Not a pickle, part 2
The hand of Providence is a mighty thing.
During the summer, I began a quick-and-easy knitting project and no, it was not a pickle.
It was, however, a pair of Fibertrends Felted Clogs for me.
A new pair of slippers for the new house. No worries. I’ve done this many times before. Had loads of scrap yarn with me. Thought I’d do something a little fun and different. Spotty slippers. Knit up a normal pair and then hand-embroider spotty dots on ‘em. Yippee! Can’t wait to wear ‘em!
Warning: Complaint About Top Loading Washers Ahead
I have never had any measure of success with US-built-top-loading washers when felting, or rather fulling, a knitting project. It takes a minimum of two runs and still the projects look limpy and wimpy. By contrast, European front-loading washers, which are a pain for any normal size load of regular laundry, are an absolute dream for shrinking wool! One run and presto, it’s done! Love that! So, because of my obvious bias toward the Irish washing machine, I decided to do one more wash of the slippers when we got back.
Another Diversion: Brief Irony Ahead
In the meantime, Daughter-Kate has been asking for a new pair of slippers. ‘Sure, sure, dear,’ I heard myself say, assigning it to the foggy gray matter of things soon to be forgotten.
Righty-o. Final wash of my new spotty slippers.
You realize that my US Size 8 (Irish Size 6) slippers shrank to an unbelievable US Size 3 (Irish Size 1) which, of course, was a perfect fit for Kate. Interestingly, with the myriad of slippers I have made in years past with similar/identical yarn, I have never, ever had a pair shrink at such a rate. Ever.
You can’t fight what is meant to be.
I have a front loading washing machine and I have to agree with you that they do felt things very very very well. Too well at times. Like the time that I put one if my long freshly woven white shawls in my machine to full it a wee bit. I put it on gentle and it shrunk to half the size. I was horrified. And a whole lot wiser to the felting power of the front loader.
10 Sep 2007 at 10:59 am
grin! I was going to say that they make your feet look teeny-tiny! Must be the polka dots. . . . (and that IS quite the shrinkage. . . my word).
10 Sep 2007 at 1:44 pm
Unbelievable.
11 Sep 2007 at 12:27 am
she is one lucky bug to get such lovely slippers!
11 Sep 2007 at 6:14 am
what funky looking slippers, very cool or should I say hot…
11 Sep 2007 at 9:14 pm
And I was worried that a new front-loader would make me have to felt by hand! The slippers look great–no matter who is wearing them. *g*
12 Sep 2007 at 12:05 pm
Great slippers!
13 Sep 2007 at 5:35 pm
I have been wanting to try a pair of slippers for quite a while. The pattern lingers in my folder. Your spotted pair gives me the impetus that I need. Funny about the washers, I always thought that the top loaders were the best for felting. Myself, I’m a front-loader girl. Yeah.
19 Sep 2007 at 12:27 pm