Help me figure out this knitting pattern...

[tankgirl73]

So I'm wanting to make these thrummed slippers:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/20...op_slippe.html

I'm studying the pattern before I make a single stitch, and I've got the thrumming all figured out, but there are still a couple things I don't get.

The sole seems to be worked back and forth, like regular 2-stick knitting, but it's on circular needles. I'm assuming I just use the 2 ends of the circulars like regular needles and ignore the wire in between for the time being.

Transition from sole... it says "pick up stitches all around the edge"... you know I think I'm figuring this part out just now as I'm looking again. I wasn't sure how you'd pick up stitches when the needles are still full of stitches, but maybe there are only a few stitches left at this point... I think we start this at one corner of the toe box. Does this mean we KEEP those stitches and then ADD the rest... Okay, I think it does, since it says pick up stitches for all edge and heel stitches, but does NOT say toe, and then gives the stitch count as "including toe stitches". I think I get this part now.

Next, the pattern calls for a 16"-22" circular needle. I'm doing an alteration to make it child-sized rather than adult-sized, just using a thinner yarn and a smaller needle (7 instead of the listed 10), as suggested by the author of the pattern.

My size 7 circular is a full 22". Which is kinda funny, because most of my circulars are 16". Is this going to be too long for a child-sized pattern? I'd prefer the use the circular instead of DPN's if at all possible...

I think that's it... I'm also a little unclear on picking up the stitches for the ears and strap, but only because I haven't before picked up stitches in the MIDDLE of a project like that. It will probably be clear once I try it.

[JoyfullySubversive]

Aren't they adorable?! I queued them ages ago, and *still* haven't made them.

When you "pick up" stitches, you are *making* new stitches by pulling up new yarn loops onto the needles. So yes, you will be keeping the old stitches and picking up new ones, so that you are working the profile of the slipper in the round, like a bag.

You can absolutely use your circular needle. I do not prefer working with a circular that is too long, so I switch to dpn's in these situations. All just personal preference.

Picking up stitches in the middle is pretty simple. In some projects a hook starts you off better though.

Have fun!

[tankgirl73]

Okay, I still need help I think...

I've got the sole done. It looks great! I love the thrums! They're so fun to make and it's so soft.

Now I'm in the midst of picking up the stitches around the sole. It was much easier than I expected at first... the slipped-stitch selvedge around the sides makes it PERFECTLY obvious where to make the pickup, which is the part that usually confuses me about picking up stitches.

Going around the heel was tight, as the pattern warned, but I made it.

Now that I'm around the heel and heading up the other side, though, I'm running into trouble. There's just not enough room... or too much room, I guess, on my needles. Especially since I'm doing a scaled-down child's size. The rigid part of the circular needle takes up the entire side of the sole even when stretched out. There's just NO WAY I can work around the whole sole on the circular. I don't think, anyway.

So I thought, "well I'll just switch to my DPN's then I guess. But... my DPN's in the right size are missing. I *just* finished a project with them last week, they're a beautiful mahogany wood, my only dark wood needles. They're around SOMEWHERE... but I can't find them!

So... are there any tricks I can use for working with a LONG circular on a project that's not big enough??? *sigh*

[tankgirl73]

Yeah... I think it's the "magic loop" I'm thinking of... I've seen it referenced in books but I can't get my head around it... Going to check some knitting resources online and see if I can figure it out, and if it would work for this project...

EDIT: WOOHOO! Got it figured out! It's still a little tricky... even though my circular needle is WAY too big for the round, it's also just a little smaller than it ideally should be for magic loop. But, it is working -- stretching a little bit at the joins because it's a bit tight so I'm careful to close the 'zippers' -- and though it's a little tricky it's better than not working at ALL, right?

I'm going to keep looking for my DPN's though... maybe do the second slipper on them and see which is easier in the long run. Hey, if I find them, I could even do the second slipper SIMULTANEOUSLY (since I have several balls of the wool I'm using)... muahahah...