Process Refinement

I'm still making bunny slippers.  THESE bunny slippers, to which I have added a few personalizations.  Mary Scott Huff Bunny Hacks, if you will:

First of all, as much as I love the original bunnies, I just couldn't leave their ears unlined with pink.  So I devised a cunning two-part ear plan, which worked out very well, thank you. 

Additionally, my overarching need to make bunnies for all the members of my family caused me to realize that they would have to be made in various sizes.  This prompted a bizarre side trip through the kitchen cupboards in search of wooden spoons, rolling pins, and eventually two mismatched soup ladles, with which to fashion some felted-bunny-stretching implements (no actual bunny slippers were harmed during this phase).  None of these slipshod attempts resulted in the precision device required for optimum bunny stretching.  Internet to the rescue:  I found THESE, which I wholeheartedly endorse for both bunny, and other, footwear stretching.  They adjust from a ladies size 6 up to an 11, which, augmented with some wadded-up plastic grocery bags, can make  bunnies even big enough for Phillip: (Shhhhh!)

You'll also notice that I added a few whiskers to Phillip's bunnies, which trend I think will continue on to at least the next pair.

And last, but certainly not least, I scored some Clover Pom Pom Makers, without which I am no longer willing to go on.  I used the larger of the two, FYI, for maximum tail-fluff.
 

In case you'd like to modify your bunnies as I did, here are my hacks:

Yarn:    Rather than DK weight as specified in the pattern, I used worsted weight (Patons Classic Wool, to be specific), holding 2 strands together. (I used the recommended size 11 needles for the bodies).  Bunnies to fit Phillip used about 1 1/2 skeins (220 yds each).

Bigger-ing:    For man's size slipper (Phillip wears size 10 1/2 US), I worked 40 rows in the body.

Toes:    Rather than garter st, I worked my toe pieces in st st, continuing to slip the 1st st of each row.

Ears:    With size 10 needles and one strand of MC, CO 9 sts.  Work 13 rows in st st, slipping 1st st of every row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k 3, k2tog, k1. sl 1, p to end of row. Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1.  sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, sl2 kwise, k 1, p2sso, k1. sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 2 kwise, k 1, p2sso.  Pull tail through last st.  Make 4.  Weave in ends and felt. 

Linings:    With size 10 needles and one strand of CC (pale pink), CO 7 sts.  Work 13 rows in st st, slipping 1st st of every row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1.  sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 1, sl2 kwise, k 1, p2sso, k1. sl 1, p to end of row.  Next row (RS), sl 2 kwise, k 1, p2sso.  Pull tail through last st.  Make 4.  Weave in ends and felt. 

After felting, place linings on top of ears with wrong sides together.  Sew in place invisibly by hand, using thread to match linings.  Fold ears and sew to bodies as directed.

Whiskers:    With a single strand of contrasting yarn, embroider whiskers with one long stitch each, on either side of nose.

Hop On, Gentle Readers.

 

Power Meeting

Back when I worked for "The Man", meetings were a big, fat, hairy part of every day.  My performance was actually graded on how many meetings I attended.  There were meetings to follow up on prior meetings, meetings based on what day of the week it was, and meetings for the alleged planning of future meetings.  And they never let me knit in any of them.  No wonder I always wanted to chew through my own arm to get away.

Meetings in my Brave New Yarn-Fueled World work a lot differently.  Today I visited the geniuses at Abstract Fiber to discuss the kit for our Flight Path KAL.  We started, in an extremely civilized fashion, with a home-cooked breakfast:

Fiberista Karen starts the day properly.  Note daily fiber intake in foreground.

After discussing the hard frost outside, the antics of our various dogs (3 of whom attended the meeting, and were hoping for breakfast leftovers), and the future yarn club Abstract has planned, we adjourned to the Secret Laboratory:
 

One of the dye stations in the secret Abstract Fiber colormaking lair

I chose a really gorgeous yarn base for the Mystery KAL sample project.  It's 100% BFL with gobs of "sproing" and super softness.  Behold its pearly surface sheen; and that's before it's even got color!

This is where all the magic happens, Gentle Readers: Creative creatures inspiring one another to make beautiful things for knitting.  Oh, and here's what I love most:  I didn't tell anybody making the yarn for the KAL what the project or the design is!  They are almost as much in the dark of my web of Mystery as you are!  Bwaahh ha ha hahaaaaa!  That's right: I challenged the geniuses of color to make me a combo of surpassing perfection and beauty, without any idea what it's for...I'm Eeee-vil, I tell you, Pure Evil.

Some of the pretty wares in the secret Abstract Fiber laboratory

I'm not one bit worried, either.  You can't swing a knitting needle in that place without hitting some extrordinarily beautiful pile of floof or string.  I promise, Friends, you will LOVE what they make for us.
 

Actual Yarn Label

Here's a clue, for the sleuth-y among you.  And no, it's not the color in this skein.  This is the yarn that will be in our kit.  The yarn I'm making the sample from will be freshly prepared next week.  As soon as it's dry, I'll knit the prototype, thus finding out exactly what yardage is required.  Once that is known, I'll be able to tell you the price of each kit, and when they will be available.  Until then, dear friends, stay patient.  And be glad those cats at Abstract Fiber were willing to take a meeting.
 

Knit-along, Little Dogies!

After the holidays (around the time we all are good and tired of winter), you and I, Gentle Readers, are gonna have a little Hoot.  It's the First-Ever Mary Scott Huff Mystery Knit-Along!  There will be clues, surprises, a race to the finish line, and fabulous prizes.  Click the picture below for more details (or the "Flight Pattern" button on the left sidebar):

I'll be sending out clues at the rate of one per week, beginning on January 30th.

Some knitters in Lakewood, WA, and in Gresham, OR have already planned to join in.  Will you come along too?  Are you brave enough to take my hand as I lead you on a Mysterious Knitting Adventure?  Come, on - you know you want to...All the cool kids are doing it.  And let's face it, If I keep talking about it here on the blog for the whole 30 days, you are going to feel good and sorry for yourself for missing out.  Why not ask Santa for $4.00 in your stocking so you can come and play with us!

And if those aren't good enough reasons, how about this?  When you sign up, the Knit-along version of the pattern is only $4.00.  I'll be offering the design as a complete pattern for sale after the KAL ends, but at a full price of $6.00.  Even if you aren't sure whether you'll actually participate , you'll still be getting a bargain on the pattern!

The first big surprise is here right now: Those clever colormakers at Abstract Fiber will be offering kits to match the sample.  If you really trust me (and it won't be hard when you see the yarn!) you can just grab the kit, cross your fingers, and come along with me for the ride...

Sign up today for all the preliminary information.  I'll let you know as soon as the kits are available.  Big. Big. Fun.