Clapotis Est Fini

The Clapotis, it is done. Il est fait. Il est accompli. (I've been feeling French for the last day or so, ever since weather.com had a glitch and told me it was going to be ensoleille today.) So, fini.

Clapotis for Me
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn: Koigu Kersti, 6.5 skeins.
Needles: US 5 Addi Turbos
Finished dimensions: About 80" x 22", lightly blocked.
Modifications: I knit one extra increase section than called for in the pattern.

This is the second Clapotis I've made -- the first one went to Grandma a few years ago. I remember when knitting that one, I felt like it might never end. I had my eyes on the finish line -- wanting to get it done to give it away -- and it seemed to take forever.

But this one? This one I started in mid-March and had no idea when I would finish it -- and I was okay with that. I needed something predictable and mindless to work on in small stretches. There were many nights when I would study until late, and then settle in for 30 minutes of knitting before bed. Those 30-minute stretches added up - when I actually checked in May to see how the Clapotis was growing, it was ready to start the decreases and finish!

This remains a fantastic pattern (thousands of Ravelers can't be wrong!), yielding a very versatile wrap that I know will get a ton of use. The Kersti is soft and the colorways remind me of an impressionist painting -- icy pastels.

In other knitting news, the first Marigold sock is done.

And can I just say, holy cow, this pattern is addictive! It's in the same league of Monkey-addictive. I seriously couldn't stop knitting it -- just one more repeat -- and then last night, I bound off and wove in the ends. Less than one week for a sock, folks - I know that's nowhere near a landspeed record, but it's as quick as I've finished anything around here! Extra credit to Michelle because her Marigolds are what inspired me to give this pattern a second look - thanks!

The yarn -- Claudia's Handpaint in Red Wagon -- seems like it was made for this delightful pattern. Of course, I am a little nervous about how the second skein will perform. Will it give me similar color repeats or decide to pool wildly? Guess I have to cast on tonight and find out.

***

Outside, there are wonderful things happening. The garden continues to thrive. We (really, JT) staked the tomatoes and they seem much happier now. Also, much taller than I would have expected. We may need to get taller stakes.

Looking closer, next to the tomatoes, this morning I was super-excited to see this:

A baby pepper! There are actually about 5 little pepperlets right now, which makes me so excited.

And the robin's eggs have hatched:

There were four eggs. Three of them hatched. Two days ago, there were three little birds. Today there's just this guy. Did his family fly off and leave him? Did his siblings succumb to squirrels? No sign of the mama. I'm worried about this little bird.