When I was seven I relished any chance I could get to wear my black patent leather Mary Jane's. No event was too insignificant! Now I like to shuffle around my apartment in these knit slippers reminiscent of the classic style. Enjoy! --Whitney
I kept these slippers pretty simple, but they'd also be really cute modified for a button or decorated with a knit flower. I hope you have as much fun knitting these as I did designing them!
5 stitches = 1 inch in garter stitch
Fits medium size woman's foot (shoe size 7-9)
Note: If you slip the first stitch of every row, it will be a little bit easier to pick up stitches later.
Cast on 8 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Increase Row: Slip 1, kfb, knit to last 2 stitches, kfb, knit 1 (10 st).
Knit 2 rows.
Repeat the last 3 rows 2 more times (14 stitches)
Knit until piece measures 2 inches from cast on edge (or, if you prefer to count rows: Knit 11 rows).
Knit an Increase Row (16 stitches).
Knit until piece measures one more inch (11 rows).
Repeat the last 12 rows 3 more times (piece will measure 6-inches and there will be 22 stitches).
At this point the sole should look something like this:
Knit 3 rows.
Decrease Row: Slip 1, k2tog, k to last 3 stitches, ssk, knit 1 (20 stitches).
Knit 1 row.
Repeat the last 2 rows 8 more times (4 stitches).
Bind off.
Starting at the center of the heel (with either side facing you), pick up 42 stitches to the center of the toe (pick up 1 stitch for every stitch around the heel and toe, and 3 stitches for every 4 up the sides).
Pick up 42 stitches down the other side to the center back of the heel and place a marker (pm). (84 stitches on needle). Work the following rows in the round.
Purl 1 round. (The first couple of rounds are a little tight and awkward, but it gets easier.)
Knit 1 round.
Purl 1 round.
Repeat the last 2 rounds.
Next round: Knit 32, pm (use a different color than the end-of-the-round marker), k2tog, k 16, ssk, pm (use the same color as the marker just placed), knit 32.
Purl 1 round.
Next round: Knit to marker, k2tog, knit to 2 stitches before marker, ssk, knit to end of round.
Repeat last 2 rounds until there are 6 stitches between the 2 same color markers (5 times) (70 stitches total remaining).
Bind off loosely.
With the contrast yarn, use the provisional cast-on technique (see our provisional cast-on tutorial) to cast 4 stithces onto one US size 5 double pointed needle.
Starting at the center of the heel, knit an attached I-cord around the edge of the slipper. Pick up 1 st for every bound off stitch. For instructions on knitting an attached I-cord, see our tutorial. Finish the two live ends of the Attached I-cord by refering to our Kitchener Stitch Tutorial.
Try the slipper on to see where you would like to have the strap. I placed mine 3 inches from the center of the heel.
With a US size 5 double pointed needle, pick up 5 stitches inside the slipper, on the left side, right below the attached I-cord.
Slipping the first stitch of every row, knit in garter stitch until there are 16 1/2 ridges (ie for 33 rows) or until it is the length that fits your foot, bearing in mind that garter stitch really stretches.
The last row you knit should leave the yarn at the heel end of the slipper. Cut an 8 inch tail and thread it through a tapestry needle.
Straight across from where the strap began, thread the yarn up through a purl bump.
Then thread the yarn through the first stitch of the knitting needle as if to purl and remove the stitch from the needle.
Repeat these 2 steps until no stitches remain.
Weave in all the ends. And make another!
January 23, 2008