More yarn-y goodness

First up, slippers from a different pattern!  These are for my aunt.  I thought she'd enjoy the same purple variegated yarn I used for my niece.  (Actually, I started with my aunt's, but ran into difficulty on the braided cuff - more on that later - and then used the leftovers for my niece's second pair.)  The pattern is the Knit-Look Braid Stitch Boots, from Bonita Patterns.  As I mentioned in my last blog post, I thought that the Crocodile Boots pattern was very well written.  I'm not quite as happy with this pattern - partly my issue, partly theirs.  The sole is done in such a way that it feels very flimsy - in fact, the pattern even suggests making two soles per slipper and then stitching them together!  (Yep, that's what I did.)  The sole on the other slipper pattern feels much more sturdy.  Then the instructions for the braid stitch cuff are very fiddly.  I love how it looks, but I quickly realized that I was going to lose my mind trying to make it as directed.  So instead, I adapted the cuff instructions and did it my way.  I think it turned out pretty well.

I realized that I needed another portable hand project to keep myself occupied over Christmas, so I decided to make a pair of slippers for my grandma.  I don't know her shoe size, so I had to email a cousin for a guess.  Here's hoping that they fit!

And for my mom, I was looking for a more plain slipper pattern that looked really warm.  This fit the bill.  I was guessing at size here, too, but went larger so she can wear them over socks.  This pattern was pretty mindless, once you got past the toe, and I enjoyed working it up on my lunch breaks - easy to talk and stitch!

A little yarn detour....

So last winter at some point, my sister-in-law posted the link to this slipper pattern and said she wished she could make these.  I took the bait - asked about colors and sizes - and ordered the pattern.  I never did get around to making them last winter, but this fall, I realized that I needed a portable project for lunchtimes at one of my jobs.  These came out, and they've worked out great!

The solid green ones are for my sister-in-law.  The other two pair are for my niece.  By foot measurement, the red/yellow/green ones should have been the right size, but they seemed awfully big (quite possibly user error!).  So I also made the purple/green ones in the smaller size.  (The purple/green variegated yarn was leftover from the slippers that I haven't yet finished for my aunt!)  I figured that even if the smaller size is right, she'll eventually grow into the larger one.

A close-up of my favorite buttons.  I found these at JAF, and I really wish they'd had other colorways to fit my slippers.  These are so cute!

To be honest, these are totally not my style.  The cuffs are way too foofy for me.  But if that's your thing, I can highly recommend the pattern.  It is well-designed and well-written, and it really works up quickly.  I could see myself using it again, if I thought the recipient would like this style.

Actually sewing again!

I finally made some more of the Swiffer WetJet cloth pads! After using my first one twice (and having to wait to mop the second floor until I did some laundry), I realized that I would definitely use them and decided to make lots more. :) So far, I've only made three more, because I need more Velcro. But once that comes in the mail, I've got four more cut out to stitch up. They don't take long, they work great, and they're good for the environment! I'm definitely going to be giving some of these as housewarming/holiday gifts.

And I'm getting ready to make some new shoes for Thing 2. I finally cut up and washed the leather from the jackets that DSIL found for me. This photo shows the pile of leather from a navy purse and a black jacket. I have another pair of shoes (in different colors) cut out from the Chloe Toes pattern, but then I think I'll use some of this stuff to try out the Make Them Yourself pattern. This leather is fairly thin, so it'll be good for warm weather. Besides, the pattern is lined. So I'll just need to use sturdy leather for the soles.

Slippers!

I finished a bunch of slippers yesterday. This photo just shows the ones in Thing 1's size. I made other sizes in both shades of blue, but really, you get the idea with these. I had some trouble with the lighter blue - my zigzag stitches kept skipping. Since the others did fine (both before and after the light blue troubles), I think that it's that particular fleece and not my machine. Fortunately, that fleece is now used up! The grey ones in the lower right are made from a sweatshirt fleece I bought on eBay about two years ago. (I got either ten or fifteen yards - don't remember which. This is great stuff!) I should have made those a size bigger, as the sweatshirt fleece doesn't have as much stretch. They fit Thing 1 great when they're on, but they are really hard to get on! We're going out of town for a few days, but I'll cut out the next size when we get back. He loves those, as they match a sweatsuit I made him a few months ago.

I've thought about putting gripper fabric on the soles but haven't gotten any yet. Our house is almost entirely carpeted, so traction isn't too much of an issue here. And since Thing 1 wears these like socks, I'd hate to add any bulk and make it difficult for him to get shoes on over them. But I think that it would work just fine to add gripper fabric, or even paint the soles with fabric paint. I love the ease of sewing this pattern - there are three pattern pieces, and it literally takes me about twenty minutes to sew a pair. The pattern does not recommend using a serger, as the serged seam can feel irritating to the skin, but I serge them anyway for Thing 1. I tried it on his first pair, and he isn't bothered by it at all. For mine, however, I just use a narrow zigzag stitch.