Free Pattern: Ballet Slippers May 23, 2006

Ballet Slippers

Size: Woman's medium. 8" x 3" (unstretched) to fit US size 7.5 (9").

Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky in colorway Carnival, two-thirds of 1 ball
Needles: US size 10 (6.0 mm) straight or circular needles

Gauge: 13 sts = 4"

(For best results, read pattern notes before beginning.)

Cast on 52 sts. Work in garter stitch (knit every row) for 3".

Divide for Straps

Bind off 8 sts. K2tog x 3, k1. Bind off 20 sts. K2tog x 3, k9. ( 5 sts, 13 sts)

Next row: Bind off 8 sts. K2tog, k2. Without turning, move to the second set of live stitches and with another strand of yarn: k1, k2tog, k2. (4 sts, 4 sts)

On each set of stitches: k1, k2tog, k1. Knit even for 3 rows. Bind off with the 3 needle bind off. Sew seams at bottom and heel of foot. Weave in ends.

Pattern Notes

• To adjust the pattern for a personalized fit, aim for an unstretched length of one inch less than the length of your foot.
• A tip for those who hate seaming: Use a provisional cast on and leave a long tail of the main yarn. When it's time you can just unzip the bottom stitches, move them onto two parallel needles and use your choice of bind off.

  The 3 needle bind off is a possiblity (though the foot may not take kindly to the resulting ridge). I used the alternate loop bind off from Monte Stanley's Knitter's Handbook: Thread yarn purlwise into the first stitch on the front needle, drop stitch, purlwise into the first stitch on the back needle, drop stitch. Continue to the end, turn. Beginning with the second stitch, repeat the process again. Be careful not to pull too tight. As a plus, it leaves the long end at the base of the heel in the perfect position to begin using mattress stitch on the back of the slipper.

• The top of the slipper needs to be stretchy enough to slip over the foot but strong enough not to fall off. This can be a tricky one. As one who almost always binds off too tightly, I opted for the pleasantly stretchy single crochet bind off.
• If all else fails and the slipper keeps falling off, do as ballerinas do. In addition to the iconic ribbon laced up the leg, real ballet shoes have a thin drawstring around the top that ties at the front (the ends are usually tucked inside). To approximate this with your slippers, thread a ribbon in and out through the top row of stitches, pull it snugly and tie a bow. It's up to you whether to showcase the bow or to hide it from sight.

This is my first time attempting to write a pattern, and I hope I've done a decent job of it. Don't be afraid to ask questions if something's not right. More information about these slippers and how they came to be can be found at my original FO post.

Pocketbook Slippers and Mary-Jane Slippers are two similar free patterns that I've borrowed a few ideas from. If my pattern doesn't appeal to you, check these other great ones out.