Adorn tiny feet with these utterly adorable handmade baby slippers! Featuring a delightful woven texture that creates a cozy, intricate pattern, and embellished with a vibrant pink flower with a pearly center, these slippers are both warm and stylish. The clever flat-piece construction makes for a satisfying and achievable crochet project!
This pattern is suitable for intermediate crocheters, or confident beginners who are ready to learn a beautiful new textured stitch and assembly techniques.
Yarn:
- DK (Double Knit) or Light Worsted Weight yarn in:
- Main Color (MC): Cream/Light Yellow, as pictured.
- Contrast Color (CC): Pink (for the flower), as pictured.
- Choose a soft, baby-friendly yarn that is machine washable for easy care.
Hook:
- 3.5 mm (US E/4) crochet hook (adjust hook size if necessary to achieve desired fabric and tension).
Notions:
- Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
- Scissors
- 1 small white pearl or bead (for the center of each flower, as pictured).
Gauge (Important for Sizing!):
- For the Woven Texture: A 4-row repeat of the pattern should measure approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) tall, and 18 DC (or 9 crossed DC sets) = 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
- Always make a small swatch to check your gauge, as it’s crucial for the finished size of the slippers!
Size:
- Newborn to 3 months (approximately 3.75 – 4 inches / 9.5-10 cm sole length when finished).
- To adjust for larger sizes, you will need to increase the initial chain for the upper body to make it taller, add more repeats of the pattern for length, and adjust the sole size accordingly.
Abbreviations (US Crochet Terms):
- Ch: Chain
- Sl St: Slip Stitch
- SC: Single Crochet
- HDC: Half Double Crochet
- DC: Double Crochet
- St(s): Stitch(es)
- Sk: Skip
- FO: Fasten Off
- Crossed DC (XDC): Sk next st, DC in next st, then DC in the skipped st (inserting hook in front of the DC just made).
Pattern Instructions:
These slippers are made by first creating a flat rectangular piece for the upper, then shaping and seaming it, and finally attaching a separate sole and embellishments.
Part 1: The Main Body/Upper (Flat Piece – Main Color)
This rectangular piece forms the unique woven texture of the slipper’s upper. The height of the piece will be the height of the slipper, and the number of rows will determine the length around the foot.
- Starting with Main Color (MC – Cream/Light Yellow). Ch 15. (This chain determines the height of the slipper. Adjust for taller/shorter.)
- Row 1 (RS): DC in 4th Ch from hook (counts as 1st DC). DC in each Ch across. (13 DC). Ch 1, turn.
- Row 2 (WS): SC in each DC across. (13 SC). Ch 3 (counts as 1st DC), turn.
- Row 3 (RS – Crossed DC Row):Sk next SC, DC in next SC, then DC in the skipped SC (inserting hook in front of the DC just made). Repeat from * to * across to the last SC. DC in the last SC. (6 Crossed DC sets + 1 DC). Ch 1, turn.
- Make sure your stitch count for Row 1 is an odd number (like 13) to end with a single DC and keep the pattern symmetrical.
- Row 4 (WS): SC in each DC (including the crossed ones) across. (13 SC). Ch 3, turn.
- Repeat Rows 3-4 for a total of 15 more rows of the pattern (ending on a Row 3 repeat). Your piece should have 8 sets of the Crossed DC rows.
- Your flat piece should now have a distinct woven/braided texture. It should measure approximately 8.5-9 inches (21-23 cm) long and 4 inches (10 cm) high. FO, leaving a long tail for seaming.
Part 2: The Sole (Main Color)
The sole is worked in continuous rounds to create a sturdy oval base.
- Ch 14.
- Round 1: HDC in 3rd Ch from hook (counts as 1st HDC). HDC in next 10 Ch. 5 HDC in last Ch. (Work around the end of the chain). Working along the other side of the starting chain: HDC in next 10 Ch. 3 HDC in the very last Ch (this is the same ch as your very first HDC). Sl St to top of beginning Ch 3 to join. (29 HDC)
- Round 2: Ch 2 (does not count as a stitch). 2 HDC in first HDC. HDC in next 10 HDC. 2 HDC in next 5 HDC. HDC in next 10 HDC. 2 HDC in last 3 HDC. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 2 to join. (38 HDC)
- Round 3: Ch 2. 2 HDC in first HDC. HDC in next 13 HDC. 2 HDC in next 5 HDC. HDC in next 13 HDC. 2 HDC in last 4 HDC. Sl St to top of beginning Ch 2 to join. (48 HDC)
- This completes the sturdy sole. FO, leaving a long tail for sewing.
Part 3: The Flower Embellishment (Contrast Color)
Make 2 flowers (one for each slipper), as pictured.
- Starting with Contrast Color (CC – Pink). Ch 2.
- Petals: Work (Sl St, Ch 2, 2 DC, Ch 2, Sl St) all into the 2nd Ch from hook. Repeat 4 more times into the same 2nd Ch from hook. (5 petals total).
- FO, leaving a short tail for weaving in.
- Each flower should look like a small, flat rosette.
Video tutorial
Finishing Your Slipper:
- Weave in all initial loose ends on the main body piece and the sole.
- Seaming the Main Body:
- Take your long flat textured piece. Fold it in half lengthwise (bringing the short ends together).
- Using your tapestry needle and the long tail, whip stitch or mattress stitch the short ends together to form a tube/cylinder. This seam will be the center back of the slipper.
- Shaping the Toe:
- With the cylinder seam at the back, flatten the tube so the seam is centered.
- Pinch the opposite end (the front/toe end). Using a tapestry needle and a new piece of MC yarn, weave the yarn through the top of the stitches along the front edge (where the toes will be). Pull tightly to gather and close the toe opening. Stitch securely to reinforce the toe.
- Seaming the Sole:
- Align the bottom edge of your main body cylinder with the perimeter of your crocheted sole. The seam of the body should align with the center back of the sole.
- Using your tapestry needle and the long tail from the sole, securely whip stitch or mattress stitch the main body to the sole, working all the way around the oval. Ensure even distribution and a neat seam.
- Attach Flower:
- Stitch 1 small white pearl or bead securely to the center of each pink flower.
- Position the completed flower decoratively on the front top of the slipper, over the gathered toe section, as shown in the image. Securely stitch it in place.
- Make a Second Slipper: Repeat all steps to create a matching pair!
And there you go! Beautifully textured, handmade baby slippers with a charming flower accent. They’re sure to be a treasured item for your little one or a thoughtful gift!
Happy crocheting!
