I'd been wanting a Christmas Cactus for a while, but I totally forgot to get one when they were available in the stores last month. I found this one on Etsy from Cumberland Plants for only $2.50. It's small, but half the fun of plants is watching them grow.
The single digit temperatures last week had me thinking about warmer footwear to ward off the chill around the house. I found this free pattern, Two Hour Felted Slippers and had the best time knitting up a few pairs and felting them in the washing machine. These red ones were made with Cascade 220 yarn and took 3 cycles to felt.
If you've felted wool you know the knitted item must be larger than your normal size before you start the felting process. And some yarn felts quicker than others.
These natural/oatmeal slippers were made with Patons Classic Wool and took only one cycle to felt. I added straps and a few of my polymer clay buttons for the French Press look, and they are toasty warm. I think they're the cutest house slippers ever, however, they will not be staying in my house...
For nearly a year as I knitted socks, hats and slippers I've had rashes on my face, but I naturally attributed that to my love and indulgence in chocolate confections. In the past few months I began to suspect wool as the culprit for the irritation on my face and itchiness on my wrists and hands.
The last pair of slippers that I knit, left below, were finished yesterday morning, and I immediately put them in the post to go and live with one of my sisters. I'd used Lion Brand Fisherman's Felting Wool, and it's great for felting, but you should have seen my face! It was really inflamed, and I itched all over until they were out of the house. It seems some wool yarns are worse than others, but to save myself from anymore outbreaks, I'm going to don a pair of gloves (and more protective clothing besides) and pack my wool yarn away until I decide what to do with all the wool yarn I have in my stash. There are skeins and skeins in large containers, baskets and well, all over the house.
Yeah, I'm pretty devastated over it, but at least it wasn't the chocolate. Can I get an amen?
Eastern Towhee and female Northern Cardinal above. Y'all have a great weekend!
Linking up with: Saturday's Critters
The Art of Home-Making Mondays
love the red felted slippers. felted slippers stand on my to do list for this year.here the same,boxes of wool,baskets etc.
ReplyDeletehave a nice weekend,
regina
Hi Regina! You'll love the slippers, such a fun project.
DeleteThose slippers are so cute, Toni. Sorry to hear about the wool allergy. Good detective work on figuring it out! I know a lot of charities knit for the poor and would love to get your wool. Hope your weather is getting back to normal,
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jane
Thank you, Jane. I knew I was not going to a doctor about the allergy so it took a while but no bills. Yay!
DeleteYou can get a huge "Amen" from me, Toni. I always tell Doug that, if I'm ever hospitalized in a coma, he's to make sure there's chocolate in my IV. :) Love the slippers. You're so crafty.
ReplyDeleteI hear you, Linda! I can deal with non-wool knitting, but the very thought of no chocolate is really scary.
DeleteAmen! At least it wasn't chocolate! I love the slippers though! I can see a cute mary jane style strap across with button as well! :)
ReplyDeleteA strap would be cute, too. I had big plans to put these on the feet of every girl in the family, but now, I may have to just make a bunch of candy, lol.
DeleteHello, the slippers are so cute. I love the Oatmeal with the buttons.
ReplyDeleteYour Towhee and Cardinal is awesome, two great birds. Happy weekend to you!
Thank you, Eileen! The birds are my daily dose of entertainment. :)
DeletePS, Thank you so much for linking up and sharing your post. Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteInteresting info about felting and pretty birds too.
ReplyDeleteHi Gayle, and thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
DeleteWhat cute felted shoes and I know they must be so comfy! Love your bird on the fence! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. The slippers are very soft. I still have the red ones and hope they won't cause irritation, but if they do they'll be shipped out.
DeleteYour slippers are so cute. I've never felted before, but it sounds fun. Sorry to hear that the wool caused rashes. Hope you can find a solution so that you can continue doing what you love.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laurie! I'm sure I'll be able to knit and crochet with acrylic, cotton and linen yarns. They're okay, but good wool is the best so I'll miss it.
DeleteAmen on it not being the chocolate! A girl has got to have her chocolate. :-)
ReplyDeleteI forwarded this on to my sister with a "hint". She has wanted to get into felting and I gave her a nudge. I love the look of these slippers, so pretty.
Thanks for the pattern and lovely photos of the towhee and cardinal. I love to watch the birds, too. They are a lot of entertainment.
Darlene
Hi Darla Mae! I hope your sister takes the hint. ;)
DeleteHave a great weekend!
Enjoy the chocolate!
ReplyDeletePretty slippers, but I am allergic to wool, too.
Hi Lea! Thank you, and you can trust I enjoy my chocolate. ;)
DeleteAnd I'd say you wouldn't have a lot of use for wool where you live anyway, right?
Awesome slippers and wonderful photo of the Northern Cardinal ~ thanks,
ReplyDeleteWishing you a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^
Thank you, Carol, and I hope your weekend is great, too!
DeleteGreat felted slippers. Too bad your skin was irritated! I brought our daughter's Christmas cactus to her when we moved up here to OR....I had been keeping it for her since she left back in March, and it had bloomed again.
ReplyDeleteHi Marie! Those Christmas Cacti are so pretty. I want a red one, too, but I think I'll wait and just enjoy this one for a while. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. :)
DeleteNice slippers, so much talent. Cute little towhee and cardinal.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy! It's not really talent, just dogged stubbornness to actually make something usable. ;)
DeleteThank you for the visit.
Talented knitter!Love the birds! Happy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Betty! Love your new-ish blog.
DeleteAmen! :) Beautiful slippers, though! I'm impressed as I've only knit a few things in my life, and never, ever felted wool. Sweet Cardinal and Towhee!
ReplyDeleteHi Carol! The slippers knit very quickly and the felting was fun, too.
DeleteThanks for the visit.
LOVE these slippers! I have been wanting to make my husband a pair of felted slippers.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your allergy :(
Thank you, Sandra. My husband wantsa pair to, but sadly I won't be able to make them.
DeleteGlad you found out what's been bothering you....and glad it wasn't chocolate as you said! That's a blessing! I love Christmas cactus and have many of them. They're basically un-killable! :) Hope yours grows healthy and has many beautiful blooms.
ReplyDelete