For the past 10 years, I have been knitting these felted slippers for my family and friends. They are so warm and cushening, that I receive lots of request for new ones.
It generally takes me about 10-12 hours to knit a pair, so the time really adds up, when I receive multiple requests. So, since I have 10 pair to make for Christmas this year, I decided there had to be a faster way. So . . . . I decided to try and write a pattern for a crocheted version. The pattern is posted at: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crochet-felted-slippers
This is how they begin. Two strands of 100% worsted weight wool is used, along with a size K crochet hook. Above is the toe shaping.
A separate soul is crocheted, and attached to slipper.
This soul piece makes the slippers so cusheny. They are a great thing to wear, when you have to spend an extended chunk of time, standing. I love to wear them when I have a full day of cooking, or folding laundry. I can't get them on fast enough, when I get home from work at night. They are great on your feet after a day of running around in heels.
I've even converted from knit to crochet, when making the roses and leaves, which are attached to the girly slippers. The instruction for making the roses and leaves, is included on the pattern, along with careful instructions on how to felt them.
This is how they look, once they have been felted. They look just like the knit version, if you ask me. The felting can be tricky, as they are placed in hot, hot water in an agitating washing machine. The pattern is sized for Youth, Women, and Men's sizes. Once you've made a few, you could even size the pattern down for children or babies.
They often come out of the felting process, completely different, so they have to be stretched and shaped, when they are wet. My husband has really strong hands, and he is a necessary part of the stretching done on my slippers, to assure that two in the same pair, end up being the same size.
Crocheting these slippers, has reduced the time it takes me to make a pair to 6-8 hours, if I can convince my husband to sew on the flowers. Being a taxidermist, he is use to hand-sewing wet leather hides. This has probably contributed to the arthritis he is experiencing in his thumbs.The only down-side, is that crocheting with such a large hook and with such thick yarn, tends to make my hands hurt. Knitting, even on large needles, seems to be easier on my hands. However, it could just be that I love to knit and hate to crochet, so perhaps my hands are just not used to it, or perhaps it is the pressure to crochet as fast as I possibly can.
This is the pair I have been wearing for the past 4 years. If you look closely, you can see the holes in the toes and heel. I wear these slippers all of the time, even outdoors. I wear them to pick vegetables in the garden, to take out the garbage, and to even run to the car on a snowing evening, when we are making a trip to the gas station or to get some late-night ice cream. When they start looking like this, I simply sew up the holes with regular sewing thread, and throw them in the washing machine on "hot" for an additional felt. This tightens them up, as they stretch out, over time, and the fibers re-felt where the holes were. This adds years to their wearability. I really need to make "me" a new pair, but I can never seem to find the time.
It is my hope, that the publishing of this pattern will give me a resource to refer people to, when they ask me to knit them a pair. In addition, I've decided that if I really charge for my time, the slippers should cost at least $40 per pair. Perhaps this would be a good deterent too. There seems to be a lot more people who know how to crochet, than to knit.
Well I better quit blabbing, and get back to my Christmas Knitting. I have tons to do, and only a few short week left for knitting. I've even high-jacked my newly-retired Mother to help with my Christmas knitting this year. I'm sure she thinks I am completely crazy! I say this every year . . ., but next year I'm not committing to knitting anything for anyone!
Hurry and crochet yourself a pair. They will come in really handy when you are cooking that Thanksgiving Dinner, later this week. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! . . . and happy knitting.
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