rostitchery

little duffers

ella liked my new slippers so much that she wanted a pair of her own.

the duffers pattern is written for adult sizes so i had to fiddle with it to get something that would fit her.  the fact that they are felted really helped.  i subtracted 4 stitches from the cast on of the smallest size, and reduced the center front section by 2 stitches.  so a total of 6 stitches less than the smallest cast on number from the pattern.

the pattern as adjusted to fit her almost size 2 piggies is as follows:

cast on 50.  if you are knitting the two color slippers, cast on with the color you want the bottom of the slipper to be.

Row 1: Knit

Row 2 and all even rows: Knit

Row 3: K1, M1, K23, M1, K2, M1, K23, M1, K1     (54 stitches)

Row 5: K1, M1, K25, M1, K2, M1, K25, M1, K1     (58 stitches)

Row 7: K1, M1, K27, M1, K2, M1, K27, M1, K1     (62 stitches)

Row 9: K1, M1, K29, M1, K2, M1, K29, M1, K1     (66 stitches)

that completes the sole of your slipper . if you are knitting the two color slippers, change to your upper color here and leave a long tail of the bottom yarn to sew up the sole with.

 

Row 10: Knit

Row 11: Purl

Row 12: K27, K3 tog, K6, SSSK, K27         (62 stitches)

Row 13: P26, SSP, P6, P2 tog, P26           (60 stitches)

Row 14: K24, K3 tog, K6, SSSK, K24         (56 stitches)

Row 15: P23, SSP, P6, P2 tog, P23          (54 stitches)

Row 16: K21, K3 tog, K6, SSSK, K21         (50 stitches)

Row 17: P1, SSP, P17, SSP, P6, P2 tog, P177, P2 tog, P1      (46 stitches)

Row 18: K1 K2 tog, K14, K3 tog, K8, SSSK, K14, SSK, K1      (40 stitches)

Row 19: P1, SSP, P12, SSP, P8, P2 tog, P12, P2 tog, P1    (36 stitches)

cast off, leaving a small yarn tail for the two-color slippers, or one long tail for the one-color slippers.

to form the slipper, fold it in half so that the cast on edge meets.  that is the center bottom of the slipper.  sew together along the heel and sole.  i used a whip stitch for both heel and sole, bringing the edges together so they just meet but not tightly, so there would not be a ridge when the slippers were felted.

i felted mine in a front loading machine, using a hot wash cycle and cold rinse.  you can of course felt yours in a top loader if that is what you have.  when they are the right size, take them out, shape them by hand and let them dry.

for the SRC:  these used even less yarn than mine did—probably about 40 yards of black and maybe 75 yards of the red and pink.  but i did have to spend a LOT of time with the calculator so i’m giving myself 400 points for eventually getting the math right.

 

*i have not tested these to smaller sizes so i don’t know if the above formula would work on little feet.  i might give it a try later this winter.  in the meantime, if you do try it, come back and comment to let us all know how it went!

duffers

 

my new slippers.

i love them, they were quick to knit, took very little yarn, and turned out exactly as the picture in the pattern. 

 

i'm thinking i'll do a little embroidery and maybe i’ll needle felt a flower or something, just to give them a little personality.

there's not much more to say about them, i guess, except that i think that with christmas coming, these should be on every knitter’s gift giving list.

for the SRC:  these take so little yarn that i’ll have to make up for the points on the back end.  thus: 

• 50 yards of black yarn that i’d had in my stash for less than a year:  5 points. 
• 100 yards each of pink and red yarns that i’d had in my stash for three years:  300 points.  :)

 

*i’m still working on christmas gifts—what are you working on?

2010 STASH REDUCTION CONTEST--CHRISTMAS EDITION

FINAL TOTAL:  4339 points

most recent update:  1 january, 2011

• 2140 points for doing something for the first time and the last time
• 1350 points for being an early-bird santa
• 6 points for doing something badly
• 93 points for starting
• 350 points for making something i like
• 400 points for valor in the face of yarn

 

it's beginning to look a little like christmas

there is a lot of crafting going on around here these days.  mostly because as much as i want to honor my true, authentic commitment to the christmas craft revolt, this year i really need to honor my true, authentic commitment to my family budget, and my true, authentic commitment to my kick out the clutter project.

so i’m making some presents, but i’m doing it now, so that we can still enjoy a little fun during december.

and in honor of my kick out the clutter project i am declaring a new stash reduction contest, 2010 christmas edition.  there's nothing like a little competition to get me up motivated.  i’m aiming for 1000 points by the first week of december.  definitely not over-ambitious. 

so i’m making another sushi scarf (5 yarns that have been in stash for 2 years—i’ll take 10 points):

 

and another hallowig (1 ball of yarn that has been in stash for 1 year—but on a pattern that is far above my level of competency—give me 50 points please):

 

i’ve already made several more loom-knit market bags (1 HUGE skein of yarn that i’ve had for at least 3 years—let’s make it an even 20 points):

 

and two more pairs of loom-knit mittens (four balls of yarn that i’ve had in stash for 1 year, but i had to buy another ball of yarn because i ran short, but i had already knit the cuffs last winter, and i finished the second pair on a day when it was almost 80 degrees, so let’s just say 12 points):

 

and i’m thinking i might even make just a few more dishcloths, to tide me over during the busy holiday season (ok, i have to come clean:  i bought another ball of yarn.  so 1 point, right?):

 

 

for a grand total of 93 points.  so far, so good.

i am also working on some double-secret, extra-pinky-swear, no-can-tell-you projects for a secret santa swap.  the only thing i can say right now is this:  the reveal date for the swap is saturday, 4 december.