Felted Sailor Style Slippers – Free Knitting Pattern

These slippers are knitted in the round using double-pointed needles, beginning at the toe and working toward the heel. Once the foot section is complete, the work is divided at the top of the foot and continued flat on a circular needle. The back is then seamed together, and the finished slippers are felted in the washing machine.

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What you need

• Super bulky / super chunky feltable wool yarn
  Colour A: Main colour
  Colour B: Contrast colour for stripes

• 8 mm double-pointed needles

• 8 mm circular needle

• 2 stitch markers or short lengths of contrasting yarn

• Tapestry needle for finishing and seaming

For Felting

• Laundry detergent without enzymes or optical brighteners

• 1 terry towel approximately 50 x 70 cm to place in the wash with the slippers

Yarn Notes

Choose a 100% wool yarn suitable for felting. Avoid superwash wool, as it will not felt properly. Since this pattern uses stripes, you will need:

• Colour A for the main slipper colour

• Colour B for the stripe contrast

 

Instructions

Slippers

Using 8 mm double-pointed needles and , cast on 10-12-12 stitches.

Place markers as follows:

• 1 marker at the beginning of the round to indicate the center sole

• 1 marker after stitch 3-4-4

• 1 marker after stitch 7-8-8

Work in stockinette stitch in the round.

At the same time, on the first round, increase 1 stitch on each side of both marker positions.
Continue increasing in this way on every second round a total of 5-5-6 times.
You will now have 30-32-36 stitches.

When the piece measures 9-10-11 cm, begin working the stripe sequence as described earlier.
Refer to the stripe notes if needed.

Be sure to maintain correct gauge throughout.

When the slipper measures 21-23-26 cm, cut the yarn at the end of the round.

Shaping the Upper Foot and Heel

Now divide the work at the top center of the foot as follows:

Using 8 mm circular needles, cast on 3-3-3 stitches.

Starting at the top center of the foot, knit across all stitches in stockinette stitch on the right side, then cast on 3-3-3 stitches at the end of the row.
You now have 36-38-42 stitches.

Continue working stockinette stitch flat, back and forth.

On the next row, increase by working 2 stitches into the first stitch and 2 stitches into the last stitch of the row.
This adds 2 stitches, giving a total of 38-40-44 stitches.

Keep following the stripe pattern, but note that from this point the stripe sequence begins at the top center of the foot rather than underneath.

Work until the piece measures 41-46-50 cm from the cast-on edge.
Make sure the final 2 cm are worked in the main colour.

Work the final row before casting off as follows:

• Knit 17-18-20 stitches

• Knit 2 together

• Knit the next 2 together

• Knit to the end of the row

Cast off all stitches.

Finished length before felting is approximately 42-47-51 cm.

Assembly

Thread a tapestry needle with yarn.

Run the yarn through the cast-on stitches at the toe, pull tightly to close the opening, and secure firmly.

Fold the slipper in half and sew the back seam from edge to edge. For a flatter seam, stitch through only the outer loop of the outermost stitch on each side.

Felting Instructions

Place the slippers in the washing machine with:

• a detergent that does not contain enzymes or optical brighteners

• one terry towel, approximately 50 x 70 cm

Wash at 40°C using a regular wash cycle with normal spin.

Important:

• Do not use a short cycle

• Do not use pre-wash

Once the cycle is finished, shape the slippers while they are still damp.

After Felting

• If the slippers are still too large and have not felted enough, wash them again while they are still wet.

• If they have felted too much and become too small, gently stretch them into shape while damp.

• If they have already dried, wet them again before reshaping.

After the initial felting process, treat them like any other wool garment for future washing.

 

Felted Slippers FAQ

Why didn’t my slippers felt enough?
This usually happens when the wash cycle is too gentle, the slippers need more agitation, or the yarn is not suitable for felting. A feltable 100% wool yarn works best. If they are still too loose after the first wash, try felting them again while they are still damp.

My slippers are still too big after felting. What can I do?
Pop them back into the washing machine for another round of felting. It often takes a second wash to get the size and firmness just right. Shape them again while wet after each wash.

My slippers felted too much and came out too small. Can I fix them?
Sometimes. While they are still wet, gently stretch them into shape with your hands. Focus on the length, width, and opening. If they have already dried, dampen them again before reshaping.

Why can I still see the stitches clearly?
That usually means the slippers need a bit more felting. A fully felted slipper should look denser, smoother, and more compact, with less visible stitch definition.

Why did one slipper shrink more than the other?
That can happen if they shifted differently in the wash or were shaped unevenly afterward. Re-wet both slippers, reshape them side by side, and compare them carefully. Another short felting wash may help even them out.

Why do my stripes look slightly uneven after felting?
Felting can soften and blur the stitch structure a little, especially in striped projects. That is normal. What matters most is that the slipper feels dense, sturdy, and evenly shaped overall.

Why is there a ridge or seam showing more than I expected?
A visible seam can become more noticeable if the slipper was sewn too tightly, unevenly, or if the edges were not aligned well before felting. Try to seam as flat as possible and shape the slippers carefully while wet.

Can I use any wool yarn for this project?
Not all wool behaves the same way. You need a yarn that will actually felt. Avoid superwash wool, because it is designed to resist felting, which is the exact opposite of what we want here.

Can I use a short wash cycle?
It is better not to. A regular wash cycle gives the slippers more time and agitation, which helps the fibers lock together properly.

Do I need to shape the slippers after washing?
Yes, absolutely. This is one of those annoying-but-important craft steps. Once the wash is done, shape the slippers while they are still wet. Smooth the toe, adjust the opening, and make both slippers match before leaving them to dry.

Why do the slippers look awkward straight out of the machine?
That is completely normal. Freshly felted slippers often look a little crumpled or wonky until they are shaped by hand. Don’t judge them too quickly straight out of the wash.

Will they keep shrinking every time I wash them?
The biggest shrink usually happens during the initial felting process. After that, care for them gently like a wool item. Repeated hot or rough washing can continue to affect the size, so it is best to wash with care.

How do I know when they are felted enough?
The slippers should feel thicker, firmer, and smaller than the original knitted version. The fabric should look more solid, with the stitches less open and the overall shape more like a proper slipper than a floppy knitted sock.

Can I felt them by hand instead of using a washing machine?
You can, but it takes more effort and patience. Machine felting is easier for most people because it gives consistent heat, moisture, and agitation all at once.

What if the opening feels too tight after felting?
Stretch the opening gently while the slippers are still damp. You can place your hand inside or use a small form to help hold the shape as they dry.