Cozy Knit Slippers

Easy folded bootie slippers in chunky yarn. Each slipper is one flat piece on straight needles — no double-pointed needles, no picking up stitches, no short rows.

Skill level: Beginner

Sizes

Small (Medium, Large)

EU 42: knit Large.

If you are between sizes, choose the smaller size — garter stitch relaxes with wear.

Finished measurements

Measured after seaming, unstretched.

Garter stitch has give. The slippers should feel lightly snug when first put on.

Materials

Yarn: Chunky weight (category 5), wool or wool-blend recommended for warmth and floor grip. Pure acrylic can be slippery on hard floors.

Yardage (pair, solid color): 160 (190, 220) yd / 145 (175, 200) m

Sailor-stripe pair: Color A (navy or other dark): 110 (130, 150) yd / 100 (120, 135) m; Color B (cream or white): 60 (70, 80) yd / 55 (65, 75) m

Shown/suggested: 2 skeins of 100 g chunky for Small or Medium; 2–3 skeins for Large. Examples: Cascade 128, Lion Brand Hue + Me, Knit Picks Swish Chunky, or any chunky yarn that meets gauge.

Needles: US 9 / 5.5 mm straight needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)

Notions: Tapestry needle, scissors, tape measure. Optional: non-slip fabric paint or suede sole patches; pom-pom maker; 2 stitch markers.

Gauge

14 stitches and 28 rows = 4" (10 cm) in garter stitch (knit every row) on US 9 / 5.5 mm needles, after a light steam block.

3.5 sts = 1" (2.5 cm). 7 rows = 1" (2.5 cm).

Work a swatch at least 5" (12.5 cm) square. If you have more than 14 sts in 4", go up a needle size (slippers will come out small). If you have fewer than 14 sts, go down a needle size (slippers will come out large). Chunky yarn on 5.5 mm makes a dense, sturdy fabric — that is what you want for slippers.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO — bind off
• CO — cast on
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (right-leaning decrease)
• rep — repeat
• RS — right side
• ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, insert left needle into the fronts of both slipped stitches and knit them together (left-leaning decrease)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side

Garter stitch: Knit every row.

Construction

Each slipper is a flat trapezoid. You cast on at the heel, knit even for most of the foot, then decrease at both edges to taper the toe. Fold the piece in half lengthwise — the long center fold becomes the sole. Seam the heel (cast-on edge) and the toe (bound-off edge plus a short stretch of the top). The two long edges form the foot opening, lower over the toes and higher at the ankle.

Make two identical slippers. There is no left or right.

Pattern notes

• The first row after casting on is a WS row. The RS is the side you will have facing out.
• When counting garter rows, every knit row counts, including the stitches on the needle. Cast-on and bind-off do not count as rows.
• Leave long tails at cast-on and bind-off for seaming.
• Optional neat opening edge: slip the first stitch of every row purlwise with yarn in front, then knit to the end. This is not required.

Slipper (make 2)

Heel and foot

Leaving an 18" (45 cm) tail for the heel seam, CO 30 (34, 38) sts using a long-tail cast on.

Knit every row (garter stitch) until the piece measures 6½ (7, 7)" / 16.5 (18, 18) cm from the cast-on edge.

Tip: Lay the piece against the wearer’s foot. The even section should reach from the back of the heel to about the base of the toes. Add or subtract ½" (1.5 cm) here if you need a custom length.

Toe

Work the following 2 rows 10 (11, 13) times:

Row 1 (RS / Decrease): K1, ssk, knit to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. — 2 sts decreased.

Row 2 (WS): Knit.

30 (34, 38) − 20 (22, 26) = 10 (12, 12) sts remain ✓

Small: 10 decrease rows × 2 sts = 20 sts decreased; 30 − 20 = 10 ✓ Medium: 11 decrease rows × 2 sts = 22 sts decreased; 34 − 22 = 12 ✓ Large: 13 decrease rows × 2 sts = 26 sts decreased; 38 − 26 = 12 ✓

The toe section is about 2⅞ (3⅛, 3¾)" / 7.5 (8, 9.5) cm long. Total piece length is about 9¼ (10, 10¾)" / 23.5 (25.5, 27.5) cm ✓

BO remaining 10 (12, 12) sts knitwise. Cut yarn, leaving a 24" (60 cm) tail for the toe seam.

Finishing

Weave in any short ends now, but keep the two long tails (cast-on and bind-off) free for seaming.

Fold

Fold the piece in half lengthwise, with the right side facing out. The long center fold is the sole. The cast-on edge is the heel; the bound-off edge is the toe. The two long selvedges meet along the top.

Heel seam

Thread the cast-on tail onto a tapestry needle. Starting at the sole fold, join the two halves of the cast-on edge with mattress stitch, working up to the opening. Do not pull the yarn drum-tight — the heel should cup, not pucker. Fasten off on the inside.

Toe seam

Thread the bind-off tail onto a tapestry needle. First join the two halves of the bound-off edge with mattress stitch (this closes the tip of the toe). Then continue along the two long selvedges, seaming them together toward the ankle for 2½ (3, 3)" / 6.5 (7.5, 7.5) cm. This covers the toes and creates a bootie opening.

For a snugger instep, seam ½" (1.5 cm) farther. For easier on-and-off, seam ½" (1.5 cm) less.

Fasten off on the inside. Weave in all remaining ends securely — slippers take a lot of friction.

Repeat for the second slipper.

Block

Steam-block lightly or mist with water and pat into shape. Do not stretch. Let dry fully.

Traction (optional, recommended)

On hard floors, add grip:

• Apply small dots of non-slip fabric paint (puffy paint) on the sole, ¼–⅜" (5–10 mm) apart, and let cure per the bottle; or
• Sew on purchased suede or leather slipper patches.

Sailor-stripe variation

Use Color A (navy, charcoal, or another dark) and Color B (cream, off-white, or pale gray).

Work 4 rows Color A, 4 rows Color B throughout, including the toe. 4 rows = 2 garter ridges.

At each color change, twist the two yarns together at the start of the row to carry the unused color up the edge, or break the yarn and weave in ends later (neater on the opening edge, more ends).

A dark color on the last few rows and the bind-off gives a crisp toe. Optional: a small pom-pom in Color B sewn at the front of the opening.

Customization

Length: The difference between sizes in the even section is ½" (1.5 cm), about 4 garter rows. Add or subtract 4 rows in the even section for a half-size.

Width / height: Cast on 2 extra sts for a roomier, taller slipper; 2 fewer sts for a closer fit. Keep an even number. Follow the same decrease method until 10 (12, 12) sts remain (or 2 sts more/fewer than the pattern if you changed the cast-on by 2).

Stitch pattern: Garter is best for beginners (flat, grippy, no curling). Seed stitch also lies flat and adds texture: *k1, p1; rep from * to end, and on the next row knit the purls and purl the knits. Stockinette will curl on this construction — skip it unless you add a garter border of at least 4 sts on each long edge.

Cuff: This construction has no separate cuff. For a ribbed ankle cuff you would pick up stitches around the opening after seaming (optional step, not required). If you do: pick up about 3 sts for every 4 rows around the opening with US 9 / 5.5 mm, join, and work 1×1 rib (k1, p1) for 1–1½" (2.5–4 cm), then bind off in rib.

Sole durability: Sew a rectangle of felt, fleece, or a purchased sole to the bottom after seaming. Or hold the yarn double for extra wear — swatch first; you will need a larger needle to keep gauge.

Embellishments: Pom-poms at the toe or on the sides, a contrast button on the outer ankle, simple duplicate-stitch initials, or a 2-row contrast stripe near the opening.

Care

Wool or wool-blend: hand wash cool, 30°C / 86°F or below, with a wool-safe wash. Press out water in a towel; do not wring. Reshape and dry flat away from heat.

Superwash wool: cool machine cycle in a mesh bag if the ball band allows, then reshape.

Do not tumble dry unless the yarn specifically allows it — heat will shrink and felt non-superwash wool.

If you added fabric-paint dots, follow the paint maker’s cure and wash advice.

Quick checklist

1. Swatch until you have 14 sts = 4" (10 cm) in garter on US 9 / 5.5 mm.
2. CO 30 (34, 38) sts.
3. Knit even for 6½ (7, 7)" / 16.5 (18, 18) cm.
4. Decrease 2 sts every RS row 10 (11, 13) times → 10 (12, 12) sts ✓
5. Bind off. Fold lengthwise. Seam heel. Seam toe + 2½ (3, 3)" of the top.
6. Weave in ends. Add grip to the sole. Make the second slipper.

EU 42 / US Women’s 9–10: Large, 38 sts, 7" even section, 13 decrease repeats, 12 sts at bind-off.