I was inspired by CraftyPod's post about vintage spool-knit beaded necklaces, so of course I had to go and give it a try. So far the biggest issue has been threading all of the teeny little beads onto the crochet thread -- they kept sticking to my fingers, or I'd drop the beads and send them skittering across the floor, never to be seen again. Otherwise, it's pretty fun, and I think it's turning out well so far.


(Click on the pictures to see larger versions.)

Mind you, I have done spool knitting before, both as a child and as an adult. Provo Craft's Knifty Knitter, which I have raved about before, is essentially a big plastic spool knitter. I've made many things on these looms, including hats and slippers (and a few failed projects like the hat that ended up being too small even for a newborn baby, so the cat ended up wearing it -- for about thirty seconds.) Spool knitting isn't just for making skinny little tubes, it's actually very versatile.

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On a related topic, I came across Floofle's blog and her awesome tutorial about how to make espadrille-style shoes out of flip-flops.


(Photo by Floofle/atomicrose. Click the pic to visit her blog.)

I think that this is an absolutely fabulous idea! Perhaps I shall give it a try once there is a lull in my current projects. If you don't have the time or inclination to make a pair for yourself, Floofle is an Etsy seller under the shop name atomiccreations, and she'll custom make a pair for you for about $30.