Sawyer - 12ply family slippers

Sawyer 12ply Family Slippers by Jennifer Lee

What is Being Made

Sawyer is a knitted slipper pattern designed for the entire family, featuring six different sizes to fit feet ranging from 14cm to 27cm (5½ inches to 10½ inches). These quick-to-knit slippers are ideal for using up leftover 12ply yarn and provide warm, cozy footwear for all ages. The pattern offers flexibility in construction, allowing knitters to create slippers in either a single color or a two-color combination.

Sizes and Fit

The Sawyer pattern includes six graduated sizes:

• Size A: 14cm (5½ inches)
• Size B: 18cm (7 inches)
• Size C: 20cm (8 inches)
• Size D: 23cm (9 inches)
• Size E: 25cm (10 inches)
• Size F: 27cm (10½ inches)

This range makes it possible to knit a matching pair for every family member, from small children to adults.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Sawyer is rated as an Easy difficulty pattern, making it accessible to intermediate knitters. The design employs two fundamental knitting stitches to create visual interest and texture:

• Garter Stitch: Created by knitting every row, garter stitch produces a textured, reversible fabric with horizontal ridges. This stitch is used throughout the pattern to add depth and grip to the slipper sole.
• Stocking Stitch: Also known as stockinette stitch, this is created by alternating knit rows and purl rows, producing a smooth, flat fabric with a characteristic V-pattern on the right side. Stocking stitch is used for the main body of the slippers.

The combination of these two stitches creates slippers that are both visually appealing and functionally practical, with textured areas for traction and smooth areas for comfort.

Yarn and Materials

The Sawyer pattern is designed specifically for 12ply yarn, a chunky weight that knits quickly and creates a dense, warm fabric ideal for slippers. The pattern was developed using Panda Magnum 12ply, which provides 185 meters per 100g ball.

Yarn Requirements:

• For Two-Colour Slippers: 1 ball (100g) of first colour and 1 ball (100g) of second colour. All six sizes use the same yardage.
• For One-Colour Slippers: 1 ball (100g) of yarn. All six sizes use the same yardage.

The pattern notes that yarn quantities may vary depending on individual knitting tension and the specific yarn type used.

Needles and Tools

Sawyer requires 5.50mm knitting needles (UK size 5, US size 9). A wool needle is also needed for sewing up the finished pieces. The pattern specifies a tension of 17 stitches and 23 rows to 10cm (4 inches) measured over stocking stitch using 5.50mm needles, ensuring consistent sizing across all six sizes.

Pattern Overview

These slippers are designed as a quick knit project, making them perfect for crafters looking to complete a gift or personal project efficiently. The straightforward stitch combinations—garter stitch and stocking stitch—combined with the chunky 12ply yarn weight means the slippers work up rapidly on larger needles. The six-size range and color flexibility make Sawyer an excellent pattern for knitting multiple pairs as gifts for family members or for creating coordinated sets within a household.