Look what I made! My very own hand-knitted ruby slippers - perfect for keeping toes toasty warm on these chilly winter afternoons.

As an early Christmas gift to readers of a crafty bent, I thought I'd share the pattern I used to make these. It's so easy and quick, and ideal if you're a beginner when it comes to knitting. You can make it with any DK weight wool you have to hand, although I have to admit that I quite like the idea of making some with sparkly red yarn for the full-on Wizard of Oz look.

The basic pattern for the slippers is based on paperandglue's ridiculously easy mary jane slippers, which you can also find on ravelry here. Here goes:

Follow the Yellow Brick Road Ruby Slippers

You will need:

Any red DK yarn.
4.5mm needles.

To make the slippers:

Cast on 30 stitches.
Knit for 18cm in garter stitch. Bear in mind that you may need to increase or decrease the length here depending on the size of your foot - I wear UK size 4/5 shoes.
K2tog for two rows, keeping in pattern.
Cut off the yarn, leaving a long tail which you can then thread through the remaining stitches like a drawstring.
Using the tail of yarn, sew the two edges together for about 7cm to make the toe of your slipper.
Sew up the vertical seam at the back to make the heel of the slipper.

To make the bows:

For the main bow:
Cast on 7 stitches.
Knit for 8cm in garter stitch.
BO in pattern.

For the loop:
Cast on 3 stitches.
Knit 4cm in garter stitch.
BO in pattern.
(alternatively if you prefer, you could make a 4cm piece of icord instead)

To complete the bow, wrap the loop piece around the centre of the main bow, and stitch it together on the back side. You can then stitch the finished bow to the toe of your slipper.

To finish:

Tap heels together three times...

hello weekend.

I am going to make a resolution to try and post here more regularly than once a week but it's sometimes so hard to find the time. Here's a few sporadic events from another busy week: apologies for the stream-of-consciousness style rambling:

...I went to see the lovely new Ceri Hand gallery in Liverpool and the most uncanny current exhibition by artist Doug Jones.

...I also saw the New Ends, Old Beginnings exhibition at Open Eye Gallery and the Bluecoat - my highlights were the beautiful photographs by Lara Baladi.

... I went to the launch of the new exhibition at Cornerhouse - Masaki Fujihata's 'The Conquest of Imperfection'. It's great fun - definitely recommended if you get chance to check it out.

... I re-read my old Virago edition of Elizabeth Taylor's Angel in anticipation of the new film adaptation which I think comes out later this month. I haven't read it since I was a teenager and had forgotten what a spectacularly peculiar book it is. I have mixed feelings about it: it's a pretty depressing read but also oddly compelling. I'll be interested to see how they attempt to transfer the book - and the character of Angel herself in particular - onto the big screen.

... I also had quite a lot of my hair chopped off. It was a bit scary. I didn't think I'd be that bothered - after all, it's only hair, it grows back - but I actually felt strangely emotional about it. I'm starting to get used to it now, but I have felt very tired ever since - I am starting to suspect that my hair contained all my strength, Sampson-style. It also worked very well as a substantial blonde security blanket - very good for hiding behind. I've not exactly got a 'short back and sides' now, but even so, it is a bit of a shock to the system.

... And I marvelled at knitting wizardry from my friends Rachael Elwell and Sarah Hardacre. Check their lovely and very inspiring new artyarn blog out here. They have been commissioned by New Islington festival to knit guerilla art. They are making tree cozies! They have knitted a chandelier! I love it...