 PM
your knitting looks great and i positively love the blog header!
Posted by: darlene | June 24, 2009 at 11:16 PM
Glad you are back! I've missed your great knitting projects and beautiful pictures!
How about Jared's Girasole or the Hemlock Ring Blanket for your next projects!
Posted by: Diane | June 25, 2009 at 03:19 AM
If I knit two Clapotis in a row, I might lose my knitting mojo too. But the results are lovely.
Summer is a time for relaxing, so don't worry about being too productive!
Posted by: nicole | June 25, 2009 at 04:05 AM
Lovely Clapoti. (Is that the plural? I never remember.)
Nice to see you although summer is definitely not prime knitting time. Too hot!
Posted by: Phoe | June 25, 2009 at 05:52 AM
I've missed you too! Oddly enough I'm trying the barn raising quilt squares too, although I seem to be struggling a bit with them. Love the Clapos!
Posted by: Rose | June 25, 2009 at 06:24 AM
Facebook... has... Scrabble??? And I thought Farm Town was addictive!
Posted by: heather t | June 25, 2009 at 07:28 AM
Hi Tiennie, I never would've thought about a very light-colored Clapotis. It's definitely something different. I have a question about your book sites though: A friend and I just signed up for Goodreads, and I was wondering what the difference between Goodreads and Shelfari is. Is one better than the other? Is it easier to find recommendations on Shelfari?
Thanks! I'm going to "follow" you on Goodreads for now, too; hope you don't mind!
Posted by: Stephanie | June 25, 2009 at 07:44 AM
welcome back, new facebook friend! be patient with your knitting mojo! it'll find you again somehow :)
Posted by: mai | June 25, 2009 at 07:50 AM
Oh yes, summer (and facebook) can be very distracting from knitting. But the claps are both very cute!
Posted by: Kara | June 25, 2009 at 09:27 AM
For a combination of knitting funk and summer weather I'd suggest washcloths. Great way to test out different stitch patterns (like big swatches) and the cotton yarn will survive sweaty summer days!
Posted by: Kath | June 25, 2009 at 09:36 AM
Oh, I don't know - those little bits of light blue are very pretty - makes me think of the blue sky peeking through white puffy clouds. Perfect for summer, I say. :D
Clapotises? Clapotis'? Clapotisi? Or maybe it's like "moose" and the singular and plural are the same? Hmm...
Glad you are back and having a great summer!
Posted by: Ella | June 25, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Very pretty and elegant clapoti! How about a donation knit/crochet. There is Handmade Afghans Project as well as a couple other worthy projects out there. Something to use up left over yarn (acrylic for HAP, wool for others) and do something worthwhile and mindless while you wait for inspiration to strike.
Posted by: Kathy | June 25, 2009 at 11:04 AM
yes, summer is here. so glad you are enjoying it. i think it will be stepping away from the blog for a bit as well. so much fun to be had.
Posted by: kaite | June 25, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Very pretty - I was just thinking of knitting this with something I dug out of stash. As for knitting mojo - try spinning! Or market bags, perfect for nice, summery shopping.
Posted by: Brie | June 25, 2009 at 01:02 PM
lovely claps!
what about socks?
Posted by: opal | June 25, 2009 at 01:15 PM
I love the "clapotii" attempt at pluralizing above!:) Clever! The claps are grogeous - and I think it's totally okay to meander away from the knitting once in awhile, you'll always be back:)
Posted by: stacey | June 25, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Oooh pretty. I hope you have a fun summer. I'm sure as the weather starts to cool later in the year, the knitting mojo will return.
Posted by: sam | June 25, 2009 at 07:40 PM
I'm in between projects, myself, but you have so many neat projects in your Ravelry Faves. And you quilt, too? Please show us. Pretty please!
Posted by: Karen | June 25, 2009 at 09:10 PM
I'm addicted to FB also! LOVE your FO! GORGEOUS!!!!!!!
Posted by: adrienne | June 25, 2009 at 09:46 PM
The Clapotis x 2 are lovely! And, Facebook is QUITE the distraction. Have you tried Wordtwist yet?
Posted by: amanda | June 26, 2009 at 10:13 AM
My knitting is at a near standstill...I had to force myself to knit a bit on the log cabin baby blanket that I started AGES ago. It's easy to get sucked into other activities in the summer time!
Posted by: Leslie | June 26, 2009 at 10:26 AM
ooh, I bet those are so soft too!! Nice to hear from you :) Enjoy your summer!
Posted by: Zonda | June 26, 2009 at 08:50 PM
As you know in the Pacific Northwest when summer finally gets here it's gone in a flash. Enjoy it, there's so much to do outdoors right now; soon you'll have 10 and 1/2 months of rain to keep you indoors to knit to your heart's content. And, of course to wear those pretty Clapottis-es!??!
Posted by: Jodi | June 26, 2009 at 09:12 PM
Just lovely. I really need to knit a Clapotis.
Posted by: Saffron | June 27, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Very pretty! Enjoy the summer with your kids!
Posted by: cactusneedles | June 27, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Oh facebook. I love it so much. Those clapotis are really fantastic. I've been working on one for months but it's so boring that I keep putting it down and starting new projects. That yarn looks fantastic! I'm glad you're having a fun summer.
Posted by: Heidi | June 27, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Just gorgeous! Both of them!! So pretty!
Glad to hear you are enjoying your summer!
Posted by: irishgirlieknits | June 27, 2009 at 11:37 PM
Very pretty Clapotis! Sounds like you have a fun summer planned!
Posted by: Jeanne | June 28, 2009 at 05:34 AM
Gorgeous & I like the color. Computer games can be very addictive. I was addicted to playing Bejewelled & Suduko on my iTouch & that took up my knitting time. Have a great summer holiday as it's freezing here.
Posted by: Ann | June 28, 2009 at 05:32 PM
I slide over to quilting in the summer - seems to happen every year. I'm finishing some knitting, but haven't started anything new for a month! Knitting inspiration usually strikes me in the fall/winter - NOT summer :-)
The white Clapotis are gorgeous!
Posted by: Pat | June 28, 2009 at 06:26 PM
forget the knitting and come over to the sewing dark side!!
Posted by: yahaira | June 29, 2009 at 08:26 AM
The Clapotis look so pretty and summery in pale colors!
My knitting motivation hasn't been great either so far this summer. Mostly because I'm doing some writing and other things, and can't knit when I'm tired. I'm sure we'll be back full speed soon to those needles!
Posted by: Debby | June 29, 2009 at 10:30 AM
the white clapotisS are lovely, i loved your previous white scarves too, you inspire me to knit one, for the mojo, it happens to me sometimes and i knit various gauges to let me inspired by the yarn, or start a pair of plain socks, but the other thing i use is to have some time with familly, and after the needle come to me by itselves
have a lovely day
Posted by: Marimi | June 29, 2009 at 10:28 PM