Fuzzy Felted Footies

My first felting project... If it works out, feel free to use the pattern below. (It is basically your typical simple sock pattern, but made much bigger.) But, if I were you, I'd wait to see the finished product on this blog... (7/9/08 UPDATE: see pics below - they turned out pretty cute!)

FUZZY FELTED FOOTIES

Women's Size Medium

Materials Needed:

• Set of 4 double-pointed needles: Size 10.5
• 3 skeins Needful Yarns Joy (255yards/233.2m) or other bulky weight 100% wool yarn suitable for felting [I used a MC throughout and CC for the heel and toe. So, 1 skein CC and 2 skeins MC]
• Tapestry needle
• Measuring tape

Gauge:
17 sts and 22 rows= 4"

Using long-tail method (or other loose cast-on) CO 48 sts.

Divide as follows:
Needle 1: 12 sts
Needle 2 (will become instep needle): 24 sts
Needle 3: 12 sts

Join and work 15 rounds in stockinette stitch. This will cause a nice roll at the top around your ankle. If you prefer a different top to your footies, feel free to improvise.

Begin heel:

Move sts from Needle 1 and 3 to one needle.

Join CC (if desired)

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, purl to end. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, knit to end. Turn.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until there are 12 selvedge stitches (a total of 24 rows)

Heel Turn:

Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, p 13, p2tog, p1. Turn.

Row 2 (RS): Sl 1, k5, ssk, k1. Turn.

Row 3: Sl 1, p to 1 st before gap, p2tog, p1, turn.

Row 4: Sl 1, k to 1 st before gap, ssk, k1 turn.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until all sts are worked, ending with a total of 14 sts on heel flap.

Divide the 14 sts onto two needles again (numbered 1 and 3) to begin working gusset. Needle 1 begins round (at the middle of the heel) and holds the second half of the heel sts. Needle 2 holds instep sts and Needle 3 hold first half of heel sts.

Gusset (using MC):

Needle 1: Pick up 12 sts from side of heel flap (and one extra st in corner, if desired)

Needle 2: Work instep sts

Needle 3: Pick up 12 sts from side of heel flap (and one extra st in corner, if desired)

Gusset Decreases:

Rnd 1: On needle 1, k to last three sts; k2tog, k1. Knit instep sts on needle 2. On needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end.

Rnd 2: Knit around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until the original 48 sts remain.

Continue to work in the round until total length from back of heel reaches approximately 11". (Yes, it is very large...)

Toe:

Rnd 1: On needle 1, k to last three sts; k2tog, k1. On needle 2, k1, ssk, knit to last three sts; k2tog, k1. On needle 3, k1, ssk, knit to end.
Rnd 2: Knit around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until 20 sts remain, then decrease every round until 12 sts remain total (6 on instep and 6 on heel).

Close with kitchener st and weave in all loose ends.

Make second footie.

Felt carefully in washing machine until the proper size.

Take out while damp, and shape to foot.

Let dry and wear!

UPDATE:

They turned out really cute (and more importantly, they actually fit!). Below are the before and after pics.