More like a blankie

Yesterday I cast off the Big Kureyon Clapotis. I needed it today. I had to go to work with a cold and a cough. I wanted to stay at home in my jammies. Since I could not, I was wrapped up in what can only be called a giant Clapotis blankie. Possibly this was an overly dramatic representation of my pitiful condition, but possibly it was also a fashion statement. A little ambiguity is sometimes called for.

When I first started thinking about using Big Kureyon, I inquired in the Clapotis group at Ravelry. One very experienced Clap knitter replied that a Clapotis blanket would be an awesome gift. This yarn is bulky weight, which means that there is nothing scarf-like about the final result.

I did not knit all of the increases or straight sections and it is still 28 inches wide and 80 inches long. I used 4 and a half skeins of Big Kureyon. I stopped the increases when the first skein ran out. I stopped the straight section when I knew that it was already ginormous.

It is warm. It is gray with black, maroon, and some other wacky colors thrown in with that noro-esque flair. A detail from part of my favorite section:

 

Big Kureyon is B I G

Last night I finished up with one skein of Big Kureyon. After knitting 5 full sets of increase rows, my Clapotis measured around 27 inches. I started the straight section. I only have 5 skeins, but I think this is going to give me a nice fluffy and quite-large-enough wrap. I am using US 11 needles for a fairly loose stitch so that I do not lose the drapey effect that makes a Clapotis so appealing.

Inventory of the 2007 knitting:

• 6 pairs of socks
• 18 scarves
• 1 Clapotis, which does not count as a scarf in my humble opinion.
• 1 shawl
• 3 baby sweaters
• 2 washcloths
• 1 sweater for Rich
• 6 sets of fingerless mitts
• all the squares for a blanket - waiting to be stitched together sometime soon.

I am sure I forgot some stuff because I did not photograph everything. This is a satisfying list to me. Most of what I knit was given away - which feels just fine. This year I think I would like to knit for myself a bit more but I am also realistic. Knitting for others feels good and I like it.

 

Happy New Year

My wish for everyone: openness to love in 2008. Love comes to us in so many ways, and we do not always recognize it.

Yesterday I received a holiday letter from my friend and teacher Kathleen. She included a quote from Stephen Levine, who wrote this about service:

Act for the benefit of others
Clear the mind so you can see the way
Remind each other of our true nature
Act with grace for no reason
And stop making excuses
Nothing is random or preset
So respond from true freedom
Don’t let fear or beauty block your way
It takes courage to be moral
To give up the dissatisfaction
Compassion is fearlessness.

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Swatch of Big Kureyon meets Clapotis:

This is knitting at 3 stitches to the inch and is already 15 inches wide with only 2 sets of increase rows finished. It could end up in the frog pond. I am committed to knitting two skeins before I make a final decision.