'Slip-Ups' Slippers- Last Pair

Wool roving, silk, wool yarn.

 

The layout...with the 'outside' in, closest to the resist.

 

Dark roving on the slipper interior...so the tops will fold down with a jolt of color.

 

The finished slippers...too poufy at the toe, and too pointy at the heel. Sounds like Old Hat, New Hat, doesn't it?!? Grin.

 

So, this is my final pair of slippers for awhile...

...as I've since moved on to other projects.

It seems like I just about figure it all out each time that I try them...

...but then I get bored and give up. :(

If I make another pair, I'll definitely trim the bumpy parts from the resist...

...and I'll try using a spongy, and more outerwear kind of wool!

'Slip-Ups' Slippers- Pair #3

The layout using roving and bits of pre-felt.

 

These look like floppy-eared puppies, don't they?

 

I made the soles darker, to help hide the inevitable dirt!

 

I love making asymmetrical designs!

 

I fiddled around with the resist on this pair...

...wanting a little more 'toe room', a more fitted sole, and a higher cuff for folding down.

I got a little carried away with the design, though...

...and I think they came out looking a bit more like small animals, than slippers!

Next time, I'll show you a pair that I made with the same resist...

...this time, with an even more elfin profile. :(

'Slip-Ups' Slippers- Pair #2

The layout...snippets of pre-felt and wool roving.

 

These remind me of "Two-Face" (a Batman comics supervillain).

 

Slippers in action.

 

My middle daughter dances..."Oh, the joy of having new slippers!" (Har)

 

These slippers came out a bit more as I had hoped...

...thicker and not quite as 'form-fitting' as the others.

Plus, there are no dinosaur ridges to be seen...

...because this time, the pre-felts all felted in properly. Whew!

I love the action shots I got of my daughter, L...

...but the combination of the slippers and her red and black ski socks? Yeesh!?! Giggle.

'Slip-Ups'-Revisiting Slippers- Pair #1

Sandwiching cotton cheesecloth for strength in the sole areas.

 

Adding pre-felt designs.

 

After cutting: felting and fulling.

 

'Twin 2' modeling her new slippers.

 

Those of you who know me well...

...know that I'm not very good at slipper-making.

But then you also know that I don't give up easily...

...so here I am again.

This is the first of three attempts...

...and I think they each got a little better as I went along.

This pair is pretty pitiful...

...so I didn't even bother tacking down the errant pre-felts!

My daughter says that they look like a cross between a dinosaur and a rooster...

...and she has gotten some funny looks in the hallway of her college dorm!

My friend, Deborah, is an excellent slipper-maker...

...and she told me that for these (and the others I made), using merino top was really not the best way to go.

So, onto my 'must have' list goes Gotland or another outerwear roving...

...and in the meantime, I'll show you how my other two pairs came out.

Two Projects Made From Leftover Felt

A piece of a purple bark scarf (what was I thinking?), cut to fit around my dust mop.

 

Environmentally sound dusting...just shake or wash the cover, then re-use!

 

Stuffing scrap felt into an onion bag.

 

Won't my birds have colorful nests this year?

 

I have a drawer full of felt scraps from finished projects...

...and every now and then, I like to think of new ways to use them!

I had read somewhere about using a sock, instead of expensive, disposable cloths with my dust mop...

...so I decided to try to fashion one out of felt!

I cut and wrapped the piece around my mop, stitching the ends...

...and attached two small pieces of velcro to the flaps for easy removal.

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The nesting material bag is an idea that I appropriated from my friend, Ruth...

...and I can't wait to watch as the bag empties, and the felt-lined nests appear!! :)

Snow Removal Scarf

The layout.

 

Pencil roving 'cursive'.

 

The finished scarf.

 

The reverse side.

 

No, this scarf does not possess any magical ice-melting powers...

...it was made as a thank-you gift for my lovely next-door neighbor last week.

We've had more snow than usual this Winter...

...and my neighbor has taken it upon himself to clear my sidewalk and driveway each time it snows!

So along with a plate of orange zest chocolate chip cookies...

...I decided to make him a warm scarf to thank him for his Herculean efforts!!

I wanted it to be warm and to look masculine...

...so I decided on a thick, cushiony scarf with a simple green and white stripe.

Of course, it turns out that I couldn't leave it completely unadorned...

...so I added pencil roving swirls to the reverse side.

He seemed pleased with the gift...

...and he always appreciates my baked goods!

I guess the proof will be in the pudding the next time the snow is deep...

...if I see him wearing the scarf as he works!! Grin.

Silk and Wool Roving Table Runner

Pieces cut from thrifted silk blouses.

 

The finished runner.

 

Puckered silk fabric squares.

 

Close-up.

 

I recently did a swap with my friend, Diane...

...who makes absolutely incredible dyed silk...gauze, velvet and ribbons.

She is living a life that sounds, to me, like a romance novel...

...having recently moved to France to be with her new, much-beloved and
younger husband (swoon!).

She has been redecorating, since the move...

...and has a long, black, wooden table which needed a little brightening up.

Since I wanted the runner to coordinate with gold, dark red, and saffron...

...I cut squares from some re-purposed silk in those colors, that I found in my stash.

I edged the squares with gold merino top...

...and felted them all to a base of white wool roving.

I hope that the gleam of the silk and the brightness of the white wool...

...will enliven her dark table and be a nice focal point for the room.