Excursion (plus giveaway)
I have strong feelings about travel. I think it’s a lovely thing to do, but wow do I ever want to take the comforts of home with me when I go. That means I bring along everything I need to make a proper cup of tea (yes I have brought my teapot on trips), and I have at least one pair of slippers in my suitcase. This pair is called Excursion, and you can bet it will be accompanying me on my next adventure!
These are going to make you feel ridiculously clever when you make them. You cast on at the back of the heel, do some increases to make a cup for your heel, do some decreases to shape the gusset, then join up to work in the round and zoom on down toward your toes. The whole thing feels amazingly tidy.
I made the things, and I even find myself picking them up and going oooooooh, how the heck does that work?
I made mine in the much beloved and sadly discontinued Caper Aran from String Theory, but the pattern is written so that you can use pretty much any aran, worsted, or even DK weight yarn you like. You just need to be sure you’re knitting nice and tight so you get a dense, sturdy fabric. If you go with a lighter yarn they may start to feel a bit more like thick socks than sturdy slippers, but I suspect you’ll love them just as much either way.
I do happen to have one last skein of this exact yarn (which should be more than enough to make a pair of these…I have size 11 feet and I had a fair bit of yarn leftover when I was done) to give away. If you think it should be yours, just leave a comment telling me what’s the one thing you always pack along on trips to make you feel more at home. You already know my weaknesses, but I suspect you guys have some interesting things in your suitcases too!
And while I can’t quite manage to yarn to everyone, I can give everyone a discount. You can use the code SUITCASE to get a dollar the price between now and Friday. Just put Excursion in your ravelry cart, click on the ‘use a coupon code’ button, and type in the code SUITCASE. You’ll see the change in price reflected right away.
Comments left between now and the end of the day (eastern time) Friday, October 7, 2016 will be entered to win. I’ll pick a winner, contact them to get their addresses, and arrange to send yarn their way. Be sure to use a real email address so I can contact you if you’ve won (I won’t do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 72 hours or I will pick a new winner and contact them. Sorry, but I can only ship physical prizes to US addresses.
I have never used Caper aran but Caper sock is one of my very favorites. Would be more than happy to try the aran wt, esp on these socks.
I keep hearing about String Theory. I’d love to try some. And I love your slippers!
Beautiful and comfy looking. I would love to knit a pair in sString Theory yarn.
I always pack a book when I go on my trips. I may (and oftentimes do) forget my pjs, toothbrush, or pants, but I always have a book on hand.
Love the kitty, love the slippers and would love to try the yarn! The slippers look as soft and cushy as does the kitty that must be the yarn.
What pretty slippers! Is it too cliché to say that I always take knitting with me when I travel because that’s my comfort item? No matter the accommodations, there’s always a place I can curl up with my project and feel at home.
I’ve never tried Caper Aran but have enjoyed knitting with Caper Sock. I’d love to win. Thank you for the giveaway.
I always bring tea too! I occasionally travel for work, and they are always willing to pay for coffee for conference attendees, but never tea. As a non-coffee-drinker, I have to bring my own tea if I want anything warm to drink in those chilly conference rooms!
Love this pattern! Great idea for their construction!
Ohhhh, wow, these look amazing! I’m really into slippers right now, so: tempted.
My pillow and my knitting are always packed first :).
P.S. These slippers are beautiful!
I’ve never been tempted to knit slippers until I saw those. They are just so pretty! Thank you for the opportunity to win this lovely yarn.
Beautiful pattern! I always pack a pair of handknitted socks. They are great for padding around the hotel to and on chilly plane rides. Having that touch of home always makes work trips better. 🙂
My husband and I have been talking about slippers lately! Shoes are too dirty for inside, but we haven’t yet gotten the hang of regular mopping. I promised to make myself a pair, and if he’s very good I might even make him one, too.
I always bring my Kindle. No matter where I am, I’m happy as long as I have access to a good book.
I always pack…coffee! I bring a ziploc bag of coffee grounds and throw in a couple of K-cups. That way I know I’ll have my favorite brew every morning! Thanks for the lovely giveaway!
My knitting is most important, along with my iPad for patterns and reading, followed by my comfy robe.
I’ve been waiting for these slippers! I can’t wait to knit these. Thank you!
I am getting ready for my trip to Maine for the holidays so the one thing I make sure to pack is nice warm pj’s and warm socks. This year I will also pack a project to work on because we will be there 7 days instead of 4.
I have never worked with aran so it would be nice to try this.
Along with my knitting goes the coffee press and the electric kettle. Then coffee, tea, oatmeal, ramen noodles, emergency rations and ultimately the world are mine….Muuwhahhhhhh…..
I love these slippers! Perfect for the coming cooler weather.
I always bring tea with me. That and my favorite books (but on kindle or audio).
I always pack my kindle and my interchangeable needles in case i find yarn at a local store that i have to cast on. There’s nothing like an unexpected layover or delay without knitting to ruin a mood.
I’m hoping that mom will love a new pair of slippers, and these are so awesome!! Cannot wait to try your heel technique!
What a relief to hear these will fit a size 11, which is what I, too, wear. I always ggggle a little when people with tiny feet complain about knitting for their husband’s toes.
As for travel, I’m a definite homebody. But also a minimalist to some degree. Thanks to office I carry everyone’s photos, but I always pack my wrist and teeth guard since I’m a worrier and grind worse away from home.
I love String Theory Caper yarn, and as you said, it’s unfortunate that the Caper Aran base has been discontinued. I always pack my knitting when going away – way too many projects – enough knitting for at least 5 times longer than I’m actually going for. Nice slipper pattern.
These are so pretty! From years of traveling for work and always forgetting toothbrush and pjs I always make sure those are in there first and then add in my pillow and knitting!