The Sailor Slippers are an adorable set of felted slippers. They made by knitting them with a feltable yarn like Drops Andes, and then washing them in hot water to felt them down and make them solid and sturdy. It’s like magic in your washing machine!
Notes
There is a template you can print out (or upload to a drawing program) and colour in to help you visualise colour combinations, which can be found HERE!
Skill level: Advanced beginner
Techniques
Long tail cast on, backwards loop cast on, stockinette stitch, increasing (m1l and m1r) and decreasing (k2tog and ssk) stitches, picking up stitches, seaming (mattress and Kitchener stitch), applied i-cord edge.
The Sailor Slippers are worked flat in stockinette stitch starting with the heel panel. Stitches are then picked up at the right side of the heel panel, cast on in extension and picked up at the left side of the heel panel. This forms the top of the slippers, which is knit from ankle to toe. From there, you will carry on knitting the sole from toe to heel. The top of the foot and sole are seamed together using mattress stitch, and the heel panel and sole are then seamed horizontally. The applied i-cord is then added to form the slipper opening, before washing and felting.
Sizes
US Women shoe size: 5.5 (6.5) 7.5 (8.5) 9.5 (10.5) 12
US Mens shoe size: 3.5 (4.5) 5.5 (6.5) 7.5 (8.5) 10 (10.5) 11.5 (12.5)
We just finished Venlig, a new store sample! Venlig is a simple raglan knit from the top down in one piece with a little funnel neck. We made it with two strands of super soft, Drops Melody held together, so it’s super cozy but also airy. Drops Melody is a brushed alpaca yarn, which has the texture of a bulky mohair but the softness of baby alpaca (seriously, it feels like a cloud). We used 10mm/US15 needles, so it works up fast and easy, with little fuss (see notes below about needle size). If you want to use a heavier, more traditional texture of yarn, try using a single strand of Drops Andes: 5(6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10) and 9mm/US13 and 7mm/US10.75 needles.
Notes
Our tension came out a bit looser than expected. We made size 1, but it measures 43″, so it fits size 2. When I swatched, I got 10 sts/4″, but Erica got 9 sts/4″ in the finished sweater …. so do a little swatch before you start to make sure your sweater comes out the size you want! We used 8mm/US11 & 10mm/US15 needles, but if you’re finding your tension is looser, go down a size to 7mm/US10.75 & 9mm/US13 needles.
If you want to use a heavier, more traditional texture of yarn, try using a single strand of Drops Andes: 5(6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, 10) and 9mm/US13 and 7mm/US10.75 needles.
I just noticed the Ashley Lillis is retiring from knitting design and her entire library of previously knitting patterns are going away and are for sale for $7 (that’s seven bucks for all of them … it’s a steal). Ashley focuses her designs on basic garments that are suitable for inexperienced knitters. She offers lots of free YouTube video tutorials to guide you through the project. Her instructions are incredibly clear, the patterns are well written, and the video support is amazing. You can read more about her career shift and the pattern collection HERE (or watch her YouTube video HERE).
This easy pullover sweater is a project for the beginner knitter and fun for the more advanced knitter. The chunky yarn and larger needles make this quick and fun so you can cozy up in this oversized knit sweater in no time.
Size
Finished bust size of 37 (40, 43, 46.5, 49.5, 53, 56, 59) in OR 93.5 (101.5, 109.5, 118, 126, 134, 142, 150.5) cm.
The sweater is intended to have about 6-10 in/15-25.5 cm of positive ease so pick a size that will provide the intended ease or adjust to your desired ease. For example, if you have a 36 in/91.5 cm bust, a size 3 would be ideal for about 7 in/18 cm of ease. Feel free to adjust body length and armhole depth as desired.
Everyone needs a classic V-Neck cardigan to complete the wardrobe. This simple top-down raglan cardigan has a simple V-neck with gorgeous wood buttons. You can wear it open with your favorite tee underneath or wear it as a pullover on its own. The Hillside cardigan is knit with chunky yarn and larger needles so it knits up quite quickly. It’s great for beginner knitters and fun for the more advanced as well.
Size
finished bust size of 33.5 (37.5, 41.5, 45.5, 49.5, 53.5) in OR 84.5 (95, 105, 115, 125.5, 135.5) cm.
The cardigan is intended to have about 3-6 in/7.5-15 cm of positive ease so pick a size that will provide the intended ease or adjust to your desired ease. For example, if you have a 38 in/96.5 cm bust, a size 3 would be ideal for about 3.5 in/9 cm of ease. Feel free to adjust body length and armhole depth as desired. You can try on the cardigan as you go.
The Open Trails Sweater Vest is a fun, quick knit that’s great for beginner knitters and fun for the more advanced. The vest can be worn on its own or over your favorite t-shirt, dress, or collared shirt. It’s knit in the round from the bottom up, divided for the fronts and backs, and then seamed at the top. The collar and armhole ribbing are picked up and knit in the round.
Size
Finished bust size of 35 (38.5, 41.5, 45, 48, 51, 54.5, 57.5) in OR 89.5 (97.5, 105.5, 114, 122, 130, 138, 146) cm.
Intended to have about 3-5 in/7.5-13 cm of positive ease so pick a size that will provide the intended ease or adjust to your desired ease.
Our fall Drops stock has FINALLY dropped! An unfortunate victim of COVID supply chain fatigue, our order was expected in August, then October, but got stuck in all kinds of international shipping snafus. Regardless, it’s here now and we are GRATEFUL for the bounty! There are bunch new colours in Drops Air and Drops Kid-Silk (including those marvellously neutral blush pinks and beiges). We also received some much sought after and back-ordered CHRISTMAS COLOURS in Drops Nepal.
Drops Air is a deliciously soft and airy yarn. It knits up beautifully into hats, scarves, cowls, sweaters, blankets, toys – you name it! It is a ‘blown’ yarn, which means it has a core (polyamide) that is a knitting tube, and then the fibre is literally blown into it, creating a light, fluffy, fuzzy haze of alpaca floating around it. It knits up easily, and you can even knit with 2 strands held together to bulk it up to a bulky weight (try a 6.5mm/US10.5). the yardage is also generous, coming in at 150m for a 50g ball. One of the extra bonuses with this yarn is that it’s been used a zillion times on Ravelry, so there’s lots of pattern inspiration out there and you know that its not going to let you down.
The wrap above is Hamburg Calling, a free pattern from Verena Bahls. Use 6 skeins of Drops Air (if you have a hard time finding the PDF on the website it is HERE).
Drops Kid-Silk is a luxurious, feather-light brushed mix of super kid mohair and mulberry silk. It gives garments a sophisticated look, whether used alone or held together with other yarns (see projects by PetiteKnit).
Drops Nepal is a great staple yarn made with superfine alpaca and Peruvian highland wool. Both fibers are untreated, which means that they are only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to the dyeing. This highlights the fibers’ natural properties, making it a lofty, bouncy yarn that’s great for garments. It’s hand-washable and felts beautifully. Drops Nepal is great for sweaters, hats, scarves, mitts, blankets – you name it. It also comes in 50g balls, making it an amazing choice for fair-isle projects.
The sweaters above are different iterations of Riddari, a pattern from Istex Lopi that works up beautifully in Drops Nepal. (If can’t tolerate the itch but love the look of Icelandic knits try substituting Drops Air – it won’t be as dense or itchy as a proper wool sweater, but on the upside, it’ll be light as air and soft as a baby’s butt.)
Drops Wish is a dreamy, super bulky weight, blown yarn made from baby alpaca blown into a core of merino wool and pima cotton. Wish is cosy, light, airy, soft, fluffy and absolutely itch-free. Wish is a great choice for sweaters, accessories (hats, wraps, scarves, cowls, shawls, etc), blankets – you name it. To make for a REALLY thick knit, you can hold 2 strands of this yarn together and use 15mm/US19 needles.
The sweater pattern above is Harvest Queen, a free pattern from Drops that works up beautifully in either Drops Wish or Drops Air (holding 2 strands together). We made one and it worked up beautifully (blog post forthcoming).
Drops Melody is a super soft, super delicious alternative to Mohair it looks like mohair, but it has NONE of the itch! It’s super soft, light and airy. Drops Melody is a great choice for oversize garments and accessories, although it would also make a stunning and very cozy blanket. It knits up quickly on big needles without the piece becoming heavy and it can be held together with another yarn to create a fuzzy effect, or to give garments extra volume and softness.
The sweater pattern above is Caja, a free pattern from Ravelry. It knits up with 1 strand of Melody and one of a fingering weight yarn – like Cascade Heritage.
Drops Brushed Alpaca and Silk is a luxurious alpaca and silk yarn that looks like beautiful (but itchy) kid mohair but feels like super soft alpaca. It’s light and fluffy, with plenty of halo. You can work with it as a single strand or hold two or three strands together to bulk it up for larger needles. It is very affordably priced and makes a great substitute for other kid mohair yarns.
Drops Andes is a soft, chunky blend of superfine alpaca and Peruvian Highland wool. The mixture brings out the alpaca silky surface, while the wool gives the yarn better shape and stability. It’s super easy to work with and works up quickly on large needles. It’s also great for felting and is ideal for felted slippers, mitts and bags. Andes is also ideal for beginner knitters, two balls are all you need to make a scarf!
The yarn fibres are untreated, which means that it is only washed and not exposed to any chemical treatment prior to dying. This highlights the fibre’s natural properties, while it also provides a better shape and texture quality.
Please meet our latest success, Decemberist! I’ve been eyeballing this pattern for a while and figured “What have I got to loose?!” It knits fast with super thick yarn on 9mm/US13 needles (or larger if your yarn is accommodating). We used 3 balls of Drops Andes in colour 8112, an icy blue, so it was a pretty affordable project too ($33). The pattern was straight-forward, and the lace is given in both written instructions and as a chart – it probably fits into an advanced-beginner/intermediate skill level, and would probably make a decent introduction to lace knitting for anyone wanting to expand and explore.
Overall, I think it is a very successful project, and it would make a great holiday gift knit (I kind of like that it looks like a substantial sized gift, even though it’s light on cost and labour). If you know someone with a cottage it would make an amazing wrap to snuggle up in at night or at the end of the season. Women who work in cold offices will also appreciate one of these. I also think that this wrap is so pretty that when your friends/family/colleagues see you wearing this they are going to ask you to make them one, so you might as well get ahead of the curve and start early. Will it look a little strange seeing the women in your office walking around wearing the same wrap in different colours? Maybe, but the Pointer Sisters rocked the look, so I say own it and be your best, favourite you!
Yarn
Drops Andes is a comfortable, lofty 2ply blend of Alpaca and Peruvian Wool. It’s soft to the touch, and kind of feels like what I always wish wool actually felt like – that stage that is just short of the buttery soft texture you normally find with a fine merino or baby alpaca. All of the colours are lovely, but I think the pattern would look especially good in the following:
Greys: 519 Dark Grey Mix, 9020 Light Grey Mix, 9015 Grey Mix, 8465 Medium Grey (solid)
Neutrals: 100 Off White (naturalish), 1101 White (cream), 206 Light Beige Mix, 619 Beige Mix (oatmeal)
Decemberist would also be exquisite knit in a single ply merino like Malabrigo Rasta (5 skeins) and Cascade Spuntaneous (3 skeins). Both yarns can be pushed up to a 12mm/US17 needle.
How to Grow Yours Decemberist
If you want to make yours larger the easiest way is to use a slightly thicker yarn with a larger needle. Malabrigo Rasta (5 skeins) and Cascade Spuntaneous (3 skeins) would both be great yarns to sub, and you can go up to a 12mm/US17 needle with both of them. Unless you are a tight knitter, I would NOT increase the needle size for the Drops Andes; after blocking the fabric flows and drapes, its a beautiful tension (around 9 sts over 4″/10cm).
If you feel confident with your mathimagical abilities, you can also upsize the pattern by increasing the amount of stocking stitch you work before starting the lace. You’ll need to add an extra 36 sts to the stocking stitch section (so you’ll need to do an extra 6 repeats for “Section 1”, which would add an extra 12 rows). Depending on your tension, this should give you about an extra 3.75″/9.5cm of depth and about 16″/40cm in width.
If you don’t already own 9mm/US13 needles (or larger) this might be a great opportunity to buy some Knitters Pride Interchangeable needles. You’ll need a long cable for this project, which is something you may not get a lot of use out of in the future (unless you’re going to get into making Bulky Blankets, which are awesome things in their own right). With interchangeable needles one pair of tips can become any length of circular needle from 24″ to 60″, and extra cords are a very reasonable $3.97 each (instead of $20 to $35 for a new pair of needles with a different length cord).
Conclusions
This project is a two thumbs up! It’s pretty, fast, not too complicated, affordable, and giftable. I’m thinking about trying it again in Malabrigo Rasta in 429 Cape Cod Grey, but I’ll wait a month or so in case you guys need the yarn.
