Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tissues Versus Hankerchiefs

My father always used cotton handkerchiefs. My Mother washed them weekly. Yuck. Not for me. We use tissues at my house. Always have. Always - - - well, maybe not.

Christmas is coming and thoughts of sugar plums hand-knit gifts dance in my head. First on my list was felted slippers for my Grand daughters. This fall, I purchased some very special trim - rabbit fur yarn from Paula Lishman. My vision was to knit something to show off the fur. Felted slippers with fur trim seemed a good idea. The grey fur looked best against black, so black slippers it was. Late last night I finished the first pair. Silly, I know, to felt just one pair, but what knitter can resist seeing the results? Not me, obviously.

Felters know that things felt best when paired with something else in the machine. I chose Fred's jeans. Felters know that it is best for the machine to place the knitting in a bag - a pillowcase, perhaps.

But it was late. I was in a hurry. And I couldn't readily find an old pillowcase. Big mistake.
Fred had a tissue in his back pocket. Of course, the late hour and my haste meant I didn't check.

Take it from me. There is no mess quite like the mess of black wool slippers felted with a tissue.
I think Fred will get some cotton hankies for Christmas.

9 comments:

Sel and Poivre said...

My Dad used hankies too, as did his Dad who also lived with us.

Every time I empty the waste baskets and see just how much tissue waste we have I wonder about switching. So far though, it seems I've resisted the temptation but then I haven't felted tissue into anything black...a much more compelling argument for sure!

Vera said...

We use both. Old habits die hard.

Laurie said...

My dad used hankies, as does my husband. I have a huge drawerful of lovely lacy and embroidered hankies that my grandmother gave me. Never used for more than decoration.

Poor slippers...

LaurieM said...

Have you tried shaving the slippers yet? They won't be fuzzy anymore, but neither will they be covered in tissue.

When I first saw the picture, I thought they were sparkly... :)

Joansie said...

Oh, that's too bad. I've heard of that happening with folks throwing in bath towels that lint all over their project.

I purchased a zipped pillowcase at WalMart. No chance on lint getting onto my project.

MamaMidwife said...

I, too, thought they were sparkly. :)

I prefer hankies or washcloths to tissue. We also don't have paper towels. It's not a "green" thing, just less expensive with little kids.

What slipper pattern do you use (if you use one)?

Sandra said...

ooo, I hate when that happens. My FIL still uses hankies, and while I can appreciate the "greenness" of them, I'm grossed out every time he uses it, then puts it back in his pocket to be used again. Gag!

Christy J said...

Tissues have evil magic. I swear I check every pocket every time, yet too many times one appears all over my load of wash. Still I am one of those who can't bring myself to reuse hankies. I'll have to save the earth some other way.

Yarn and Ivories said...

What a bummer. Can we start something new? Just being silly...