No cold feet
Chilly toes? Make your own cozy felted slippers
Felted slippers are made following a basic sock pattern. The socks turn into cozy felted slippers in the washing machine.
Size: 37–38 and 39–40.
Felted slippers—supplies:
- Wool yarn suited to felting, about 150–200 grams depending on gauge, yarn, and slipper size
- 3 pieces of cotton yarn in different colors
- Sock knitting needles suitable for your yarn and gauge; the sample slippers were knitted with size 7 needles
- Darning needle
Felted slippers—instructions:
- Cast on 40 stitches for size 37–38 and 48 stitches for size 39–40 onto sock needles. Divide the stitches among four needles. Work in stockinette stitch for 20 rounds, until the leg measures about 10 cm (4 in).
- Work the heel flap and heel turn, picking up stitches, and the accompanying decreases just as you would in a basic sock pattern. Felted slippers do not require a reinforced heel.
- Continue knitting the slipper foot until it is 20(24) cm (8(9½) in) long, then begin the toe decreases. Decrease at the end of each needle by knitting two stitches together until no stitches remain.
- Weave in the ends and knit the second slipper.
- Place small towels inside the slippers so they don’t felt shut. Wash them in the washing machine at 40 °C (104 °F). You can add a little laundry detergent.
- Remove the slippers from the machine and pull them over your bare feet. Carefully take them off, keeping their shape, and stuff them with paper towels if you like. Let them dry flat in their proper shape.
- Thread the cotton yarns through the cuffs. Start on one side of each slipper and end on the same side. Leave a little extra on both ends of the decorative threads, then braid the ends together.
- If the felted slippers are still too big for the wearer, felt them again in the washing machine.
- If the recipient of the felted slippers is particularly active, sew leather soles onto them or add drops of anti-slip sock compound.
Tip! Test felting with a swatch
In general, a color wash at 40–60 °C (104–140 °F) works well for felting, but you can do a test run with a swatch made of the same material to find the best setting for your machine. Some newer machines will felt even at 40 °C on a gentle cycle. Shape the slippers right after felting, and try them on immediately.
Gift these felted slippers to someone who gets cold easily. They’ll keep feet warm even on chilly floors.
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