Monday, October 12, 2009

Happy Slipper Day!

The day has finally arrived. Test knitters have given their input, final edits have been made. This weekend I gained designer status on Ravelry, just in time to officially launch my 'French Press Felted Slippers' pattern.

When I first designed this pattern, my only intention was to sell slippers in my Etsy shop. After a couple weeks I started getting emails from other knitters on Etsy asking if I would sell the pattern. At this point, the pattern was basically scribbles and graph paper charts.

Unlike other felted slipper patterns, these are constructed more like a shoe than a sock. Actually, the development of the pattern relied greatly on one of my favorite pairs of ballet flats. It all started by taking some fabric scraps and tracing each part of the shoe. Once I had the fabric pieces identical to the shoe pieces, I enlarged them to allow for felting and started knitting duplicates!

I would love to say that I assembled the shoe, threw it in the wash, and came out with the perfect slipper...but this would be far from the truth. It took much trial and error(and massive note-taking). In fact, if you were to look back at my twitter feed in April, I'm sure you could find one very frustrated knitter rambling about another messed up slipper.

Needless to say, they came together and the pattern is finally available for purchase on Ravelry and in my Etsy shop. Here's what you'll need:

Yarn: about 330 yards of worsted weight feltable yarn(wool)
My favorite kind to use is Paton's Classic Wool. You need just over a 1 (100 g) skein
Needles: size US 15 (10 metric)
Notions: Darning needle
Tapestry Needle
2 Matching Buttons

And of course, the pattern itself- so go buy it! If you have any questions, you can always post something in "Comments" below.

41 comments:

  1. These are just too cute! Casting on tonight to make a pair for me and my college daughter and her roommates and my coworkers...and best friend...and...

    Any chance you would post that very cute tag (for us to print) you showed in the pattern? Would very cute to add to the slippers when gifts.

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  2. Lovely lovely! I have been looking for non-clunky knitted and felted slippers- and what a great gift they will make! it's exciting to self-publish, I've been slowly publishing patterns for knitted and felted toy both on my blog and on Ravelry- it is such a great community.

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  3. Love these- both of my college daughters already want a pair! What is the non skid bottom made of??

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  4. Those slippers are perfect! I adore them! Thank you so much for making the pattern available!

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  5. These are amazing! I may just have to go back out to the store to buy the yarn for them tonight. I'll definitely be linking it on the blog this week so everyone can see how lovely they are.

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  6. On the Ravelry pattern listing, the bottom of the slipper is featured, too. What did you use to do the non-slip treads???

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  7. Beautiful. Does the pattern tell you how to do the non slip tread?

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  8. Oh so cute! I bought yarn just yesterday to make myself a new pair of felted clogs, but I may have to make these instead. I just bought the pattern because even if I don't make myself a pair right away, I'm making them for Christmas gifts!

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  9. I was checking to see if there is an answer about the tread. I had the same question.

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  10. The pattern tells what I use...but I can tell you here. It's puffy paint!

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  11. Brilliant!!! Sold! I'm also anxious for those baby patterns- I seem to have a rash of showers and they are adorable. I love the idea of interchangable ribbons on the hats. Thanks for sharing your talent.

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  12. hello, totally love this pattern...ready to buy the pattern yesterday on esty-unsure about a purchase over the web, also wondering if i would simply like to buy already made...do you size these? but the actual message: what is the webbing sole stuff on the bottom in ready made..this is important betw if i knit or buy them... thank you for the trail and error part.

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  13. The bottom has puffy paint for traction. If you are on Ravelry, there are also many forum threads of other ideas people have used for the bottom of their slippers. Hope this helps!

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  14. Those slippers are amazing! I'll be ordering the pattern as soon as I finish up a project or two. Any ideas of good places to find funky buttons? I live in Canada and Michael's (our craft store) just doesn't cut it. Thanks!

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  15. Puffy paint is good but it may not stay on the best. You can buy, especially if you are going to make many pairs, Plasti Dip is the rubber dip that you use on tool handles, and I hear it works really really well. Unfortunately, it is kinda pricey but it will last forever and you just use a paintbrush tip or something similar to apply. Just a nice alternative, I can't wait to buy the pattern and make a million as gifts.

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  16. Just finished my first pair. Started at 8:00 am and finished the felting by 4:00 pm. That included time to cook red beans, play with the macaw and attend a luncheon. So maybe a total of 3 hours from initial cast on to waiting for the drying. Best investment for a pattern ever! Kudos. I'll definitely praise the slippers in an upcoming blog.

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  17. Any possible chance of adding an XL (11-12) to the pattern?

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  18. Oh, it's very easy to change to size 11/12. I have made up to a size 14. A little added length(and maybe one stitch added to the sole for wdith) does the trick!

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  19. I just bought the pattern. I just love knitted slippers! Even though I live in Arizona, it doesn't mean that you have to sacrifice slippers too.

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  20. Might be a silly question but do you use straight or circular needles?

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  21. What size buttons do you recommend?

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  22. Will I be able to purchase the slipper pattern latter? It is sold out for now.

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  23. Never mind, I found your site on Raverly and bought it. I have four daughters and think these will make perfect Christmas presents next year!

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  24. You are truly gifted....I just love these, among the MANY on your site.
    kel

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  25. I just ordered the pattern and I wear a US size 5 or European 35. Should I go down a needle size for it to fit me? Or should I shorten the pattern? Thanks, Luann

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  26. Luann~ The smallest size is a size 5/6, so you should be fin. Just felt it until it forms to your foot.

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  27. I got the pattern out this morning and just read my answer to my own question. lol.... I will do that. Have you ever gone down a needle size for a kid's size? I have a granddaughter that would love a pair of these slippers. She wears a kids size 1. Luann

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  28. can you use circular? and if so how would I change the pattern, would I just do all rows knit?

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  29. almost done with my first pair. I AM SO ExCITED
    thanks for your hard work to create this super cute (and super fast) slipper.

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  30. I am so excited!!!! I love these. Any chance of adding a sole to the bottom? Can you purchase them somewhere?

    P

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  31. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  32. Merry Christmas! Let the new year will bring a lot of money

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  33. Good article. Thank you.
    http://www.erispan.350.com/

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  34. Thank you for sharing. I follow this site continuously

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  35. I adore these slippers! But I must have a block somewhere in my brain. For the life of me I can't seem to understand the pl, m1 or the k1, m1. Is there a glossery or something I can look at to shake loss something upstairs? Thank you Pam Bussard.

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    1. You can use any make one that you are most comfortable with. There are some great videos on knittinghelp.com that go through all the different increases. I prefer to use the make one towards stitch for these slippers.

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  36. If you think I'm dumb the please don't comment....BUT uh, you have to buy the slippers to see how to make it? can someone please tell me? Do I HAVE to buy the slippers to see how to make the slippers?

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    1. No, but you do need to purchase the pattern. The slippers themselves are not actually available for purchase anymore.

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  37. Does this site send the pattern to my email or is this snail mail? :(

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  38. Ok It must be late, because I can't seem to figure out the size increases? I don't see additional information about it. HELP! I've also seen on ravelry that some knitters have knit them in the seamless manner, how do i do that?

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