When I think of wool, I shudder and remember that little incident with a sweater I once owned. I also cringe because even thinking about wool makes me itchy – so of course purchasing wool slippers for my son would never cross my mind. Luckily, he received a pair or Padraig slippers as a gift for his birthday, and we haven’t looked back since!
Three things I love about these slippers: they are made from all-natural products, they STAY ON (no matter what), and a leather sole means that they are slip-proof . Padraig slippers are crocheted out of pure New Zealand wool and have an interior sheepskin lining (so soft!). They are flexible and roomy, but sturdy enough to keep little feet protected.
This is where things got scary for me – Oliver had been wearing his Padraig’s for a few months, and they were starting to look worn and dirty, so I did what Padraig dared me to do – I threw them into the washing machine with a load of clothes and let them air-dry. But instead of emerging from the experience fitting only our dachshund (who now sports my sweater), they came out looking brand new! The only thing I would do differently before washing the slippers next time is to tie the laces so they don’t get pulled out during the cycle.
Padraig makes slippers for babies, women, and men. Aside from the obvious size difference, the company uses different types of wool for different slippers. The yarn used in their baby slipper is the softest, while the men’s slipper yarn is stronger and more dense (hmmm…). Padraigs come in a variety of colour choices to suit every personality, so there really isn’t a reason to be afraid of the big bad wool slipper!
Thanks for post. Nice to see such good ideas.