Highhill Homeschool: Free Felted Slipper Pattern

My 8 year old knitted and felted her own slippers.

Creating felted slippers is an excellent beginning knitting project because it is so simple. The trick is finding a pattern. Many books don't have slipper patterns, because they are so simple, but the Nic Nac Noo website does have an excellent pattern.

Anyone who has washed a wool sweater in the machine has learned the hard way that wool turns into felt naturally. These slippers take advantage of that natural phenomenon of wool. They are knit with large needles and before they are felted, look like they would be too large for a giant. After agitation in soapy water for 20 minutes or so, the can shrink to whatever size you need.

My daughter began with #10 needles and chunky wool yarn. She cast on 30 stitches and knit 28 rows in stockinette stitch. Then she added two stitches, joined the work into the round and continued to knit 22 rounds in stockinette stitch. Finally she decreased by knitting several rounds of knit 2 together four times in each round until there were only 2 stitches left. I didn't get any photos of my daughters pre-felted slippers, but there are plenty on the web link above along with detailed instructions with photos.

Next a buck was filled with warm water and a little soap.

The slippers were kneeded like bread.

Until they shrank to kid-sized slippers.

Then they were set by the heater to dry and left alone so they would retain the shape desired.

She finished this simple knitting/felting project in less than a week. I would recommend it for any beginning knitter.