Are your toes feeling a little chilly as the holiday season approaches, or are you looking for the ultimate cozy handmade gift that works up in a flash?
These ultra plush Christmas slippers feel like walking on clouds and can be customized as classic festive Santa slippers or fun green Grinch style house shoes!
Materials and Preparation
Materials:
- Super Bulky Blanket Yarn (Category 6): Red yarn (for Santa style) or Lime Green yarn (for Grinch style).
- Faux Fur Yarn or White Blanket Yarn: White faux fur / fleece yarn for the cuff trim (or Lime Green faux fur yarn).
- Puff Paint (Optional): Dimensional fabric paint to add non-slip grippers to the soles.
Tools:
- Crochet Hook: Size 8.0 mm (US L/11) hook (or 7.0 mm depending on your personal tension).
- Tapestry Needle: Large eye yarn needle for weaving in thick ends.
- Stitch Markers: Locking stitch markers (essential for tracking fluffy fur stitches).
- Scissors: Heavy duty yarn scissors.
Preparation Notes:
- You should be comfortable with basic foundation chain stitches, single crochet, working into back loops (BLO) and front loops (FLO), as well as modified bobble stitches.
- Working with chunky blanket yarn and faux fur requires feeling for the tops of stitches when visibility is low.
Abbreviations and Notes
Abbreviations:
- ch: Chain
- sc: Single Crochet
- inc: Single Crochet Increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
- dec: Invisible Single Crochet Decrease
- sl st: Slip Stitch
- st(s): Stitch(es)
- BLO: Back Loop Only
- FLO: Front Loop Only
- Modified Bobble: 3-leg modified bobble stitch (yarn over, insert hook, pull up loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops; repeat 3 times in same st, yarn over, pull through all loops)
Pattern Notes:
- The sole of the slipper is worked in joined oval rounds.
- The top vamp section is worked separately with textured bobbles and then joined to the sole.
- The ankle collar is built upward from the joined base and finished with soft faux fur edging.
- Original design and pattern credit belongs to A Crafty Concept.
Gauge, Approximate Size, and Pattern Notes
Gauge:
Adult Small Sole (Rows 1–3) measures approximately 8.25 to 8.75 inches (21.0 cm to 22.2 cm) in total length.
Finished Size:
Adult Small fits US Women’s shoe sizes 5–7 (Sole length approx. 8.5 inches / 21.5 cm).
Special Techniques:
- Chunky 3-Leg Bobble Stitch: Adapted for plush blanket yarn to create dramatic texture without excessive bulk.
- Seamless Top to Sole Join: Combining back loops of the upper panel with front loops of the lower sole for a sturdy structure.
- Invisible Decrease (dec): Working through front loops only to keep ankle shaping smooth.
Step-by-Step Pattern
Part 1: Sole of the Slipper
Worked in main blanket yarn color (Red or Green):
- Foundation: Ch 18.
- R1: Working in the back bumps of the chain, starting in the second chain from hook, sc 17 (17). Work 6 sc all in the last chain st to turn the corner (6). Working along the opposite side of the chain, sc 17 (17). Ch 1, turn (40).
- R2: Sc 17 (17). Inc in each of the next 6 sts around the toe curve (12). Sc 17 (17). Ch 1, turn (46).
- R3: Sc 46 around (1 sc in each st) (46). Do not chain 1 at the end of Row 3.
Heel Seam:
- Step A: Sc 3 starting in the exact same stitch as the last sc of Row 3, working across the raw edge toward the center of the heel (3).
- Step B: Fold sole in half lengthwise (right sides together). Insert hook through last st made and corresponding spot on opposite side. Sl st together across to secure heel.
- Step C: Ch 1, turn right side out.
Wall of the Sole:
- R4: Working in BLO, sc 46 around (46). Join with sl st to first sc, ch 1.
- R5: Working through both loops, sc 46 around (46). Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.
Part 2: Top Vamp Piece
Worked separately using main color:
- Foundation: Ch 11.
- R1: Working in back bumps, sc 10 starting from second ch from hook (10). Work 6 sc in last chain st (6). Sc 10 along opposite side of chain (10). Ch 1, turn (26).
- R2 (Bobble Row): Sc 1, *Modified Bobble in next st, sc 1; repeat from * across (26). Ch 1, turn.
- R3: Sc 10 (10). Inc in next 6 sts (12). Sc 10 (10). Do not fasten off (32).
Straight Ankle Edge of Top Piece:
- Edge Row: Work 2 sc in side of current row, sc 3 across raw straight edge, 2 sc in final corner (7). Join to top of first sc of R3 with sl st.
Part 3: Assembly & Ankle Building
Part 3.1: Attaching Top Piece to Sole
- Place Top Vamp Piece on top of Sole Piece.
- Count 7 sts up from heel seam on sole; hook into FLO of 8th st on sole.
- Hook through BLO of first st on Top Piece.
- Sc 32 around, joining BLO of top piece to FLO of bottom sole piece (32).
- Sl st to join, cut yarn and tie off.
Part 3.2: Ankle Collar
- Attach main yarn at center back heel chain space.
- R1: Sc 7 along sole edge (7). Sc 1 in join space (1). Sc 8 across top edge of vamp (8). Sc 1 in opposite join space (1). Sc 7 along sole edge (7). Join to first sc with sl st, ch 1 (24).
- R2: Sc 7 (7). Invisible dec over next 2 sts (1). Sc 6 across top (6). Invisible dec over next 2 sts (1). Sc 7 (7). Join with sl st, ch 1 (22).
- R3: Sc 22 around (22). Join with sl st, changing to Faux Fur yarn on last loop of join.
Part 4: Faux Fur Cuff & Finishing
Faux Fur Edging:
- R1: With Faux Fur yarn, ch 1, sc 22 around (22). Join with sl st to first sc, ch 1.
- R2: Sc 22 around (22). Join with sl st to first sc.
- Fasten off leaving a tail for weaving in.
Finishing:
- Weave in all loose ends securely on the inside of the slipper using a tapestry needle.
- (Optional Non-Slip Sole): Turn slipper over and apply dots or wavy lines of puffy fabric paint along the heel and ball of the foot. Allow to dry for 24 hours before wearing.
Detailed Pattern Breakdown
1. Sole & Heel Construction Breakdown:
- The sole uses an oval expansion technique: starting with an 18-chain base, working down both sides of the chain, and placing 6 single crochets at the turning end to form a smooth toe curve.
- Row 2 increases the toe curve by placing 2 single crochets in each of the 6 turning stitches, expanding the toe box to match human foot anatomy.
- The heel is formed without cutting yarn by folding the piece lengthwise and slip stitching the back edges together, creating a snug cup for the heel.
- Row 4 uses Back Loop Only (BLO) to create a sharp 90-degree angle upward, transitioning from the flat sole to the vertical wall of the slipper shoe.
2. Textured Bobble Vamp Breakdown:
- The upper vamp features 3-leg modified bobble stitches separated by single crochets.
- Standard 4-leg or 5-leg bobbles create excessive bulk in Category 6 blanket yarn; reducing to 3 legs maintains a defined pop texture while keeping the slipper lightweight and comfortable across the top of the foot.
- The increases in Row 3 allow the vamp to flare outward, covering the instep properly before being joined to the sole wall.
3. Joining & Ankle Collar Breakdown:
- The top piece and lower sole are joined using a hybrid loop technique: taking the back loop of the top piece and the front loop of the bottom piece. This keeps the seam flat on the inside so it does not rub uncomfortably against toes.
- The ankle collar captures stitches from both the sole wall and top vamp.
- Round 2 of the ankle uses invisible single crochet decreases at the inner corners where the top meets the side walls, closing any gaps and ensuring a snug fit around the ankle so the slipper does not slip off while walking.
Pattern Questions
Question: Why does my slipper sole turn out smaller than the measurements in the pattern even when I use the recommended hook size?
Answer: Gauge can vary dramatically depending on whether you yarn over or yarn under when pulling up loops. Yarn-under technique creates significantly tighter, smaller stitches.
If your sole measures smaller than expected, switch to an 8.0 mm or 9.0 mm crochet hook, or focus on relaxing your tension on the foundation chain and initial rounds.
Question: How do I keep track of my stitches when working the cuff with fuzzy faux fur yarn?
Answer: Faux fur yarn hides stitch loops, making visual counting difficult. Use locking stitch markers in your first stitch and every 5th stitch as you work.
Feel for the underlying stitch posts with your fingers rather than relying on sight, and remember that faux fur is extremely forgiving, minor placement errors will be completely hidden by the fluffy texture!
Question: Can I make these slippers slip-resistant for hardwood or tile floors?
Answer: Yes! You can apply small dots or lines of clear or colored dimensional puff paint (fabric paint) to the bottom of the soles. Let the paint dry completely for 24 hours. The rubbery texture creates excellent traction, and the slippers remain fully machine washable!