Knitting Slippers

I have a pair of knit slippers that I love. I adore them. They fit my feet perfectly and keep my toes toasty warm. They were given to me many years ago by the mother of one of my students. These slippers have a ribbed toe and a fitted heel and they stay on my feet. I have worn a big hole in the bottom of both of them and am now on a quest - the quest for perfect slippers!

I have tried a few patterns and the one I like best was given to me by my mother-in-law. It is a vintage Patons Pattern and it seems to work pretty good. My slippers still slip off of my heels but I may try knitting in some elastic to see if that will hold them in place. I may also try to knit them a little smaller to see if that helps them stay on. If you have any advice, or know a great slipper pattern, I'd love to hear about it.

Knitting Machine - Me!

I have been on a knitting roll for the last 3 months. I have knitted at least 12 scarves and several pairs of slippers. I have to give credit to the mom's - my mom and my mother-in-law- for teaching me how to knit. I used up my stash of yarn and so of course I had to go get some more and the yarn pile is eagerly awaiting me.

I mostly give away the scarves I make to friends or to a local charity. I don't like to just sit around while watching tv and knitting keeps me from dozing off!

Two students of mine have asked me to make them scarves - and they keep asking so I guess I better get started.

Amigurumi

I found the pattern for this little bear and decided to make it for my hubby for Valentine's Day. This was my first venture in the world of Amigurumi. I liked it so much I think I'll stay for awhile! He thought it was pretty cool too, so I made him a little travelocity gnome mascot to help him cheer on the contestants on the Amazing Race. I made this little lion too.

Check out my links and blog roll to find other really amazing amigurumi.

I realized that none of my amigurumi have eyes - yet. I plan to add some. Soon. Until then, they aren't going anywhere! Literally - they can't see!

Plarn

My latest hobby is making plarn (plastic yarn) and then creating bags out of the plarn. I have made several different plarn bags. I found the patterns at myrecycledbags.com. I have completed 4 bags and have two more on the go. I just need to get a few more bags to finish them off.

I even used a plarn bag as a door prize for a tupperware party I had. People thought I was a little crazy at first - you're cutting apart plastic bags to make more plastic bags? - but once they have seen the finished product they think it is pretty cool. Many of my co-workers have given me their plastic bags to turn into something cool. One of my students actually pulled a large bag of Giant Tiger bags out of his backpack and asked me to make something for him with them. That is the current project! How could I refuse?

Here are a few of my plarn bags:

Rubber Stamping and Paper Crafts

This is where the two worlds collide. I have always been a rabid crafter (sewing, cross stitch, crochet, knitting, even a little quilting) but in the last 6 years I have discovered the world of paper crafts and now have my own little shrine dedicated to these arts - the guest room! I mostly make cards but dabble a bit in scrapbooking too.

I belong to a rubber stamping group - Just Stampers - and we have monthly meetings, host swaps and participate in challenges.

I have even had two of my cards published in stamping magazines! That was pretty cool.

I just made this card which was given to my boss on behalf of the staff as a sympathy/thinking of you card. It accompanied the book Three Cups of Tea and some tea from Cornelia Bean.

Crochet

My maternal grandmother taught me to crochet one summer. It was a terribly hot August and so we retreated into the basement where my mother told me I was to "spend time with grandma" out of the heat. This was where I first learned to crochet - and with fine crochet cotton!

Now I enjoy using mainly different yarns - cotton, acrylics and plarn (plastic yarn). I crochet dishcloths, plarn bags and my latest interest is amigurumi - little tightly crocheted creatures (see the links).

This is a hotpad that I made to go with my snowman dishes. It is two layers.

Where It All Began

This wall hanging was created by me in pursuit of my flower arranger badge for Girl Guides when I was about 10 or so. I gave it to my paternal grandparents who hung it on their kitchen wall for nearly 25 years. The little counted cross stitch saying " I Love You" was made by me while visiting them on vacation - probably around the same time.

My grandparents have passed away and the hanging now hangs in my kitchen in my home. It is pretty dusty but has plenty of meaning to me.