Best Ever
I wanted to show you progress pictures on Frances today, because I think it’s important that I not refrain from picture taking until the sweater is done and then say, “Here it is!” When I do that, it makes it seem as though I produced the sweater with no effort, when in fact I am madly knitting, knitting, knitting on it like Madame Defarge. Unfortunately, all of the pictures I took this morning came out blurry, so you’ll just have to take my word for it: much knitting is taking place on Frances, and she now has two sleeves and a body all the way down to the waist. I think it will take me about a week to finish the remaining bit of the body and weave in ends. I’m thrilled with how she looks so far.
Meanwhile, Zigzag Stitch has an enjoyable post today about her “best ever” handknit, and she asks at the end, “What’s your best ever?” While I agree with her that there are many different criteria with which one can answer this question, by her own criteria, I have a hands-down winner: my felted slippers.
My felted slippers, as you can see, are rather loud. These days, they are also rather ugly, misshapen things, with blue fibers mashed into the sides of the soles from our living room carpet. And they are starting to fall apart, to boot: these slippers have a double-thickness sole, and I’ve worn a hole straight through the outer sole on each slipper and am coming alarmingly close to wearing a hole in the inner sole as well. They are my best ever handknit simply because I wear them every night and every morning and I have done so for the last two years (nearly) since I made them. They have perfectly molded to the shape of my feet, they’re cushy, and they keep my toes warm.
The pattern is the ever-popular Fiber Trends Felt Clogs pattern (link takes you to one of many places where it can be purchased), with the bumper left off. I need to make a new pair soon so that I won’t have to go into mourning when these give out on me. I’m thinking they should be just the same, only less outrageous: blue soles would be nice, to go with the carpet fibers that will quickly get mashed in, and brown tops to keep them a bit more sophisticated than the first pair, yet also better able to disguise the inevitable dirt build-up.
What’s your best ever?
August 31st, 2007 at 10:12 am
This is so great! I have made three pairs of clogs (for myself!) as I wear through them so fast. It’s always good to have pair ready for when they wear out, because they take a while to dry!
Thanks for sharing your best ever!
September 1st, 2007 at 5:12 am
I love those clogs and their bright-ness! Perfect for a dark winter evening/morning, comfy & cheerful. And how great to get so much wear out of your handknit. I always see them and want to make some, but never get around to it - maybe this winter
What a great post! I think I’ll do mine too
September 1st, 2007 at 6:44 pm
My best ever . . . what a good question. I think it was the fisherman cardigan I made from a natural gray tweedy wool and put handmade pewter buttons on. Of course, the next year it started making me break out in hives, so I ended up giving it away. But it was oversized, as warm as a coat, and intricate knitting. If I could reproduce it with a non-wool yarn, I’d be happy indeed. Can’t wait to see Frances!
September 3rd, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Oh, definitely Annie Modesitt’s Sideways Spencer, from an IK issue a few years ago. So chic, so comfy, and still looks good after three years or so of wear and despite the fact that I made it in Wool-Ease (the early days, before I became a yarn snob). I sometimes think of reknitting it in something fabulous.
September 4th, 2007 at 4:35 am
So the criteria is usefulness? I may have to jump on your felted clog bandwagon - both DH and I wear ours every day too. I even made him two pairs, so when his toasty little feet start to make the first pair a bit damp, he gives them a break with the second pair. I think I’ve made somewhere around nine pairs - Cascade 220 is perfect for them.
And the blue bottoms make tremendous success - but I love the bodacious orange top on yours - easy to find for sure.