Behind The Shack

the ramblings of an online yarn store……….

Pre-Felted French Knit’s Slippers November 5, 2009

Filed under: Knit-Alongs, Our Favourite Patterns, What We Are Knitting — behindthewoolshack @ 5:01 am

Funny to imagine these as the dainty little slippers…a bit fugly at the moment, but hopefully, in a few hours and after a day or so of drying, they will look elegant!  That’s the fun of felting…..

slippersprefelt

This is the story so far with Jemma’s slippers!  She also has chosen Malabrigo for her slippers (the colourway is Brown Berries)

slippersjemma

Now, where are all those progress shot’s you all promised you would email to us???  Don’t be shy now…….

 

And we’re off! October 29, 2009

Filed under: Knit-Alongs, Our Favourite Patterns, What We Are Knitting — behindthewoolshack @ 8:24 am

Ok, this is my progress report for the Felted Slipper Knit Along!  I’m using Malabrigo from my stash and have two balls of different colours, but are close enough to each other that I figured it wouldn’t matter (as the slippers are knit with double strands).  So far, it’s been super quick, and I hope to have them all finished over the weekend, and firmly on my feet!

slippersemma slippersemma3 slippersemma2 slipProg1

Sooooo, how are all your lads & lasses out there doing with your knitting?  You can email us at info@thewoolshack.com, with ANY photos of how you are coming along, or if you are a speedy super keen knitter, your finished shots!!

 

Join Our French Press Felted Slippers Knit-Along! October 23, 2009

Filed under: Knit-Alongs, Our Favourite Patterns, What We Are Knitting — behindthewoolshack @ 1:07 pm

As Christmas is right around the corner (eeekkk!) we thought it would be a fab idea to run a knit-along for a great

slippers2500

quick knit that makes for a fantastic and stylish Chrissie Pressie for the ones you love (or yourself!).   These French Press Felted Slippers are truly unique in their elegance (nice and feminine, without being too bulky) and the ability to dress up or dress down with a lovely selection of buttons is just too good to be true.

The pattern can be bought from French Press Knits on Etsy, or, if you are on Ravelry, you can buy the pattern from the Ravelry Downloads for French Press Felted Slippers.

Once you have the pattern, all you need is the yarn, needles and buttons for the slippers.  We are going to use Cascade 220, or Malabrigo Worsted Merino, of which you will need 2 balls, and 10mm needles (when you felt yarn, you knit it up really loose, then shrink it down in the washing machine), plus two buttons of your choice (we have a fine selection in store at the moment!) and I think I will go for some nice big leather buttons!

For our Knit-along, you don’t have to buy the yarn from us, or the buttons, or the needles in fact!  Just grab the pattern, get yourself a 100% wool (superwash won’t felt) 10ply/worsted weight wool and lets get knitting.

What we DO want from you are progress shots, as we’ll create a montage of during and after slippers.  EMAIL us to let us know you would like to join the knit-along, and then we’ll contact you to see how you’re going and gather a few piccys from you to post on the blog.

It’ll be fun, and it’s easy to get hooked on small projects, hence planning this one in plenty of time to get a few pairs knit for Christmas Presents.

slippers1500 buttons2

 

More fibre goodness! September 10, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — behindthewoolshack @ 7:26 am

Ok, for those of you who are spinners and chomping at the bit for Spun Out to open, this is probably just cruel of me, but I love to share (and tease you!).  This fibre is from The Thylacine, a Tassie lady who now resides in the UK.  It’s divine…..it’s actually a million times better than divine, especially the overdyed grey merino and oatmeal blue faced leicester!  But, you will have to wait (sorry folks, things are taking longer than expected!) but trust me, it will be SOOOO worth it!  For now, just ooogle, enjoy and anticipate!

thylacine

 

Luka’s Alien September 7, 2009

Filed under: What We Are Knitting — behindthewoolshack @ 8:00 am

Now I admit that I often get sidetracked by little bitty projects for the kids.  It takes some of the sting out of my larger, adult projects, and they are definitely quick fun fixes, plus this particular knit was EXTREMELY well received by son #2, Luka Jack!  He LOVES it, and take’s it everywhere, which is always a nice feeling for the knitter in question.  This Alien 22 pattern is available as a download, along with a host of other yummies too!  I knit this in a standard 8ply wool, and it’s great for using up scraps leftover from other projects.

alien2

 

Ribbed Cotton Top September 6, 2009

Filed under: Uncategorized — behindthewoolshack @ 3:35 am

Kathleen has knocked up a lovely knit, just in time for Spring/Summer!  This pattern is from Jo Sharp Knit Issue 5 called Ribbed Top, and she knit it in Jo Sharp Soho Summer Cotton.  It looks so lovely on her, and we can see she will easily get plenty of wear from it this Summer.

ribbedtop