More rags to riches



The sister outlaws have a big box of alpaca blankets off cuts that are already long strips of varying widths and natural colours. I’ve been dyeing the the strips, stitching them end to end, rolling them into balls...

 

 



and knitting them on huge knitting needles (that look like something from a joke shop!) into snood scarves. "Snood" is a silly name really for a loop scarf. I think they should be called...well... loop scarves! Or perhaps “scoops”? “Scloops”? “Sclarfs”????

Recently at a market a girl almost bought this scarf. What held her back? Well – she’d prefer it in grey. Which of course it was. Originally. Before I went to all the trouble of dyeing it green. Hmm. (Note to self. Not everyone likes to be as colourful as me.)

CROCHET RAG SLIPPER PATTERN  

In the pages of my trusty Golden Hands Encyclopedia of CRAFTS I came across this crocheted rag slipper pattern - although not for my munchkins. The crochet mary jane slippers resulted in some spectacular spills on the polished floor boards. Only my children could turn something as innocuous and wholesome as a pair of woollen slippers into a life threatening past time. Perhaps we need sea grass matting? To go with my page boy hair and smocks?

Here's the pattern:

Approx tension guide 10 dc and 10 rows = 10 cm

Cut rags into strips 2-2.5 cm wide

Join with reef knots (or I tend to stitch together)

Using a no 7 hook (US size K)

Make 5 ch and join into a ring with a ss

Work 10 dc into ring but do not join with a ss

Work *2dc into the next dc, 1 dc into the next dc until the work is the right size to go round the end of your foot/toes (approx 20 stitches for woman’s size)

Continue in round of dc (still working spirally without joining rounds) until work reaches to top of instep

about 13 cm for women’s size)

DIVIDE FOR SOLE

Continue to dc on only half the sts and work in rows until sole reaches nearly to heel, then decrease one st at each end of the next 2-3 rows. Break off

SIDES AND BACK HEEL

With right side facing, rejoin rag at side of instep and work dc along side of sole, round the heel and along the other sided, ss to first st at instep, turn.

Work 3-4 more rows on these stitches, decrease one st at each side of heel on alternate rows, then on last row make a lopp of about 6 ch at centre back for pulling on slippers!

I made these using the pattern above, a big crochet hook and some dyed alpaca blanket off cuts. They came out looking like clogs! But soft warm and light weight clogs. And they are for my dear friend who lives in the Tasmanian wilderness and they will be very soft and very warm on a wet snowy day.

Posted by Julianne Sister Outlaw

Last year I sewed mary jane slippers but I’m a bit bored with them and this year wanted to make a different slipper. I've just been teaching myself to crochet and wanted to try out slippers. Although not for me. I only wear heels. Even while wearing slippers.

I found this crochet pattern: - 

http://crochetcurbsidecouture.blogspot.com/2005/01/crochet-mary-jane-slippers.html

and have translated into Australian/English crochet, tested it and tried it, and added a few notes and tips.

Here’s the translation:

To make adult sized slipper:

With 8mm hook and two yarns together
(I used scraps with no idea what ply they are. One looks to be about a 4ply and the other about 8ply)

Row 1: Ch 2 then dc 6 dc into the 2^nd chain from the hook creating a circle.

Row 2:2 dc in each of the dc around (so you now have 12st)

Row 3: *1 dc in first dc, then 2 dc in the next* and continue this around until you have an ellipse that looks big enough for your toes. For a size 9-10 I continued until it measured 8.5 cm which was 24 stitches. For size 6-7 women’s I made the ellipse 7cm wide which was 21 stiches. Remember that the slipper has a bit of stretch.

Row 4- 15 Next continue to dc around for about 11 rows. Put a safety pin in to show where you started. This is to make the front of the mary jane -  the instep and sole of the slipper . I just continued until I thought I was up to the part on the foot where you want the mary jane cut out to be. For me this was  11 rows. Make a note so you can match the second slipper.

size 7 slipper front ready to start sides

Once you have the front of the slipper done you start the sides.

sl st in the next stitch, turn. dc into the stitch you just sl st in and then dc around the next row until you have 4 st left unworked  (this is the front of the opening cut out of the mary jane) Ch 1 and turn

dc into each dc (for me it was 23 stitches for size 9-10)then ch1 and turn

Continue this until the slipper is long enough for the foot ( for size 9-10 this was 18 rows)

Last row dc in each dc then finish off leaving a length of yarn to sew them up. Sew the heel together.

Then, starting at the heel, dc evenly around the opening of the slipper one or two rows. This can be done in a contrasting colour.

For the strap:Ch a length long enough to go across the foot and over the side then ch 6 more (I did a chain of 24)

To make the button loop, dc into the 6^th chain from the hook (make it longer if you are using larger buttons) then continue to dc into the remaining stiches,

Along the opposite side row just worked, dc into each st and three in the loop finishing off with a length of yarn for stitching. I then did a row of dc in the contrast colour.

Sew in the strap remembering to make the slippers opposite. Sew the button on and sew in left over yarn pieces.

 For child sized slipper (pictured - it made about a kids size 9 slipper – the twins have massive feet) I used a size 6.5 mm hook and two yarns together both looked like 4ply to me)and in row three made the toe piece 18 stitches around and continued dc around from there for 11 rows as the pattern suggested but now I am more familiar with the pattern I would make the front bit shorter - say 9 rows)

I'm a novice at this crochet business and I managed these. Over at meet me at mikes there are some crochet tutorials. 

The more it
SNOWS-tiddely-pom,
The more it
GOES-tiddely-pom
The more it
GOES-tiddely-pom
On
Snowing

And nobody
KNOWS-tiddely-pom,
How cold my
TOES-tiddely-pom
How cold my
TOES-tiddely-pom
Are Growing.

(A.A. Milne)

posted by sister outlaw Julianne



Bunny Business



mary jane slippers I made last year for my niece, Estelle.



booties for a friend's baby...almost finished...



crochet work by my Great Grandmother



Easter Bunny?


I tried to convince my almost four year old twins that the deal with the Easter Bunny is the same as with Santa -  and I stupidly said I would ask the Easter Bunny if they had been good. To which they promptly replied, "The Easter Bunny can't talk! He's a rabbit!"

Happy Easter!

posted by sister outlaw Julianne