Category: tutorial

tutorial · Weaving

Woven Square Slippers: A Tutorial

Jen20 Comments

So weaving is great for making flat fabric, and with my loom I can whip up a 12″ square in a couple of hours. But what are you going to do with all those squares? I mean, I can only make so many dish cloths, you know? Then I got an idea. Slippers for E4!

1. Start with a woven square–I used Patons Classic wool held double:

2. Run a length of yarn down one side:

And, using it as a drawstring, pull it tight, gathering up one side of the square to look like this:

Now your square looks like this:

3. Now, sew up the back and top of the square here:

leaving a hole in the top. I eyeballed it so that it looked in proportion.

Make another one and felt using your favorite method. I threw mine into a hot washing machine with a couple of towels.

E4 hates them, of course, because he hates everything I make for him, but I think they’re pretty awesome.

Knitting · tutorial

A Tutorial for Adrienne

Jen1 Comment

Or, How I Knit MLTU* Socks.

I use Judy’s Magic Cast On to cast on 16 stitches (8/needle). After I knit the first round as per the instructions, I begin increasing for the toe as follows:

K1, YO, k across to last st, YO, K1 (needle 1) then K1 YO k across to last st, YO, K1 (needle 2)

Repeat this for EVERY row (being sure to knit the YOs through the back of the stitch to close up the holes) until I have 1/2 of the total number of stitches (32 for a 64 st sock, for example) and then for EVERY OTHER ROW until I have the total number of stitches needed (e.g., 64).

I work the foot until it is about 1-1/2 to 2″ SHORTER than the total length of the foot I am knitting for. If I am doing a stitch pattern, I work it only on needle 1 (the instep stitches). I work the heel on needle 2 (the heel stitches. See what I did there?)

Then, I make a short row heel. This way, for example, is not the exact method I use, but it is very well explained and less fiddly.

After I have completed the heel, I work the leg until it is long enough. 3 inches seems about right for me.

Then I add some ribbing so the sock doesn’t fall down. I like 1×1 rib, but 2×2 or twisted 1×1 is also good.

Finally, I do a stretchy bind off, perhaps a surprisingly stretchy bind off, and celebrate because I have turned plain old string into useful clothing once again!

*MLTU=Magic Loop Toe Up