Drops slippers

Drops Crochet Slippers

Drops Crochet Slippers

I'm doing these, and they're working up pretty quickly, even though I'm using RH Bright and Lofty in Beaches color. I'm also using a size M hook and making the middle size. This pattern is only in British crochet terms, so keep that in mind if you do it. Also, you have to have another pattern to get the bootie part-they give you the number, but I have the link for it, it's the second one above.

I would not recommend RH Bright and Lofty, Light and Lofty or LB Homespun for these, if you are a beginning crocheter- the stitches are very hard to see. If you don't use their recommended Eskimo yarn, you might want to try Bernat Softee Chunky, or some other similar weight yarn.

I really like the color, I haven't done the top of the bootie yet, and I'm debating whether or not to do it, cause I like it as is. I may not have enough in the one skein of RH I have and don't want to buy more just to do the tops-we'll see.

When I get my hands on a camera, I'll post a pic, I'm still working on the heel of bootie #2.

Back in a sock groove

Maybe I'll actually finish a pair. I'm actually experimenting a bit with a couple of different ways to make them.

I'm going to try two socks on one circular needle as soon as I find some sock yarn I like-I think I might like that method because I can do an entire pair and not have to worry about SSS. OTOH, I'm also a start-stopper because I like to start something and then put it aside so unless it's something I REALLY want to finish it's liable to be a UFO for quite some time-until I decide to finish or frog ;)

I'm also trying a toe up sock with an afterthought heel. I'm using Caron SS in a baby varigated and making the toe, heel and leg ribbing in a pale yellow. I'm knitting this one in the round on DPNs size three. I have the toe done and have started on the instep-I'll let you know when I get to the heel. Even with the size three needles the fabric is still pretty soft, considering they suggest using size eight. If I like this method I might adopt it for the two socks on one circular when I find the right sock yarn.

Before I try the two socks, I'm practicing Magic Loop by making a basic fingerless mitt with some cotton/wool sock yarn I came across and only bought one ball. I should be able to get a pair out of it and I just couldn't see this colorway as a sock anyway. I'm almost done with the first one and will take a picture when it is. By the time I make the second I should be proficient enough at Magic Loop to try the two socks.

If I actually finish a pair, or even one sock, I'll post a picture for your enjoyment-or to mock-as you see fit :D

I admit it

I am in love with Addi Turbo circular knitting needles. I bought a pair in size 1 and 40" long to use in the Magic Loop technique of knitting small circumferences on one long circular. This needle puts Boye to shame. I might still use Boye in the larger sizes but for socks and things of that nature it's now Addi Turbo.

I got some Steinbach Wolle Strapaz Cotton Effekt sock yarn and am making a pair of wristwarmers with it. It's only a 50g ball so not enough to do socks with unless I maybe make footies but for some reason wristwarmers were calling out to this yarn and I've heard you must listen to your yarn-hehe.

I have an idea

All of the instructions (that I've found) for making two socks at once using Magic Loop have said to start with the figure eight cast on. I don't like that cast on-I could never do it right-it's the reason I haven't tried knitting two socks at once-Magic Loop or with two circs. Well, if you can do two socks at once with Magic Loop and figure eight cast on then why can't you do two socks at once with Magic Loop using provisional cast on? I haven't tried it yet because I don't have a circular needle the right size and length but I will soon-I'm going to splurge at my LYS and get an Addi Turbo in size 1 and the longest they have. I'm going to try it out with some cheap acrylic first to see if it works and then I might post instructions on how to do it.

Personally, I like the short row toe to the other type of toe up pattern anyway, it looks neater.

Stand by, more to come when I've tried it.

On another note, a friend of mine from Bavaria is going to send me some sock yarn-I can't wait-and I'm trying to think of what to do for her in return. I have an idea-hopefully she'll like it.

Another future product idea

I've been browsing this LJ Community

It's all about the deconstruction/reconstruction of t-shirts. The things these ladies come up with are amazing and now I want to do something with t-shirts.

My idea is a dress. When I find the right t-shirt, I want to turn the sleeves to the inside and sew them down for a facing to have a sleeveless dress. I'm debating taking the neck ribbing out or not-that's still debatable. Then I want to do some type of quilt block for the skirt. I'm visualizing it pretty well but I'm probably not explaining it very well-a failing of mine.

Anyway, that's in the future-after the peasant skirt and when I've healed from the dental appointment coming up in about a week.

A Future Sewing Project

I have always wanted to try making a peasant skirt and knew it would probably be easy-the only hard part would be making the tiers the right size. I really didn't want to buy a pattern to do this so I've put it off.

That is, until I was browsing around, searching free sewing projects. I found free instructions for constructing a peasant skirt-complete with a calculator that takes your largest measurement-usually the hip-and calculates the pieces for two different lengths. Then it instructs you in how to construct the skirt. It's found here in case anyone's interested in trying it themselves.

I have some material here at the house, I just need to find time to iron the wrinkles out of it and get it ready to use.

I'm not sure when I'm going to do this but I know I'm going to give it a try sometime in the near future.

A dress

I finished my dress and it turned out really nice-even the sleeves and neck facing, which I don't like doing. I wore it to church this past Sunday and received many compliments on it. The only thing I would change about it if I were to make it again would be the length-it's a bit too long for my taste. I like my dresses and skirts on the long side but not almost touching the floor-a hazard of being short is that most dress patterns that fall below the knee will inevitably hit me around my ankles.

Anyway, here's a picture:

Trying something new

I found a pair of cropped trousers-they could actually be somewhere between cropped trousers and gaucho trousers-when I was cleaning in my sewing room. They're a size 16 and, while I can get into them, they're a might tight. I usually wear an 18 and when I'm sewing, I have to cut out the size 22. Anyway, since the things are also stained pretty badly, I thought I'd pick them apart and make a paper pattern with them since I like the way they're made-apart from the self belt in the front, which I don't have to put in. I got them picked apart and they're just like the shorts pattern I use all the time except the pockets are done differently. There's a front, a back and a pocket to trace onto paper-when I can find some-I'll just have to add on about ⅝" on each side. I like the length so I won't add anything there, I just need to make them just a bit more roomy in the hip and waist. I'll also probably have to add that much onto the straight side of the pocket so it'll fit right and also study it a bit so I can get it back together-I might just keep the other half of them to use as a guide for that since I only picked apart half of it and left the other half sewn together.

Wish me luck.

Finished!!

Lots of things:

An apron-cuz I'm a messy cook-done Easter Sunday night:

My Easter suit-Finished the Saturday before:

Another Skirt, pair of shorts and gaucho trousers:

I did all of them last week-the last week of May, 2007. It was nice to get my machine out again and zip a few items of clothing up.

I plan on making a dress, I cut out the pattern over at Gregg's while babysitting, now all I have to do is pin it, cut it out and sew. I should have it done before Sunday and might wear it to church if it turns out-I really hate doing set in sleeves but they're short so maybe they'll be all right.

Sewing, sewing

I've almost got a jacket done and I'm cutting out the matching skirt-I had enough material left from the jacket to make one and the skirt pattern that came with the jacket pattern is really nice.

So it looks like I'll have a matching outfit for Easter anyway-and as a bonus, I can wear the jacket with a couple of other things in my wardrobe too.

*Doing a happy dance*

Another note to Self

Working with t-shirt material is a pain in the butt, but if you get it right the finished product looks good and is comfy.

Note to Self:

Self: Do not put the needle in your sewing machine backwards-it'll skip stitches like crazy!

Shows how long it's been since I've sewn anything, doesn't it?

I thought I'd make myself a new outfit for Easter-nothing fancy-just a split skirt and a top, maybe a jacket if I can manage it.

First-I couldn't find the presser foot/power cord to my sewing machine. Then I got to thinking and dug a little deeper in the closet I looked in last night. I guess I didn't dig deep enough last night-I pulled some stuff out and found the presser foot in a box in the bottom of the closet.

I went to Wal-Mart early this morning and got some new thread and new needles for my machine but when I started sewing it skipped stitches like crazy. I looked at everything and when nothing worked I got to looking at my needle.

Another note to Self: The flat side of the needle is supposed to point away from you when you insert it into the machine.

I lucked up

I decided to try to knit myself a pair of Fetching, so I went to my LYS on my way home. I was looking at the Cascade 220 superwash and had chosen one to try. I happened to see some Balene circular needles in a basket and was looking at them when a saleslady told me everything in the baskets was 40% off. One basket had some different yarns in it and I got three balls-2 Cascade Superwash 220 and some Classic Elite Inca Alpaca. There's only 109 yards in the Alpaca so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, if anyone has any ideas let me know.

The Cascade is in two colors-one is an off white and the other is a brownish green-sort of olive/brown.

I also got a couple of sets of the Balenes in size 5 so I could try the Fetching on two circs.

I know the Cascade is a lighter weight than the yarn used but I don't want them bulky. Besides, they look like they fit pretty loosely on the lady's hands and I like my gloves snug. Even with the size 5 needles they still look like they'll fit me. I'm using the brown and even though I'm only at the first cable twist I'm already liking them.

However, I'm not impressed with these needles but I'll make them work. They're some sort of plastic and although they have a better join than my aluminum circs the tips are a little too flexible. The cable on the sixteen inch needles came loose but I fixed that with a drop of super glue. Good thing they were on discount, I don't think I'll buy any more of them-unless it's in larger sizes, the smaller sizes have a much too small tip. I might end up going back and getting a set of DPNs.

Anyway, for almost $40 worth of stuff, I only spent around $25 so I'm fairly happy-with the yarn anyway.

Trying something

http://www.crochetkim.com/patterns/bookmark.html

I made the angel part with some Lion Wool and an H hook. I stopped at the point where it said to stop for a pin. Now I'm running it through the wash to see how it felts. It'll be my first felted object, though a pretty small one. It only takes a couple of minutes to make-5 at most, I'd say.

I wanted to try it and see how small it'll get, I want to make a felted pin. If it works I might make some more for some of the ladies at church to wear when we do our Christmas Cantata in a couple of weeks. I know I could make them from thread in about the same amount of time and if it doesn't turn out like I hoped I might still do that but a felted one would be more-wintry-I guess you could say, since we wear a lot of wool in winter.

I'll keep you all posted, it's in the wash right now.

When you have lots of leftovers

Make a Giant Granny! That's what I'm doing with a bunch of leftover acrylic yarn-mostly RHSS. I started out with one round of each color, now I'm just going until I run out of yarn and then attaching another color and going on, even if I run out in the middle of a round. I even have up to three colors in a round. I'll be giving it to my grandson when I'm done-babies like lots of color and this is lots of bright colors.

I tried to use the smaller balls up on the inside, working my way outside with the larger balls and skeins. Maybe when I'm done with the colors I have it'll be big enough for Joseph to be able to use for awhile-he's only 11 months old so I want to make it big enough for him to use into his toddler and beyond years.

I'll have a picture later, when I tie in some loose ends, I might wait until I finish to take a picture.

Oh yes, I'm using a K hook and it's going pretty fast.

Before I ball it up

This is my latest skein of dyed yarn. I think it's going to be another pair of socks. I'm going to use #2 DPNs this time and should hopefully get a pair out of one skein. The stitches will also be smaller, resulting in a denser fabric that will also hopefully still be soft. I have an idea for a pattern and will be trying it out as soon as I get the lilac sock off my #2 needles. I just got the heel turned yesterday and am now going up the leg-it's my version of the Seaweed sock-toe up and it seems to be working. I'm using RH baby yarn and #2 needles and the stitches are really small. I'm not sure how far I want to go up the leg, probably about like the socks I just finished-which will probably be six repeats of the pattern with the smaller gauge.

Stay tuned, the lilac sock will be lonely for awhile but I'm eager to see how this yarn will stripe. There will be splotches where colors merged but it should stripe for the most part.

I changed my mind

I said in another blog that I didn't like wrapped or YO short rows. I've changed my mind-about wrapped short rows, anyway. I figured out I was doing one side of them wrong and twisting them, that's why one side looked fantastic and the other side looked wonky. No, I did not frog back and fix them, it was a learning experience and I'm keeping it as is so I can remember what NOT to do. Wrapped short rows are my friend now. I like both wrapped and Japanese now so if I don't have safety pins with me I can still do short rows if I have to.

Now that I can do them right, they look just as good as the Japanese short rows. Now I don't have to worry about which decreases to do on the toe of a sock, I can just short row them from the bottom around to the instep and graft there. I know, more stitches to graft, but kitchener stitch is also our friend and if you remember the mantra-K, P, P, K-then you too, can have an invisible graft and having more stitches to graft together will not send you into a panic. Just remember to pull the yarn snug but not tight and no one will be able to see where you grafted. Now you can do your toes and heels any way you want and not have to worry about what the pattern says.

A little more about K, P, P, K:

You must have an equal number of sts on both DPNs. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail, this tail should be on the back DPN and to your right. Thread this end through a tapestry needle.

Insert tapestry needle into first st on front DPN as if to K, slip this st off DPN. Holding st just taken off DPN on the tapestry needle, insert tapestry needle into next st on front DPN as if to P (leave this st on DPN) and pull yarn snug, insert tapestry needle into first st on back DPN as if to P and slip this st off DPN. Holding st just taken off DPN on the tapestry needle, insert tapestry needle into next st on back DPN as if to K (leave this st on DPN) and pull yarn snug.

Note: Do not pull yarn tight, just pull it snug.

Repeat these directions until all sts have been worked off needles.

If these directions are followed then you should have a seamless join.

It's out and drying

The yarn I just dyed. It looks like there are some light pink streaks in the yellow that are really interesting. There are also two shades of red and that purple-which looks kinda purpley-mauve now and is really pretty.

Unfortunately, my camera is at the house and I'm not so pictures will have to wait until tomorrow. It'll probably still be damp in the morning but I have it hanging in the baby's room, out of everyone's way-Joseph sleeps in their room in his crib-one day he'll be moved to his room, when Jen is comfortable with it, right now, he still coughs in the night and wakes up around 4 am so he still sleeps in their room.

More dyeing experience

I've recently discovered the fun that is creating your own yarn colorways. Since I found Lion Wool at our local W-M I've been trying it out. I had to do two balls the same to avoid SSS and I have another ball cooking right now.

I mixed Berry Blue with Tropical Punch in one jar, two cherrys in another, two lemonades in another and two strawberries in another. The first one has an interesting shade of purple that I can't wait to see how it turns out when dried. The strawberry looks like it's going to be a deep red and the cherry looks like it's going to be a bright red. There's some bleedover from the cherry and strawberry into the lemonade so there will be some orange spots there, I'm sure.

This will be pretty close to self-striping since I wound a hank about 9 feet long but with the bleedover from the jars there will also be some surprise spots-good, I like surprises and consistency scares me-most of the time ;)

Anyway, pics will be forthcoming when it's all cooked and hanging.

I can finish my socks now!

Maybe I should clarify, I don't know if I posted anything about this here but I dyed a ball of Lion Wool a couple of weeks ago just to see how hard it was-it wasn't hard at all and I got some really pretty varigated yarn to play with. I decided to do some socks but I ran out when I turned the heel of my second sock. Determined not to leave that first sock lonely I dyed my other ball of wool yesterday the same colors as the first, I even remembered the order of the dye. I just finished balling it up, making sure I balled it so that the colors came out in the same order as the first ball, and now I can finish my socks and probably have enough left over to do a hat or a scarf or something to match.

See here

This was the first ball I did, and the first sock. As I experiment with short rows I should be able to make them better, I left the mistakes and ugly rows to remind me of what not to do. Since they're for my feet I figured I could do that.

I'm definitely making more socks, they're very comfy.