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Felt Boot
Back in 2003 I started making these felted boots using a traditional felting technique of working from raw fiber, not yarn. They were a big hit in the store and so I started teaching the class to traditional felters. But knitters kept asking me for a knitted version which I finally got around to finishing this past fall after working up lots of prototypes. Some prototypes of this knitted boot pattern were knit from the top down and others from the toe back; some with short row shaping and others in two pieces. I tried several variations of yarns and weights....from chunky to bulky to bulky with a worsted to two worsteds held together and experimenting with all the typical good felting yarns you've probably all used. And this pattern is what I ultimately decided on based on a combination of it's ease of knitting, the end product's fit, the design possibilities, and the right thickness of felt to be warm but not too hot (trust me, too thick a felt and your feet will sweat uncomfortably), and sturdy but still easy to stitch to the sole.
So now a knitters version is available. The pattern is extensive...not just how many to cast on and where to shape, but providing lots of design options. Those who buy the kit also get access to the video support which shows some steps I go thru to assure a nice fit as well as a providing a visual to attaching the sole, etc. These boots are attached to a specially designed sole which must be ordered separately (when you purchase the kit, you get the information about where to get the soles) and costs an additional $40-$50 depending on size, etc.. The sole has good traction and is well wearing. but has no "insole", so you'l also l want to purchase a separate "insole" for heel and arch support. I started out getting the Dr. Scholl's inserts (years of working at Schering Plough, makers of the Dr. Scholl's brand, gave me that bias), but found that they really weren't great for the boots. After spending hundreds of dollars trying out different boot insoles as well as other things like sheepskin, I now have personal preferences for a particular brands of more expensive boot insoles (that info is also provided in the pattern), which run me around $25/pair ( I have no interest in the manufacture of the insoles I like, I just include this info in the pattern to save you all the cost & legwork I went thru searching for the best). Anyway, I explain all this so you know that, if you buy the kit from me here you'll still have the additional expense of the insole and I don't want that to be a suprise to you . Even, with the cost of the sole and a good insert, you'll have a great pair of boots for around $150.. And what's so fun is putting together your own colors and trying out all the different possible designs and embellishment ideas I provide in the pattern. The kit includes the yarn and the pattern (including the access to the video support) for US sizes 7, 8 & 9 women's. The soles are purchased separately (the pattern has all the info you need to acquire the soles and attach them). Kit Price: $65.00 We had a Knit-Along thru the store's Ravelry group last February so there is an additional forum for you to ask questions and get clarification as you work thru the boots there.
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The boots shown here (and featured in the Knitting Daily banner), I've been wearing for almost 4 winters (although this past winter hardly counts since we had only 1 really good week with 3 feet of snow!) .....snowshoeing for hours on end, walking Chloe back on the nature trails behind the school and over ice around town. My feet have never been cold or wet, although I noticed this morning that the needle felted floral design needs a bit of "re-pricking" to tighten it up again after walking thru the 3 feet of fresh snow we had over the XMAS holidays!
You have the options of choosing either to make a solid color pair or doing a 2 color boot (pick your main color which is for the boot and the laces and a contrast color for the tongue and the loops like the red/turquoise or purple/green ones shown here).
