Justin's Filigree Slippers Completed

Here are the Filigree Slippers I knitted for my nephew, Justin.  The pattern is from the book Scandinavian Slippers and Socks.  I used Cascade 220 Superwash in Maroon and Black and size 2.5 mm Addi Turbo 40" needle for the first slipper foot.  Somehow my tension loosens when I use my knitting thimble for a second sock or mitten so I ended up going down to a 2.25 mm Addi Turbo needle for the second slipper foot.  I knitted Fair Isle with the slipper turned inside out to keep me from pulling the yarn too tightly at the edges.  I had to turn it right side out once I got close to completing the toe.

These slippers are started at the heel and a row of waste yarn is knit into the top of the slipper after the heel.  Once the foot is complete, the waste yarn is removed, the stitches are picked up and the ankle/leg section is knit with twined knitting.  I had never done twined knitting and I found it to be utterly annoying.  With two balls of yarn (as two ends from center pull ball result in a very twisted yarn), one stitch is knit with one ball and then the next stitch is knit with the second ball, and the yarn is crossed over the previous yarn, with each stitch.  The two balls of yarn become very tangled and then have to be untangled.  The result is a stretchy, durable fabric, but still, I had no fun knitting this way.  I went up to size 3.0 mm needles on both slippers for this twisted knitting section as the cuff looked too small when I used the 2.5 mm needles.

I had been planning to make Lawrence and John this Danish hotpad, which is knit with twined knitting, from the Folk Mittens book.  Sorry guys, that's probably not going to happen.  Joshua is waiting for his slippers, but I am taking a little break until I find out how these fit Justin.  They could end up being Joshua's slippers if they are too small for Justin. 

Comments

[Ann]

The slippers look great and you have done a beautiful job. I have never done twined knitting before and it does not sound like fun.

[Lawrence]

Darling, take your time on the hotpad. We can always wait when the work is as superb as yours :)

[textillian]

Beautiful slippers! They will look great on his feet on Christmas morning.

The twined knitting sounds like how I used to do fair isle patterns before I knew better. And if it is, then I agree that it is very much a pain.