KNITTED SLIPPERS

Kick off your shoes and step into something magical with Louise Walker’s knitted slippers

A splash of rainbow yarn turns plain foot cosies into quirky unicorns

QQQQQQDebbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 55% wool/33% acrylic/12% cashmere, 125m/50g per ball, two balls in White (100) (Yarn A) and one ball in Candy Pink (006) (Yarn B) and Lake (301) (Yarn C) Debbie Bliss Cotton DK Print, 100% cotton, 84m/50g per ball, one ball in Bouquet (04) (Yarn D) Small amount of black DK yarn (Yarn E) 2.75mm (UK 12, US 2) straight knitting needles 3.25mm (UK 10, US 3) straight knitting needles Rico Sock Stop in Orchid, Jeans and Neon Yellow Tapestry needle

TENSION

Approx. 25 sts and 34 rows in st st to measure 10cm (4")

ABBREVIATIONS

st(s) stitch(es) k knit p purl kfb increase by knitting into front and back of next st st st stocking st k2tog knit 2 sts together skp slip one st, knit one st, pass slipped st over knitted st

SIZES

UK 2-4 (US 4-6, EU 35-37) UK 5-6 (US 7-8, EU 38-39) UK 6-7 (US 8-9, EU 39-40) UK 8-9 (US 10-11, EU 41-42)

FINISHED SIZE

Approx. size of unstretched slippers when sewn up and laid flat, with cast-on edge facing upwards: UK 2-4 – 19 x 10cm (7½ x 4") UK 5-6 – 20 x 12cm (77/ x 4¾") UK 6-7 – 21 x 13cm (8¼ x 5¼") UK 8-9 – 22 x 14cm (8¾ x 5½") Don these quirky-cute slippers as soon as you get in the door, and embrace that ‘rainbow hair, don’t care’ vibe that only unicorns have the power to give you.

With chilly weather just round the corner, they’re a must for keeping toes cosy. And, as they’re worked on straight needles using fairly basic stitches, even knitting newbies can give them a go. We’ve also used variegated yarn to create a colourful mane and tail with the minimum of effort, but you can easily swap it for a different shade in a similar weight.

Instructions

The slippers are knitted flat and seamed, and the ears and horn are made separately and sewn on. The first part of the slipper pattern (up to Row 18) is the same for all sizes. The pattern is written for size UK 2-4, with variations for the larger sizes shown in brackets, increasing in order of size e.g. 1 (2,3, 4) sts. The second part of the pattern (Row 19 onwards) is then split into different sections for each size.

Slippers (make two)

Using Yarn A and 2.75mm needles, cast on 70 (74, 76, 82) sts Rows 1-8 *k1, p1; repeat from * to end of row Change to 3.25mm needles Row 9 k27 (29, 30, 33), (kfb, k1) 3 times, k4, (kfb, k1) 3 times, k27 (29, 30, 33) [76, 80, 82, 88 sts] Row 10 p Row 11 k27 (29, 30, 33), (kfb, k2) 3 times, k4, (kfb, k2) 3 times, k27 (29, 30, 33) [82, 86, 88, 94 sts] Row 12 p Row 13 k27 (29, 30, 33), (kfb, k3) 3 times, k4, (kfb, k3) 3 times, k27 (29, 30, 33) [88, 92, 94, 100 sts] Row 14 p Row 15 k27 (29, 30, 33), (kfb, k4) 3 times, k4, (kfb, k4) 3 times, k27 (29, 30, 33) [94, 98, 100, 106 sts] Row 16 p Row 17 k27 (29, 30, 33), (kfb, k5) 3 times, k4, (kfb, k5) 3 times, k27 (29, 30, 33) [100, 104, 106, 112 sts] Row 18 p Shaping (UK 2-4) Rows 19-30 starting with a k row, work in st st Row 31 cast off 12 sts, k to end of row [88 sts] Row 32 cast off 12 sts, p to end of row [76 sts] Row 33 cast off 6 sts, k to end of row [70 sts] Row 34 cast off 6 sts, p to end of row [64 sts] Row 35 cast off 3 sts, k to end of row [61 sts] Row 36 cast off 3 sts, p to end of row [58 sts] Row 37 cast off 2 sts, k to end of row [56 sts]

Row 38 cast off 2 sts, p to end of row [54 sts] Row 39 cast off 1 st, k to end of row [53 sts] Row 40 cast off 1 st, p to end of row [52 sts] Row 41 cast off all sts Shaping (UK 5-6) Rows 19-36 starting with a k row, work in st st Row 37 cast off 12 sts, k to end of row [92 sts] Row 38 cast off 12 sts, p to end of row [80 sts] Row 39 cast off 6 sts, k to end of row [74 sts] Row 40 cast off 6 sts, p to end of row [68 sts] Row 41 cast off 3 sts, k to end of row [65 sts] Row 42 cast off 3 sts, p to end of row [62 sts] Row 43 cast off 2 sts, k to end of row [60 sts] Row 44 cast off 2 sts, p to end of row [58 sts] Row 45 cast off 1 st, k to end of row [57 sts] Row 46 cast off 1 st, p to end of row [56 sts] Row 47 cast off all sts Shaping [UK 6-7] Row 19-40 starting with a k row, work in st st Row 41 cast off 12 sts, k to end of row [94 sts] Row 42 cast of 12 sts, p to end of row [82 sts] Row 43 cast off 6 sts, k to end of row [76 sts] Row 44 cast off 6 sts, p to end of row [70 sts] Row 45 cast off 3 sts, k to end of row [67 sts] Row 46 cast off 3 sts, p to end of row [64 sts] Row 47 cast off 2 sts, k to end of row [62 sts] Row 48 cast off 2 sts, p to end of row [60 sts] Row 49 cast off 1 st, k to end of row [58 sts] Row 50 cast off 1 st, p to end of row [57 sts] Row 51 cast off all sts Shaping (UK 8-9) Rows 19-44 starting with a k row, work in st st Row 45 cast off 18 sts, k to end of row [94 sts] Row 46 cast off 18 sts, p to end of row [76 sts] Row 47 cast off 6 sts, k to end of row [70 sts] Row 48 cast off 6 sts, p to end of row [64 sts] Row 49 cast off 3 sts, k to end of row [61 sts] Row 50 cast off 3 sts, p to end of row [58 sts] Row 51 cast off 2 sts, k to end of row [56 sts] Row 52 cast off 2 sts, p to end of row [54 sts] Row 53 cast off 1 st, k to end of row [53 sts] Row 54 cast off 1 st, p to end of row [52 sts] Row 55 cast off all sts

Horn (make two)

Using Yarn C and 3.25mm needles, cast on 12 sts Rows 1-6 starting with a k row, work in st st Row 7 *k2, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row [9 sts] Row 8 p Row 9 k Row 10 p Row 11 *k1, k2tog; repeat from * to end of row [6 sts] Row 12 p Row 13 k Row 14 p Row 15 k2tog 3 times [3 sts] Cut the yarn, leaving a tail for sewing. Thread the tail through the remaining 3 sts and pull tight.

Ear front (make four)

Using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles, cast on cast on 8 sts Row 1 k Row 2 p Row 3 k3 in Yarn A, k2 in Yarn B, k3 in Yarn A Row 4 p3 in Yarn A, p2 in Yarn B, p