FO: They Might Be Giants.

Pattern: Well, y'see...this is where it gets tricky.
As you know these started out as the Curiously Clever Clogs by Jennifer Hansen.
However as you also know, the pattern as written I found suprememly irritating and was consequently abandoned.
I think in all fairness the only elements of the original I've retained are the three-colour idea, some of the gusset shaping and the i-cord edging.
Otherwise I would say it's actually my own.
Perhaps I should call them Second Season Slippers* (as heavily influenced by CCCs)?
But I'm not here to get bogged down in the vexed area of IP.
And so on with the details...

Yarn: Classic DK Wool/ DK Wool Heathers by Jo Sharp in Mulberry, Ruby and Chestnut. Held double to get tension.

Needles: 9mm bamboo straights (purchashed for $3 !!! from Scragfight- as Di calls it- which at first seemed pretty crappy: rough-surfaced and lightweight, but after working with them have really smoothed out and actually aren't bad at all) plus 9mm Brittany birch dpns for the i-cord (tres pleasing to work with but hey they oughta be with the price tag).

Mods: Hooley dooley. This is the bit I've been dreading. Remembering and itemising the modifications.
The most obvious one being that I knitted 3 separate pieces; the upper, the lining and the sole. Then sewed them together.

Time: The entire 2nd season of West Wing* on dvd to knit and sew. One and a half hours (so much for the "make sure you check them every 5 mins" felting advice...I lost count of how many times I hauled out the steamy sodden pillowcase I had them secured in) in 55 deg C water to finally felt (man are they thick).

New skills: What can I say? It was an education.

Recipient: Goat

The verdict: Well...
I would say that if you're a really confident, advanced knitter you may have no problem at all with the attach-as-you-knit construction of the original pattern, and I can appreciate the advantages of doing them that way to cut down on the sewing time. However if you're a relative beginner like myself the technique is rather frustrating and not recommended.
I'm also not 100% happy with the finished blocked shape of the upper. Perhaps you need to use a shoe-tree -as Stitchdiva recommends- to really get that structured finish.
Would I do them again? Definately, but I would make even more mods to the upper: reducing it to 90% of its pre-felted size to begin with and losing about 8 rows at the beginning and end to eliminate the overlap under the lining which would mean less sewing.

But they are certainly comfy, warm and have a certain homespun charm.

top image: Arul Baskaran