here is my handle, here is my spout...

i'm on a bit of a kick. after working out the kinks in the first knitted tea cozy, i decided to finesse the idea and created two more. both with a crocheted bottom and open top to slip the teapot into spout first. also, an excuse to use pom poms in something other than a hat.

i've had this super metallic looking teapot for awhile now. there's never been any tea in it, as it just always seemed like a showpiece, rather than a working teapot. it picks up the blues in the pom pom and is accented by the ribbon.

the other one is in yellow hues, and for a larger teapot. both were knit from an alpaca/wool blend bulky yarn and are super soft and squishy.

pom pom!

while wandering around the local yarn store, i happened upon a set of pom pom makers. usually i'm not all that interested in such tools, but this time was different. maybe it was the pastel colors, or a blog post i recently read, or maybe that they were made by clover. whatever it was, i picked them up.

when i got home i grabbed a bag of thrums i'd been saving (leftover warp ends from weaving), and started wrapping. this little doodad is really easy to use, and fun actually. i made a big one in old gold, then a little one in yellows, then inspiration struck! i could make pom poms for the tips of my spindle cosies! a couple of pom poms later, and i'm still fascinated. i see a future collection budding. pom poms, who knew?

if at first you fail

you don't quite know what you're capable of until you try. this is something i've learned in the last couple of days. also, that sticking with something, overcoming the mistakes and finishing it, can be rewarding.

the case in point is a pair of slippers; my pseudo turkish, slightly clown-like slippers. i found it somewhat difficult to find a pair of house slippers for japan within a certain price range and also ones that i liked. so after a fruitless search on my regular avenues (etsy, zappos, google) i decided to make a pair. i remembered that martha stewart had a pattern for felt slippers, a pretty pair with a flower silhouette cut out.

i may have started with that pattern, but it's not what i ended up with. i made several key sizing mistakes (too large), but after seam ripping, cutting, resewing, more seam ripping, painful finger pads, pin stabs (hopefully my last tetanus shot is still active), i had a somewhat eccentric pair of slippers which have lots of toe room and do a reasonably good job of staying on my feet. as far as price goes (creation time notwithstanding), i had on hand everything i used in the making of them; leather for the sole, industrial felt, padded fabric, fabric for the binding, thread, and yarn for the pompoms. needless to say, this may very well be the last time i make my own pair of slippers; i think i'll just buy a pair when these wear out.