Strange Magic

The thing about ELO is that once you get a tune in your head, it won't go away until you listen to the song. Over and over. I felt that way about Turn to Stone when I posted it up here with my kidney stone post. Now I feel that way about, "Strange Magic."

Bear with me...

I've been looking on Ravelry at the pattern for French Press Felted Slippers for about 2 months now. Though I'm excessively foolish about the yarn I buy, I'm tight when it comes to buying patterns. I prefer to buy patterns in books since I get more bang for my buck. $20 may buy me 20 patterns. Hello? The slipper pattern was $7 and I was reluctant to buy it until I read the Harlot's post about the slippers she made. Friday, I took the plunge, bought the pattern and the yarn and dove right in. It took about 300 yards or so of Rowan's Cocoon, a merino and mohair blend in a lovely charcoal color called, Mountain. Though the Harlot says it took her only 90 minutes to knit these up, it took me significantly longer. Let's blame it on the Vicodin, shall we? I knit and unknit these slippers more times than I can count.

I make an pathetic stoner.


The hazelnut scarf aside, with my most recent forays into felting (I ruined 300 yards of handspun in an attempt to felt slippers from a cheaper different pattern), I wasn't hopeful for the slippers, but I took the enormous sized knitted product, said a prayer and threw them in the top loader. Having learned that hot water is a huge part of felting success, I'd cranked the hot water heater to the setting, VERY HOT, and let the machine do the work.

After the 4th full agitation cycle, I have the felting magic I was looking for, but the color? Completely threw me! I wasn't expecting the mohair to be the prominent fiber that would take the deep charcoal yarn to a completely different level. Very strange, indeed.


Once again, I'm smitten with felting and have the second pair on my needles. This time, I'm trying Cascade 220, because while I love what the Cocoon did in the wash, my wallet isn't that impressed.

Since this seems the week for finishing up knit goods, here's my last felting success:

Kidsilk Haze bubble scarf sans nuts.

And since I've probably put the tune in your head, here's a little ELO...