French Press Felted Slippers

Ever since I seen these adorable French Press Felted Slippers, it was love at first sight. I knew they were going to be put on my feet, it was just a matter of when they were going to be finished. I bought the pattern as soon as I could, bought the yarn from the store, and began to start knitting away at the several pieces. It was quite the learning piece, that's for sure. I taught myself how to decrease, increase, seam, and how to read a knit pattern. And, as scary as it is - I even learned how to felt!I had a couple issues with my stockinette stitch, but since its felted, you don't see the issues at all, which is awesome.

They aren't finished though. I need to sew the straps and buttons on still, hopefully this weekend. I've been trying desperately to finish my fiance's birthday gift on time, but it is almost done, so I'll have a couple minutes to finish up my slippers on Sunday. There's definitely a couple things I'll be doing differently next time I make them though. Clipping excess yarn off before felting, use my row counter, make the bigger size (they are kind of snug on my size 7 feet), and be more careful with seaming. But other than those things - for my first try at actually doing some kind of structured pattern, this was an awesome start. I am pleased with my result, and I can't wait to wear them in the new apartment.

My next project? Socks. And its proving to be a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

Scrunchable Scarf

Hi everyone! It's been a while since I've blogged, but I have a good reason! I've been knitting! I kind of woke up one day and just decided I wanted to knit. So, I hunted the internet for videos, grabbed some aluminum needles and cheap yarn, and sat down to learn. I spend all weekend sitting at the computer watching videos on how to knit, and practicing knitting on this acrylic yarn. I came out with something that looked like a half circle (I was picking up extra stitches in weird places that was making my knitting go in all different directions). But still, I was determined and really wanting to learn, and last week, I finished my first project: a scarf from a pattern that I found on ravelry (searchable by "Scrunchable Scarf").

I am quite proud of it, it was my first project, took me a long time to finish. I heard this was supposed to be an easy, quick project? Not for me. I spent a ridiculous amount of time to complete it. But I did, and now I'm totally addicted to knitting. I love it. There really is not a better feeling than wearing out a scarf that you made yourself. It was a pretty simple pattern - just a set of knits and purls, but still, for a new knitter, this pattern had me wanting to throw it across the room. Once the pattern clicked with me though, I got quicker, and finished it pretty much without thinking about it.

I'll have to be putting away my knitting for a little while next month though, because we have a move coming up. We will be moving from a 3 bedroom apartment into a smaller apartment (yet, I will get a larger room? How does that work out?), so I am not really looking forward to that. What will be awesome though - is getting away from our horrifically loud upstairs neighbors. They have 4 young children who love to run, jump off beds, and drop every loud thing imaginable. Its like they have no clue that they are living upstairs. We also live right behind a large grocery store, and can recycling center. I had no idea just how loud a grocery store can be. Deliveries come in at very early mornings (like 4am to 5am), so we hear all the trucks come in, all the unloading, people throwing objects from one side of the lot to another. Then the recycling center - all day long is the loud sound of cans being emptied from one bin to another. Ahhh, getting rid of all that and the kids.... wonderful.

The new apartment is in a great location as well, its upstairs - so we won't have loud banging over our heads, its got a mature tree that gives windows plenty of shade at all hours of the day, and a large patch of grass right next to the complex. But the whole packing, moving, unpacking experience? Ugh.