Mr Snail’s slippers #1 and my slippers in their heyday
Crochet slippers have turned out to be very popular. I’ve made then for myself, my mum (two pairs), one of my nieces, one of mum’s neighbours who has been very kind whilst mum has been ill and Mr Snail (also two pairs). However, they are a bit tough on the fingers to make and so I’m determined to ensure that they last as long as possible. The most recent three pairs have been made of Axminster carpet wool and had the soles coated with latex, but my pair was just made from yarn I had lying around at the time (now there’s both Axminster and Berber wool lying around, but not then). So, it’s no surprise that they have started to wear out:
Nearly worn through
Regular readers will know that I hate darning, and anyway, the whole of the bottom of both slippers was wearing thin, so a more radical solution was required: new soles. I didn’t have any black yarn, so I opted for a lovely blue with an added strand of purple sock yarn to increase the bulk a little. I started with a chain 18 stitches long and then just worked round and round in double crochet (UK terminology) until I reached the appropriate size, After that, it was just a case of stitching the new sole onto the old slipper and now I’m back to toasty feet again:
The Snail of Happiness 
Nice piece of work
/ March 12, 2015I’m missing something here, why are they tough on the fingers?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2015A combination of the rough, not very pliable Axminster yarn and the main stitch (front-post trebles, UK terminology). In fact it is my right thumb that seems to suffer most because quite a bit of pressure is required to work the stitch. One pair every couple of weeks is as much as I could manage!
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Nice piece of work
/ March 12, 2015Oh, I see now. Okay, well, I won’t be outsourcing any crochet work to you then 🙂
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nanacathy2
/ March 12, 2015Nice soles! I quite like darning and sewing on buttons. I find it therapeutic, bit like weeding, which I also like, especially grass roots!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2015I’m not an enthusiastic mender… but I too am rather fond of weeding
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katechiconi
/ March 12, 2015I have a pair of sheepskin slipper soles I’ve never used. I’d planned to make a pair of felt tops, but somehow it never happened and now the last thing I want is sheepskin slippers! Can I interest you in them for a future pair?
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2015You really don’t live in the right location for cosy slippers, do you! I’m sure that I could make use of your soles… thank you!
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katechiconi
/ March 12, 2015You’re welcome! I’ve dug them out, but they may not get posted until we return from our road trip. They should be really very cosy, with the suede on the outside and the sheepskin on the inside, and a raised edge around the outside with holes punched for sewing/attaching the tops.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2015Really no rush!!
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katechiconi
/ March 12, 2015I know, but unless I do it, I WILL forget. They’re sitting on my work table, and I’m going to write a note to put on them. Otherwise I’ll get back from the trip, wonder what they’re doing there and fling them back in the cupboard!
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thecontentedcrafter
/ March 12, 2015I think your solution is both creative and ingenious! Darning would just have started a trend as other holes would have popped up to join the party. This way, sturdier, warmer, more colourful and longer lasting! The sheepskin soles will open a whole new realm of possibilities!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 12, 2015I think, in all likelihood I would have just ended up with darn and no crochet… and in that case, I’d prefer to start from scratch. And actually, unlike darning, I enjoyed making these soles 🙂
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narf77
/ March 13, 2015Excellent save Ms Snail and a most frugal one as well using up what you already have to sort out something that was starting to let down the side. I think I might lay off the white wine now for the rest of the evening as I read the pattern (in the link you so wonderfully provided us with) as “slippers for chunky adults”. Just my kind of slippers! 🙂
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katythenightowl
/ March 13, 2015I must say I prefer your method of keeping your slippers going than the darning one 🙂
My lovely mother-in-law taught me how to darn, just after Mr Night Owl & I married (as well as how to turn a shirt collar, and saving worn bed sheets!), but I can’t say it was ever my favourite method of fixing, especially for holes on the soles of the feet, as my darning is, shall we say, rather bulky! Lol
Your way, though, gives a much smoother finish and will, hopefully, give a much longer life to your toasty socks 🙂
I really must get around to giving sock making a go! 🙂
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thegrangerange.wordpress.com
/ March 13, 2015Great repair job, have you thought about looking in second hand shops for leather jackets or skirts. I have some and intend to cut out soles for the next sock slippers that I make, not sure how well it will work but it’s worth a try I think.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 13, 2015Now, that’s an interesting idea
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insearchofitall
/ March 13, 2015Great save!
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arlingwoman
/ March 14, 2015What nice slippers–and like walking on the sky, that color.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 14, 2015I love the idea of walking on the sky – thank you for the image 🙂
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arlingwoman
/ March 14, 2015Maybe it’s just me, but lots of your colors seem to make me call to mind the atmosphere–like the aurora borealis sox!
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