Crochet Slippers Pattern: How to Make Easy Men’s Slippers
This crochet slippers pattern makes a pair of men’s house slippers in a firm mesh stitch with natural and navy stripes, sized for EU 42, which is a 25 cm (9.8 in) slipper. You get the full written pattern below, round by round and row by row, with a photo for every stage: five toe rounds, twelve foot rounds, a heel worked in rows, four decrease rows, a slip stitch back seam and a single crochet edging.
Below the steps you get the yarn and hook figures, a foot-length table for men’s sizes, the places a slipper goes wrong, and five more free slipper patterns to compare. Where the numbers do not add up, we say so and show our arithmetic.
The correction up front: the heel decrease rows of this crochet slippers pattern do not add up as printed. Row 15 asks for 13 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 13 stitches worked into a 37-stitch heel, which needs 39 stitches, and rows 17 and 18 have the same kind of slip. We give the rows as printed, then a version that reaches the stitch counts the pattern states (31, 25, 19 and 13), so you can count along.
- Crochet Slippers Pattern at a Glance
- What You Need for This Crochet Slippers Pattern
- Crochet Slippers Pattern: Step by Step
- Crochet Slippers Pattern Heel Decrease Rows: As Printed and Counted
- Where a Crochet Slippers Pattern Goes Wrong
- Men’s Sizes for a Crochet Slippers Pattern
- Five More Free Crochet Slippers Patterns
- Crochet Slippers Pattern FAQ
- Next Up: Shoes for Smaller Feet
Crochet Slippers Pattern at a Glance
Each slipper in this crochet slippers pattern is worked in one piece from the toe back to the heel. You start with a chain of 8, grow an oval toe in rounds, work the mesh foot in rounds, then turn and work the heel back and forth in rows, shape it with decreases and join the back with a slip stitch seam. Here are the five sections of this crochet slippers pattern in one table.
| Section | What you work | Stitches at the end | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toe, rounds 1 to 5 | Double crochet oval with increases at both ends | 46 | About 6 cm; 12 cm wide |
| Foot, rounds 6 to 17 | Mesh stitch of single crochet and chain 1, two yarns alternating | 46 | About 10 cm |
| Heel, rows 1 to 14 | Single crochet in rows over 37 stitches, yarn changed every 2 rows | 37 | About 9 cm |
| Heel decreases, rows 15 to 18 | Single crochet with 3 or 2 decreases at each side of a centre stitch | 31, 25, 19, 13 | Shapes the back |
| Seam and edging | Slip stitch back seam, then single crochet around the opening | Not counted | Finished slipper 25 cm |
The numbers behind it: by our count one slipper holds 1,328 stitches before the seam and edging: 170 in the toe (22 + 28 + 34 + 40 + 46), 552 in the foot (12 rounds of 46), 518 in the heel (14 rows of 37) and 88 in the decrease rows (31 + 25 + 19 + 13). The three lengths agree with the finished size too: 6 cm + 10 cm + 9 cm = 25 cm.
What You Need for This Crochet Slippers Pattern
The slippers in this crochet slippers pattern use two yarns, a natural mix for the toe and the stripes, and a navy wool blend held double for the other stripe. The design prints the fibre content and the weight of each ball, so the figures below are the ones it gives.
| Item | What to use |
|---|---|
| Yarn A | 50% cotton, 30% mohair, 20% polyacrylic; 50 g / 75 m (82 yd); used for the toe and the heel rows |
| Yarn B | 70% wool, 30% acrylic; 100 g / 200 m (219 yd); held double throughout |
| Hook | 3.5 mm |
| Total yarn | About 147 g (5.2 oz) for the project; the design does not say whether that is one slipper or the pair |
| Tools | Stitch markers, yarn needle, scissors, tape measure |
| Skill level | Easy to intermediate |
How much to buy: the two balls named on the card weigh 150 g between them (50 g + 100 g), so 147 g of yarn is almost all of both. Because the design is silent on whether 147 g covers one slipper or two, buy a second ball of each yarn if you are not sure, and check your yarn against the lot number before you start the second slipper.
Stitches and abbreviations
Crochet has two naming conventions, so here are both. This slipper uses only five stitches and one shaping stitch.
| Abbreviation | Name used here | Other naming convention |
|---|---|---|
| ch | Chain | Chain |
| sl st | Slip stitch | Slip stitch |
| sc | Single crochet | Double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet | Treble crochet |
| inc | Increase: 2 stitches in one stitch | Increase: 2 stitches in one stitch |
| dec | Decrease: 2 stitches worked together | Decrease: 2 stitches worked together |
| sk | Skip a stitch | Skip a stitch |
A blanket is chained to a stitch multiple, but a slipper has none: the toe starts from a chain of 8 and every later stitch count comes from the rounds before it. In its place, count after every round. The mesh foot is the place a count drifts, because each round has 23 single crochet and 23 chain spaces, and the printed number (46) counts both.
Crochet Slippers Pattern: Step by Step
Work the toe and foot of this crochet slippers pattern in rounds and join each round with a slip stitch. Turn at the end of every heel row. Keep the stitch markers handy, because the heel is worked on the 37 stitches between two of them.
Step 1: Gather the two yarns and the hook
Lay out Yarn A, Yarn B and a 3.5 mm hook. Yarn B is held double throughout, so wind a ball you can pull two strands from. The pattern details list the fibre mix, the hook and the finished size: EU 42, about 25 cm.
Step 2: Round 1: chain 8
Make a slip knot and chain 8. Turn the foundation chain so you can work back along it. This chain is the whole length of the toe oval, so keep it loose enough to work into.
Step 3: Round 1: stitches along the chain
Work 3 dc into the 2nd chain from the hook, then 5 dc along the chain, then 6 dc into the last chain. The long run of double crochet turns the corner at the end of the oval.
Step 4: Round 1: the other side, then join
Continue along the opposite side of the foundation chain with 5 dc, then work 3 dc into the last chain and join with a sl st. Round 1 has 22 stitches (3 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 3).
Step 5: Round 2: increase at both ends
Ch 1, inc, 8 dc, 3 inc, 8 dc, 2 inc, sl st. Each increase puts 2 stitches in one stitch, which is what widens the oval at the toe and heel ends. Round 2 has 28 stitches.
Step 6: Rounds 3 to 5: three more toe rounds
Work three more toe rounds the same way. Round 3: ch 1, inc, 11 dc, 3 inc, 11 dc, 2 inc, sl st (34). Round 4: ch 1, inc, 14 dc, 3 inc, 14 dc, 2 inc, sl st (40). Round 5: ch 1, inc, 17 dc, 3 inc, 17 dc, 2 inc, sl st (46). The toe is about 12 cm wide.
Step 7: The finished toe
The toe is now a flat oval of 46 stitches, about 12 cm wide. The increases sit at the two ends of the oval, so the oval stays symmetrical. Check it lies flat before you start the foot of the crochet slippers pattern, and count 46 once more.
Step 8: Round 6: the mesh round
Using the same yarn, ch 1, sc in the same stitch, then *ch 1, sk 1, sc* around, and close with a sl st using Yarn B. The count is 46: 23 single crochet and 23 chain spaces. The stitches now go up the side of the toe and the slipper starts to take its shape.
Step 9: Round 7: the offset round and the yarn change
With Yarn B, ch 2, then *sk 1, sc, ch 1* around and finish with sc, and close with a sl st using Yarn A. Each single crochet of round 7 sits in the chain space of round 6, which is what makes the mesh. The yarn changes at every join.
Step 10: Rounds 8 to 17: repeat the two rounds
Repeat rounds 6 and 7 until the foot section is done, changing yarn at each join so the stripes build up. The pattern works round 17 as round 6 in Yarn A. The printed round numbers and the printed repeat count disagree, and we explain that in the problem section below.
Step 11: Measure the foot and the toe
The foot section measures about 10 cm and the toe about 6 cm. Measure now: if your foot section is short, add rounds (6 and 7 in pairs where you can) until the foot section reaches 10 cm. Then cut the yarn.
Step 12: Mark the centre 9 stitches
Lay the work flat and mark the centre 9 stitches with two stitch markers. These 9 stitches stay unworked until the edging. The other 37 stitches (46 – 9) are the heel.
Step 13: Heel rows 1 and 2
Row 1: join Yarn A, sc in the same stitch, work 36 sc to the second marker, ch 1, turn (37). Row 2: 37 sc, join Yarn B in the last sc, ch 1, turn (37). The heel is worked back and forth in rows, so turn at the end of each one.
Step 14: Heel rows 3 to 14
Repeat rows 1 and 2 six more times, changing the yarn every two rows. Every row stays at 37 stitches. The finished heel measures about 9 cm.
Step 15: Heel decrease rows 15 to 18
Shape the heel with four decrease rows, marking the stitches before each row (12-13-12, then 9-13-9, and so on). Each row takes 6 stitches off the centre, so the counts fall from 37 to 31, 25, 19 and 13. The rows are in the next section, with a stitch check.
Step 16: Join the back seam
Turn the slipper wrong side out and join the back seam with slip stitches. Work the first stitch through both loops, then continue through the inside loops only so the seam lies flat and does not show on the right side.
Step 17: Edging: start at the heel
Cut the yarn and weave in the ends. For the edging, make a slip knot, insert the hook from the right side, join the yarn and ch 1. Work 2 sc into the same stitch, then 2 sc into each two-row section on the side of the heel until you reach the centre stitches.
Step 18: Edging: the centre 9 stitches
Work 1 sc into each of the 9 centre stitches, then repeat the same along the opposite side. Join with a sl st, cut the yarn and weave in the ends.
Step 19: Make the second slipper
One slipper is now complete. Repeat every step for the second one, and compare the two for length and stripe order before you wear them.
Crochet Slippers Pattern Heel Decrease Rows: As Printed and Counted
The heel of this crochet slippers pattern is where the printed numbers fail, so here is the arithmetic. A decrease takes two stitches and gives one, so each row needs (stitches before) = (single crochet) + 2 x (decreases), and (stitches after) = (single crochet) + (decreases). The table checks every row against the stitch counts the pattern states.
| Row | As printed | Stitches it uses | Stitches it leaves | Printed count | Version that matches the count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 13 sc, 3 dec, 1 sc, 3 dec, 13 sc (marks 12-13-12) | 39 of 37 | 33 | 31 | 12 sc, 3 dec, 1 sc, 3 dec, 12 sc |
| 16 | 9 sc, 3 dec, 1 sc, 3 dec, 9 sc (marks 9-13-9) | 31 of 31 | 25 | 25 | As printed |
| 17 | 8 sc, 2 dec, 1 sc, 2 dec, 8 sc (marks 8-7-8) | 25 of 25 | 21 | 19 | 6 sc, 3 dec, 1 sc, 3 dec, 6 sc (marks 6-13-6) |
| 18 | 6 sc, 2 dec, 1 sc, 2 dec, 6 sc (marks 6-7-6) | 21 of 19 | 17 | 13 | 3 sc, 3 dec, 1 sc, 3 dec, 3 sc (marks 3-13-3) |
What we did: we trust the stated counts, 31, 25, 19 and 13, because each stated count is exactly 6 fewer than the one before. Row 16 is right as printed. The other rows change only the number of plain single crochet at each side; the 3 decreases on each side of the centre stitch stay. We counted these rows but did not crochet them, so work row 15 and count before you go on.
Where a Crochet Slippers Pattern Goes Wrong
Four things go wrong most often, and all four show up before you reach the seam.
The mesh rounds drift off 46
In this crochet slippers pattern, rounds 6 to 17 count both the single crochet and the chain spaces, so a skipped chain space changes the count without changing the look. Count 23 single crochet and 23 chain spaces after round 6, and put a marker in the first stitch of every round.
The heel decrease counts do not match
If you work rows 15 to 18 of the crochet slippers pattern exactly as printed, you finish with 17 stitches instead of 13. Use the table above, and check the count at the end of each row before you turn. A 6-stitch drop per row is the rule that keeps the heel cup the right shape.
The round numbers and the repeat count disagree
In this crochet slippers pattern the foot rounds are numbered 6 to 17, which is 12 rounds, yet the pattern says to repeat rounds 6 and 7 seven more times, which would be 16. Twelve rounds fits the 10 cm foot length the pattern gives, so we follow the numbered rounds: keep working the two rounds in turn, finish with round 17 worked as round 6 in Yarn A, and stop when the foot section measures about 10 cm.
The slipper comes out too short or too slick
The finished slipper in this crochet slippers pattern is 25 cm, and the chart in the next section puts an EU 42 foot at 26.0 cm. Measure your foot first and add rounds in pairs if you need length. A crocheted sole is smooth: the designer of the Heart Hook Home slippers suggests adding a non-slip product on the base, and it is the only one of the five patterns we checked that says so, which makes it worth adding to any crochet slippers pattern.
Men’s Sizes for a Crochet Slippers Pattern
This crochet slippers pattern gives one size, EU 42 at about 25 cm. A retailer’s size chart (Footlocker) puts an EU 42 foot at 26.0 cm, so the slipper is 1 cm shorter than the foot it is made for; chart lengths vary between brands by several millimetres, so treat the table as a guide and measure your own foot.
| EU size | Foot length (cm) | Slipper length if 1 cm shorter (cm) | Foot rounds to add or remove |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 24.4 | 23.4 | Remove 2 (about 1.7 cm) |
| 41 | 25.4 | 24.4 | Remove 1 (about 0.8 cm) |
| 42 | 26.0 | 25.0 | As written |
| 43 | 27.0 | 26.0 | Add 1 (about 0.8 cm) |
| 44 | 27.9 | 26.9 | Add 2 rounds (about 1.7 cm) |
| 45 | 28.6 | 27.6 | Add 3 (about 2.5 cm) |
| 46 | 29.4 | 28.4 | Add 4 (about 3.3 cm) |
How we worked that out: the foot section is 12 rounds and about 10 cm, which is roughly 0.83 cm a round. Divide the gap in length by 0.83 and round to whole rounds, adding or removing them one at a time; the stripes simply shift by a round. This is our arithmetic, not a size grade from the designer, and it changes length only; the width stays at 46 stitches around, so make one slipper and try it on before you make the second.
How the hook and yarn compare
The hook here is 3.5 mm. The Craft Yarn Council’s crochet hook row is 3.5 to 4.5 mm for fine yarn, 4.5 to 5.5 mm for light yarn and 5.5 to 6.5 mm for medium yarn, so 3.5 mm sits at the bottom of the fine range even though two strands are held together. That small hook is what gives the dense, firm mesh a slipper needs.
Five More Free Crochet Slippers Patterns
Here are five other free slipper patterns we checked, for a different construction or a different size. We list only what each page prints, and for each one we say which numbers are missing.
| Pattern | Size printed | Hook | Yarn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast and Free Men’s Slippers (Heart Hook Home) | Men’s shoe size 10.5; stop 1 in short of the foot | 6 mm | Super bulky, about 100 yd (91 m) |
| Red Heart Crochet Slippers | M 24 cm, L 26.5 cm, XL 29 cm | 5 mm (H/8) | Red Heart Super Saver, 1 skein |
| Bernat Beginner On Your Toes | 23 (24 to 26.5) cm | Not printed | Bernat Softee Chunky, 100 g |
| Red Heart Hexi-Magic Slippers | S 23 cm, M 24 cm, L 26.5 cm | 4 mm (G/6) | Red Heart Super Saver Stripes |
| Lion Brand Crochet Slippers (L70198) | 19 (21.5, 24) cm | Not printed | Medium weight; gauge 14 sc and 16 rows over 4 in (10 cm) |
What the five pages leave out: four print no yardage, four print no gauge, none gives a table of men’s EU sizes, and the three Yarnspirations kit pages show a hook picture whose alt text says 3.25 mm while the hook named in the listing is bigger (5 mm, 8 mm and 4 mm), so trust the named hook. The Lion Brand pattern stops at 24 cm, which is too small for an EU 42 foot, and Heart Hook Home is the only one of the five that says it is worked from the toe up.
More wearables on our site: the crochet hat for men, the free crochet fingerless gloves pattern and the easy crochet scarf pattern.
Crochet Slippers Pattern FAQ
What size are the slippers in this crochet slippers pattern?
They are EU 42 with a finished length of about 25 cm (9.8 in). A retailer chart puts an EU 42 foot at 26.0 cm, so they are 1 cm shorter than the foot, and the size table above shows how many foot rounds to add or remove for other men’s sizes.
What hook and yarn do I need?
This crochet slippers pattern takes a 3.5 mm hook, one 50 g / 75 m ball of Yarn A and one 100 g / 200 m ball of Yarn B held double. The card lists about 147 g of yarn for the project, and buying a second ball of each is a safe choice if you plan to make the pair.
Why do the heel decreases not add up in this crochet slippers pattern?
Rows 15, 17 and 18 as printed in this crochet slippers pattern use or leave the wrong number of stitches. The stated counts of 31, 25, 19 and 13 are 6 fewer each time, so we give a version of the rows that reaches them. Count after each row.
How do I make the slippers non-slip?
A crochet sole is smooth, and this crochet slippers pattern has no sole. The designer of one free men’s slipper pattern suggests adding a non-slip product to the base, and the same advice works here. Check the product is made for fabric before you use it.
What is the mesh stitch in the foot?
In this crochet slippers pattern it is a single crochet and a chain 1, worked around, with the next round offset so each single crochet sits in a chain space. Rounds 6 and 7 are the two rounds of the repeat, worked in alternating yarns so stripes form.
Can I make them bigger or smaller?
You can change the length of this crochet slippers pattern by adding or removing rounds of the foot, at about 0.83 cm per round. The width does not change, so try the first slipper on before you make the second.
Next Up: Shoes for Smaller Feet
Once the first pair from this crochet slippers pattern is done, make a second in a different pair of colours as a gift. For shoes for smaller feet, the crochet baby shoes free pattern has sizes from 0 to 12 months, and the moss stitch crochet guide shows another firm stitch for warm things. You can also browse every free pattern on the site.
For warm legs above the slippers, try these crochet leg warmers.
Sources
- Heart Hook Home, Fast and Free Men’s Slippers Crochet Pattern
- Red Heart, Free Crochet Slippers
- Bernat, Beginner On Your Toes Crochet Slippers
- Red Heart, Hexi-Magic Crochet Slippers
- Lion Brand, Crochet Slippers (L70198)
- Footlocker, shoe size guide
- Craft Yarn Council, yarn weight system
Pattern credit: the men’s slipper design in this guide is by LuHandmade. Find more of their work on the YouTube channel LuHandmade.
