Even first-time knitters can whip up these adorable bunnies in a flash. The entire slipper is knit in garter stitch (knit every row) on straight needles. Designed to fit a toddler, the slippers can be made larger or smaller by knitting more or fewer rows, respectively, before decreasing for the toe. You can also adjust the finished size by felting (agitating) more or less.
At base (straight edge) of ear, bring corners together and stitch.
Fasten ears to the slipper at the back, to help them stand up.
Place additional stitching along front for extra security.
EMBROIDERING THE FEATURES
With crewel yarn, satin stitch a nose; use French knots for eyes.
Make tiny stitches with quilting thread, leaving tails uncut for whiskers.
Soft, cozy, furry — what more could a toddler want? Don’t be put off from doing this project because it uses a knitting technique known as “turning the heel.” It’s really not hard when you follow the directions closely, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly and easily these adorable slippers knit up.
This knitting pattern was popular in the 1950s, but the felted version is more shapely than its vintage ancestor. The felting process softens and hides the seams. These slippers are simple garter stitch (knit every row) on straight needles. The felt ball “buttons” are easy and fun to make, too.
Matching stripes, stitch toe edges together for about 7″ (17.5cm).
Stitch heel edges together 4″ (10cm) from top. Then flatten sides as shown, and stitch.
MONTPELIER, VERMONT
A pediatric occupational therapist by trade, Vermont fiber artist Heather Kerner believes in the meditative power of repetitive crafts like knitting and felting, which she calls “replenishing” and “deeply relaxing.” A crafts-woman who works in a wide range of media, from beads to wire basketry, Heather is interested in the whole process of felting, and in everything you can do with wool. Fascinated by wool in all forms, she was trained by fiber-working friends, and attended her first formal training in 2003 at Sharon Costello’s Felter’s Fling Conference. Heather uses every kind of wool in her work, from unwoven locks and batting to spun yarn. “Just as not all knitting projects are felted, not all felt projects are knitted,” says Heather.
Heather’s baskets, which she shows in juried craft shows, are made by felting and stretching wool batting around a form in hot soapy water. She explains that this is just another way of getting wool fibers to felt, and she’s expanding her work to see how sculptural felt can be used to create different forms. She describes her felt vessels as somewhat like pottery. “I’m really excited to explore three-dimensional shapes.”
Elaborating on her love affair with wool, she writes: “The functional potential in using a natural and renewable resource such as wool excites me. It is a material that offers an appreciation of Nature, centuries of functional and primitive uses, and the opportunity for unique design. She takes her inspiration from all kinds of fabric art, from the knitted projects of her native Maine to traditional Turkish and Mongolian patterns. Taking a cue from the traditions of other cultures, she recently started working with bold color combinations. “The magic with felt is that it’s not predictable. It’s a physical process, and kneading it in your hands, you see how the wool changes. You quickly get a feel for what the material can do.”
Pre-felted squares, balls, dyed locks, and needle felting all make beautiful ornamentation, Heather suggests. “The possibilities are endless!” She enjoys going to sheep and wool festivals to collect new and unusual fibers. She suggests locks of wool, dyed bright colors, or with just their natural lustre, as a decoration on finished pieces. “Just play, and you’ll learn what works.”
These striped slippers are as soft and comfy as a pair of heavy socks, and they’re knitted the same way. For a variation on the pictured slippers, knit plain-color heels and toes in one of the contrasting yarns, or turn them into super-fuzzy slippers by holding a strand of brushed mohair with the worsted-weight yarn.
These long-wearing slippers are sure to become favorites of the lucky owner. There’s a lot of shrinkage in this yarn, but anyone who slips them on his or her feet will love the silky-softness of the thick felted slipper-socks that result.
Kristiane Kristensen
EAST BURKE, VERMONT
With a background in clothing and costume design and construction, Kristiane Kristensen is fascinated by the range of possibilities for using felt in garments, as well as the characteristics of felt that make it possible to create the actual fabric for a given piece. Hats are her primary focus, but she is also eagerly experimenting with designing single-piece (no-sew) vests and jackets.
Kristiane uses felt made directly from the fleece, rather than first being knitted or woven. She washes, dyes, and cards (a process that aligns and fluffs up the fleece) wool sheep fleece, then felts it, working the piece into its final shape.
Kristiane enjoys the fact that the ancient craft of felting is still around today. She points out that each of the stages involved in the preparation and creation of a felted object can be done in numerous different ways, allowing the artist to use any one of many traditional techniques or combination of techniques.
