Crochet toddler “boat shoe” slippers with flip flop soles – free pattern!

These crochet toddler slippers are made to resemble boat shoes and have a flip flop sole for extra busy-toddler grip.

The pattern I posted a few weeks ago for women’s summer slippers made from flip flops has been quite popular. I’m so glad, because my toes are definitely big fans of my own pair.

Crocheted slippers made from flip flops are just downright awesome because they’re more substantial than normal crochet slippers, yet still keep your feet from overheating during the warmer months. And in this case, the rubber sole makes the perfect non-slip slippers for active kids. (Because, let’s be honest, we want slippers, but we don’t want SLIPpers.)

It probably goes without saying that as soon as I was shuffling around the house in some fancy crochet kicks, Momo requested her own pair. I let her choose whatever flip flops she wanted and she opted for a vivid shark pair from Walmart.

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And well, sharks mean beaches. Beaches mean boats. Boats mean boat shoes. And thus this crochet boat shoes pattern was born.

I’d have to say that Momo’s slippers turned out a bit masculine, but it’s just because of the shark color palette. This style of house shoe could definitely be made in more feminine colors. Or you could just toss out the outdated idea that pink is for girls and blue is for boys and make them in whatever the heck color the kid loves. (My vote is for that last option!)

Notes on the kids’ boat shoe slipper pattern

• Transforming flip flops into slippers isn’t an exact science! Unlike other crochet patterns, these slippers have a lot of variables, most significant of which is the size of flip flops you use and the number of holes you poke. I’m providing general guidelines and some troubleshooting tips to help keep the process fun 🙂

• You might want to size down when buying your flip flops. Since your foot won’t be held in by the flip flop strap, your normal size of flip flops might feel a bit roomy as crocheted slippers.

• The slippers pictured are a toddler size 7-8. I poked 57 holes in the sole of each flip flop for this size. To make slippers with bigger or smaller flip flops, just adjust the number of holes, poking them about every .25 inch. (If you’ve made my women’s summer slipper pattern, you might want to make your holes slightly closer together for these toddler slippers. These aren’t meant to curl inward, so you want slightly more stitches per inch.)

• I used a sharp tool meant for clay to poke my holes. A skewer, small drill bit or something similar could work too.

• The reason the pattern calls for a smaller hook for the first row is simply because it’s hard to fit the larger hook into the sole without stretching the holes out too much.

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I love to see your finished projects! Tag me on Instagram (@MakeAndDoCrew) to show me your stitches.

You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, I ask that you link back to me into two places — one link to my homepage (MakeAndDoCrew.com) and one link to this post page. Do not use my photos as your own sales photos. Do not distribute this pattern as your own. All clear? Alright, let’s make something awesome!

TODDLER CROCHET BOAT SHOE SLIPPERS – FREE PATTERN

PURCHASE A PRINTABLE PDF OF THIS PATTERN FOR $2.50 BY CLICKING HERE.
Perfect for crocheting on the go or mobile viewing!

Sizes

Toddler shoe size 5-6, 7-8, 9-10

Supplies

• B /2.5 mm hook (I love this affordable set!)
• G /4.25 mm hook
• approximately 100 yards worsted weight cotton (I used “I Love This Cotton” in red from Hobby Lobby)
• approximately 13′ of white worsted weight yarn
• one pair of flip flops aka “thongs” (One size smaller than the child wears normally. See note above. These shark flip flops are from Walmart.)
• scissors
• 2 stitch markers
• sharp tool to poke holes in the flip flops

Abbreviations – US terms

ch – chain
sk st – skip
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
tr – triple crochet
sc-dec – single crochet decrease

MAIN BODY OF SLIPPER – all sizes

Using your sharp instrument, poke holes about every 1/4 inch around each flip flop sole. You want the hole to go at an angle from 1/4″ from the edge of the top of the sole and come out about half way down the side of the sole. Make your holes far enough from the edge that the yarn won’t rip through the rubber when you create your first row of crochet.

Using smaller hook, attach yarn 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 attach the yarn to the flip flop.

Row 1: Using smaller hook, sc into each hole around sole.

Rows 2-8: With larger hook, cont in sc around the sole. (Crochet in the round. Do not sl st and ch 1 at the end of each row.)

Place one stitch marker on either side of the slipper, two thirds of the way down the sole toward the toe. This is where the hole for the laces will end. Do not turn work, continue with Row 9 in the same direction as previous row.

Row 9 (see photo above): 1 sc in each sc until 1 sc before marker.  sl st in sc before marker; turn.

Row 10: ch 1, 1 sc-dec into next 2 stitches, 1 sc in each sc until 2nd to last stitch, sl st in last sc; turn.

Row 11: ch 1, 1 sc-dec into next 2 stitches, 1 sc in each sc until 2nd to last stitch, 1 sc-dec in last two stitches; turn.

Row 12 (to form lace hole – see photo below): ch 3, tr in next 2 stitches, 2 sc down side of tr, 1 sc in next sc, cont 1 sc in each sc until 2nd to last stitch on other side, 1 sc-dec in last two stitches; turn.

Row 13 (to form lace hole): ch 3, tr in next 2 stitches, 2 sc down side of tr, 1 sc in next sc, cont 1 sc in each sc to mid heel where you fastened on, sl st in next sc. Fasten off and weave in end.

TOP OF SLIPPER / TONGUE

Tip: The increases and decreases always take place at the same end where the tail from the initial chain is hanging off.

Size Toddler 5-6

ch 9.

Row 1: sc into 2nd chain, sc in next 6 sc, 2 sc in last ch; turn. (9)

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 8 sc; turn. (10)

Row 3: ch 1, sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (11)

Row 4: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 10 sc; turn. (12)

Row 5: ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (12)

Row 6: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 10 sc; turn. (11)

Row 7: ch 1, sc in next 9 sc, 1 sc-dec in last 2 sc; turn. (10)

Row 8: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 8 sc; turn. (9)

Row 9: ch 1, sc in next 7 sc, 1 sc-dec in last 2 sc; fasten off. (8)

Size Toddler 7-8

ch 11.

Row 1: sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 8 sc, 2 sc in last ch; turn. (11)

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 10 sc; turn. (12)

Row 3: ch 1, sc in next 11 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (13)

Row 4: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 12 sc; turn. (14)

Row 5: ch 1, sc in next 13 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (15)

Row 6-7: ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (15)

Row 8: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 13 sc; turn. (14)

Row 9: ch 1, sc in next 12 sc, 1 sc-dec in last 2 sc; turn. (13)

Row 10: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 11 sc; turn. (12)

Row 11: ch 1, sc in next 10 sc, 1 sc-dec in last 2 sc; turn. (11)

Row 12: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 9 sc; fasten off. (10)

Size Toddler 9-10

ch 13.

Row 1: sc into 2nd chain from hook, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (13)

Row 2: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 12 sc; turn. (14)

Row 3: ch 1, sc in next 13 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (15)

Row 4: ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 14 sc; turn. (16)

Row 5: ch 1, sc in next 15 sc, 2 sc in last sc; turn. (17)

Row 6-9: ch 1, sc in each sc; turn. (17)

Row 10: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 15 sc; turn. (16)

Row 11: ch 1, sc in next 14 sc, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc; turn. (15)

Row 12: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 13 sc; turn. (14)

Row 13: ch 1, sc in next 12 sc, 1 sc-dec in last 2 sc; turn. (13)

Row 14: ch 1, 1 sc-dec in next 2 sc, sc in next 11 sc; fasten off. (12)

FINISHING:

Align tongue with curved edge toward toe. Beginning ¼ “ from the top edge of the tongue, sew the inner edges of the tongue and slipper together with a mattress stitch. (Here’s a good mattress stitch tutorial.) Make sure to only go through the inner loops as pictured so as to avoid a bulky seam. Stop with ¼” of tongue left unsewn, fasten off.

Cut 3 strands of white yarn approximately 24” long each. Tie a short piece of yarn around one end of the 3 strands to fasten them together. Braid. Tie a second short piece of yarn around the 3 strands at the other end. Trim to an even edge. (See this hat braid tutorial for more details. Just use 3 strands for this slipper instead of 6 as in the tutorial.)

Weave the braided laces through the slippers as pictured. In order to allow the laces to anchor the laces loops on the sides of the slippers, make sure your laces are entering the holes in the same direction as in the photo.

Strap these magic slippers on your favorite kiddo and watch them run around the house with glee.

Now you want a pair for yourself, don’t you?! Check out my free women’s crochet summer slipper pattern to make your own!