Taos Slipper Boots by Make and Do Crew

Taos Slipper Boots

Materials Needed

1. Flip Flops to use for soles - I got mine on clearance at our little local Family Dollar Store for .50 I have heard some people by a bit more expensive ones that have thicker soles...I used what was available and totally in budget since these were to be gifts and I needed to make 3 pairs.
2. Worsted weight yarn (just a little for the sc round on the sole.)
3.  Super Bulky weight yarn - The pattern called for Lion Brand Thick and Quick. I used a Bulky weight yarn I ordered through Ice Yarns. It was not as bulky as I had hoped but It still worked up really well. I did not make any pattern changes and they fit the recipients great! 
4. HOOKS - Ok this pattern uses lots of hooks, it seems odd but there is really a reason for it I promise. So you need a small hook pattern called for a 2.25mm However I could not for the life of me get mine to hook and pull the worsted weight yarn through the sole and ended up using my 3 mm hook. You'll also need a K 6.5mm (mine is a 7.0 and worked fine), an L 8mm and an MN 9mm. 
5. A large needle or awl of some type for punching holes in the soles. The pdf of this pattern comes with a printable punching guide. I just eye balled it and punched about every 1/3 inch or maybe a little closer. I did count my punches and made sure each sole in a pair had the same number of punches. 
6. scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.
7. E6000 glue for plugging the holes of the flip flops.
8. Patience. Loads of patience. Silence might help on the first pair too. Don't get me wrong this is an EASY pattern, just pay attention.

This is a great pattern. I love that its done in a bulky yarn, making the finished slippers nice and cozy, and I love the flip flop soles making them great to walk out to grab the mail or stand in the kitchen after kids have tracked in snow (maybe that's just my house). 

The hardest part of this pattern for me really was punching the holes in the soles. I tried to get a good angle and get the hole straight through to make the first round of sc easier. This is the part that requires patience. DON'T RUSH. Take your time so you don't make too shallow of holes and keep them spaced evenly. (That printable guide is probably handy to have) 

READ the pattern. Yes the whole pattern. I know a lot of you will just jump in like I did on the first one and then miss needing switch hooks or maybe not think to glue the holes shut until after you attach the slipper top to the sole....which I do NOT recommend because you might end up getting really goopy hands trying to glue them and not get glue on the inside of the slipper....

SO do the sole work first, or at least before you attach the soles to the slipper tops.

Have a pen handy to mark off the rows as you go. I got lost more than once and had a heck of a time counting rows to figure out where I was. By the 3rd pair my pattern is a mess of marks, 

The slipper bodies work up so fast!! Seriously once you have a handle on when to switch hooks these just FLY off the hook!! I made the 3rd pair in just 2 days, I did the bodies on my lunch break (30 minutes each day so about an hour total) then punched the soles the second evening at home and attached them all together. 

So if you've wondered about trying these, the pattern is really well written, the are pretty low cost, and they are fast to hook up. GO for it. You won't regret it. Go here for the pattern

Now I just need to find time to make me a pair!!! 

Enjoy!

Loves

UM

Terrain Hat

Ok I know I have a ton of patterns to review since October, But I think I am going to work backwards from Christmas day.

On Christmas day I got to use my new Furls Odyssey in Purple and it is just amazing! Since I really wanted to use my new hooks I simply went to my Ravelry library and searched by hook size H and started the first pattern on the list!

I love the plethora of search options on Ravelry! I love that I can search my library of patterns by craft ( I also knit) then sort by yarn weight or hook size, or if I am making for someone specific I can search by gender, and age.
And you can search the entire Ravelry site that way too, plus options of free or paid, yarn yardage, needle or hook size its such an amazing resource!

Ha! But I am getting off track, so the pattern I chose is Terrain by Poise & Envy , it was a perfect pick since my husband gave me the hooks, I will give him the finished hat!

This hat is great for a quick finish project.
Materials needed were

1. An H hook
2. Worsted weight yarn 
3. Scissors
4. A yarn needle for weaving in ends

I think this hat looks amazing in a solid color, but I think it could be fun to use multiple colors too. I chose a simple heathered gray Red Heart Super Saver since it was for my husband who isn't big on fancy colors or stripes. The texture adds interest with out being too busy which makes it great for a mans hat. 

This beautiful Furls hook is like silk in my hand, so smooth and the yarn just glides across it like flowing water. It has a great weight and is nicely balanced. It is taking a little getting used to as it is a bit different to hold than my smaller ergonomic hooks, but I think I have found a groove with it, and the hat is already half done.

Ok finished the hat and it turned out great! The pattern was written differently than most I have worked up, this did cause me to mess up a few times and I had to frog some rows back, but I also didn't read the whole pattern before starting like I usually do because it was a hectic Christmas day and I just wanted to get it started so I could use my new hook and unstress a little.
Aside from the way its written I didn't have any troubles with this pattern at all. The "seam" created at by joining rows surprisingly came out nice and straight. I find joined rounds usually almost spiral the seam but this one really didn't which was awesome!
Hubby loved the end product and it really looks great on him! The sizing isn't great on me and since there's only one adult size I am not sure how I would work it to fit me.

Over all I liked this pattern I think it is a great design for guys, as it has great texture yet doesn't look lacy or feminine. 

As for the Furls hook I have to say it is the most comfortable hook I have ever used, I would highly recommend anyone with hand pain while crocheting to try one. I have Fibromyalgia and it was so nice to crochet with, it didn't cause me any hand pain, or numbness, and I was able to crochet faster than I have been able to in a long while.
Thanks for reading and I hope you'll try this pattern for a guy in your life and I hope if you get a Furls hook you love it as much as I love mine!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

My Hubby is the best! I am typing this on my new Acer tablet chromebook! It is beautiful and just what I needed to get this blog going again!
I can't wait to share with you all the great patterns I have worked since October, my laptop died on me so I haven't been able to blog.

I also received 2 beautiful Furls crochet hooks for Christmas! If you haven't seen these hooks you must go check them out  Here! I got a purple size H and a Streamline in size I. Seriously these are just gorgeous!

And now I wish you all a very Merry and a Happy everything!

With love always

UM