Last week after Craftzine so kindly put my Candy Sushi post up on their site, I found this nifty tutorial for Norwegian house slippers over there as well.
I loved them, and the crafty side of me, that I try so very hard to suppress, just came bubbling to the surface. I was going to make these slippers!
There were a few problems though …
- I didn’t have the right weight of yarn –> Ah, to heck with that, I’ll just make do with what I do have, as long as it’s wool and will felt … who cares right?
- I wanted to make these for Georgia and the size chart was for adult sizing –> ah, who cares, I’ll figure it out. I’ll make them big and keep felting them until they work.
- I don’t knit –> screw the knitting, I’ll crochet them (I made a 1/2 a dish cloth once, how different/difficult can it be?).
So once again, I was making a craft and following none of the instructions!
My materials:
3 colours of wool yarn (suitable for felting) (4 weight, I think)
1 crochet needle (mine is a size 5 from Lizzy’s Klutz kit)
I did the whole pattern in single crochet. If you need a refresher –> Let the Knit Witch show you how! I did!
Sizing: according to the instructions you need 16 stitches across to make a size 5, but her yarn looked pretty thin compared to mine and the stitches more loose. I decided to go with 15 chain stitches (leaving me 14 stitches across). If they were too big, I decided I could force Sam to wear them. They’re a tad girly, but who cares … he wears an earring.
I was careful to make sure all my squares were the same size. I was constantly folding and comparing to make sure. Each of my squares measured approximately 8cmx8cm (3″x3″). Each coloured square was 14 stitches across and 16 rows deep, except for the white square which were 14 stitches across and 18 rows deep (the yarn was a bit thinner and I added the extra rows to balance out the size).
Pattern: When you are knitting, you are supposed to knit one long ‘L’ shape, 6 squares long and 3 squares across. I wasn’t quite sure how to do this crocheting, so I decided to crochet two pieces and stitch them together.
If Blue = 1, Green = 2, and Cream = 3, then the pattern for the slippers is:
Pattern for 5 square piece is: 1 – 2 – 1 – 3 – 2
Pattern for 3 piece square is: 1 – 3 – 1
I didn’t do anything fancy when stitching pieces together …
Just try to keep the stitches neat and tight, but don’t worry too much because the felting process will hide a LOT of flaws.
Folding –> who knew the Norwegians were in to wool origami?! I found the the written instructions (and photos) at Craftzine nearly impossible to follow. Here is a really easy to follow Video tutorial.
Video credit – Knitting with Lissi
I did take photos of every step of the folding, but don’t even look! JUST watch the video. OK?
DON’T try to figure it out … just watch the VIDEO!
When you’re done with the Norwegian Origami (with wool), they should look something like this:
About now, you’ll think to yourself this are stinkin’ HUGE, they’d fit me!
And you’d be right, they are HUGE and the did fit me. That’s where the felting comes in. NO thinking you’re glad you don’t have my ankles, the camera puts on 10lbs!
Felting is really just the washing and shrinking of your knit (crochet) item. So just pop these in a hot wash with detergent and shrink away. If they’re not felted or small enough keep washing them. I washed this pair once on regular cycle with jeans and then again on a sanitary cycle with towels.
Now they’re a perfect fit for Georgia. They’re also soft, thick and perfect for winter!
Note: prior to washing, I knotted all ends, snipped, hid and tucked loose threads!
MK xo
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September 25th, 2009 at 11:21
You never cease to amaze me! In 2 weeks(?) you can have your entire Christmas list (or at least my birthday) shopping done!
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 09:56
@gayle – thanks! My problem is … I hate doing anything 2x, but I’ll make YOU some!
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September 25th, 2009 at 12:24
Those look really comfortable. Makes me want to break out the knitting needles.
MelissaH´s last blog ..Biochemical Aspects Of Addiction
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 09:55
@melissah – go for it! Thanks for stopping by.
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September 26th, 2009 at 02:33
Hi, I linked to you from the sushi candy that I found on stumbleupon.com. I love these slippers and have felted a couple of projects. What size did these slipper finish at? What size are you? For the starting size comparison. Thanks, Lana
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 09:56
@lana – my feet are a size 9 womens and Georgia’s are a 12 childrens. They shrunk substantially. I’d say they are half the size!
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September 26th, 2009 at 09:01
, I have always wanted to try knitting..those slippers look very comfy and warm..right in time for the -BER months…
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 26th, 2009 at 09:52
@chiqui13 –> thank you.
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September 26th, 2009 at 12:04
OOOOOOOOOOOOO, I’m working on some felted knit slippers for me right now!! Those look FABULOUS!! Did you/are you going to sew some leather or non slip material on the bottom for slippage factor??? That’s my plan for the ones I’m doing…
jamie´s last blog ..TOS Review – Guardian Angel Publishing
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 07:38
@jamie – I might, I have some suede that I might try. Georgia quite likes ’skating’ down the hallway though ;)
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September 27th, 2009 at 06:43
I may love you a little bit after this post. Is that OK? I craft the same way. Sadly, my results are not always as good as yours.
debbie´s last blog ..Exercise – The Suburb Style
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 07:39
@debbie, it’s better than OK. I cook the same way, how about you? Sadly, nothing ever tastes the way it supposed to, or the same way twice.
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September 27th, 2009 at 07:31
I don’t knit or crochet. Basically, I’m screwed. :-)
I’m VERY impressed!
Amber’s Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck´s last blog ..Feeding the Addiction
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MommyKnows Reply:
September 27th, 2009 at 07:40
@amber – crochet is about the easier thing ever. Well the kind that I do. Thanks for stopping by!
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September 27th, 2009 at 21:25
OMGosh!! I can’t believe you just whipped these up! I want a pair too, haha!! These look absolutely amazing. I am also constantly amazed at how professional your pictures look. Are you sure you’re not a professional photographer in disguise?? Awesome.
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September 28th, 2009 at 22:01
Oh. my. stars. those are too cute! I want a pair for myself!
Madeline´s last blog ..Where I’ve Been And Miscellaneous Updates
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September 29th, 2009 at 05:33
Hi I’m beginner in knit abd want to say thanks they look so cute. Hope will be easy to make it!
Yana´s last blog ..Marvelous Bird Cages
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October 1st, 2009 at 22:23
I think I may have to try these.
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October 9th, 2009 at 03:21
Those are really cute slippers .. My daughter must love it :)
Pete´s last blog ..Medical Research Funding Issue Brief
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October 11th, 2009 at 13:42
thanks for a great tutorial. i will definitively try to learn to crochet.
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MommyKnows Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 09:13
@claire, You are welcome!
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October 11th, 2009 at 21:26
OMG! I’ve been “hooked” on crochet for about a year now, and have been searching for a great felted slipper pattern! Thank you SO MUCH for the post and the video – I couldn’t understand the directions on the other pattern either! Going to go and dig out my felting wool I’ve been hoarding and whip some of these up! Thanks again!!!
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MommyKnows Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 09:13
@Tammy, Make sure to take photos!
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October 12th, 2009 at 08:32
Funny & informative! Thanks for posting this. I liked the look of the knit slippers, but I don’t like knitting, so thanks for making a crochet version!
Shelley ´s last blog ..The Good Old Days
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October 12th, 2009 at 11:52
wow! thank you so much for sharing this is such a clear way! a friend of mine gave me a pair of these a couple of years ago, and I tried really hard to figure out the “origami” part… now I have no excuse for making a pair also fo my boyfriend!! thans a lot!1
ninon´s last blog ..A Busy Week End For The Cherrybomb Family!
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October 13th, 2009 at 07:23
I want to make these but do you have a way to print the directions without using a million sheets of paper? Please E-mail me and let me know.
Thanks……..
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October 15th, 2009 at 19:36
“So once again, I was making a craft and following none of the instructions!”
— A woman after my own heart! What is a plan without modifying it to suit our needs?
Great post, as always.
Shannon @ Lullaby Baby Carriers´s last blog ..Fuss Busters!
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October 16th, 2009 at 08:03
Nifty! I don’t care for felted. Do you think this design would work w/ just regular bulky wool?
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MommyKnows Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 08:23
@Cat, absolutely. They fit me perfectly before I felted them.
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October 19th, 2009 at 11:18
LOVE. IT! I’ve wanted to make socks and/or slippers – so this is PERFECT. 2 questions:
1) Unfelted, so they still look/feel ok? I’ve never felted…
2) If I wanted to try felting, but for ADULT feet, what would your GUESSTIMATE be for dimensions? Twice as big for everything?
THANKS for sharing this!
~S
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MommyKnows Reply:
October 19th, 2009 at 14:14
@steph a., Thanks!
1) Yes, they are fine unfelted, I wasn’t very careful about keeping lose ends neat etc., because I knew that I would felt them.
2) I would go about 1.5 x the size, so about 22 -25 stitches. Remember, if they are too large you can always wash again … they’ll get small each time.
Thanks for stopping by.
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October 22nd, 2009 at 23:18
Hi,
Nice to see you made the slippers! Glad you liked the video. I know, the instructions on how to fold them in the magazine is hard, that is why I made the video. Nice blog BTW.
Liecel
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October 26th, 2009 at 04:14
I love to crochet – have been looking for houseshoes and viola found these … thank u so much. Pam Davis
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October 26th, 2009 at 14:30
I found this pattern through TipNut.com this weekend, and fell in love!
I dropped everything else I was working on to whip these up.
Upon completing the first slipper, I quickly realized that it was meant to be for a child. Nonetheless, I completed the second one, and felted them!
They fit my 7 year old perfectly. Now, of course, my 6 year old wants a pair, and I want one, too!
Thanks so much! I love that you converted this awesome knit pattern into an even awesomer – not a word, but should be – crochet pattern!
Jackie´s last blog ..Bread Photos
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November 4th, 2009 at 09:43
When felting, do you also throw them in the dryer or air dry? I want to try a pair of these slippers. They are so cute. I knit and crochet but like crochet better. Knitting is so much more stressful.
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MommyKnows Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 17:12
@Linda, I didn’t put them in the dryer. I just washed them until they shrunk enough to fit my daughter and then let them dry. I actually stuffed them with plastic bags to help them keep their shape.
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Linda Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 21:38
Thanks so much for answering. I’ve never tried felting but always wanted to.
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November 14th, 2009 at 15:26
You are so funny! Thanks so much for sharing!
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November 19th, 2009 at 04:25
great project, my grandma only managed to teach me how to crochet lines so all those other complicated shapes… cant do.. this is a great project!!! thanks so much…. i can manage this (i think)…. want to make one for husband one for kid……. so 15 knots for kid (3yrs) and 30 for husbvand (size 42?)
S
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December 9th, 2009 at 09:08
So, I felted some sweaters and now I am going to cut them into squares and sew them together. Then fold them into the slippers!
The plan is to start with a pair for my selfish self and work on everyone elses based on how those work out. Any suggestions?
I would love to do the crochet but have all these sweaters waiting for projects and no yarn.
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MommyKnows Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 16:53
@Peggy, Great idea! I have plans to do the same. My plan is to use felted wool that is all about the same thickness. I am going to leave them a tiny bit big, stitch them together with wool yarn and then felt one last time after stitching, to hopefully blend/felt the stitches and fabric.
Let me know if you try it and how it works out.
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December 23rd, 2009 at 07:30
Hello, I’ve been drooling about those slippers for a while, but cant knit and waaaay too complicated! Then I happened on your site! I loved your opening lines where you describe how you crochet…that’s me!!!
Love your site as you stumble through life, love your refreshing attitude. Thanks for taking the time to do this, the instructions are perfect. I am going to try these today. I have a blog where I restore old furniture, make do with stuff others throw out etc…tottle over if you have achance (http://thewattlefence.blogspot.com/) I don’t update as much as you, take care and thank you!
Chris´s last blog ..Migraines
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