That whimsy I mentioned yesterday? This isn’t what I had imagined…
Ermmm…
I had thought the dark red and gold of the Harry Potter scarves might make an amusing, insouciant pair of Gryffindor slippers but things didn’t quite work out that way. The slipper is - surprisingly - too big, lumpen looking and just not cute at all. Poop.
Putting it on doesn’t help…
As you can see, this is a standard, “grandma” style slipper. The edging and the laces are crocheted. I don’t know what I was thinking - that it would be an impromptu flight of fancy I guess, that would give me a little break before finishing the Landscape shawl and, perhaps, something useful to boot.
Well, maybe it still can be useful:
Centerpiece?
Then again, maybe not :) Oh well…
While we were out yesterday, I noticed a curious thing whilst rummaging through the crochet hooks at Wal Mart. A size 00 steel hook is the same size as a size E aluminum hook. Aside of the materials and the fact that the E hook is longer, does anyone know why there’s this overlap? I think I would prefer working with the steel hook, everything else being equal. I’m a fairly aggressive crocheter and the E aluminum hook feels much flimsier. Eh, not a world beater of a question - just curious.
I stopped into A. C. Moore yesterday just to see what they had. They had all kinds of novelty yarn - mostly Katia and Gedifra - and most of it $6.99 or better per ball and some of it up to $12.99. And, forgive me, most of it was unattractive. Some of the most expensive stuff looked as though it was being sold on an aged, pre-pilled basis. Hunh? Why would I want to pay that kind of money for something that looks as though it had been treated badly for 20 years?
On the other hand, they had Paton’s classic wool at a reasonable price ($5? $6?) which didn’t seem too bad for a 100 gram ball (about 220 yards) though the color selection was very earthy - I didn’t see any clear or bright tones. They also had Arucania Nature Wool for about $8 a hank - also 100 gram put ups. Now that stuff looks really nice and I think I’ll probably want to try it at some point :)
In my area, A. C. Moore has the best selection of needles. I haven’t been in Michael’s for a while but their needle selection was always pretty paltry - no double points of any kind, for example. ACM has lots and LOTS of needles in almost every material, length and style you can imagine. I need to pick up some size 4 double points to make my Dad’s socks with so I’ll probably do that this weekend sometime. Yes, ACM had them, but I wanted to check the new Michael’s near me to see if it’s any better than the “older” ones I had been going to.
Anyway, time for me to stop babbling. Hope you all have wonderful and restful weekends!
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Seems to me someone told me that the steel crochet hooks have a different/deeper hook on them for the small work with crochet thread, while the aluminum hooks are squatter for fuzzier yarn (as opposed to thread). Can’t swear that is correct, but that’s what I heard.
i know there is a crossover on the numbering/lettering of hooks up to a certain size but had no idea why until i read knittykim’s explanation-
you could set your gryffindor slipper by the door and hope a house elf might fill it with something nice- you know, in the pic of the slipper being worn, it looks quite comfortable-
my mind boggles at the thought of having a selection of craft stores- there is a hobby lobby less than 100 miles from here, but its selections indicate they assume the ‘locals’ go in for silk flowers and dollmaking only- nice crafts, but not very fiberly-
my crystal ball shows a landscape shawl wrapped around your shoulders soon- lucky you-
stay happy-
‘Cinderella’ or is it the dwarfs on SNOW WHITE?....let me get back on my chair…..That was hilarious concerning your troll slippers…opps, I mean wonderful slippers! JK LOL! Love the ‘centerpiece’!
Hey take a look on-line at ww.herrschners.com this morning I was looking at their close-out yarn prices. YUM!
I feel chatty today too, so nice to read your ‘babbling’ as you put it ;)
Knittykim - Thanks for the elucidation - I guess that makes a kind of sense :) I did pick up the 00 and the 0 hook, so I guess I’ll try them out and see how it works!
Barb - Oh it’s comfortable - or would be if I sized it down just a hair - it’s just ugly. I still like the idea of Gryffindor slippers, but perhaps a different pattern would be in order…
And I’d be afraid to leave it by the door lest the house elves decide to leave something sticky and stinky in it!
Hobby Lobbies we don’t have in these parts and it’s probably just as well. The last thing I need is another craft shop to haunt :)
I LOVE the slipper as the pumpkin holder!
I also love A.C. Moore for their needle selection and the fact that I can use 40% off coupons on things like auracania nature wool… but yes, it is kind of atrocious how’s there’s an overabundance of horrifically expensive novelty yarn.
Hey PJ :) Glad you enjoyed the centerpiece - at least the colors work there :)
At Herrschner’s, I can recommend the CLassic Elite “Spotlight” cotton. It is very soft and really nice to work with. Works up well too, both in knitting and crochet. Lovely stuff :)
Christina - 40% off? I’m going to have to keep my eye open for that. It would certainly be useful!
Hi Robbyn….thanks for the yarn recommondation…looks really nice! Ah…yarn :)
LOL, I absolutley LOVE the centerpiece idea with the slipper, just grande. I think you should go with that, what a great conversation starter ;)
Thanks maus :) It’s what the converstion would be that worries me some.
Yep - she’s gone right over the edge this time!
Heheh…
Thanks for the great chuckle tonite!!!
Cheryl - Glad you enjoyed it. Remember, get your centerpiece order in early - these slippers go fast! 
Oh heavens - how could I have missed that centerpiece all weekend? That’s teach me not to check over here on a Friday!
You know the elves will have to make you slippers for Xmas, don’t you? Myria too, for that matter, ‘cause she’s suffering too. See, you’re obviously messing up on *your* slippers just *pretending* to be hapless so the infamous slipper elves will take pity on you….
I happen to know them personally. :::wink:::
In other news, I have a brand new, pristine copy of “The Peacekeeper Wars” ready to mail today. :) So you two will have some cool TV-watching time in the near future - you’ll love it!
Have a great Monday!
Slipper elves, eh? Probably the wives of the shoemaker elves - wouldn’t you think?
Thanks most profusely for the tape - we’ll be making the postman miserable until he comes up with it!
