Footy slippers

Footy Slippers by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

The Footy Slipper Book contains a complete knitting pattern collection for creating novelty slippers inspired by Australian Football League teams. These practical yet playful slippers are designed to celebrate team allegiances and make distinctive gifts for sports supporters. The pattern accommodates six different sizes, making it possible to knit a pair for family members across various age groups.

Design Features and Styles

The slippers are organized into three distinct styles based on color complexity, allowing knitters to choose a design that matches their skill level and yarn stash:

• Style A: One Colour Slippers with Contrasting Laces, featuring a single primary color with optional contrasting laces (example: Carlton in navy with white laces)
• Style B: Two Colour Slippers, incorporating team colors throughout the design (includes Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Richmond, and Sydney)
• Eighteen different team variations across all styles, each with specific color requirements for authentic team representation

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

The Footy Slippers employ fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level knitters. The construction method divides the slipper into distinct sections, each utilizing different stitch patterns:

• Garter Stitch Soles: The sole of each slipper is worked in garter stitch, which creates a textured, durable fabric with excellent grip and structure. Garter stitch consists of knit stitches on every row, producing horizontal ridges that provide both durability and traction for wearing.
• Stocking Stitch Uppers: The upper portion of the slipper is knitted in stocking stitch, also known as stockinette stitch. This technique alternates knit rows with purl rows to create a smooth, flat fabric on the front and a textured reverse side, offering a polished appearance while maintaining breathability.
• Optional I-Cord Laces: Decorative i-cord (idiot cord) laces can be added for closure and visual appeal. I-cord is created using a small number of stitches worked in the round on double-pointed needles or a circular needle, producing a thin, rope-like cord.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Footy Slippers are designed to be knitted with DK weight yarn, a medium-light yarn weight that offers excellent stitch definition and comfortable fabric drape. DK yarn allows the stitch patterns to be clearly visible while creating slippers with appropriate thickness for warmth and durability. The specific color requirements vary by team selection, with Style A requiring one primary color plus a contrasting color for laces, and Style B requiring two distinct team colors. Standard knitting needles appropriate for DK weight yarn are used throughout the pattern.

Skill Level

Classified as an intermediate difficulty project, the Footy Slippers are suitable for knitters with foundational skills in basic stitches and garment construction. The combination of garter stitch and stocking stitch techniques, along with the option to incorporate i-cord laces, provides an engaging project that builds confidence without requiring advanced shaping or complex colorwork techniques.