Knitting – Wednesday Roundup – Slippers for the Boys

 

My knitting this past week was centered on little slippers. My young chiropractor and his wife just welcomed their third child in 5 years, all boys. I wanted to make something for the new baby but also include something useful for the two pre-schoolers.  I adapted my favorite pattern to make slippers in what I hope will be the appropriate sizes and took them in a knitted gift bag to the doctor yesterday.

This is the original pattern that I have adapted in many ways and may some day publish my own version. It’s an easy pattern and more forgiving in sizing than most. It’s a nice way to use up smaller portions of yarn.

Free pattern here:  http://www.needlebeetle.com/free/aadb.html (paste url or type to search)

I also finished the Cloud of her Shoulders shawl in a child’s size and will definitely be making this in a larger size. It’s a very good, easy-to-read pattern and has a nice shape.  I like the slightly ruffled edge. and the shape is supposed to help keep the shawl from slipping off the shoulders. 

Here is the link to the free pattern:  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cloud-on-her-shoulders

Knitting – Gift Idea – Slippers

I made the slippers pictured above (one of each pictured) for my two daughters last year and liked the pattern so much, I made many, many slippers in various sizes throughout the year for the children of Pine Ridge in South Dakota. This is the basic pattern:

http://www.needlebeetle.com/free/aadb.html

This pattern is very easy to adapt to other sizes using your preferred yarn/needles by changing the size of the sole of the slipper. The length of the slipper leg can also be changed.

In the past month, I’ve made 5 different sizes for children …

I even made a pair of moccasins for my American Girl-type doll which my daughter had dressed for Thanksgiving…

This is an easy pattern and easily adapted using your stitches per inch gauge and the measurement of the foot. I also made a change to make the toe less pointy and impish. In my design, when doing the decreases in the foot, I stop 4 stitches before the center marker, knit two together, knit two, move marker, knit two and SSK (slip/slip/knit). This makes a rounded toe.

Depending on your busy schedule, there may still be time to knit up a pair of slippers before Christmas.

Dorm Boots/Slippers for St. Nick–Free Pattern

On December 6th, our family celebrates St.Nicholas with the exchange of small gifts, candy and homemade cookies.  This year, my two daughters will receive dorm boots/slippers instead of stockings.  I found a wonderful pattern on Needle Beetle called Aunt Alm’s Dorm Boots.

http://www.needlebeetle.com/free/aadb.html

Instructions are given for various sizes and I started out making children’s slippers for the Pine Ridge Lakota children in South Dakota.  Their Sacred Shawl project which helps young mothers and children in abusive situations, particularly asked for warm slippers for their very cold winters.

http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/for-the-children-of-pine-ridge/3293728/1026-1050#1050

I consider them suitable knitting for an advanced beginner and made two more sets for my daughters.  I made these with Lion Brand Wool-Ease (80% acrylic, 20% wool) which makes them easy to wash and dry.  I tried one on to be sure they were close to the size I wanted.

The ssk stitch (slip, slip, knit) forms the “V” shape on the front of the sock, which I like a lot.  See the YouTube link below for a tutorial on this stitch.  The pattern is written for double-pointed needles but I work better with circular needles and I found the pattern easy to adapt and the slippers easy to knit.

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Easy Slippers–Knitting–Free Pattern

The difference between learning to knit in this era versus the many times I tried and failed in the past is all of the help that is available on the internet.  The free tutorials and patterns are wonderful, especially for a new knitter.  I found this pattern for Simple House Slippers on a site called Temple of Knit.

I wanted to share the pattern because these are good for an advance beginner to knit in a short amount of time and make nice gifts.  I made three different sizes by changing the size of needle and yarn while using the same pattern – Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Baby Bear slippers.

The Papa Bear slippers were made with double-stranded thick worsted yarn and #9 needles …

…the Mama Bear slippers were made with double-stranded thin worsted and #9 needles …

…and the Baby Bear slippers (sized for a 4-5 year-old child) were made with single-strand thin worsted and #7 needles.

The pattern mentions a CDD (centered double decrease) stitch which I never encountered while following the pattern.  It also mentions an SSK (slip slip knit) stitch which is shown in the video below from YouTube.

Note that the pattern is written for circular needles but can be easily adapted to double-pointed.  I’m not good with double-pointed needles, so everything I make is on circulars and the Magic Loop (circulars with a long cable).

I understand that Swedish grandmothers have been making slippers of this type for years.  I really enjoyed making them.

http://www.templeofknit.com/simple-house-slippers/

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Socks with Soles

My youngest daughter  keeps me supplied with beautiful hand-knitted socks …

…but occasionally, the yarn is too heavy to fit comfortably in my shoes.  Then, they become wonderful sock slippers to wear in the evening while I’m watching TV or reading.  To protect the soles of the socks and provide better traction when walking, I was looking for something to add to the bottoms and thought about using foam inner soles.  They work perfectly.  They are lightweight, easy to sew, economical and wear well with light use.

I used three strands of embroidery floss and whip-stitched the soles in place about ¼ inch apart.

The sock is easy to stitch by placing it over one hand and stitching with the other, but if you happen to have one of these gadgets for helping to put on socks, that works even better.

This would also work well for socks that have developed a worn place on the bottom and allow more wearing and enjoying time for these hand-knit beauties.