Taking up needlework again?

[wtg]

@wtg said in Taking up needlework again?:

I was looking at a website a while back which had a link to this woman's site. I really like this pattern for a crocheted slipper, something I could use myself or give away. Plus it's so easy and super fast.

Here's her blog post:

https://auntekristy.blogspot.com/2016/03/free-crochet-pattern-ahh-spa-slippers_26.html

And here's the printable pattern:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_oZ8-XeMq3pU0F5bDJxNzhkbGc/view?resourcekey=0-L6YlZ6tHwYJJsGJ2iVI1ww

First slipper socks:

[Steve Miller]

[AdagioM]

Nice! and they fit!

[wtg]

Once I figured out the pattern it was no problem to customize the fit as I crocheted. Also, because of how they're worked, it's easy to make the heel a different color. I think that could be kind of cute. It's a great way to use up smaller quantities of yarn that I have in my stash that I originally bought for hats and scarves or that are left over from other projects. Trying to clean house, ya know!

I plan to make a bunch of these slippers and donate them to the gift shop at the senior home where my Mom used to live. I'd like to be able to tag them with some kind of sizing information. I've been calling friends to ask them for their foot measurements and shoe size so I have some idea of what size they are once I finish them.

@AdagioM - I still plan to try out knitting again. I've located the knitting needles, which is an important first step!

Stay tuned...

[AdagioM]

@wtg This might be helpful for you: a table of standard sizes for knitting socks. Slippers should be similar.

Table here

[wtg]

That's just what I need!!

Thanks, @AdagioM!

[AdagioM]

@wtg This one includes kids’ sizing!

craft yarn council sock chart

[wtg]

Thanks for that, @AdagioM .

Up till now, I've made items where the size isn't critical (scarves, hats, afghans). "Negative ease", mentioned in that first table, is a new term for me. Obviously important when one is making slippers, or especially for socks!

[wtg]

Next up...I bought some closeout fingering yarn a ways back. I found a couple of patterns for crocheted socks that I'm going to try. I thought about trying to knit them, but I'm so much more comfortable with crocheting and it's my first try at both socks and a fingering weight yarn, so I figure I better keep the complications to a minimum.

https://cdn.accentuate.io/6959622455389/12378270040157/Moss-Stitch-Socks_M22121-SE-v1665583489187.pdf

https://cdn.accentuate.io/4679128514653/12378270040157/Crochet-Pattern-Cozy-Crochet-Socks-90528AD-v1591361795822.PDF

I'm also putting together a listing for craigslist to see if I can find homes for some of the cross stitch kits that I know I'll never get to. I also have a ton of graphs for pieces I've finished. If anyone is interested, I can post pics here. All free to a good WTF home.

[wtg]

Oh, and @AdagioM ... I found a pattern for a crocheted brioche hat that is up next after the socks....

http://megan.cc/CrochetBriocheHat/

[AdagioM]

@wtg The other thing you can do is hold that fingering weight yarn double, and that will give you the equivalent of a light worsted weight yarn. Bigger needle/hook, faster work!

[AndyD]

Talking of socks...

I have a practical wife who loves knitting/crotcheting and recycling stuff.
And two pairs of pretty old thick hiking socks probably bought before 1990 (Brasher, & Smart Wool).
Unbelievably both brands are still available to buy new at about £30 per pair.
In excellent condition but washed and shrunk from 8-10 to 6-8 size so dont fit me anymore.

Three needed small toe holes darning and MrsA swung into action taking less than half an hour to find suitable wool (actually her grandmother's wool from the 1960's !) and fix them.

We have a niece working in the Lake District who wants them. She's aiming to climb all 214 Wainrights.
In my old socks

[ShiroKuro]

I somehow missed this thread when it first started, but I just got done watching @Bernard ’s sewing video. You all are so very talented!

When I was little, an Italian aunt who spoke almost no English taught me to embroider. I loved sitting with her and imitating her stitches while she talked in a seemingly endless stream. We did several flowers and shapes and then did a pretty handkerchief.

Then I almost never did it again. I think it wasn’t the embroidery that interested me so much as it was being with her.

[wtg]

@AndyD That's great. People don't mend socks much these days. They just throw them out.

Did MrsA use a Speedweve?

For those who are not familiar with it:

Link to video

[wtg]

@ShiroKuro said in Taking up needlework again?:

then did a pretty handkerchief.

My mom and my grandmother used to embroider handkerchiefs and/or crochet a border on them. Ditto for pillowcases.

This cotton pillowcase is soooo soft from years of being washed.

I have stacks of linens stashed away that I'm going through and finding homes for. I'll keep a few items but it's time to let go of many of them. Still trying to figure out what to do with the linen table cloths and matching napkins that my mom embroidered. We don't entertain in that fashion anymore. Hell, we don't entertain anymore! The eBay and Etsy markets are flooded with this kind of stuff, but I'll still see if I can find a good home for them.

[AndyD]

Did MrsA use a Speedweve?

I watched, thought it about time I learnt. She sewed around the holes to reinforce the wool, then sewed across.
Luckily the largest hole was only the size of your little finger nail.

[Bernard]

@wtg Your slipper socks look terrific! I make similar ones in knitting using rug wool.

Your aunt's crocheted edgings are beautiful. One of my aunts use to make tatted edgings for her handkerchiefs. I can still picture her with the oblong shuttle (she didn't do the needle type of tatting).

I have never seen Speedweve! Cool!

[Mary Anna]

I'm thinking about starting a crocheting project over the winter break. My oldest grandson, Stud Muffin, will graduate from high school in a year and a half, which gives me hope that I could finish an afghan in time for his graduation. I was kinda thinking about this pattern, which looks like cat faces when you study the stitch, but just looks like an afghan from a distance. He likes cats, but this pattern looks less childish than some, and it doesn't look hard. What say ye, fellow crocheters?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/725544588/row-of-cats-kittens-afghan-crochet?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_all&utm_custom1= k_EAIaIQobChMIkIDfuZCSigMVqkd_AB1_vyQKEAQYAiABEgKA2fD_BwE_k&utm_content=go_21500569332_164907277083_707558291651_pla-293946777986_c__725544588_101943559&utm_custom2=21500569332&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkIDfuZCSigMVqkd_AB1_vyQKEAQYAiABEgKA2fD_BwE

[wtg]

@Mary-Anna Sweet! I’ve never seen that particular stitch before but it seems to be popular. I think this scarf uses the same stitch.

https://loopsandramblings.blogspot.com/2012/02/kittens-in-row-scarf.html

Maybe the scarf would be a good way to see how difficult the stitch is to do, and to get a sample you can see in real life before you get rolling on a bigger version.

[Mary Anna]

@wtg That's a good idea!! Thank you!