EMBELLISH: FLIPFLOP SLIPPERS
Use your crochet powers to transform ip ops into slippers with Emma Friedlander-Collins’ crochet hack tutorial
Cosseted feet need cosy slippers to survive the maudlin months, but that’s no reason to dash straight out to the shops. This clever upcycling technique adds a warm winter layer to ip ops using our favourite motif, the granny square. For children’s slippers or smaller feet, try using DK yarn instead.
NOTES
These instructions are just a guide to the techniques you’ll need to make your own Granny Mules.
Prepare your flip flops by removing the toe thongs.
GRANNY MULES
GRANNY SQUARE MAKE 2
Using a 4.5mm hook and Yarn A, ch4, ss first ch to form a loop.
Round 1 (RS) Ch3 (counts as tr throughout), 2tr, (ch2, 3tr) 3 times, ch2, ss to top of beg ch-3 to join. [12 sts, 4 ch-2 sps]
Fasten off and join Yarn B into any ch-2 sp.
Round 2 (RS) Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in same ch-2 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) 3 times, ss to top of beg ch-3. [24 sts]
Fasten off and join Yarn C into any ch-2 sp.
Round 3 Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in same sp, *(3tr, ch1) in ch-1 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in ch-2 corner sp; rep from * three times more ending final repeat at **, ss to top of beg ch-3. [36 sts]
Fasten off and join Yarn D into any ch-2 sp.
Round 4 Ch1 (does not count as a st throughout), *(2dc, ch1, 2dc) in ch-2 corner sp, dc in each st and ch-1 sp to next corner; rep from * three times more, ss to top of beg dc. [60 sts]
Fasten off and join Yarn A into any ch-1 sp.
Round 5 Ch1, dc in each st and ch-1 sp around, ss to top of beg dc. [64 sts] Fasten off and weave in ends.
HALF GRANNY SQUARE MAKE 4
Using a 4.5mm hook and Yarn A, ch3, ss to first ch to form a loop.
Row 1 (WS) Ch3, (2tr, ch2, 3tr) into loop, turn. [6 sts]
Change to Yarn B.
Row 2 (RS) Ch3, 2tr in same st, ch1, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in ch-2 sp, 3tr in final st, turn. [12 sts] Change to Yarn C.
Row 3 Ch3, 2tr in same st, ch1, (3tr, ch1) in ch-1 sp, (3tr, ch2, 3tr, ch1) in ch-2 sp, (3tr, ch1) in next ch-1 sp, 3tr in final st, turn. [18 sts] Change to Yarn D and work on in rounds.
Round 4 Ch1, dc in each st and ch-1 sp to ch-2 sp, (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in ch-2 sp, dc in each st and ch-1 sp to final st, (2dc, ch1, 2dc) in final st, rotate to work into row ends, 10dc evenly across, (2dc, ch1, dc) in same st as beg dc, ss to beg dc, turn. [38 sts]
Change to Yarn A.
Round 5 Ch1, *dc in each st to and ch-1 sp around, ss to top of beg dc. [41 sts]
Fasten off and weave in ends.
PREPARE FLIP FLOPS
Take a finished Granny Square and, using a marker pen, mark around the edge of the flip flop at every second st (moving the Granny Square around as you mark up the sole). Pierce a hole through each marked spot; we used a 3mm hook, but you may find it easier to use an awl or skewer.
SIDES
Using a 3mm hook, join Yarn A into any hole.
Round 1 Ch1, 2dc into each hole around, ss to beg dc to join.
Change to a 4.5mm hook.
Round 2 Ch1, dc in each st around, ss to beg dc.
Fasten off and join Yarn B into any st.
Round 3 As Round 2.
Fasten off and join Yarn C into any st.
Rounds 4-5 As Round 2.
TO FINISH
Whipstitch 2 Half Granny Squares to a Granny Square, one on each side to form a ‘V’ shape; you can use the image as a guide. Position the point of the V to the toe end of the flip flop and whipstitch to Round 5.
Using a 4.5mm hook, join Yarn A into any st from Round 5 of Sides not joined to the Granny Squares. Dc around the un-joined sts from Round 5 of Sides and the sts across open sides of Half Granny Square Motifs.
Fasten off and weave in all ends.