Posted on by Cathy

Keeping your toes warm

Slippers – for the knitting of!

They come in one simple design – although there are variations to be found if you go looking.

They can be brightly coloured- soft and gentle – or even strong and sturdy

With these it’s whatever takes your fancy – or more likely whatever’s on hand

Several readers mentioned the slippers I showed recently so here are the instructions I was given by a friend many years ago. I thought it was from online but I was wrong.

(These photos are from a post I did years ago on another blog)
Click/ tap or finger slide to enlarge
The top one shows how they look on the final row
The lower one how they look when sewn and finished

The instructions suggested using 8ply/dk yarn 

(doubled – 2 strands knitted together to give the thickness for warmth)

and uk size 8/4mm knitting needles

but I’ve also made them in very chunky handspun wool for men – adjusting needle size and length 

Begin by casting on 3 stitches.
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Inc in 1st stitch, knit
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Knit.
Repeat rows 2 + 3 + 4 until 12 stitches.
That forms the heel section

Now you are about to make the foot part – the sole.
Cast on 11 at the beginning of the next row.
Knit 11, P1, knit to last stitch, P1 turn.
Cast on 11 stitches (34 stitches)


Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: K11, P1, K10, P1, K11.
Repeat rows 1 + 2, 17 times.
This is where you can lengthen if needed
– but remember they will stretch –

Then on to the toe area.
Row 1: K2, (P1 K1) x 5, K11 (P1 K1) x 5, K1.
Row 2: (K1 P1) x 6, K10, (P1 K1) x 6.
Repeat rows 1 + 2, 8 times.

Next row: K2 together to end of row (17 stitches)
Next row: Purl.
Next row: K2 together to last stitch, K1 (9 stitches)

Break off yarn (leaving a rather long tail)  and draw through stitches
Fasten off as tightly as you can
don’t cut the yarn short as you will need it to sew up the front

Now sew the cast on sides to heel gusset. You may have to ease to fit

Using the long tail where the toe is gathered
sew the ribbing up front to where garter stitching begins

turn right side out and hey presto – nice snug slippers (or bedsocks)

Yes, they are very basic
For a special gift you could use a circular needle
Pick up all the way round the opening and knit a collar
Or put a pompom at the front opening

These are simple and easy to make
Just the way I like them

22 Replies to “Keeping your toes warm”

    1. Look around some of your craft shops Maggie- maybe you’ll find them for sale. Or approach a craft group suggesting a deal, you’ll provide the yarn if someone will knit them for you

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    1. You never know what you’ll find for sale once your local craft stalls come back….now the pandemic is easing. Or see if one of your congregation would knit them for you if you provide the materials. It’s worth a try

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I made many pairs for friends and myself from Aunt Maggie’s Slippers, basically a rectangle with a center section. Very simple, look like yours when finished and stitched up.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, I’ve seen that pattern as well. I do like these because they have a heel section – it might be more filly to knit but I feel it fits the foot more easily. Both are welcome as gifts in cold climates

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  5. That abc was my test. I have not been able to post for weeks; I could not satisfy that horrid akismet. Finally it has decided I do not eat blogs!
    When you first posted this blog I commented about my mother knitting those slippers for everyone. Many years later she had a letter from her brother, asking repairs on the little ball of fluff that were his worn out slipper. I had saved the pattern and he got another pair.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Glad to see you back Joanne…I was beginning to wonder what I’d done wrong. I used to knit these for lots of people years ago, they were easy gifts to take away – that’s one year’s contribution on the table at the top of the post – then I just stopped. My fingers weren’t coping with the double strands

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    1. They do have a habit of getting holes in the bottoms. Our temperamental Melbourne weather means there’s usually a pair out in view here ready to slip on when my tootsies get cold

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  8. Very many thanks -and now I am wondering whether instead of casting on 11 each side I can pick up stitches along the sides of the heel section to save the sewing up. Can you guess what lengths I will go to to avoid sewing up? F

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Now that’s one method/adaptation I’ve never tried. It might work, you could give it a try. Pick up working down from one point – knit across stitches already there – pick up towards the other side of the point. it might work on circular needles used as straights, because of the flexibility of the ‘cable’.

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  9. someone gave me a pair of these many moons ago and they lasted for years and years until they got so ragged they were tossed. now I just wear socks with the things on the bottom that keep me from slipping down…

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    1. Yes they tend to get holes in the bottoms…..I’ve been known to darn mine rather than make another pair. My fingers don’t take too kindly to knitting with double strands these days

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      1. I love the idea of these in multiple colours. Being a strictly “wear indoors” style, a person could choose all the colours they’d never wear “out”

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  10. I think they’re perfect.
    If winter is really cold I’m thinking we will all need slippers of all colours
    Not only to keep us warm but to brighten the dark days

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  11. That style is prominent across the ditch.
    An acquaintance of my knitted them to sell at markets but her pricing didn’t reflex the cost of the yarn!
    On year an organization made for school children to wear in the classrooms over winter.
    I used to wear them when I was weaving on my floor looms which were housed in a garage with a concrete floor and no heating…

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  12. Thank you for posting this pattern. Like other commenters, the pattern I have doesn’t have the heel section. The heel is going to make them fit better. Ok, I’m off to see what I might have in stash that would like to become a pair of slippers.

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