Rindecella Slopped Her Dripper!

My friend Barbara asked me if I’d do some charity knitting for her – she has links with a local AgeUK shop.

They cannot get enough of these woolly slippers. People are, apparently, buying them like mad. Not my style, I confess, but I took it on as my project for June. We are halfway through the month and I have done 7 pairs, which I shall deliver this weekend. Not sure if I will do anymore, although the pattern is easy. They fit an ‘average’ foot stretching from about shoe size 4½ – 6.

Here’s the pattern, if you want to make your own. You need some chunky yarn, or work with 2 strands together of 4ply or DK.  and a pair of size 6mm needles.

PEGGY’S SLIPPERS

Cast on 29sts

1. sl1, k11, m1, k3, m1, k12
2. sl1, k10, p1, k7, p1, k11
3. sl1 k11, m1, k5, m1, k12
4. sl1, k10, p1, k9, p1, k11
5. sl1, k11, m1, k7, m1, k12
6. sl1, k10,p1, k11, p1, k11 [35 sts]

Now work 36 rows as follows

1. sl1, k to end of row
2. sl1, k10,p1, k11, p1, k11

Next row, sl1, k2tog tbl, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1

Next row, sl1, k9, p1, k11, p1, k10

Continue as follows

1. s1, k2tog tbl, k8, k2tog tbl, k7, k2tog, k8, k2tog, k1
2. sl1, k8, p1, k9, p1, k9
3. s1, k2tog tbl, k7, k2tog tbl, k5, k2tog, k7, k2tog, k1
4. sl1, k7, p1, k7, p1, k8
5. s1, k2tog tbl, k6, k2tog tbl, k3, k2tog, k6, k2tog, k1
6. sl1, k6, p1, k5, p1, k7
7. s1, k2tog tbl, k5, k2tog tbl, k1, k2tog, k5, k2tog, k1
8. sl1, k5, p1, k3, p1, k6
9. sl1, k2tog tbl x 4, k2tog x 4

Thread remaining 9 sts onto sewing needle, draw together. Sew up instep as far as required, Finish off firmly. Stitch cast on edge together to form heel.

You end up with a piece like this, which has a clear pair of ribs running down the length of the slipper. When you gather the toe, and fold and stitch the heel seam, these ribs naturally mark the position of the sole.

It doesn’t seem to make sense when you first start knitting, but once you have the finished shape, it becomes obvious! Barbara has experimented with finer wool and needles and made smaller slippers for her grandchildren. [But who is Peggy?]

In case you were wondering about the title, it is a line from a monologue which has been around for years [I think Archie Campbell, a US comedian may have written it] It is Cinderella retold with Spoonerisms, something like this…

Rindecella lived with her mugly other and two sad blisters. Her Gairy Fodmother appeared. Rindecella bent to the wall, and pranced with the dince- but when the mock cluck stridnight, she stan down the rares and slopped her dripper…and so it goes on, until she parries the mince.

I could go on. But won’t