Netflix Socks and Knitting in the Loo

A couple of knitting related stories have crossed my screen in the past few days that I wanted to share.

You can now combine your love of Netflix and your love of knitting with some cool technology that will automatically pause your show when you fall asleep.

The company has released plans (that’s a PDF) for a device, using conductive thread, an accelerometer and other goodies, that you can put in a sock (handmade, of course!) and that can monitor your movement and pause your Netflix playback when you haven’t moved for a certain period of time, indicating you might be asleep.

Netflix has a variety of show-themed knitting patterns you can use (make mine House of Cards), or you can add the conductive thread to your favorite sock pattern. Sounds like the perfect project to work on while you watch your favorite show, though I need a sensor to pause the show when my hands stop moving, not my feet!

The second bit of knitting news I have to share isn’t nearly as much fun, but it is proof that knitting can get you through just about anything. A woman in England was locked in a bathroom for four days and survived by eating mints and kept herself entertained by knitting her granddaughter a scarf.

Gladys Phillips made a pit stop in a bathroom that wasn’t yet open to the public, and she doesn’t have a phone so no one knew she was missing. She kept warm by using the hand dryer, slept on her overcoat and said she was lucky she’d just stopped by the yarn shop and picked up some pink yarn, which will now be a Christmas gift. How’s that for making the best of a bad situation?

Looking for more knitted socks designs and patterns to keep you warm this winter? Check out these knitted sock patterns Etsy. And these Knitting Pattern books on Amazon.

Looking to buy your Yarn online? Check out these online yarn specials.

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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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