Crochet Espadrilles With Flip Flop Soles – Free Pattern

Hey beach babe! Learn how to make crochet espadrilles with flip flop soles in this free pattern and tutorial. These sandals are perfect for the pier, the beach or your rich uncle’s yacht! Get the free pattern below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF here.

 This crochet sandals with flip flop soles free pattern is a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarn. This post contains affiliate links.

These crochet espadrilles with flip flop soles have been kicking around my head since I made my first pair of flip flop crochet shoes last year. Don’t you think the woven look of espadrilles sandals just perfectly lends itself to some good old fashioned single crochet goodness?

I used ribbon for the ankle straps of my crochet espadrilles, but I also think leather could look fantastic too. You can really customize the vibe of these sandals depending on the color of yarn and ribbon you choose. I was going for a preppier, yacht babe look with these, but I can imagine a bohemian look with a more neutral color of yarn and leather ankle straps.

If you’ve never made one of my crochet patterns that use flip flops, this is a great beginner project to try. You might also like to read this Flip Flop FAQs post that answers a lot of common questions about how they hold up. These crochet espadrilles with flip flop soles are quite straightforward and work up super quickly because, let’s be honest, there’s just not that much crocheting to do. This means you can make a pair in every color!

Similar to my other flip flop crochet patterns, the ad-free, printable PDF of this pattern includes a handy printable ruler to wrap around your soles to guide your hole poking. This is super helpful in ensuring that you achieve the pattern gauge and sizing. Purchase the Crochet Espadrilles with Flip Flop Soles pattern PDF here.

You can find all my free crochet patterns using flip flops here. Pictured above: 1. Cabin Boots 2. Moccasins 3. Coachella Boots 4. Lightweight Slippers

Thanks to Lion Brand Yarn for sponsoring this post and enabling more free patterns on Make and Do Crew!

And my gratitude goes to my dear friend McCall for taking photos me wearing these sandals when I visited her recently. It’s not everyday you get to have your feet photographed by a real, fancy photographer! (At least in my world.) 

Crochet Espadrilles With Flip Flop Soles – Free Pattern

Purchase the printable PDF with hole-poking guide here.

Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.

Pin this pattern for later here.

Sizes (see Overall Pattern Notes):
Small – women’s shoe size 5-6 (flip flop length approx. 9.5)”
Medium – women’s shoe size 7-8 (flip flop length approx. 10)”
Large – women’s shoe size 9-10 (flip flop length approx. 10.5)”

Supplies:
So you can spend more time making shoes and less time shopping, this pattern contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton – 1 skein (186 yrds) divided into two balls – color: Red (MC)
• Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton – 1 skein (186 yards) – color: Ecru (SC)
• If Ecru color doesn’t match flip flop color, you’ll want about 20 yards of 24/7 Cotton that does
• Sharp tapestry needle
• Size B [2.25 mm] crochet hook or size needed to fit through flip flop holes
• Size G [4.0 mm] crochet hook 
• 1-2 printed copies of the “ruler” at end of pattern or measuring tape
• 1 pair of flip flops (One size smaller than you wear normally. See pattern notes.)      
• Sharp tool to poke holes (I use this clay tool. You can also try a skewer, thin drill bit or awl.)
• Sharp scissors
• 90″ of ribbon (the ribbon pictured is a 1/2″ wide)
• Fray Check or clear nail polish for ribbon ends
• Strong glue such as E6000 to glue strap plugs to sole (optional)
• Stitch markers (optional)

Gauge:
8 st = 2”, 9 rows = 2” worked in single crochet

Abbreviations and Glossary:
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stich
ch – chain
WS – wrong side
RS – right side
MC – main color
SC – sole color
Sc2tog (single crochet 2 together) – [Insert hook into next st and pull up a loop] two times, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook

Overall Pattern Notes:
• Transforming flip flops into slippers isn’t an exact science! Keep an open mind and don’t be afraid to customize the shoes to your liking. Check out this Flip Flop FAQs post for answers to commonly asked questions.

• You’ll likely want to size down when buying your flip flops. Look for a flop flop that offers about .25″ of sole around your foot (more like the fit of a normal shoe). In the pattern sizing, the shoe sizes mentioned describe the shoe size you normally wear and not the sized-down size of your flip flops.

• The flip flops in the sample are from Old Navy–they have a great selection of colors. Find $1 flip flops on Amazon or at Walmart. Dollar Tree’s $1 flip flops tend to be a bit too flimsy, but can work if you are careful. And LionBrand.com now offers flip flops so you can get your yarn and soles in one place!

•Pattern explains locations on the flip flop as if it’s a clock where the top of the toe is 12:00 and the heel is 6:00. (See photo below.)

• Left and right shoes are identical.

• Pattern is worked with two strands of yarn held together throughout, except for the foundation round which is worked with one strand. Divide one skein of main color into two equal balls.

ESPADRILLES TOE

Notes:
• The shoe is crocheted tightly, similar to amigurumi. Make a deliberate effort to keep your stitches tighter than normal. Check your gauge if you’re unsure.

• Be sure to poke the same number of holes in the second flip flop as in the first. (The printable ruler makes this pretty straightforward, but it’s still a good idea to count and double check.)

• When working sc2tog stitches on the sole, keep yarn fairly tight so as to create a smooth edge around the sole edge. It may take a couple of attempts to get the sc2tog stitch to look how you’d like it to. (See photo below.)

To begin:
Trim straps off flip flops by cutting the mid-foot straps at an extreme angle so you can keep them in place without feeling them inside the shoe. Save the rubber plug from the strap between your toes to glue in later.

Print “ruler.” Trim, tape pieces together and tape ruler around flip flop sole. With your sharp instrument, poke holes in each dot on the ruler. If you haven’t purchased the ruler, poke holes 3/8th of and inch apart.

You want the hole to go at an angle from about the middle of the way down the sole to about 1/4  inch into the top of the sole. Ensure your holes are far enough from the edge so that the yarn won’t rip through the rubber when you create your first row of crochet. Reference Part 1 of the Breckenridge Boots video tutorial for help.

Using one strand of SC, tie slip knot around smaller hook. Insert hook at back of heel (6:00 position) Using smallest hook, attach SC at the back of the heel by inserting your hook from the top of the flip flop toward the bottom of the sole, grabbing the yarn and pulling through to the top. Ch 1 through the loop you’ve created to of the flip flop and through the slip knot to attach the yarn to the flip flop. (See photo below.)

ALL SIZES:

Make 2.

Foundation Round: Continuing with size B hook and single strand of SC, ch1, sc in each hole around sole, join with a sl st to first sc. Fasten off. You will work over yarn tails in the heel section of the pattern.

Place stitch markers at 11:00 and 1:00 positions with 6 stitches in between. Using larger hook and two strands of MC, make a slip knot on hook. Insert hook at the 11:00 marked st of Foundation Round (1:00 marked st for left-handed crocheters), yarn over and pull loop through slip knot to join yarn at toe. Begin Row 1 in same stitch and work over the tail of yarn you just attached.

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 8 sc; turn. (8) (See photo above.)

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 8 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (10)

Row 3 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 10 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (12)

Row 4 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 12 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (14)

Row 5 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 14 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (16)

Row 6 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 16 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (18)

Row 7 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 18 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (20)

Continue finishing toe according to the shoe size you’re making.

SIZE 5-6:

Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 18 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (21)

Row 9 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 19 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (22)

Row 10 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 20 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (23)

Row 11 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 21 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (24)

Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 22 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (25)

Row 13 (RS): Ch 1, sk 1 sc, sl st in next sc, sc in next 23 sc, sc 1 on sole, sl st 1 on sole. Fasten off. (26)

SIZE 7-8:

Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 20 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (22)

Row 9 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 22 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (24)

Row 10 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 22 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (25)

Row 11 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 23 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (26)

Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 24 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (27)

Row 13 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 25 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (28)

Row 14 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 26 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (29)

Row 15 (RS): Ch 1, sk 1 sc, sl st in next sc, sc in next 27 sc, sc 1 on sole, sl st 1 on sole. Fasten off. (30)

SIZE 9-10:

Row 8 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 20 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (22)

Row 9 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 22 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (24)

Row 10 (WS): Ch 1, sc in next 24 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (26)

Row 11 (RS): Ch 1, sc in next 26 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (28)

Row 12 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 26 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (29)

Row 13 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 27 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (30)

Row 14 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 28 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (31)

Row 15 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 29 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (32)

Row 16 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 30 sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (33)

Row 17 (RS): Ch 1, sk 1 sc, sl st in next sc, sc in next 31 sc, sc 1 on sole, sl st 1 on sole. Fasten off. (34)

ESPADRILLES HEEL

Notes:
• The heel is worked perpendicular to the sole in Row 1, but continues to spread out across heel as rows continue.

• Left-handed crocheters, reverse mentions of “right” and “left”. Similarly, reverse mentions of 5:00 and 7:00 positions.

• Size 5-6 is listed, with instructions for sizes 7-10 in parenthesis. Sizes 7-8 and 9-10 are worked identically until Row 9.

Using larger hook and two strands of MC, make a slip knot on hook. Insert hook at the 6:00 position of Foundation Round, yarn over and pull loop through slip knot to join yarn at back of heel. As heel is worked, crochet over the tail of yarn you just attached as well as the tails from the Foundation Round.

ALL SIZES:

To begin: Ch 4 (5); turn so that WS of work is facing. (4), (5)

Row 1 (WS): Sk first ch, sc in next 3 (4) ch, sc 2 on sole toward the 5:00 position; turn. (5), (6) (See photo above.)

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 2 (3) sc, 2 sc in next sc; continuing down back side of chain 2 sc in next ch, sc in next 2 (3) ch, sc 2 on sole toward 7:00 position; turn. (11), (13) (See photo above.)

Row 3 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 3 (4) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 4 (5) sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (14), (16)

Row 4 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 5 (6) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 5 (6) sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (17), (19)

Row 5 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 6 (7) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 7 (8) sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (20), (22)

Row 6 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 8 (9) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 8 (9) sc, sc 2 on sole; turn. (23), (25)

Row 7 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 9 (10) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 10 (11) sc, sc 1 on sole; turn. (25), (27)

Row 8 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 10 (11) sc, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc, sc in next 11 (12) sc, sc 1 on sole; turn. (27), (29)

Continue finishing heel according to the shoe size you’re making. (For the larger sizes, you can also try on the shoe and decide if you’d like more heel coverage (follow size 9/10 instructions) or less (follow size 7/8 instructions).

SIZE 5-6 AND 7-8:

Row 9 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 25 (27) sc, sl st 1 on sole; turn. (27), (29)

Row 10 (RS): Ch 1, skip sl st, sc in next 27 (28) sc, sl st 1 on sole. (27), (29)

SIZE 9-10:

Row 9 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 27 sc, sc 1 on sole; turn. (29)

Row 10 (RS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 28 sc, sc 1 on sole; turn. (30)

Row 11 (WS): Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next 28 sc, sl st 1 on sole; turn. (30)

Row 12 (RS): Ch 1, skip sl st, sc in next 29 sc, sl st 1 on sole. (30)

FINISHING

Weaving In Ends: Use a sharp tapestry needle to weave in remaining ends from toe and heel section.

Plugging Flip Flop Holes: If you’d like, replace the small rubber circle that connected your flip flop straps to the sole between your toes. Glue it in place. In my experience, the other two mid-foot strap plugs stay in place without glue as long as they’re cut at an angle like in photo at the beginning of the pattern.

Adding Ankle Strap: Cut (2) 42” pieces of ribbon or leather. With WS of heel facing, thread ribbon through to back of shoe. (Use a crochet hook to grab it if necessary.) Leaving two single crochet between the ribbon entry points, thread ribbon back through to WS of heel. Trim ribbon ends at 45 degree angle. Add Fray Check or clear nail polish to avoid fraying. Repeat with second shoe.

Optional Top Stitching: If you’d like to add the classic espadrilles stitching around the toe, you can do so with a blanket stitch and one strand of SC yarn doubled over. (See photo below for example of how this looks.) I opted to leave this off in the sample.

Fancy Feet: Hit the pier, the beach or the yacht in your new DIY espadrilles!

I love to see your finished projects! Use #MakeAndDoCrew and tag me Instagram (@MakeAndDoCrew) to show off your stitches and have a chance to be featured.