Check out What’s Popular in Knitting with the Stock(inette) Market

The Venn diagram on knitters and math and science geeks would show a lot of overlap, and when statistics lovers and knitters collide, awesome things can happen.

Like what, you ask? Like the Stock(inette) Market, an analysis of trends on Ravelry sorted by garment type, fabric type, yarn type, color and whether the item’s picture has a person in it. That link explains all the details, and here is the most current report. They cover two-week periods and the results are determined by collecting data on the “what’s hot” patterns on Ravelry twice daily.

It’s so fun to look at this and see what other people are knitting or at least looking at on Ravelry (this time of year, it’s lots of shawls and other things to wear about the neck and shoulders, as well as lots of lace).

This could be a cool tool for designers, too, though what’s presently popular doesn’t mean there won’t be different trends in the future. But it may tell you if you design lace shawls, you want to release a new pattern in the spring!

[Photo via Where the Red-Winged Blackbird Flies.]

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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