Medal Madness with Jimmy Bean’s Wool and Lorna’s Laces

Everybody’s a little giddy about the Olympics this year, and the folks at Lorna’s Laces and Jimmy Beans Wool have teamed up with a special yarn at a special price that will have us all shouting “USA! USA!”

Lorna’s Laces has made up a special London 2012 colorway that’s available in Shepherd Sock, Shepherd Worsted and Honor yarns. It’s a lovely colorway that includes all the colors of the Olympic rings.

Purchase the yarn now and it will ship after the Olympics. The price that is listed (ranging from $19.67 for the worsted to $23.67 for the others) is not actually the price you will pay because the price goes down every time the United States wins a medal.

For each gold, the price goes down 5 cents, while it drops 3 cents for a silver and a penny for a bronze. As I write this we’ve got three golds, five silvers and four bronzes, which would knock 38 cents off the price if I can do my math right. No one will actually be charged for the yarn until the Games are done, but it is a limited addition colorway so if you want to get it on your needles, order now while there’s still some available.

This is such a fun idea! Have you been watching the Games? Sadly I’ve only seen a snippet of the parade of nations so far; I guess that’s what happens when you’re trying to limit your toddler’s TV intake! I do hope to catch some today, with needles in hand!

[Photo by Lorna’s Laces/Jimmy Beans Wool.]

Next Pattern:

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]

Next Pattern:

Have you read?