I am so happy to be the fifth stop in the Blog Tour of Knit a Dozen Plus Slippers by Amy Polcyn and House of White Birches!
This is a great book of thirteen knitted slippers patterns by Amy Polcyn. There is something for every taste and skill level! Directions are given for three different sizes and the instructions are easy to follow and explained well. Following the review, Amy was gracious enough to answer some questions about her design work.
Brightly Beaded Moccasins is one of my favorite pair of slippers in the book. They look so comfortable and functional, but because of the added touch of seed beading, have just the right touch of elegance. The color pattern looks simple to do and is highlighted by contrasting beads that are sewn in place. What a nice addition!Crochet Cafe: Can you explain the beading technique that is used on the finished knitted slipper?
Amy: To keep it easy and to use the size beads I wanted, I simply sewed the beads in place on the finished slipper, following the chart and using matching thread. Alternately, you could string the beads on the yarns and knit them in as you go, but along with working the colorwork pattern at the same time this might be too "fussy" for some. If you choose to string the beads on the yarn, slightly larger beads may be required.
Crochet Cafe: Is there a special technique for changing colors in knitting?
Amy: I used a stranded colorwork technique for the toe of the slippers, similar to Fair Isle designs. Carry the yarn not in use loosely along the wrong side of the work, and knit each stitch in the color shown on the chart. To keep the work from puckering, be sure to avoid pulling the yarn tightly when making a color change. This usually requires keeping the tension looser than you would normally.
Crochet Cafe: Would a beginning knitter be able to follow this pattern?
Amy: These and are an excellent choice for a beginner! The slippers are worked in garter stitch throughout, so each row is knitted (no purling). Although the short row heel may seem tricky for a new knitter with the "wrap and turn" instruction, it is simply a matter of moving the yarn between the needles, slipping the next stitch, and moving the yarn back. The bulky yarn and larger needles make this a fast project, so even a new knitter can be done in no time. For a more experienced knitter, it's possible to whip these out in an evening. I'm planning to make a few pairs of these for myself to use up some leftover yarn-- Mary Janes are my favorite.
Crochet Cafe: Do you have a favorite way to cast on your stitches?
Amy: My favorite cast on is the long tail. I think it's fast to work, easy, and gives a neat, fairly elastic edge. I don't like taking the time to calculate how long the tail needs to be before casting on, though, so I just overcompensate and cut off the excess when I'm done.
Thanks, Amy!
Knit a Dozen Plus Slippers can be purchased HERE.
Be sure to check out the next stop on this blog tour tomorrow at:
Two Sticks and a Sheep by Amy Duncan
Thanks, Amy!
Knit a Dozen Plus Slippers can be purchased HERE.
Be sure to check out the next stop on this blog tour tomorrow at:
Two Sticks and a Sheep by Amy Duncan
