Knitty is Celebrating the Clapotis

If you were around at the beginning of the knitting Internet, you might remember the Clapotis (pronounced, apparently, clap-o-tee; I’ve been saying it wrong in my head for 20 years!). Originally published in the fall 2004 issue of Knitty, it could be argued it was the first viral knitting pattern of the Internet age.

It’s easy to see why it took off: it’s fun to knit, pretty easy, stylish, you can use wild or more subdued yarn and it looks great. Plus, dropping stitches on purpose is just fun.

I have still yet to knit one, even though I’ve wanted to a few times.

Now I have no excuse, because to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the pattern, Knitty has reissued it and has declared Clapotis Fest. They produced a digital look book with the pattern worked in yarn from 63 different indie dyers (which is just a drop in the dye bucket compared to the nearly 24,000 versions that have been posted on Ravelry).

They’re also hosting a contest where you can win some of that gorgeous yarn by submitting a photo of your (newly knit since Sept. 17, 2024) Clapotis. Entries must be submitted by Dec. 1 and will be included in a similar flip book style presentation, which will be part of the Knitty winter surprise early next year. People who look at the book can vote for their favorites, and the top 50 vote-getters will get some lovely yarn (folks with the most votes will get to pick their prizes first).

Part of the point of this celebration, in addition to getting people excited about the pattern again and sharing the work of some great indie dyers, is to also honor the designer, Kate Gilbert. She was paid $50 for the pattern in 2004, and of course Knitty is free so no one has profited much from the huge popularity of this design, but Kate definitely should. If you knit a Clapotis, or have in the past, you can send her a few bucks through her Ko-fi.

I’d love to hear your Clapotis stories. Have you made one or several before? Had you ever heard of it before now? Thinking about making one? I think it might just be time for me to do it!

[Photo via Knitty]

Next Pattern:

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about a fluffy little baby hat, isn’t there? The Baby Twizzler Hat over on CraftBits is one of those sweet, simple baby knitting patterns that feels very much like the kind of project you could whip up for a baby shower, a new grandbaby, or that “I just need something cute and quick on my needles” moment.

This free baby hat knitting pattern is sized for around 9–12 months and uses chunky, textured fashion yarn to give it that soft, whimsical look. Think candy floss, powder-puff baby yarn, and all those lovely fluffy skeins we buy because they feel irresistible in the yarn aisle — and then later wonder what on earth we are going to make with them. This hat is exactly the sort of project those skeins were waiting for.

What I like about this pattern is that it doesn’t try to overcomplicate things. Baby knits do not always need cables, lace charts, or three cups of coffee and a quiet house to understand them. Sometimes the yarn does most of the work, and this is one of those patterns. The texture gives the hat personality, while the construction stays approachable.

If you are fairly new to knitting baby items, this is a nice little project to practise shaping without committing to a full garment. A baby hat is small enough to finish quickly, which is always encouraging, especially if you are knitting for a deadline. We have all had that “the baby shower is tomorrow and I have three ends still dangling” situation, haven’t we?

The pattern pairs beautifully with the matching Baby Twizzler Poncho, so if you want to turn this into a proper handmade baby gift set, that would be a very cute combination. A matching hat and poncho always feels more special than a single item, and it makes a lovely keepsake gift without needing to knit an entire baby wardrobe.

For yarn, look for a soft baby-friendly fluffy or textured yarn that is gentle enough for little heads. Mary Maxim often has lovely baby yarn options and beginner-friendly knitting supplies, and Amazon is handy for grabbing size 6mm knitting needles if your needle stash has mysteriously swallowed that one size you actually need. Mine does this regularly, usually when I am already sitting down with a cup of tea.

This would also be a sweet stash-busting project if you have leftover novelty or fashion yarn from older baby projects. Just make sure the yarn is soft, washable, and comfortable against baby skin. Babies are not known for politely tolerating scratchy handmade gifts.

If you enjoy knitting small baby gifts, you might also like browsing more free knitting patterns on CraftBits, especially if you are putting together handmade baby shower gifts or quick charity knits. And for another sweet baby-themed project, the Baby Feet Cloth free knitting pattern would make a lovely little extra tucked into a gift basket with this hat.

The Baby Twizzler Hat is a charming, quick baby knitting pattern with a soft vintage feel. It is simple, giftable, and a nice reminder that sometimes the prettiest handmade baby pieces are the ones made with one ball of yarn, a pair of needles, and a bit of love.

Best for: quick baby shower gifts, beginner-friendly baby knitting, stash yarn projects, and matching handmade baby sets.
Skill level: beginner to confident beginner.
Why we like it: it is fast, fluffy, sweet, and perfect for using those soft textured yarns hiding in the stash.

Next Pattern:

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