Slippers, Footies And Bed-Socks
What is your go-to pattern for slippers, footies and bed-socks? Do you have a favorite that always works for you? How about for gifts?
My Thoughts On Knitted Slippers, Footies and Bed-Socks
Slipper Option
The first time I ever set my eyes on the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs pattern, I was in love.
I loved the shaping, the thick, warm fabric and the two-color sole and rim around the ankle. After I made my first two pairs for Thaddeus and I, it was even bigger love. I’ve since made dozens of pairs of these clog-slippers. The pattern is well-written and interesting. The only downside is that it requires quite a bit of worsted weight wool (non-superwash). It also requires a zipper pillow cover to contain all the fiber-lint that gets created in your washing machine.
Footie Option
A couple of years ago, someone suggest we do a Men’s Knitting Retreat project of footies to wear inside the main lodge at Easton Mountain.
Coincidentally, I had seen some cool slipper socks for sale on Pinterest.
I realized how easy it would be to reverse-engineer these simple footies, so I did.
I ended up writing up this pattern and put it out on the interwebs for free. It was fun to watch some of the guys bring their footies to the retreat.
Choice in Bed-Socks
They’re not really bed-socks per se. But I really like the Hiking Socks pattern in The Knitting Man(ual) by Kristin Spurkland.
They’re easy to knit. They’re thick and soft and warm. I wear mine all the times in lieu of slippers or bed-socks.
Let me know what your go-to patterns are for keeping your feet warm!
Current Knitting
Progress continues on the Zig Zag Striped Scarf.
While I have added a few inches since Monday, I have been a bit distracted with sewing.
I’ve completed six more social distancing masks. I’ve used the more vibrant colored fabrics for the non-public-facing side of the masks.
For those living with hardwood and tile throughout the house, how do you counteract the slip and fall factor? Is there a product you recommend to add rubberized dots or stripes to the soles? Asking for an old friend at risk of falling!
I’ve never had to worry about that. I’ve heard some use just a glue gun to put patterned dots on the bottom, but I have no idea if that works.
When I knitted a pair of slippers for my dad, I used puffy paint to “paint” treads on the bottom of the slippers. (They were felted.) YMMV, but it seemed to work fine for me. Good luck!
I’ll be eagerly waiting for the answer to Lou Mitchell’s question.
This is my favorite slipper pattern. Like all hand knit socks rugs and linoleum snags and joins will put holes.
Slipper Pattern
American needles size 10
Use 3 strands through out of 4 ply knitting worsted
For all sizes beginning at toe with 3 strands of yarn cast on 12 stitches
1st row: Right side. Knit across
2nd row: K3, P1,K1, inc in next stitch, K2, P1, K3 (13 stitches)
3rd row: K1, inc in next stitch, K4, inc in next stitch, K3, inc in next stitch, K2 (16 st.)
4th row: K4, P1, K2, inc in next stitch, K3, P1, K4 (17 stitches)
5th row: K2, inc in next stitch, K5, inc in next stitch, K4, inc in next stitch, K3 (20 st.)
6th row: K5, P1, K3, inc in next stitch, K4, P1, K5 (21 st.)
7th row: K3, inc in next stitch, K6, inc in stitch, K5, inc in next stitch, K4 (24 st.)
8th row: K6, P1, K10, P1, P6
9th row: K4, inc in next stitch, K6, in next stitch, K6, inc in next stitch, K5 (27st.)
10th row: K7, P1, K11, P1, K7
11th row: Knit across
Repeat last two rows until sole measures (2” child)(2 ½ inch med.)(3” lar.) measure from 10th row. End on wrong side (it would be a 10th row)
Decrease for instep
1st row: K9, K2 together, K5, K2 tog, K9
2nd row: K7, P1, K9, P1, K7
3rd row: K9, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog, K9
Cast on 12 stitches
4th row: K19, P1, K7, P1, K7
Cast on 12 stitches
5th row: Knit across
6th row: K19, P1, K7, P1, K19 (47 st.)
Repeat last two rows until sole measures 1 inch less than desired length of slipper.
End on wrong side. It would be a 6th row.
Shape heel:
1st row: K23, K2 tog, K22 (46 st.)
2nd row: K19, P1, K1, K2 tog, K2 tog, K1, P1, K19 (44 st.)
3rd row: K20, K2 tog, K2 tog, K20 (42 st.)
4th row: K19, K2 tog, K2 tog, K19 (40 st)
Cast off
Fold slipper in half and sew up back and front edges.
I’ve made a lot of those slippers as well. After the first few, I started knitting a second (and third, and finally fourth) sole, which I joined to the base sole as I knit, to eliminate bumps and thick places when it felts. Not too difficult to hook into the garter stitches of the base sole. So much cushier! I highly recommend the practice.
I’ve made a couple pair of the Marsh Slipper and really like them. To prevent slip and fall and also to keep the sole from wearing out, I’ve begun sewing leather bottoms onto slippers and slipper socks (I got really tired of reknitting soles for slippers for my adult kids). I usually do it in two pieces, skipping the arch. I bought a bunch of leather scraps from Amazon for not a lot of money and use a hole punch (one with multiple prongs of different sizes) to create a series of holes around the edge that I sew through with heavy duty thread.
This is brilliant! Thanks.