Hi, I'm a newbie to this site. Is it too late to join the Clapotis knitalong? (Not at all! - Lisa)

"I started mine this week using Lion and Lamb in the Flames colourway, and have frogged it several times already. For some reason I'm getting horrible loops along the sides. I have tried inserting the tip of the needle into the second stitch and pulling the yarn tight (after slipping the first stitch) but it isn't working. Any advice would be much appreciated and might stop me tearing my hair out"

Here are the pictures of Jacqui's Clapotis as promised. It still needs blocking to reduce the curling at the ends but it definitely looks the part! Jacqui used six balls of Silk Garden - this makes for a slightly smaller Clapotis but it is a perfect size for the intended Christmas recipient.

Way back before the Knitting and Stitching Show Mary L had finished her Clapotis in Lion and Lamb Gold Hill. She brought it in to us in Blackrock so it could be admired for a good twenty minutes, then it kindly posed for this arty picture and finally, reluctantly, we handed the Clapotis back...

Mary's Mum has since put in a request for a Clapotis of her very own, which is now on the needles.

We were treated to a peek at Caroline's progress last weekend when she brought in her Clapotis-so-far, which is being knit in the Gold Hill colourway of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb

Well, we were in love with this colourway in the hank, but seeing it knit up brings it to another level altogether - the rich autumn shades are heavenly!

The temptation to unravel was too much...

Caroline is keeping track of where to drop her stitches with these beautiful multicolour stitch markers..

Helen K finished her Clapotis during the week in Lion and Lamb Black Purl and called in to the shop in Blackrock to share. She very graciously modelled for this picture, once we could get her to stand still! :)

Helen was really pleased with how it turned out and found that deliberately dropping stitches can be very satisfying!

Next up are handwarmers to match in the Lavender shade of Pure Silk.

Sinead called out to us in Blackrock over the weekend and earned many "oohs" and "aahs" from the assembled knitting class over her Clapotis. It's simply stunning!

Sinead's next project is the Flower Basket Shawl from Interweave Knits in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk to accompany her wedding dress.

We look forward to more pictures!

Sinead gave us her thoughts on the Clapotis pattern through the Forum:

Hi there,

I'm really going to have to get a blog at this stage! - but a quick word about the Clapotis, which I've just finished. The site suggests 8-10 balls of Noro Silk Garden and I got 8, but I really only needed 7, and I knitted it in the full size (will post pic soon) on 5mm needles. It's in Colour 84 which is really beautiful.

Re the pattern - the only tricky bits are the 'pfb' and 'kfb' increases - purl through front and back and knit through front and back. There are lots of illustrations online as to how to do this - I think there's one on knittinghelp.com or there's a Clapotis Sticky in the 'Knitty Patterns' section of knitty.com's forums.

Overall, I found it a very easy pattern - the ripping out stitches part is particularly satisfying for some reason - it's basically just miles of stocking stitch. I didn't bother with the stitch markers and if I were to knit it again, I'd purl those stitches that are supposed to be twisted, as you can see them more clearly - lots of people did this in the knitting blog world. I'd do one again, possibly in a smaller size. I really love mine, it's one of the prettiest things I've ever knit. Do it! :)

Update from Caroline:

Well its bad news on the Clapotis front I'm afraid. I packed up the Clapotis while there are builders in the house as I was afraid the yarn would get dirty - there's dust in the most unlikely places. I ripped it back first though - I was pretty sure my tension was too loose that was always a problem I had when I was nervous of a project. I'll pick it up when all is back to normal, as I want to enjoy doing it while I'm at it.

In the meantime, Caroline has sent us pictures of some other recent projects, which you can see in the Gallery.

Check out Aileen's blog to see her finished Clapotis... it's gorgeous!

Aileen used two skeins of Lion and Lamb in Lakeview to make a mid-sized clapotis.

Hi all

I finally cast on last night! I've done as far as 24 rows of the increase section. Its not so bad once you start, its hard to grasp by reading the pattern alone but once you start knitting then you can see theres a real logic to it. That would be my advice Diane, just start knitting. I think I spent too long googling it and scaring myself silly! I had to rip back once though, think I was putting the markers in the wrong place. When the pattern says place marker I'm now putting them on the yarnover stitch that immediately follows. I hope thats right!

take care

Caroline

PS: Off to do another 12 rows now - will send on a picture as soon as I can find the camera!

Susan R has joined the Knitalong and is off to borrow a digital camera so she can supply us with scrumptious photos.

Susan says "I am in love with the yarn - how will i ever go back to mere mortal yarns after this?!?!"

Well, I have my yarn and I' ve downloaded and printed the pattern from knitty.com

I read the pattern and seems it is written in a foreign language. It looks quite intimidating.

Diane

Well guys, can we offer Diane some advice on getting started?

Hi guys! Well I just couldn't wait to get started so here's a photo - just finishing section 2 of the pattern!

Take care,

HK

Current Knitalong members:

Caroline C, Helen McC, Helen K and Diane.

The clapotis is a versatile garment, that can be worn as a cozy scarf or unfurled into a wrap when you need that extra bit of comfort and warmth.

It is knit in one of the most beautiful yarns available today, Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb, a 50% Silk and 50% Wool blend that is hand dyed in a stunning range of colours.

The scarf/wrap is unique in its construction, as the desginer says, Clapotis is "knit on the bias so the variegated yarn makes diagonal stripes and stitches are carefully dropped to make a pattern in the opposite direction. This creates a scarf which tends to be a little more of a parallelogram than a rectangle, but I promise, it’s nice that way."

It's magic. Wrap yourself up in one and you will feel special. We promise. Try it and see!

We are reliably informed by our French friend Letitia that Clapotis means "the sound made by rippling waves as they lap over the shore" - aahh, heavenly! And it's pronounced "Cla-poe-tee"...