HOW TO MAKE… UNICORN SLIPPERS

3 in Yarn A Row 5 k3 in Yarn A, kfb in Yarn B, kfb in Yarn B, k2 in Yarn A [10 sts] Row 6 p3 in Yarn A, p4 in Yarn B, p3 in Yarn A Row 7 k3 in Yarn A, k4 in Yarn B, k3 in Yarn A Row 8 p3 in Yarn A, p4 in Yarn B, p3 in Yarn A Row 9 k2 in Yarn A, skp in Yarn A, k2 in Yarn B, k2tog in Yarn A, k2 in Yarn A [8 sts] Row 10 p3 in Yarn A, p2 in Yarn B, p3 in Yarn A Work all sts in Yarn A from here on Row 11 k2, skp, k2tog, k2 [6 sts] Row 12 p Row 13 cast off

Ear back (make four)

Using Yarn A and 3.25mm needles, cast on 8 sts Row 1 k Row 2 p Row 3 k Row 4 p Row 5 k3, kfb, kfb, k3 [10 sts] Row 6 p Row 7 k Row 8 p Row 9 k2, skp, k2, k2tog, k2 [8 sts] Row 10 p Row 11 k2, skp, k2tog, k2 [6 sts] Row 12 p Row 13 k2, k2tog, k2 [5 sts] Row 14 p Row 15 cast off

Finishing

Sew up the slippers from the caston rib end to the base using Yarn A and mattress stitch, and continue along the cast-off edge. Weave in any loose ends. To create a grippy sole, add neat dots of Rico Sock Stop to the bottom of the slippers as shown. Leave to dry for eight hours.

Assembling the ears and horn

Place a front and back ear piece with wrong sides (WS) together. Sew around the outside using mattress stitch and Yarn A, leaving the cast-on edge open. Repeat with the remaining ear pieces. Fold a horn piece in half along the length with WS together, aligning the raw edges. Using mattress stitch and the yarn tail, sew the long edges from top to the bottom, leaving the cast-on edge open. Repeat with the remaining horn. Using the image as a guide, place each ear 4.5cm (17/ down from the cast-on edge at the front of the slipper, leaving a 3cm (1 ") gap between them at the centre of the slipper front. Sew in place using Yarn A, adding a stitch at the back of the ears to keep them upright. Position the horn 5.5cm (2 ") down from the front cast-on edge, and in between the two ears. Sew in place using Yarn C.

Mane

Using Yarn D, sew small loops along the cast-on edge at the front of one slipper, in between the ears. Bring the yarn up at the WS of the slipper, loop it around your finger and take it back down. Repeat several times to create a row of looped stitches, then repeat in rows, working down to the base of the horn. Weave in any loose ends, then repeat with the remaining slipper.

Tail

Sew a length of Yarn D into the rib edging at the back of one slipper. Cut to give two 8.5cm (33/ lengths, then knot against the slipper to secure in place. Repeat several times along the height of the rib to create a bushy tail, then repeat for the second slipper.

Face

Using the Yarn E and the image as a guide, embroider the eyes with two straight stitches, secured in the centre with a small stitch, and the nose with small straight stitches. Louise Walker A pattern designer and kit maker, Louise can’t get enough of knitting animals. She runs her brand, Sincerely Louise, from a South London studio with two colleagues, encouraging people to knit fun designs with big personalities. www.sincerelylouise.co.uk