"Let There Be Fuzzy Feet!"

Updates! Updates! Get your updates!

I should take a hint from the airlines and pad my schedules so as to insure on time arrival.  I didn't, but at least this update is not too terribly overdue.

Erin finished a pair of felted slippers and needle felted them for decoration.  MBT finished pair #3, the "Extravagant Fuzzt Feet" and they do indeed look like little bits of luxury living.  Courtney finished another pair, in glorious purple.  Carol's in a fabulous pink are also just out of the washer.  Leah finished a second pair in a great brown and blue stripe pattern.  They're a present for her lucky step-mom.

We've got some new fuzzy knitters added to the sidebar.  I have a couple of more to add yet as I was having trouble last night accessing blogger blogs, so I promise to finish up today.

Thanks to Tara and Amy for passing along this link to a conversion table for translating shoe size to foot length!

That's it for now, but I'll look for some more tidbits during lunch.

Abducted by Aliens

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  How else could I explain two weeks without an update?

So, while it's long overdue, here's the latest on completed and in process Fuzzy Feet!

Leah bit on my request for a howler and sent me one to remind me to post her in the next round of updates.  What a great idea!

Shannon's finished hers and promises pictures soon!  Beth is also done, but as of yet sadly photo less.  We'll see them both soon I hope.

Tori's been busy making multiple pairs, including some she dyed with Kool Aid.  Brunswick's Germantown is her favorite yarn, though sadly it's a collector's item.

Alma's pair is being proudly worn by her husband.  Lori's are a great shade of blue, though less fuzzy than she expected.  She'd also like some advice on how much to felt gift fuzzies?  Should they be only partially felted and given to the recipient with instructions on how to create the perfect fit?

Amy would like to know if anyone knows if there are any tables or information that would help to convert shoe sizes into knitting instructions for fuzzy feet.

Kelly's knitted one and is working on her second.  But with the knitting time over the long weekend, perhaps the second is already done?  MBT has finished three pairs.  My personal favorite is the orange and red version.  No wonder the recipient loved them!  Rachel has some great fuzzies, and some cool felted mittens to her credit.

Noelle has done three pairs at least, but has even more planned for holiday gifts.  Her list of knitted presents has me sweating -- she is ambitious as well as talented. 

Rebecca finished hers awhile ago, my apologies for not getting them posted sooner.  She does a nice job of comparing different felted slipper patterns and discussing the changes she made between her first and second pair of fuzzies.

Susannah is well on her way with both her feet and a career change.  I hope she finishes both projects successfully.

Maryse has hopefully conquered her aversion to socks by the process of completing her Fuzzy Feet.  Scroll down to her November 21 entry to see them, but don't go too fast, she's made a bunch of other wonderful stuff since then.

But, of all the Fuzzy Feeter, I think Laura deserves special recognition.  She's managed to finish her first Neapolitan Fuzzy Foot while recovering from a c-section and the resulting infection, caring for her newborn and her toddler.  Go over and wish her well and welcome her new family member.

That's all for the moment.  I'm in training this week, so if I get off early one day I'm going to do a big check of all participant blogs.

UPDATE:  I forgot lovely Meghan when I typed this last night.  She's finished her first pair and they are awaiting felting.  Go check out her November 14th entry.

I also forgot to mention Jenny's cool black and orange fuzzies to the done list!

And, what about Amy's?  I love Kureyon fuzzies.  Plus, she's got a pattern in the winter Knitter's.  I'm impressed.

It seems the oversight list may be longer than the original post.  My, how embarrassing!  In the spirit of full disclosure, I also forgot:  Beth, Keli, Susan (who has a loverly new house to pad around in while wearing her fuzzies), Ada, and Dani (who has a b'day on Thursday, please wish her well)!

UPDATE #2:  A special apology also goes to Heidi, who I thought I had added to the list, but didn't.   This is especially egregious as she's finished three pairs so far.

Goodness, you'd think I'd be able to find things in my inbox.  Evidently not.  Another reason to not let another two weeks go by before posting any updates.

If I've forgotten anyone else, please let me know and I'll remedy the oversight as soon as possible.

I'm hoping by the next update Laurie, the instigator of this madness, will have finished her feet!

P.S.  I'm planning on weekly updates on Monday from now on.  But in the interim, please stay in touch and feel free to answer questions that arise in the comments.

Inch by inch, foot by foot

I know you all though I've disappeared into the rabbit's hole visiting Wonderland, but you're wrong.  After spending Tue - Fri in a Florida hotel's conference room freezing to death I arrived home I discovered that the house elves I contracted with didn't turn up for duty.  I spent the last two days trying to catch up.  Futile I know, but I tried anyway.

That's my excuse for being so quiet this past week.  But, here is what you've all been waiting for, an UPDATE!!!

Finished Fuzzies can be seen by visiting the following blogs:

Heidi's, Amy's (in a great Kureyon colorway), Anna's. Lisa's finished too, but hers are a secret gift so no picture.  Go and congratulate her anyway!

Follow Jennifer's saga from the start of her pair to completion, just follow the entries down through the story.

Terri's done, but no picture yet. Tara's done, and she has a new blog addy to celebrate as well.

Kat finished hers way back on the 7th, scroll down to check them out.  On the way, take a look at Tara's pair.  Tara is blogless and Kat posted photos for her.  We know why she has no blog -- just look at all the extra details on her fuzzies.  Who would have time to blog with the added attention to detail!

MBT is on to her second pair.  And while you're there, check out her amazing tutorial.  Phew, gets me off the hook for the moment!

Kristy has forayed into blog life with this project, so check out her new digs and her feet.

Ok, I think that's everyone.  If I've missed you, please send me a note (even a howler is acceptable if you're waiting for Friday's opening of HP and the Goblet of Fire!).  I'm still working through the list of sign ups, but I should be caught up soon.

For a moment anyway.

Fuzzy Flash

Late breaking news.

Deirdre and Karen have also finished their first pairs of the fuzzy along!

Sunday, oops, Make that Monday Update

Oops, I've left this longer than I had planned.

There are a bunch of updates and finished feet to report!.

Amy, Courtney, Becky, Wendy, Patty and another Amy are done!  Stop by their blogs and check them out and leave a comment -- we all love comments! 

Fannie Pie has one super long foot ready to felt.  Kristin has finished hers, but is waiting for her Mom before felting -- going for that perfect fit.  Bad Amy has a huge pair in Noro Kureyon #95 (bad isn't it to recognize a colorway without prompting, but in my defense I have a bunch in stash) ready to felt.

The Chicken Goddess has also done.  The felting was planned as a part of yesterday's wedding anniversary celebrations -- no pictures yet -- maybe the festivities got in the way!

And the are a bunch of questions that have been asked of the group:

Jennifer would like some advice on felting in a front loading washer.  SpaceCase would love pointers from anyone who has experience felting by hand.  Stephanie would like some ideas on how to make the soles less slippery. Tori would like some advice on dying at the same time as felting.

There's been some good responses received in the comments to some other concerns, so if you have a question, go and check out the conversation and then add your own.

Phew, that's all.  If I've missed anybody, just let me know and I'll post an update.

I will be out of town for business this week, but if I get time and access I'll post some photos of techniques that I took this weekend.  MBT will also be updating her blog with techinique pictures when she digs out from her deadlines.

Keep 'em coming!

Techniques

There have been a lot of questions in the comments on specific technique issues -- setting up the heel flap, toe decreases, how to follow the pattern if using two circs or DPNs instead of a single circular.

Would it be of interest if I posted photos showing how to work these and other futzy parts -- turning the heel comes to mind?  I realize there are lots of participants with lots of experience with this pattern or socks on the list, but it may be of interest to novice sock knitters.  Comments.

I'm starting my second pair tonight while felting #1.  I can post details of my progress easily -- assuming I can learn to follow the pattern.  You can learn more about my, ahem, small mistake on my blog.

In other news, Noelle is done with a cool pair of Kureyon Feet, and has even posted the obligatory hat shot! Amy is also planning on felting her first pair tonight. MBT was last heard looking for felting paraphernalia for her first pair, though no pics yet.  Becky is well on her way with her second foot.

This list is not comprehensive.  I hope to have some time this evening to troll through participant blogs, but it may take a while!  If you post an update, please drop me a line or leave a comment here so I can be sure to post your news for the group!

Fast Start

There are already some fully finished Fuzzy Feet to report.  Carry's done a great purple and green version, Bethany has finished some in black with stripes/heels in blue and pink, and Noelle has done some in Kureyon #147 (no picture yet, but soon and go check out her costume and fantastic handspun).

I myself am in the middle of my second foot and am hoping to finish during lunch!

Please use the comments to spark conversation, ask questions, brag about accomplishments.  That's the real center of the knit-a-long!  One thread that's already come up in the discussion is needle choices.   There are a lot of options: 16" circular, DPNs, two circulars, one circular using the magic loop method -- anyone know any others?  How knitters choose to work in the round is an interesting topic because it's definitely not about what's right, but what you prefer.  Then again, most of knitting is about what works for you, not mandated standards.

My first foot was started on a 16" circular as suggested in the pattern.  By the time I got the instep I realized I hated knitting on a short circular needle.  It felt as if there was nothing for me to hang on to,  so I switched to DPNs.  I prefer DPNs for most of my sock knitting, but I'm finding working with size 10.5s in plastic tough compared to the itsy-bitsy wood versions I use for traditional socks. I may opt to try using two circs for the next pair.

If you get a chance, spend some time reading other participants' blogs -- it's fun, inspiring and a great way to procrastinate.

BTW, there are 107 Fuzzy Knitters in this manic felting enterprise!

Phew!

Wow!  The Fuzzy Knitter roster is fast approaching 100, that's ONE HUNDRED, as in a lot of warm feet.

As I write this there are 90 knitters on the sidebar.  I haven't taken a count of the requests that came in last night and this morning, but we may already be past the century mark.

If you don't see your name and you sent me an email Friday or Saturday, I apologize.  I've tried to go through the emails in order, but I may have missed some.  Please send me another email and I will gladly remedy the situation. 

Uploading everyone's names has been time consuming, especially with Typepad's recent service problems.  And, as lame as it is, this is my excuse for not posting the buttons that I promised on Friday.  But here they are thanks to Laurie, Cary and Kat:

Please remember to host on your own server!!!  Email if you have questions about how to do this.

I'll be back later with an update!

 

Yarn Options

I admit to being a lazy knitter, and one who is easily swayed by the image so glamorously portrayed in a magazine or pattern book.  Because I foolishly delude myself that if I knit that garment, in that same color, in that same yarn I will be transported to a life of luxury and I will suddenly be six feet tall, while weighing exactly the same amount.

I'm foolish, but I've been trying to let go of these preconceptions and open myself up to, dare I say it, yarn substitutions.  I've gotten pretty good at it where felting projects are concerned.  I know most of you are more frugal and crafty than I, and would never knit fuzzy feet except in stash yarn, but I thought it might be of interest to post good alternatives to the Lamb's Pride used in the original version.  In fact, none of the LYS in my area stock Lamb's Pride. I lust after it, but I don't have any.

So, just in case you have to, or simply want to, buy some new yarn here are easily available choices.  You'd never want to actually buy yarn, right?

Cascade 220*

Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted

Nashua Yarns Creative Focus Worsted**

Knit Picks Wool of the Andes

Elann Highland Wool

Noro Kureyon***

Arucania Nature Wool Worsted

Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed

Plymouth Galway

I tried to stick to suggestions that are reasonably economic.  OK, the Noro option might be getting a up there a bit.  There are millions of others not on this list -- it's easy enough to sub in a bulkier or lighter weight yarn.  This is felting, gauge differences that at not too dramatic will all be lost in the wash.  Literally.  Just felt to fit.  The finished items may differ some in thickness, but they'll be cozy.

For a brief moment this morning I even considered using some Colinette Point 5 I have in stash for this project.  I may yet give it a try.

When subbing, just make sure the natural fiber content is very high.  Otherwise felting action will be tough to come by.  I've felted Classic Elite La Gran, which has something like 13% nylon.  It took a while, but it worked and is lovely.

The asteriks are my planned Fuzzies.  Cascade for me, Naturespun for child #1, Nashua Creative Focus for child #2.  I'm really looking forward to using the Creative Focus -- I think the alpaca content will add a lovely haze and softness to the finished product.  I may have to steal them from her.

I can't wait to see what everyone else picks.  If you don't have a blog, please leave a comment and let us know what you're planning.

Check out Theresa's blog.  She's done before we've even really started!  Maybe she's planning more?

Make fuzzy feet, everyone else is!

If you want to make fuzzy feet, raise your hand.

Ok, that won't work on the internet.

I guess you'll just have to send me an email so I can add you to the participants list.  Please include you blog address if you have one so I can link to it in the sidebar.

As we go on, I'll post updates on who's finished, who's started, who's got good tips, who's had funny mishaps, etc.

Get your pattern here.

If you don't have a blog and would like to join in, please do.  I'll be setting up a photo album for completed fuzzy feet, so we'll still be able to see your feet.  Just send me a pic when they're done.