Kate Davies – Pouzle Slippers Knitting Kit
Designed by Kate Davies – KDD & Co
To pouzle, in Scots, is to potter about, and that is exactly what these are for. Ankle-high slippers worked in stranded colourwork, with a ribbed cuff finished in i-cord.
They are knitted toe-up from a winding cast on, with the toe shaped by increases and the foot worked from a chart. Waste yarn goes in to create an afterthought ankle opening, the heel is shaped with decreases and grafted closed, and the shape of the slipper only reveals itself when the waste yarn comes out. Kate's own word for the construction is pouzl-ing.
We have kitted this in Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight, the classic Shetland jumper weight and our choice for this design in place of the yarn named in the pattern. Shetland wool wears well underfoot and blooms when blocked, which is what you want from something you will put on every evening.
Choosing your colourway
Five colourways, named as Kate names them in the pattern. Each takes two balls of shade A and one of each of the others, so the price varies a little by colourway.
- Debbie · A Bright Turquoise Mix FC34 · B Light Fawn 202 · C Dark Fuchsia 43 · D Dark Navy 36 · 5 balls
- Kate · A Dark Navy 36 · B Light Fawn 202 · C Red 1403 · D Egg Yolk Yellow 91 · E Moss Green 118 · 6 balls
- Mel · A Light Grey 203 · B Charcoal 81 · C Bright Pink Mix FC22 · D Light Fawn 202 · 5 balls
- Maylin · A Marled Brown Mix FC58 · B Light Grey 203 · C Marled Salmon Orange FC7 · D Light Fawn 202 · E Bright Turquoise Mix FC34 · 6 balls
- Emily · A Light Green Mix FC24 · B Light Fawn 202 · C Red 1403 · D Charcoal 81 · 5 balls
We have matched Kate's colourways as closely as the Jamieson & Smith range allows, but these are not the shades she used and the two yarns are different, so your slippers will not look identical to the photographs of the original.
Skill Level: Advanced ★★★★ (4 out of 5)
Size: One size, adjustable. To fit an adult foot of 19-21.5cm / 7½-8½in circumference, and 21.5-25.5cm / 8½-10in length. As charted and blocked, the slipper finishes at 24cm / 9½in; the chart marks rounds to add or remove to change that.
Gauge: 32 sts x 39 rounds to 10cm (4") over colourwork in the round. Kate gives 3mm as the starting point for swatching
The Kit Includes
- Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight in the shades of your chosen colourway: two balls of shade A, one of each of the rest (5 or 6 balls depending on colour pallet chosen)
- Printed pattern in English, with a code to download the digital version
You'll Also Need
- Two gauge-size circular needles for the cast on
- Gauge-size and below gauge-size needles of your preferred type for working small circumferences
- Stitch markers
- Smooth waste yarn or sock yarn for holding stitches
- Wool needle
Techniques used
- Winding cast on over two needles
- Stranded colourwork in the round over a small circumference, worked from a chart
- m1l and m1r increases, ssk and k2tog decreases, all worked in pattern
- Waste yarn inserted for an afterthought ankle opening
- Grafting the heel closed
- Twisted rib cuff finished with an i-cord bind off
- Mirrored left and right ankle openings
The chart carries floats over longer stretches at the heel and toe than elsewhere, so tension through those sections is worth watching.
Why You'll Love It
- Five colourways, each chosen as a complete set
- Real Shetland wool from Jamieson & Smith in Lerwick
- A small project with a construction worth knitting for its own sake
- Length adjustable at the chart, so they can be made to fit properly
- Enough yarn left over to be useful