Preparing to Travel

This is round #2 for my post today. There is something about my new laptop that simply erases entire hunks of writing without any advanced notice which is irritating to say the least. This time even the kittens cannot be blamed. So if this seems a bit brusque, let's just say I am miffed because the first post was a couple of clicks from being published!

There was a deadline beating in my head the entire time I knit Waiting for Rain; it was to be a part of my wardrobe for a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. It had to be done because it perfectly matches a comfortable pair of walking shoes purchased specifically for this trip. The picot edging was finished late on Friday night, on Saturday the shawl went for a quick plunge and then was stretched to its limit to show off the wavy lace and by Sunday it was ready for the photos. These were taken off the second story deck as I stood in the snow. Yes, it is still snowing in March in the Lower Mainland, much to the chagrin of most of us who live here.

Waiting for Rain will be perfect as a shawl on those autumnal cool evenings (down under the seasons are moving from Summer to Fall) and when it is really cool it can be used as a scarf under a jacket. The real plus is it takes up little space to pack and weighs virtually nothing. This shawl is already in the suitcase.

With that behind me it was time to seriously think about what to take so I have something to do during those looooooooooong flights to Australia and back from Fiji. Following my own advice in a post written in 2013, I looked for something familiar and simple, using a carriable amount of yarn and knit on circular needles. Clapotis fit the bill.

Thousands of these versatile shawls/scarves have already been made. Indeed I have knit a couple faux Clapotis myself. But this pattern in every way meets the criteria to be a good travel knit project. Beyond a few twisted stitches it is knit using stockinette. I am taking just one of the two skeins to make this shawl. My yarn -- Sweet Georgia's Bulletproof Sock yarn in the colourway called Rust. It is made up of 50% merino, 20% nylon, 15% kid mohair and 15% silk.

Once the stitches are dropped I think this variegated yarn will turn into something special, at least that's the plan. Although I had wanted to avoid the stitch markers I found putting them in made the project just one more step closer to mindless, and when travelling, mindless is what I am going for.

So tomorrow I take off with Clapotis in tow and won't be back until March 25. Photos of my adventures will follow.

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