Felted Clogs

I have loved making felted clogs for a long time, and every time I make another pair after a hiatus, I always say "I need to make these more often!".  The first pair after a break often feels like the very first pair ever, LOL, but then the next pair  goes better!

Back in August, I was asked to take part in another business's 400 Likes fan give away.  Sure, business was really slow for me, and giving away something for free is pretty much the same as advertising.  I offered a knit to order wool diaper cover, though the winner didn't have a baby, so I said anything up to a $20 value...she really liked the felted clogs, which I list for $40.  I said okay, but then they'd be $20, and she was fine with that.

Well, before we got it all settled, I went camping for a week, and then there was the start of school craziness, and then wham!  I got several orders from past clients....the slippers kept getting put off, and I finally finished them the end of October  Nov 7. They really don't take long, but sometimes life gets in the way.  And the inability to read a pattern you know too well :)

She liked mauve, but I didn't have much mauve, so she also picked blues.  I used the mauve as an accent, and inside.  It's fun to do the inner sole with a fun colour!

 It's always a hoot when people see the clogs before felting!

I think I forgot to take an after picture, but the winner was kind enough to.  And, since it took so long, I didn't charge her the extra $20 :)  These ones were made with two strands of Patons Classic Wool.

Christmas rolled around and I had no orders once I delivered a couple things on the 23rd.  I knew I wanted to make something for myself, but what?!  SO many things I wanted to make, but my sensible side won out and I started a pair of clogs for myself.  I was rather hasty in my yarn selection, since we were heading out on the road.  I picked a mint Lopi for the sole, and some Patons SWS for the body.

Problem.  The pattern calls for worsted weight held double.  The Lopi was almost bulky, but not 2-stands-worsted bulky.  The SWS is actually considered worsted, but feels a little thick.  I opted for one strand of each, thinking the thick yarn for the sole would be good.

We had a nasty, nasty drive, and I didn't get much of the first sole done, lost over an hour of knitting time LOL.  But once we were on the main highway I sailed through the pattern this time.

 When I felted them, the Lopi was not felting down as much as the SWS and they were too big.  I kept felting until there seemed to be a bit of a compromise, and the soles weren't bulging compared to the tops.  Then as they dried, I put bags on my feet and wore them, switching back and forth to round out the toes (that bottom one started out really pointy but is much rounder now).

Love the texture of the SWS!
They were snug at first, but have stretched nicely now.  It's wonderful to have warm feet again!!

Yarn In:  16 153gr
Yarn Out:  265gr + 207gr + 15 633gr = 16 105gr
Balance:  48gr more brought IN than out!
Costs:  $378.91/365 days = $1.04/day