Christmas Crafting: Part 1

This year we had a really lovely time getting gifts together for everyone. I’m so lucky to have a family who appreciates handcrafted goods. I was also really lucky to have found a really terrific pattern that helped me get the bulk of my gifting together for my mom, sister and mother-in-law.

Shannon over at Luvinthemommyhood was posting about some of her sponsors and I happened to see the French Press Slippers, fell in love and immediately hopped over to Magpie Patterns, bought said pattern and started knitting. I used 3 skeins of Lion Brand Fisherman’s wool to make the three pairs of slippers, and I have enough yarn left over that I think I might have to make a pair for me as well.

The whole process was fairly simple. Each pair of slippers knits up really quickly and seaming them together is pretty painless as well. However, I’d never felted before and that’s the part that made me a little nervous. I’d already invested hours in knitting, seaming and preparing the pieces, but didn’t know if I’d have an end result worth sharing. This is what they looked like before felting (strange picture, I know).

Even after the first round in the hot water wash cycle the slippers hadn’t changed much from the shape above. Luckily, after a few more rounds of agitation, fifteen inches of chunky knit yarn felted up nicely and tightly to less than 10 inches of seamless slipper. It took 3 rounds of agitation in our old top load washer and I was giddy with anticipation the entire time. It was such a relief when they all turned out perfectly.

They are now warming the feet of some of my favorite family members.

Comments

3 responses to “Christmas Crafting: Part 1”

  1. Kristi Avatar
    Kristi

    These are so cute! I’m sure everyone loved them. They are so stylish while at the same time practical! Hope you had a great holiday!

  2. Amber Avatar

    I want a pair! 🙂 First, I need to tackle the easiest thing alive…a scarf. Then maybe I can screw up a pair of slippers!

  3. Maryann Kelly Avatar

    Claire, they are gorgeous!!! I am amazed! Never knew how felting even worked. Thanks, once again, for enlightening me. 🙂 I’m sure your family loved them.

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