Month: July 2012

From the age of 12 – 15, one of my favorite shoes to wear were shoes similar to the ones I knitted above. I remember we referred to them as baby doll slippers, but they were also marketed as Mary Jane’s or China doll slippers too.

The doormat below my feet says Wipe your paws!

Back in the 1980s, a plain canvas pair like the ones featured above, cost between $3.00 – $6.00. And those were the type I usually received. Occasionally, I’d use my own money, that I’d received from cutting lawns to purchase those shoes. They also had fancy pairs with beautiful embroidered decorations on the front of the shoe. Those were about three dollars more. One year, I had a pair that featured a gorgeous flower, and the next year I had a pair that featured a dragon. Since I was so fond of embroidery I really loved those shoes.

Since I wore them often, they received a lot of wear. I was a tomboy (still am I guess). Shocking I know since I enjoy making pretty things. But I’d still much prefer be outdoors, getting dirty from yard work, than to get dressed up in anything fancy.  As a child, my baby doll shoes took a lot of abuse, from all my activities, but I’d still try to wear them. I remember my mother found a pair of my baby doll shoes, and threw them into the trash. Gee, thanks mom!

I made these knitted baby dolls/mary jane slippers, last week, while renovations were going on in our home. A simple knitted rib stitch was used, k3, p3. I really love rib stitch. For me it’s mindless knitting, and I can do this pattern with my eyes closed. The pink buttons are actually crocheted. Sometimes, when working on crafts, I go into “purist mode”, and refuse to work with anything but fibers to finish off a project. And so, with some of my handcrafted items the embellishments you see will be crochet, embroidery, knitting, or sewing.

In hindsight I should have doubled the yarn, since the knitted slippers I made, used a single strand of worsted weight yarn. But overall I was pleased with how soft and comfortable these shoes are. After all, I’d made plenty of crocheted bedroom slippers for others, it was time to add myself to the equation. I was quite pleased with those crocheted bedroom slippers that I linked too, I made them about a month after I started crocheting. I’ve advanced a lot, with crochet, since those early days.

For future knitted mary jane slippers perhaps I’ll use more  elaborate stitches? I might even incorporate lace into some of the shoes. Who knows, perhaps I’ll add some embroidery too… I have many wonderful childhood memories, it’s nice that I can recreate some of my most cherished items through crafts.

Earlier today, I received the book… Wendy Knits Lace by Wendy D. Johnson, flipping through the book. I saw plenty of knitted lace projects (simple and advanced) that will eventually end up as works in progress.

I’m already a big fan of Wendy’s knitted designs, having thoroughly enjoyed her books; Socks from the Toe Up and Toe-Up Socks for Everybody. Wendy didn’t disappoint with this book, and I enjoyed flipping through the pages, and being inspired by the gorgeous knitted lace designs.

Regardless of your skill with lace knitting you’ll find an appropriate project. Wendy has an entire chapter focused on learning lace knitting techniques, and she even tells you how to fix common lace knitting mistakes; perfect for a new lace knitter, or someone who wants to brush up on lace knitting.

Of course, I’ve already casted on a knitted project from this book. How could I resist? The designs are lovely! I chose the Elizabeth cowl as my first project. For those new to lace knitting (and chart reading) I’d highly recommend this pattern. I’m already working on an elaborate project, and I don’t feel like adding another one — just yet.

The actual lace pattern consists of seven stitches, and there’s two lace pattern rows repeated throughout the entire row. The chart is simple (just four rows total) that’s repeated throughout the pattern. The only stitches used in the pattern are k, p, yo, k2tog, and ssk. These stitches  creates a simple, but pretty lacy design. For a new knitter ssk can be a bit deceptive, since if you took it literally, you would slip, slip, knit. But that’s not true. SSK is actually a left slanting decrease. k2tog is a right slanting decrease.

How do I make ssk stitches?

Ssk (usually) means that you slip each stitch knitwise, once stitch at a time. Occasionally, I’ve seen it done differently, but it was explained in the pattern. Moving the stitches from the left to right needle.

1. Slip each stitch, one at a time, from your left to right needle.
2. Insert the left knitting needle into the fronts of the slipped stitches which are now on your right needle.
3. Knit the slipped stitches together

Youtube has a video tutorial of the differences between ssk and k2tog. If you’re unsure how to do these stitches the video tutorial will show you how to make ssk and k2tog.

Over the past week, I’ve taken numerous photos of work in progresses (most of which are now complete) and finished objects. My daughter even caught a few pictures of me knitting, so I’ll be sure to post some of those too. I most likely will start posting the pictures here at Celebrate Life, tomorrow.

Knitting abbreviations

k=knit

p=purl

yo=yarn over

ssk=slip, slip, knit

k2tog=knit two together