Super Bulky Slippers

My guys liked their slippers so much I thought I'd share the pattern it with you all.
I got the idea for these from a really nice book Socks, Socks, Socks. They have a very pretty lacy pattern for ladies slippers called S.O.S. They use the flat knit heel and in the round for the rest of the foot technique.
However I don't have little girls, I have large boys. Large footed boys. Who don't wear lace ; )
I also prefer the knit stitch to continue for the whole of the pattern, and wanted them to be much stronger and thicker.

I went with 2 strains held together through out. One of bulky homespun and the other a worsted weight acrylic yarn. I tried Simply Soft in gray with one pair. I do not recommend this, as both Homespun and Simply Soft spilt quite a bit even with the large needles. They did come out really soft and thick. I'm told they are very comfy. So I guess they were worth the effort. I went with Caron's worsted weight for the second pair. Much easier to work with only one yarn splitting, and just a bit thicker so they came out pretty good too. I do think I'll go with a different bulky yarn altogether for the next pair.

The first part of this pattern ( heel ) is worked flat then seamed up the back. The foot and toes are worked in the round.

I used the magic loop method for this pattern. The cuff is optional, pattern works quite well without it.

130 yards ( cuff included ) of each worsted weight and bulky weight . I used Lion Brand’s Homespun in Mediterranean held together through out with Caron’s ( one pound )Forest green. I used Simply Soft in gray for the pair without cuffs.

Gauge 3 stitches by 4 rows
Size 10 US circular needles
Fits men's 11 to 12 ½ US shoe size

Stitches
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
P = purl
1 by 1 ribbing = knit 1 stitch, purl 1 stitch, repeat. Always purling the purl stitches and knitting the knit stitches. Continue in this manner

Cast on 30 stitches using both yarns through out.


Knit 4 ¾ inches ( flat ) or until you get just past the ankle. This creates the opening for the foot. You want to make sure it will fit over the heel when seamed.

Join in the round. This will be the start of your round.

1) purl
2) knit
Repeat 1 and 2
5) purl
6) k7, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k7
7) purl
8) knit
9) purl
Repeat 8 and 9
12) k6, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k6
13) purl
14) k5, k2tog, k12, k2tog, k5
15) purl
16) k5, k2tog, k10, k2tog, k5
17) purl
18) knit
19) purl
20) k5, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k5
21) purl
22) k4, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k4
23) purl
24) k3, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k3
25) purl
26) k3, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k3

Grafting the toes

You’ll need to change the placement of your loop to graft the toes. Purl the first 4 stitches of the round. Rearrange loop so you have 7 stitches on the top of the foot and 7 on the bottom with the last purled stitch being the stitch on the bottom right. Graft toes.


Sew up back of the heel and weave in ends.

Optional cuff
Pick up stitches starting at the back of the heel along the foot opening do 1 by 1 ribbing for 1 ½ inches. Bind off loosely. I used the Jeny’s surprisingly stretchy bind-off on Knitty.com

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers ?

So I made stuffed bell peppers last night. My mother and I came up with a deal, I'll cook dinner and send it over ( next door ) and she'll come up with some of the dinner menus. It keeps them from having to eat out every night and I'd be cooking anyhow. Been working out good, some times she even cooks!!!!

So she came up with the idea for stuffed bell peppers. I must say it's something I would never have come up with. Stuffed almost any other kind of pepper yeah, but bell. Seemed like a waste of time to me. We go in more for hotter meals. So I look up how to go about this. I recall my mother making them in the pressure cooker, yeah I don't think so. I found a few sites with some good tips. I blanched the peppers, precooked the meat and rice, made a sauce. Stuffed them, covered in the oven for the first 45 mins. at 350. Uncovered them, put cheese on and browned it. I was doing good right up until my oldest son walked into the room asking "what's for dinner, what's that smell" he took one look and said "it looks like a festering wound" I almost fell over laughing. I assured him we had left overs in the fridge lol

He was a good sport and did eat his. His brother says it was surprisingly edible, even DH ate his. Mom called to thank me, and said why did you bother with precooking the peppers you don't eat that part..... WHAT!!!!!!!!. I just went through hours of prep time, looking this and that up all so she could tell me she doesn't eat that part!!!!!!! And why not ? I had to ask, okay she says it's just a holder for the rest of the stuff and slight flavoring for the REST OF THE STUFF. As she's explaining this to me Dad from the background told her to tell me the pepper part was great, he love it. lol

Don't think this one is going to be put on our regular dinner ideas list.

Look what Ma made

Isn’t it beautiful. My mother started to crochet again. She made this afghan for me. She made both of my sisters one and even one for her sister. All came out looking different even though she used the same pattern. With different row spacing, colors and size you’d never know. She made them all this summer, I'd say she back into the swing of it :)

Well the weather is still kind of iffy, still getting some rain, mostly thunder and lightening. Not that I’m complaining, we got it good next to El Paso. The day after I last posted about the rain and hail they got hit hard. Golf ball sized hail…… GOLF BALL SIZED HAIL…. think about that for a second….. I was amazed at the fierceness of dime to quarter sized hail. They have my best wishes.

I got my socks  ( footies ) done. Yes short row heels, I even like them!! Think I'm going to make more for christmas gifts. They knit up really fast are fun to wear, don't cost a arm and leg to make.
 I like to make things I know are going to be used ( not just sitting in a drawer for fear of use ). Got most of my family hooked on scrubbies and hand knit dish cloths.
Last year I got really over whelmed with making gifts for everyone. The requests were too many. I ended up making dozens and dozens of gifts. A few of those people who just had to have a hand made gift haven’t even talked to me yet this year!! Not a chance this year, I’m going to make a few people a few small things. Slippers, house socks, cloths, wrist warmers, hats maybe even a bag or two. Most will be my own patterns, and that will have to do.

I'm making slippers for my guys

This is the first pair just done

Lace and Panel Wrist Warmers

 Lace and Panel Wrist Warmers




This pattern is for larger wrist sizes, but can be adjusted up or down by changing the amount of panel stitches ( the purl stitches on both ends of the repeat )

Same pattern for both hands ( so make 2 ), with open thumb.
I used the magic loop method with this pattern

Fits wrist up to 9 ½ inches wide as is

Size 7 US circular needles
91 yards worsted weight
Gauge 4 ½ stitches by 5 ½ rows per inch

Stitches
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
P2tog = purl 2 stitches together
Psso = pass slid stitch over
Sl 1 = slide one stitch purl wise
Tbl = through the back loop
Yb = yarn to the back
Yf = yarn to the front
Yo = yarn over needle
( )x = repeat directions inside brackets as many times as indicated


on ravelry

Be careful what you ask for

You just might get it. This has been one of my favorite saying for years, you'd think I'd be careful then right. Nope not me. I was asking for rain for a few weeks now, okay I was asking for small amounts, not what we got!!!!

I have not seen so much water so fast since they put up the earthen dam, years ago. Our driveway was a river about twenty feet wide, at least a foot and a half deep on the edges ( rushing ). Flooded my car, still trying to dry that out. A lot of hail, good sized at that, from dime to quarter size, and it stuck around for longer then I've seen before, at least 15 minutes ( hard ). The storm lasted for a good hour plus. In the desert that can be really bad. The day before we had a good sized amount of rain as well, lost our power for most of the evening. That was the fun part, nothing to do but talk with the hubby and kids, good times :)

So we now have a yard full of new weeds, a foot deep rut along our drive way, and a wet car. Didn't even rain in town.

So be careful what you ask for.

My sisters van is now dead. She kills them faster then DH can keep up. He gave her one that was given to him, and has been working on it daily. She really needs to get a job in this town, too many miles and over the mt. pass at that.

I have a few new patterns I'm working on, the weather slowed me up some. Should be ready soon.

I've been doing a lot of wrist warmers I know, but I've had these "stuck" in my head for some time now and just have to get them done. So that means wrist warmers for all at Christmas time ;)

This pattern will be ready as soon as I come up with a name. I made them for a larger wrist size. With a panel on either side. One pattern for both hands, open thumb. I have the hardest time coming up with names.

I've said in the past I really like worsted weight ( acrylic ) yarn and bigger needles for my socks. More of a slipper or house sock then something you'd wear with snug shoes. I wear slip on shoes all year long, if I have to wear any. We have tile through out our place, our yard is coarse sand. All in all it doesn't make for the best conditions to long lasting sock. ( I also use them on the treadmill ) I really got tired of redoing the soles over and over, but still don't like a tighter knit sock for the way I wear them. I did go down to a smaller needle ( 5 US ), they are holding up better. However I wasn't about to give up on the others I made. too cheap with time and money ;)

I remembered slipper socks I had as a kid Mukluks, I loved them. Okay this is starting to get long here, long story little shorter. I made a straight stitch panel in size 3 US needles, no shaping just a long square in worsted weight yarn and stitched them on the soles. They have been working great, holding up very well. I can go outside without shoes. Best of all I didn't waste anything :)

Speaking of larger knit socks I'm working on a pair with a short row heelI really miss my camera, phone is okay, but colors are never "right"

O’Neil Fingerless Gloves ( mens )

This pattern was made for my father-in-law. He is a slight man who is now in a wheelchair. With that in mind, the pattern is snug, and highly textured for a better grip. They can be worn on either hand, for even wear and durability.
Fits 7” wrist by 8” long hand.
84 yards of worsted weight yarn, shown in Caron’s Forest Green.
Size 8US circulars or set of 5 dpns. If you use dpns, on the rounds where you psso, knit one extra stitch off the next needle. It will save you the trouble of moving the stitch over later on.
Small amount of scrap yarn.
Gauge 4 sts. by 6 rows to 1”

Stitches
2 by 2 = knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches, repeat. Continue in this manner.
Kf/b = knit into the front and back of the next stitch.
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together.
M1 = make new stitch by picking up bar between stitches and knit through the back loop.
Skp = slip one stitch knit wise, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch.
Sl 1 = slide one stitch purl wise
Psso = pass slid stitch over
X 2 = do the directions twice

on Ravelry

Fiesta Time Cloth

Fiesta Time Cloth

Made this one for Mom's Birthday. Wanted it bold, happy, lacy.
I used a lacy leaf stitch for the main body, with a twisted broader.

Size 8US needles
51 yds worsted weight cotton shown in Peaches & Crème’s Fiesta
Exact gauge is not essential to this project
8” by 9 ½” approximately

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