Christmas Slippers, Just in Time!

Grandma’s Slippers 

Gather together:

·       Size 11 Needles

·       2 Skeins worsted weight yarn (about 250-300 yds. I used 2 skeins Lion Brand Wool Ease)

·       Yarn Needle

·       Your wits about you

Notes: This pattern uses two strands of yarn held together throughout. This means you will be holding and knitting two strands of yarn together as one. The upside: you can use two different colors/textures of same-size yarn to change the effect! Also, this pattern is very forgiving and stretches to fit a variety of sizes, however, you should get as close as possible to the recommended gauge. The danger? Your slipper could get too big! I know, I’ve done it.

Gauge: 12 stitches and 10 rows to 4 inches in garter stitch holding 2 strands of yarn. Knit a 4”x4” swatch first, then measure for size. I admittedly tend to be a tight knitter, so your gauge may be bigger.

Sized to fit a M/L women's foot, or a men's S/M

The Pattern:

CO 37 stitches, leaving a 12” tail for sewing later on.

Row 1: (WS) K15, P1, K5, P1, K15

Row 2: (RS) Knit across

Repeat rows 1 and 2 for 14 rows

Row 15: At the start of row 15 (WS), BO 7 stitches, then knit in pattern across

Row 16: At the start of row 16 (RS), BO 7 stitches, then knit across. You should now have 23 stitches on your needle.

Row 17 (WS): P1, K1 across

Row 18 (RS): K across all stitches

Repeat Rows 17 & 18 nine times more for a total of 20 rows, or as long as your own foot.

Finishing:

At the end of row 20 (or your selected length), you are at the toe of your slipper. It should look like a “T,” with the wide part of the T being the heel and ankle end. Your needles should be at the end of the narrow part of the T. Cut a 12” length of yarn for sewing, put your free needle down as you will not be binding the toe off.

Thread your yarn needle with both strands of yarn. Thread your yarn needle through all the stitches remaining on your knitting needle. As you do this, slip each stitch off the end of the needle and onto the sewing yarn. When all the stitches have been transferred to the yarn, cinch the toe up tightly. Sew up the top of the toe.

Finally, using the extra yarn you left in the beginning for sewing (It should be dangling from the heel portion of the slipper), sew up the back of the slipper! 

Repeat.

Optional: To make pom poms: wrap yarn of choice around 3-4 fingers held together about 40-50 times if doubling yarn, 90-100 times if using a single strand, depending on how tightly fluffy you want your pom. Cut yarn. Carefully slip the yarn off your fingers and lay on a flat surface. Cut a length of the same yarn used for pom that will be long enough for use to sew pom onto slipper.

Wrap the length of yarn around the center of the wound yarn, tie and cinch as tightly as you can. ( I get my husband to help with this part) Tie a knot and sew pom onto slipper. Repeat.