Counting.
One finished object. The famous Clapotis, of course. (I held out as long as I could!). With my assistant for scale.
Knitted in Brooks Farm Four Play merino/silk blend. I used about a skein and a half. I wasn’t sure how the yardage would work out, so I made the whole thing narrower than the pattern called for, but not TOO narrow. It’ll make a great cross between a scarf and a stole. And the yarn is luciously soft, the color gorgeous.
All in all, very happy with this.
I do plan on blocking it. I like the finished look it gives it, instead of the extremely-ribbed look the just-off-the-needles wrap has.
Two. This currently leaves just two things on my needles–the Celtic Icon sweater, and my second sock in my handspun yarn.
I know. Not even lace! Shocking, huh?
Three. The number of times I’ve sat and played at my new wheel. (This shows great restraint, I think.) The first two times, I was spinning the batts from Spinner’s Hill that I bought at Rhinebeck . . . unfortunately, we didn’t get along. I didn’t love spinning the fiber, despite its luscious colors, and adapting to that while also adapting to a new wheel just, well, didn’t go well. Not to mention the fact that something in that wool was bothering my allergies. I could feel my lungs filling up while I treadled away. So. That wool is now banished. At least, it’s out of my room. I unwound the singles I’d spun from the bobbin and have to figure out what to do with them. Right now, they’re on my niddy-noddy in the other room, sulking.
All is not lost, though, because now I’m spinning this, also from Rhinebeck, from the Sheep Shed. Beautifully prepared, silky-soft merino in colors that are making me think of a peppermint stick. (Hmm, when is Starbucks coming out with their Peppermint Mochas, anyway, this season?)
Anyway, this is going much better. (No extra wheezing is definitely a plus–at least I know I’m not allergic to my wheel!)
Speaking of my wheel, we are getting along just fine. She spins very smoothly, though the accelerated wheel takes a little getting used to–more or less instant stops and starts, when I’m used to a little leeway/momentum on the Lendrum–and the treadles are very sensitive, so any foot movement moves the flyer. This is not a bad thing by any means–just something to get used to. The Delta Orifice, which I know some people don’t like, is just fine by me–no orifice hook necessary? No problem! About the only thing I don’t like is the metal-on-metal yarn guide on the flyer–it makes my teeth ache (grin). Oh, and figuring out how to secure the yarn when I take a break is challenging, too–there are hooks on the flyer to wrap around, but they’re slippery. These are very minor complaints. Overall, I’m very happy, and she seems to be settling in just fine.
Four. The day that Gracie’s baby Catherine arrived! Be sure to go and welcome the new arrival.
Five Thousand Seventeen. The number of comments I had as of the time I logged in. Wow. You people don’t mess around! Word of a contest sure makes you spring into action! (grin)
Now, I know exactly who won the contest, but I’m not going to say who it is until I’ve determined the prize. Which will be this weekend. After I’ve found something suitably wonderful to honor such an important milestone. You understand.
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Tannenbaum.
House Calls
Peppermint mocha is HERE at my Starbucks…come on down! The poodles would LOVE to show Chappy *their* playground!
xoxox
damn it i missed the comments contest.
ok posting pictures now — as long as you don’t write another post in the meantime.
you efficient person you! A two-fer contest! Very nifty.
Love the clap. And the peppermint fiber too! I’m with you on the Starbucks choice, although I can only have decaf now.
Wow! You’re getting stuff done! Your Clapotis is beautiful! I’m partial to blue fiber! Chappy seems to approve
i was wondering about you and the new wheel earlier!
The clap looks great! I was hoping to spin up 4oz of silk I have into a 2ply so I could knit one for a relative… not sure if I will get around to it.
when I was at a SBUX this weekend, they had the peppermint mocha, but not the gingerbread latte or the eggnog latte…
I loved knitting Clapotis – that has to be the perfect yarn for it.
So jealous of that pretty “peppermint” roving!
Yours is the second completed Clapotis I’ve seen in the last two days that used the Brooks Farm FourPlay yarn. I have been banging my head against my desk for the last month trying to figure out what yarn to use for my Clapotis (that wouldn’t break the bank) and it looks like the FourPlay is the winner! Thanks for posting your photos. It’s GORGEOUS!
Is that Ashland Bay that you’re spinning? I have some in blue and also orange and it’s very nice to spin. Adjusting to a new wheel is always challenging, that’s for sure.
ya know, if that wool is bothering you that much, maybe you should give it away (hint, hint, lol)
congrats on 5K comments!
I had my first Peppermint Mocha the other day, it’s my absolute favorite flavor! Sorry you and the Spinners Hill didn’t get along, but the peppermint stick fiber is fabulous and your Clappy is beautiful!
You are allergic to the Spinner’s Hill wool? Akk! That’s awful! Are you allergic to both colors or just one? It could be the dyeing process and something in it that you are reacting to. You could try airing it out on your deck, or soaking the batts and letting them air dry to get any possible chemicals out.
Your clapotis is beautiful. Enjoy it! I just love merino from Sheep Shed. They have the nicest fibers. I too am not one who will complain about that delta orifice. I’ve never minded it and do like the lack of needing a hook to thread the thing seeing as I can never seem to find an orifice hook when I need one (I had to hide them all from the short people a while ago).
Beautiful clapotis. I am going to do one of those…..maybe in the new year. A good project to take away those Jan/Feb blues!! Love it!!
What a great aid in modeling you have. Very nice, I’m actually considering a clapotis too, never have been interested, but have some yarn that it might do well with.
Great spinning, the colors are just lovely.
Lovely Clapotis – I especially like how the color pooling forms trompe-l’oeil ripples.
But… peppermint roving? Peppermint coffee?? Are the holidays around the corner?!? [Covers eyes and ears] Lalalala!
mmmmmmmmm…….peppermint mocha….
Your Clapotis and your spinning is beautiful!
)
First, the clapotis is gorgeous.
Second, I posted my calendar for the contest.
Do you think that someone who doesn’t like coffee would like a peppermint mocha? Because it sounds just yummy. The spinning looks wonderful – I love the peppermintish fiber. I’m spinning this weekend – I swear it.
your clapotis is fab!
and that peppermint spinning is just wonderful as well. So glad that you and your wheel are making friends.
I saw the peppermint mocha at the starbucks near my office today. It’s time! Also, I posted my November calendars:
http://knerq.blogspot.com/2006/11/november-calendars.html
Guess which rooms they are in!
Clapotis looks mahvolous!! I have 2 skeins of Four Play earmarked for a Clapotis and I’m curious how many increase sections did you do and how long is it? I’m hoping to use the full 2 skeins (without running out, of course!) for mine. Thanks for showing it!
That’s it on the needles?! Wow. That Clapotis is going to be yummy from the BF yarn…