Felting works with basically any untreated single-ply 100% sheep wool yarn. There's no need to look out for special "felting wool". Just pick something chunky (approx 50g = 50yds) and you will be fine. Or use some thinner scraps from your stash and hold them double. Felting can look stunning if you blend multiple colors together! Here's the link for the pattern: www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/1622393973/easy-felted-slippers-knitting-pattern
I love felting. I used to make felted cotton yarn with cheap cotton balls and two wire cat brushes. I am very good at making yarn because I am used to make the yarn.
Hi Norman, I was an English knitter and wanted to learn continental knitting. I tried everything from books to other RUclips videos but I just couldn’t get it. Until I found your channel that is. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you so much for all of the detailed videos you make and for your encouragement. I can’t wait to try these slippers. They look comfy and fun to knit.
YAY! SUCCESS!! I just completed my first project with your "recipe" and I'm thrilled at the results. I've always been fascinated with felting and have wasted countless hours and yards and yards of yarn on failed projects, BUT NOT THIS TIME! Can't wait to try out other yarns with your great instructions. Cheers!!!!!! For new felters: ANY WOOL that is NOT SUPERWASHED will felt. Just do the sample, take good notes as to how and time it takes for a good felt structure to develope, take your measurements after felting and you're on your way.
Norman you’re golden!!!🤩 I’ve been seriously hunting for the perfect slipper pattern to make for my dad for the holidays and wasn’t satisfied with any I had come across until this! Thank you for all your hard work and attention to detail that makes the finished piece that much better!! ❤
You are amazing Norman. My father's name is Norman too we call him Norm for short. My grandmother also is named Norma and it's a female version of Norman. It's kinda funny how they got their name too. My great grandmother had a German friend and she had a son named Norman and when she got sick with cancer my great grandmother told her she will name her first child after her son in memory of their sisterhood. The name was passed down by two generations. My father and two cousins share the name today. Also, My great great grand parents were native American and African mix they survived slavery. A German family helped them cross the Mississippi river and gave them a safe place to stay. I think it's amazing how life is like a circle it can come back to you and remind you how short and small life really is, and how it's important to be mindful because you don't know what will happen next. Knitting reminds me of the circle of life too, it is always connected and it ends with itself, it needs to be cared for or it will fail. My great great grand parents met a German family that saved their lives and later my great grandmother met a German woman who was her best friend and her legacy lives on through the friendship they had and the name of her son. They are not even related yet they are. It's a circle of life. It's weaved by experiences instead of yarn. Also, most weaving crafts stated with telling stories through patterns. 😊 My family has items in a museum that portraits part of their journey through weaving tapestries and baskets. All cultures have weaving crafts and pottery because those are common things that are available through nature.
Hi, from the UK, i just found your channel, new to knitting so binge watching your videos, would love more for beginners, swatches of different types of knits and how to do them, etc. Youve found yourself a new Sub, thankyou for putting these videos up theyre a great help and I appreciate the work youve put into these.
heh! happy to hear you are already well on your way. And slippers like these ones are quite a nice beginner project. I mean..maybe do a scarf or so first but then..why not? :)
Great pattern, here in Texas we have a very mild winter but with all my floors tile and wood so a nice slipper is favored. I can now make these great slippers for the family. I’m fond of felting as well❤
This is such a great pattern, especially love the details for customizing the size. Swatching is critical for a good fit. Thanks for the inspiration and very helpful explanation.
I was , and still am, an adventurist beginner that tackles complicated paterns. Sometimes i win and finish the project. Other times i just have to stop the project and set aside the wip and try again later down the road. I highly appreciate the effort you made for this pattern to make this more advanced and yet is something a beginner can make.
These look just like a favourite pair of Keen shoes, toe and all. BTW, Norman, it's not easy in many parts of the knitting world to buy "felting wool". My LYS in Toronto carried one German brand but I think they've discontinued it You could suggest alternatives. I'm big into felting and I've used Lopi doubled. I've also done all-wool worsted doubled (obvi not superwash) or a single bulky strand following the largest size. It's the test swatch and washing that matters (as you know) Thanks, Norman. Always a pleasure to watch you.
Which Lopi did you use? I'm curious, because I have leftover Lettlopi and considered trying that, since many also felt their Icelandic sweaters on purpose. That yarn is not single ply, though.
Fantastic video! Gorgeous slippers. Super clear in explaining the fiddly bits. I did loads of felting in college, but mostly wovens. You can do a partial felt on a less aggressive cycle first, do some partial blocking and then do full cycle. Many sustainable yarn suppliers are also felters - particularly in Scotland. I’m going to hunt them down. Maybe leather and other felting supplies can be sourced from them. I’m so excited to make these, but I already have sock yarn. I wish I wasn’t flying to Berlin on Thursday. Easy Jet will steel my double pointed needles won’t they?
yes, that's a very good tip with the cycle. hm..not sure if easy jet does. Typically knitting needles are perfectly fine here in Germany - especially if they are wooden or made from plastic/carbon
Hi Norman, I learned to knit many years ago when my husband was stationed in Germany. A Germany lady I worked with became my friend and taught me to do continental knitting. I’ve been grateful ever since. My first knitting project was a pair of slippers so it will be fun to try these. Thank you for your excellent videos. Yours are the best and easiest to follow of any I’ve ever seen. I do have an unrelated question about knitting. Do you have any videos about adding fringe to a project? I’ve looked through your videos but couldn’t find any. I just finished a mug rug for my daughter and I don’t like way the fringe looks where it is attached to the edges. Also should you block fringe when you’re finished with your project?
Thank you. I realized after watching your video, the mistake I made was not cutting the fringe all at once and then completing it at that time. I think I added some fringe to the right side and some to the wrong side and this left me with an inconsistent look because the little bumps where the fringe was joined were not consistently on one side. You wouldn’t think something so simple could make a difference, but now I’m sure the next time I add fringe it will look neater. Merry Christmas!
These look great! I'm confused by one thing though - by tumbling in the machine you mean spinning? Or just the way the machine tumbles the items in the water as it washes? You put the slipper in the machine with the balls and then wash in the hot Water for 90 minutes? sorry if this is obvious, maybe it's just me not getting it.
I just got the karbonz interchangeable needles at your recommendation! How long of a cable on my needles should I be using with this pattern? The one that came with my set seems a little short!
Norman, the 10 stitches between the markers, is that 10 for every size? I didn't see where you came up with the number for between the markers. So I'm assuming it is always 10. Is that correct or did I miss something?
Hi Norman !! I’ve bought the pattern and started making my 20stx24 rows swatch and then when I felted it in the washing machine at 60° with a cotton program (the only one that allows 60 °C )it came out as an unusable ball of felted yarn.. is it possible that 60 degrees are too much for my yarn? Do you think it will work if I try to felt it at 40°C? Or do you think the problem might be another one ? Thanks in advance
Did you put it together with other stuff? Other than that, that's precisely why I call this a "recipe" not a pattern - because washing machines can behave weirdly. 40°C can also work but I suspect this has more to do with the way your machine spins at the end of the program. Or, you didn't weave in the tails and those got tangled. Another option would be felting this manually. So, put the swatch in the hottest water that comes out of your sink (except you have one that can boil water :P). This should be around 40-50°. And then you can basically start rubbing in all direction. Problem is, you will have to do the same thing with your slippers as well and that can be very time-consuming. On the plus side, it can help you to steer the felting process a lot better.
@@NimbleNeedles I’ve weaved the ends before washing it and I put it in a socks bag alone, and then I put 2/3 towels in the washing machine. Then I washed everything at 60°C. I’ll try again putting slippers in a pillowcase with socks in them to keep the shape and washing everything at 40°C because I’m not sure I’ll be able to hand felt them. I’ll keep you updated and thanks for the reply
@@fabriziocaiazzo at any rate, I would really try to lowest setting of your washing machine and if you can switch of spinning at the end of your cycle, try that.
I got to row 54 twice and both times I had 18 stitches at the end of the row, but for p2tog, p14, k1 , I have one extra stitch. Just going with it, what’s the worst that can happen 😂
well, you could it double. DK weight might still be a bit to thin to create a meaningfully thick felted fabric. ultimately, only a swatch can tell you!
@@JinxieTheGnome oh yeah, that's correct. I noticed that as well but couldn't see an easy way to fix it and thought it would be kinda obvious. but yeah, you are absolutely right.
Felting works with basically any untreated single-ply 100% sheep wool yarn. There's no need to look out for special "felting wool". Just pick something chunky (approx 50g = 50yds) and you will be fine. Or use some thinner scraps from your stash and hold them double. Felting can look stunning if you blend multiple colors together!
Here's the link for the pattern: www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/1622393973/easy-felted-slippers-knitting-pattern
I love felting. I used to make felted cotton yarn with cheap cotton balls and two wire cat brushes. I am very good at making yarn because I am used to make the yarn.
Hi Norman, I was an English knitter and wanted to learn continental knitting. I tried everything from books to other RUclips videos but I just couldn’t get it. Until I found your channel that is. I’ve learned so much from you. Thank you so much for all of the detailed videos you make and for your encouragement. I can’t wait to try these slippers. They look comfy and fun to knit.
my pleasure! have fun!
Oh my goodness I was literally looking for a good pattern for felted slippers the other day, this is such good timing thank you!
I'm so glad!
YAY! SUCCESS!! I just completed my first project with your "recipe" and I'm thrilled at the results. I've always been fascinated with felting and have wasted countless hours and yards and yards of yarn on failed projects, BUT NOT THIS TIME! Can't wait to try out other yarns with your great instructions. Cheers!!!!!! For new felters: ANY WOOL that is NOT SUPERWASHED will felt. Just do the sample, take good notes as to how and time it takes for a good felt structure to develope, take your measurements after felting and you're on your way.
glad it finally worked out for you! And I can only agree, felting is really fun!
Norman you’re golden!!!🤩 I’ve been seriously hunting for the perfect slipper pattern to make for my dad for the holidays and wasn’t satisfied with any I had come across until this! Thank you for all your hard work and attention to detail that makes the finished piece that much better!! ❤
Awesome! Hope you can make them in time!
I live in Montreal, Canada and it’s currently snowing. These slippers will be greatly appreciated by my family.
same here! they are keeping me warm as I type these lines!
Perfect timing! I was thinking of making a pair of these for my mom for Christmas
Awesome! But do remember these can be a bit slippery. So buy some sock stop liquid or so!
@NimbleNeedles good point! My local yarn store actually sells slipper soles so I'll be sure to grab some
@@jetsxtaylorgang yeah, great!, just making sure she doesn't slip! ☺️
You are amazing Norman. My father's name is Norman too we call him Norm for short. My grandmother also is named Norma and it's a female version of Norman. It's kinda funny how they got their name too. My great grandmother had a German friend and she had a son named Norman and when she got sick with cancer my great grandmother told her she will name her first child after her son in memory of their sisterhood. The name was passed down by two generations. My father and two cousins share the name today. Also, My great great grand parents were native American and African mix they survived slavery. A German family helped them cross the Mississippi river and gave them a safe place to stay. I think it's amazing how life is like a circle it can come back to you and remind you how short and small life really is, and how it's important to be mindful because you don't know what will happen next. Knitting reminds me of the circle of life too, it is always connected and it ends with itself, it needs to be cared for or it will fail. My great great grand parents met a German family that saved their lives and later my great grandmother met a German woman who was her best friend and her legacy lives on through the friendship they had and the name of her son. They are not even related yet they are. It's a circle of life. It's weaved by experiences instead of yarn. Also, most weaving crafts stated with telling stories through patterns. 😊 My family has items in a museum that portraits part of their journey through weaving tapestries and baskets. All cultures have weaving crafts and pottery because those are common things that are available through nature.
Thx for sharing your beautiful story with us here 🥰
Hi, from the UK, i just found your channel, new to knitting so binge watching your videos, would love more for beginners, swatches of different types of knits and how to do them, etc. Youve found yourself a new Sub, thankyou for putting these videos up theyre a great help and I appreciate the work youve put into these.
welcome to my channel
Wonderful project! Great detail for figuring the sizing & felting! Really like your tutorials! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
They're so cute!!! I just started learning how to knit from your older video, and now I'm excited to eventually make this one! Thank you! 😍
heh! happy to hear you are already well on your way. And slippers like these ones are quite a nice beginner project. I mean..maybe do a scarf or so first but then..why not? :)
@@NimbleNeedles Oh yes I'll definitely start with easier projects but I look forward to making this one too eventually 😄
What timing, been thinking of trying this sort of thing out for a while but kept putting off trying to trial-and-error through the technique!
Well, it's a super fun experience, if you ask me, and so interesting!
Great pattern, here in Texas we have a very mild winter but with all my floors tile and wood so a nice slipper is favored. I can now make these great slippers for the family. I’m fond of felting as well❤
Very cool!
This is such a great pattern, especially love the details for customizing the size. Swatching is critical for a good fit. Thanks for the inspiration and very helpful explanation.
You are so welcome!
Love these slippers! Thanks for the excellent tutorial. 😊
My pleasure!
Hi Norman. What a fun pattern. You make it look so easy! Thank you for another great tutorial. Fantastic instruction!
well, in this case the knitting IS easy :)
This is true but the math isn’t, lol!😆
wow, less than $3.00 for the pattern.. thank you Norman
Heh! Just enough to cover my expenses..Like tech-editing, etc 😎
I was , and still am, an adventurist beginner that tackles complicated paterns. Sometimes i win and finish the project. Other times i just have to stop the project and set aside the wip and try again later down the road. I highly appreciate the effort you made for this pattern to make this more advanced and yet is something a beginner can make.
happy to be there for you :)
Love love love the slippers. And as pen enthusiast, loving the Gold Lamy pen x 😊
Me too!! ^^
These look just like a favourite pair of Keen shoes, toe and all. BTW, Norman, it's not easy in many parts of the knitting world to buy "felting wool". My LYS in Toronto carried one German brand but I think they've discontinued it You could suggest alternatives. I'm big into felting and I've used Lopi doubled. I've also done all-wool worsted doubled (obvi not superwash) or a single bulky strand following the largest size. It's the test swatch and washing that matters (as you know) Thanks, Norman. Always a pleasure to watch you.
yeah, well..i don't think there is special felting wool anyway. But great point.
Any chunky single ply yarn 100% sheep wool yarn will do :)
Which Lopi did you use? I'm curious, because I have leftover Lettlopi and considered trying that, since many also felt their Icelandic sweaters on purpose. That yarn is not single ply, though.
Merry Christmas to you and yours! Happy New Year, too!
Beautiful slippers. What a great idea.
Thank you 🥰
Fantastic video! Gorgeous slippers. Super clear in explaining the fiddly bits. I did loads of felting in college, but mostly wovens. You can do a partial felt on a less aggressive cycle first, do some partial blocking and then do full cycle. Many sustainable yarn suppliers are also felters - particularly in Scotland. I’m going to hunt them down. Maybe leather and other felting supplies can be sourced from them. I’m so excited to make these, but I already have sock yarn. I wish I wasn’t flying to Berlin on Thursday. Easy Jet will steel my double pointed needles won’t they?
yes, that's a very good tip with the cycle.
hm..not sure if easy jet does. Typically knitting needles are perfectly fine here in Germany - especially if they are wooden or made from plastic/carbon
I love felting projects!!
I love the pattern!
very happy to hear that!
Just in time for winter!! My feet always get so cold this time of year 😢
Same! And cold feet means I constantly need to run to the bathroom 🙈
Hi Norman, I learned to knit many years ago when my husband was stationed in Germany. A Germany lady I worked with became my friend and taught me to do continental knitting. I’ve been grateful ever since. My first knitting project was a pair of slippers so it will be fun to try these. Thank you for your excellent videos. Yours are the best and easiest to follow of any I’ve ever seen. I do have an unrelated question about knitting. Do you have any videos about adding fringe to a project? I’ve looked through your videos but couldn’t find any. I just finished a mug rug for my daughter and I don’t like way the fringe looks where it is attached to the edges. Also should you block fringe when you’re finished with your project?
hm...just this video here: ruclips.net/video/ADi1LBtT1VQ/видео.html
it was one of the very first I ever recorded..so please don't judge me too hard ^^
Thank you. I realized after watching your video, the mistake I made was not cutting the fringe all at once and then completing it at that time. I think I added some fringe to the right side and some to the wrong side and this left me with an inconsistent look because the little bumps where the fringe was joined were not consistently on one side. You wouldn’t think something so simple could make a difference, but now I’m sure the next time I add fringe it will look neater. Merry Christmas!
I made it, I’m so proud of me ❤
wohoo! you can indeed be proud of yourself!
Great tutorial! Thanks so much! 🥰
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for sharing. Blessings 🕊️💚🙏🏽👏🏽
Thanks for listening
❤❤❤❤❤ thank you so much Norman
as always, my pleasure
OMG I NEED THIS NOW 😅
heh! well winter is coming, eh? well..no ..it's already there!
Did you have tension problems when you first started knitting? Great tutorial!
Hm...maybe..can't remember, really. That was too long ago. But i'd lean towards no. I struggled bit with purling.
These look great! I'm confused by one thing though - by tumbling in the machine you mean spinning? Or just the way the machine tumbles the items in the water as it washes? You put the slipper in the machine with the balls and then wash in the hot Water for 90 minutes? sorry if this is obvious, maybe it's just me not getting it.
yeah spining is the correct word!
Hi Norman ❤ I was thinking 💭, could the sole be double knit rather than making a second insole?
well, possible..but then you'd have to deal with increases and that's probably not the easiest for beginners :)
I just got the karbonz interchangeable needles at your recommendation! How long of a cable on my needles should I be using with this pattern? The one that came with my set seems a little short!
You can see the actual needles i used at 1:43
I did use a fairly short cable. Can't remember exactly how long but looks like below 60cm.
@@NimbleNeedles thanks! I was using 40 cm but it was pretty squishy. Moving to a 60 cm worked much better!
Don't you have to knit a slightly larger slipper to allow for the shrinkage of felting or did I miss that. Thanks.
yes, you probably missed that bit.
Norman, the 10 stitches between the markers, is that 10 for every size? I didn't see where you came up with the number for between the markers. So I'm assuming it is always 10. Is that correct or did I miss something?
Just check the pattern...it's on page 6 or so. I had to cut the video at one point.
Hi Norman !! I’ve bought the pattern and started making my 20stx24 rows swatch and then when I felted it in the washing machine at 60° with a cotton program (the only one that allows 60 °C )it came out as an unusable ball of felted yarn.. is it possible that 60 degrees are too much for my yarn? Do you think it will work if I try to felt it at 40°C? Or do you think the problem might be another one ? Thanks in advance
Did you put it together with other stuff?
Other than that, that's precisely why I call this a "recipe" not a pattern - because washing machines can behave weirdly. 40°C can also work but I suspect this has more to do with the way your machine spins at the end of the program. Or, you didn't weave in the tails and those got tangled.
Another option would be felting this manually. So, put the swatch in the hottest water that comes out of your sink (except you have one that can boil water :P). This should be around 40-50°. And then you can basically start rubbing in all direction.
Problem is, you will have to do the same thing with your slippers as well and that can be very time-consuming. On the plus side, it can help you to steer the felting process a lot better.
@@NimbleNeedles I’ve weaved the ends before washing it and I put it in a socks bag alone, and then I put 2/3 towels in the washing machine. Then I washed everything at 60°C. I’ll try again putting slippers in a pillowcase with socks in them to keep the shape and washing everything at 40°C because I’m not sure I’ll be able to hand felt them. I’ll keep you updated and thanks for the reply
@@fabriziocaiazzo at any rate, I would really try to lowest setting of your washing machine and if you can switch of spinning at the end of your cycle, try that.
@@NimbleNeedles I’ll try with 40°C, do you suggest to eliminate totally the spinning ? Or just spin with a lower velocity ?
@@fabriziocaiazzo hard to tell but since things went so terribly wrong I'd start at the lowest level just to be save.
I got to row 54 twice and both times I had 18 stitches at the end of the row, but for p2tog, p14, k1 , I have one extra stitch. Just going with it, what’s the worst that can happen 😂
ultimately you will notice that felting is pretty forgiving :) one extra stitch is not going to change a lot.
I am using dk weight will it work?
well, you could it double. DK weight might still be a bit to thin to create a meaningfully thick felted fabric.
ultimately, only a swatch can tell you!
Thanks a lot @@NimbleNeedles Sir
Felicidades que lindo tener calcetines 🫶
Hello , can you please show a icelandic zipper sweater
Hmm..no, I don't think so.
Apologies for pointing out,your instructions do not line up with instructions coming up in green.😮
where exactly did you see a mismatch? would you mind providing me with a time-stamp so I can double check?
@NimbleNeedles at about 5:20 when calculating the cast on stiches. You write and say stitches, but the green graphic says rows.
@@JinxieTheGnome oh yeah, that's correct. I noticed that as well but couldn't see an easy way to fix it and thought it would be kinda obvious. but yeah, you are absolutely right.