Criss-cross slipper
Designed by: Kinjinlu Khumba
Technique: Crochet
Skill: Intermediate
Pattern no. KK-Cr-Slippers-002
This slipper pattern is not hard as it may look. It’s constructed in 2 parts. Part 1 is to crochet the criss cross front straps, and Part 2 is crocheting the heel cover. Just finishing part 1 is enough to own a beautiful slipper if you wish to. So, this pattern can give you 2 different slippers.
The Instant Printable Downloads are available on Etsy, Ravelry and Lovecrafts. So you can avail all the 6 different sizes, i.e from Shoe no.5 to shoe no. 10 (UK/Indian) size. Size chart is also given inside the pattern for better reference. I hope you like this pattern.
You can always try out different color combinations and materials. I mostly use macramé for this type of project because they seemed to be more firm than our normal woolen yarns. Cotton yarns could be great though if you want to experiment with different materials. Another reason why I like using macramé is because it doesn’t expand too much like normal yarns. As for the sole you can use the flip flop soles which I’ll be showing you in some other tutorial/post. From my experience of wearing this slipper I can assure you it is very lasting. It goes for years. It is easily washable and quite gentle on the feet unlike some plastic materials found in local market. I love it so much.
And mind you, you might not get the perfect fit or the best looking slipper on your first or second try. It is not just about the instructions of the pattern but it is also about how your hands get to adjust with your project and know its limitations, that gives you the idea on making the perfect fit. I had to redo this pattern 7 different times before I could actually managed to find out how to place it so it’ll give me a perfect fit, especially the front straps. All these explanations are in the video tutorial. Do give it a watch for better understanding. It’s available on my YouTube Channel (Lu’s Handicrafts)
Also If you’re making it from a flip flop sole, I would recommend you to go down by 1 size. Since the heel part is supposed to fit in perfectly, a normal size might give you a little loose fitting overall. Anyway, you could keep trying out different sizes to see if it fits well.
Materials:
- 6 mm crochet hook
Yarn: Macrame yarn – 1mm thickness (color and brand of your choice) 120 yards / 2 balls of 50 gm each
- Sole with base stitches
- Scissors/thread cutter
- Measuring tape or inches scale
Beginners’ Crochet kits
Abbreviations: (US Terminology)
- R= Row
- sc= single crochet
- sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitch together (invisible decrease)
- Slp = slip
- St = stitch
- Ch = Chain
Gauge: 7 rows & 7sc = 1” Square
Measurements and Sizes: Adjustable as per different sole/slipper size. The written instruction here is for India/UK women shoe size, no. 6.
Note:
Before you begin the foundation SC, you’ll need to identify the point from where you should begin your SC. Here are 2 ways you can use to identify the starting point.
Method 1: Divide it into half
Divide the sole into 2 equal halves. Mark the stitch on the dividing point on the upper half of the slipper and begin the foundation SC from there. Crochet all around.
Method 2: Follow the Curve
If you follow the curve of the sole you can mark your beginning stitch at the point where the curve ends. It’s not difficult to identify the curve point.
Pattern: (Number 6)
Foundation:
Make sure that you insert your hook from outside towards the inside as shown in the picture.
You could insert from any direction but the border looks better when done through the way that’s shown in the picture.
Start with the right side of the slipper.
Put 3 SC into each of the base stitch. If the stitch is short, you may put only 2sc. It’s not a fixed number. Put SC all around.
Slp st to the first SC and get ready for the next step.
PART A: Front Straps
Right Foot: Strap1
After slip st, Ch 34 & join it with a slp st to the base on the other side of the slipper at about 35 degree angle.
Placed the 34 chain in a straight line, which will form a 90 degree angle.
Then, move the chain to about 30-35 degrees upward on the other side of the slipper and join it with the base st.
Join it in such a way that when the strap is completed, there will be a decent space left for the front opening.
So, determine the desired width of the strap first before slip stitching it to the foundation base and begin the strap construction.
Repeated Corner stitch:
There will be 2 stitches which can be confusing at the beginning of every row.
- A SC st on the base getting ready for the next row. It’s like chaining 1 to start a new row. So it does not count as a st.
- A fake st due to the slip stitch made while joining the previous row with the foundation or base. So you need to skip the fake stitch too.
So skip the 2 fake stitches every time a new row begins. Do this all through the rows for the front straps.
Ch 34, slp st to the foundation at 35 degree angle.
R1: Sc in the next st on the foundation. 34 sc, slp st to the foundation. (Keep in mind the Repeated Corner Stitch while starting new row)
R2-7: Repeat R1. Slp st to foundation ch. Ch1 to secure. Cut the yarn off.
Right Foot: Strap2
- Take a straight line from the beginning point of the 1st strap and mark your stitch.
- Put SC all around, join with slp st.
- Ch 35.
- We chain 35, 1 ch extra, for the ease of crossing on top of the 1st
Leave the 35 chains for now.
From the top edge of 1st strap, take a straight line and mark a point on the other side of the slipper. This will be the stitch where the 7th row of the 2nd strap should be.
Move down by how much the width of the 1st strap measures, mark the point and slip st to the foundation to start constructing the 2nd strap.
It is important to match the starting and ending lines on both the sides.
Ch 35, slp st to the foundation at 35 degree angle.
R1-7: Sc in the next st on the foundation. 35 sc, slp st to the foundation. (Keep in mind the Repeated Corner Stitch while starting new row)
Ch1 to secure. Cut the yarn off.
Left Foot: Strap1 & 2
- Place the right foot next to the left foot and take the measurements corresponding to that of the right, in a mirror image.
- Put sc foundation on the slipper by following the arrows. Slp st and join.
- ch 34 for the 1st R1-7: 34 sc
- Ch 35 for the 2nd strap. R1-7: 35 sc
PART B: Heel Area
From the lower strap point move down 3 cm and put sc all around the heel area, till the other side is also just 3cm away from the strap points. No need to count the number of stitches. Just SC into every foundation stitch.
R1: SC from Point A to B.
R2: ch1, (does not count as SC) and turn. SC from point B to A.
R3: Ch1, turn. 1SC, SC2tog (invisible decrease), SC all the way till 3 stitches are left before B. SC2tog, 1SC
R4: Ch1, turn. SC from B to A
R5-8: Repeat R3 & R4
R9-18: Repeat R1 & 2
R19. Ch1, turn. 1SC, ch81, slp st back to the 1st ch. 1SC into the same space where we put our 1st SC. SC all the way to the last st, ch81, slp st back till the 1st ch, 1SC again into the last st. Slp st to the row below, ch1 to secure and cut off the yarn. Hide all the extra tails. And that’s it
If you’re using different hook size and materials, you can follow this.
You can stop when your work measures about 7 inches. Or if you have a bigger foot size, you can measure your own heel length and work which will best fit your heel.
For best fitting, try it on from time to time as you go on constructing.
Size adjustments:
For size adjustments up to UK/Indian shoe size 10, please purchase the written pattern from any of my shops in the given links to show some support for the efforts I have put into creating this pattern. I’m so grateful to you all for your constant support to a small designer like me who’s trying to make my presence known to the world through internet and earn a little bit through this. It means so much and it keeps me motivated to create even better patterns.
For better understanding and clear demonstration of the pattern you can also watch this video tutorial. I hope this may clear up many of your doubts that I may not have addressed in the written instructions. Also please feel free to write your opinions to me.
Copyright © 2021 Lu’s Handicrafts
This design, the written pattern and images are a copyright of Lu’s Handicrafts and may not be copied or reproduced in any way whether on paper or electronically. You have permission to sell the finished products made from this pattern, but please leave a link to my website, www.lushandicrafts.com in your product listing specifying that Kinjinlu Khumba is the designer of this pattern. Thank you for supporting me.
If you have any trouble with this pattern, fond errors or want to give feedback, please feel free to contact me at lushandicrafts@gmail.com. Also a visual tutorial is available on my YouTube channel, Lu’s Handicrafts, if you need further assistance.
Please stitch men pointed shoes
Thank you for the suggestion. Will try soon.