The challenge: to felt the clog on the left to match the one on the right, but first the saga...
Two summers ago, while on a vacation in Colorado Springs, I purchased yarn and a pattern (Fiber Trends) for these clogs. I was a relatively new knitter then, so I let the store owner figure the amount of yarn I would need for the project. She had made these clogs before and even had a sample on display in the store. I trusted she knew the amount of yarn I would need.
Last spring I finally got around to knitting them and guess what? I found out I didn't have enough of the dark color to make both clogs. Oh well, I would just order more and it wouldn't really matter if it was the same dye lot because I could hide a mismatched color on the inside of the double sole if I needed to. First I decided to felt the one clog, just to make sure it was worth the effort and expense. It felted beautifully.
Finding the yarn (Cascade Pastaza) in the right color was more of a challenge than I thought it would be. Finally ordered some though and was happy to discover on it's arrival that the color was a close match. However, the yarn sat in the stash until just a couple of weeks ago.
Now, almost a year later the second clog is knitted and ready to be felted, which brings me back to the challenge. Will I be able to shrink it to the same size as the first one? I took notes on the length of washing time from earlier, but that probably won't help much since I've bought a new washing machine since then.
Well, I don't know why I had any doubts...
This one took longer to felt for some reason (the new machine maybe?) and didn't felt as evenly at first, but I think it's a good match in the end.
I have that pattern, but have never made a pair. I do have to say, they are a lot better looking than the felted slippers I have made. I think I am going to have to get that pattern out and see how much yarn I need.
ReplyDeleteThose just look SO DARN AWESOME and COMFORTABLE!!! Love the colors. Love the fuzziness. I just have to break down and get the pattern because I think I'll like them better than Fuzzy Feet for myself or other adults.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is awesome and amazing! I didn't even know you could DO such a thing! So you're saying you knit giant clogs and then wash them in a special way that makes the yarn both shrink and felt together? I had no idea. WOW! I am really in awe. Tell me, what gives the soles their support? Are they soft like a slipper on the soles?
ReplyDeleteYour slippers look great! You have inspired me to dig out my pattern and give them a try. My dearfoams are falling apart....LOL
ReplyDeletehow fun! I always wanted to make a felt sweater or hat or mittens or SOMEthing. Clogs sound like a great thing to make, and they sure do look comfy! So glad you got them to match, or else you'd have to make TWO pairs, one to match the old one and one to match the new too-big or too-small one! :o)
ReplyDeleteThey look wonderful! Don't you love the magic of felting?
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - those clogs are so great!! and what a story! I'm impressed you made notes, and could find them, about the initial felting process! I'm not so good at that - I'm always wondering, now what did I do?
ReplyDeleteThey look great!
Don't you LOVE that pattern? Your clogs really turned out great. You are going to love them. I wear mine all the time. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSo excited to see your donations as well as a glimpse of your heart to help the tinyones. I do love the blueberry hat! Sooo adorable and I can just see it on a tinyone. Your unfelted clog looks humongous in comparison to the felted clog, and I was pleasantly surprised to see them both looking quite symmetrical in the after photo...happy knitting!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kim… I had no idea that you could make something so cool after they are knitted… I had no clue that you could felt them… and wondering of the process - incredible! You did a fine job… they look so comfy!
ReplyDelete