Take two
So the slipper was progressing nicely. It looked lovely, and I'm totally taken with the cable. Alas the yarn, while beautiful, really isn't quite thick enough for what I want these to feel like (not the yarn's fault, it's beautiful, it's just not meant to be the bottom of a slipper). So more yarn was obtained, and the next version of the slipper is underway. Not sure you could ask for a closer match on color, and it looks like it will be a tiny bit sturdier and thicker. The yarn is new to me, but it certainly sounds interesting [...]
Knitting with lobster boat
I got up early one morning to sneak down to the water and take some pictures of knitting as the sun came up. The lobster boats kept me company. You'll see more of these pictures Tuesday when this comes out, but those focus more on the knitting (and so, alas, omit the boat). I thought I'd sneak this one in while I had the chance.
Sneaky tricks
The slipper has been cast on and shaping up rather nicely. I do find something about this way of building a slipper rather marvelous! If you look very very very closely, you may notice a sneaky little trick. That bottom needle? The one holding the stitches that will go under my heel? It's different than the other two. This yarn (chickadee by Quince) doesn't have any nylon. And while it does seem lovely and sturdy, I wanted to do just a tiny bit extra to make the bottom of the slipper (the part that will get the most wear) a [...]
More slippers
Yeah, I know I just put a slipper pattern out. You'd think that would mean my slipper lust was slaked for the time being. But no...I need more. I've got a very particular cable in mind that will work perfectly for slippers, and I think I have just the yarn for it. Lovely, isn't it? It's Quince's Chickadee in Honey, for anyone wondering, and it's delightful stuff!
Mending
So I have this thing where I get super surly if something I like and use all the time wears out. I mean I know it's inevitable and normal, but it still makes me cranky. So when one of my most worn pajama sweaters (yes, I do have designated pajama sweaters, but that's a discussion for another day) got a hole in the elbow I figured I could fix it. Now, when I say fix, the goal wasn't to fix it invisibly (it's a cotton sweater made out of two colors of yarn with teeny stitches, invisible would have been [...]
Tools
Sometimes, the thing you need to take with you isn't yarn but tools. Yarn you can find most anywhere (though admittedly, some places are more fun than others). Tools are trickier. But if you can pack along just the right set, you can pretty much do whatever strikes your fancy when you find that yarn! This was sold as a travel coloring case for kids (there was a pad of paper in the middle and I think the idea was that you'd put colored pencils or markers in the pouches). But it's clearly better suited to life as a knitting [...]
Excursion (plus giveaway)
I have strong feelings about travel. I think it's a lovely thing to do, but wow do I ever want to take the comforts of home with me when I go. That means I bring along everything I need to make a proper cup of tea (yes I have brought my teapot on trips), and I have at least one pair of slippers in my suitcase. This pair is called Excursion, and you can bet it will be accompanying me on my next adventure! These are going to make you feel ridiculously clever when you make them. You cast on [...]
Nearly there
Little mitts on thicker yarn have some distinct advantages. They're cozy as can be, and done in a flash. I'm pretty sure this took about five minutes. And this five more. And this five more. And now of course it will take me about six weeks to finish the thumb and get around to weaving in the ends... But that's a whole separate issue and best not thought about now! I've totally loved making these, but man is it time to get something in my more customary colors on the needles. All this brightness is starting to get to me. [...]
One Down
Love it! I haven't woven in all the ends yet (so. many. ends.). But I've got enough in to know it fits and is comfy. I was worried the rolled edge would feel bulky, but it really doesn't. I used needles one size bigger for the rolled bits, which seems counter intuitive, but totally works. It makes the fabric a bit softer/floppier in those spots, so it doesn't bind up or feel like it's in the way. Totally worth filing away when you want the look of a rolled edge but want the fabric to stay well behaved!
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