Duck Billed Slippers

Duck Billed Slippers by Beaker Button

What Is Being Made

Duck Billed Slippers are a pair of cozy knitted slippers featuring a distinctive duck-bill design, created by designer Jen Best. These slippers are available in three sizes: small (approximately 20cm long), medium (approximately 22cm long), and large (approximately 24cm long). The slippers combine comfort with whimsical style, making them an ideal handmade gift or personal project.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty, suitable for knitters with some experience. The construction employs multiple knitting techniques to create a well-fitted, comfortable slipper.

The slippers are constructed using a combination of garter stitch and stocking stitch. The heel is worked first in garter stitch, which creates a dense, textured fabric ideal for durability. The main body transitions to stocking stitch for increased comfort against the foot. The pattern involves picking up stitches along the sides of the heel to create the foot portion, a technique that ensures proper shaping and fit.

The distinctive duck-bill feature is created through a gusset section worked in purl stitches within the main knit pattern, adding both visual interest and structural definition to the slipper design.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – used for the heel section to create a sturdy, textured base
• Stocking stitch – used for the main foot section to provide comfort and a smooth finish
• Purl stitches – incorporated into the main pattern for the gusset detail
• Knit stitches – the foundation stitch throughout the project
• Pick up and knit – a shaping technique used to add stitches along the heel sides

Materials and Gauge

The slippers are knitted using Beaker Button Bountiful Aran yarn, a medium-weight aran yarn. One 100g ball contains 160 meters of yarn, providing sufficient yardage for a complete pair of slippers.

Needles required: 5mm needles for the main knitting, with 3 x 5mm double-pointed needles recommended for casting off the toe and for working sections where circular or small-circumference knitting is needed.

Tension: The pattern specifies a tension of 14 stitches by 24 rows over a 10cm x 10cm square when working in garter stitch on 5mm needles. Achieving the correct tension is essential for proper fit, particularly given the specific size measurements provided.

Embellishments and notions: The slippers are decorated with 4 Dorset buttons, each measuring 2.6cm in diameter. To create these buttons, the pattern requires 4 brass rings (2.6cm across) and 10 meters of 4ply yarn. A contrasting thread color can be used for the buttons to create visual interest. A blunt needle is needed for finishing and button construction.

Pattern Structure

The pattern begins with the right foot heel, casting on 8 stitches and working 40 rows in garter stitch to establish the heel base. The main body is then constructed by picking up stitches along both sides of the heel and working the foot section using the main pattern repeat. The pattern continues for 8cm, 10cm, or 12cm depending on the chosen size, providing customization for different foot lengths. The toe is finished using the double-pointed needles for secure casting off.