Cotton yarn and a rubber sole make this free crochet slippers with flip flop soles pattern perfect for wearing around the house (or even outside!)
View the entire free pattern and video tutorial below or purchase the printable, ad-free pdf with hole poking guide here.
This free crochet slippers with flip flop soles pattern is a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarn. This post contains affiliate links.
UPDATE: This pattern has been super popular since I published the original version last May. Many of you have requested a video tutorial for these crochet slippers with flip flop soles, so today I’m really happy to have a totally revised and updated version of the pattern that includes a step-by-step video tutorial.
In this version, I’ve updated the toe top section of the pattern, re-written some details for clarity AND added a printable ruler to the ad-free PDF of the pattern to guide your hole poking.
(If you just want the original crochet slippers with flip flop soles pattern though, don’t fret, you can still find it for free here!)
Many readers have asked how these crochet slippers with flip flop soles hold up over time. I’ve answered that question (with photos!) and many more in my FAQs about crocheting on flip flops.
Without further ado, here’s the original blog post with the updated free crochet slippers with flip flop soles pattern and new video tutorial below. And if you’re interested, you can find all the free flip flop crochet patterns I’ve shared since making this first pair, right here.
Guys, I’m so excited to share this pattern. I hope you love making crocheted slippers with a legit, flip flop sole as much as I did. When I originally stumbled across these crocheted boots made by Croche Da Alessandra, the idea for some flip-flop-based summer slippers wedged in my brain and refused to shake loose until I just made the things.
Until about a week ago, I’ve been wearing some felted knit slippers my mom made me. They’re AMAZING. But now that it’s officially spring, they’re becoming a little less practical with each tick of the thermometer.
So if, like me, you prefer to keep your feet covered when you’re shuffling around the house, but you find warm weather to be less than slipper-compatible, these are for you! (And if you’re the free-wheeling type that prefers not to have your toes covered at all during the summer months, check out all my other free crochet patterns instead.)
These crocheted slippers with flip flop soles let in a lovely breeze with each step, thanks to the slightly open weave and breathable Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton yarn. The flip flop (or “thong” if you live in certain parts of the world) sole makes these a little more substantial than regular crocheted slippers and perfectly grippy to scoot around your house.
These even work well as crocheted shoes to wear outside. They might just be the most comfortable pair of shoes you’ve ever worn. (And don’t they look a bit like Toms?)
The ad-free PDF now includes a printable ruler to help guide your hole poking. This little bonus is super helpful in achieving the gauge and ensuring that you don’t have too many or too few stitches around your flip flop sole. (Regardless of the size you’re making–isn’t that magic?!)
You can purchase the PDF of this pattern with the ruler here on LoveCrafts.com or here on Etsy.
Related: 30+ Free Crochet Top Patterns for Warm Weather
Find Your Next Crochet Pattern on Flip Flop Soles
Crocheting on flip flops can fast track your feet straight to comfort-ville. Flip flops offer functional, non-slip soles for your crochet slippers. They also allow you to crochet shoes customized for your particular feet.
See more free crochet flip flops patterns →
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back to this post. Do NOT use my photos as your own sales photos. You can read my policies here. Now let’s make something awesome!
Summer Crochet Slippers with Flip Flop Soles – Free Pattern
Purchase the printable, ad-free PDF with hole poking ruler here on LoveCrafts.com or here on Etsy.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry favorites here.
Pin this pattern for later here.
Sizes:
This pattern works well for women’s sizes 6-10, but you can easily add or eliminate a row to the top section to make it longer or shorter for other sizes.
Abbreviations (US Terms):
ch – chain
cluster – 4 dc in one stitch
half cluster – 2 dc in one st
dc – double crochet
sk – skip
sl st – slip stitch
sc – single crochet
st(s) – stitch(es)
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 yards) Color: Mint
• 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 the printable pattern or a 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
• Stitch markers
• Strong glue such as E6000 to glue strap plugs to sole (optional)
Gauge:
7.5 sc = 2”
12 rows = 2”
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!
• Left and right shoes are identical.
• Similar to some ballet flats, your slippers should curl in a bit. That’s what gets them to shape to your feet without a lot of increasing or decreasing. They will stretch out slightly with wear.
• The slipper sides and heel are worked in a spiral, so you will not ch 1 at the beginning of each round.
• 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.
Related: 30+ Free Crochet Dress Patterns: Beginner to Advanced
Slipper Sides and Heel
Notes:
• The shoes are 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.
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. (See photo above with the hole poking ruler.) Save the rubber plug from the strap between your toes to glue in later.
If you’re using the printable ruler, trim and tape the pieces together and tape ruler around flip flop sole. With your sharp instrument, poke holes in each dot on the ruler. (See photo above the pattern.) Alternatively, use a measuring tape to poke holes slightly more than .25″ apart around the sole. Pierce the hole at an angle from about the middle of the way down the sole to approximately .25” into the top of the sole. Reference the video tutorial for help.
Tie slip knot around smaller hook. Insert hook at back of heel (6:00 position) from the top of the flip flop toward the bottom of the sole, grabbing the yarn and pulling through to the top of the flip flop and through the slip knot to attach the yarn to the flip flop. Crochet over the tail of this yarn as you work Round 1.
Round 1: Continuing with smaller hook, sc in each hole around sole, join with a sl st to first sc. Do not turn. Place marker in first st of round and move it up as you work each round (or just keep track of which sole hole you began in).
Rounds 2-9: With larger hook, sc in each sc around sole. Do not turn.
Remove marker. Place stitch markers at 4:00 and 7:00 positions. This is where the back heel “lip” of your slipper will taper to.
Do not turn work, continue with the rest of row 9.
Row 9 cont: Sc in each sc until 1 st remains before next marked st, sl st in next sc, turn. (See photo below.)
To make heel taper appear smoother, keep working yarn toward the inside of shoe when starting Rows 10-13. (See 8:25 mark of video tutorial for example.)
Row 10: Ch 1, sk first sl st, sl st in next sc, sc in each sc until 1 st remains before next marked st, sl st in next sc, turn.
Rows 11-12: Ch 1, sk first sl st, sl st in next sc, sc in each sc until 3 stitches remain before next marked st, sl st in next sc, turn.
Row 13: Ch 1, sk first sl st, sl st in next sc, sc in each sc to back of the heel, sl st in next sc. Fasten off.
Do not weave in end. You’ll work over this tail later.
Slipper Top
Notes:
• Cluster = 4 dc in one st
• Half Cluster = 2 dc in one st
• In rows 2-5, the clusters are worked between the two middle dc of the cluster in the previous row.
• Reference video tutorial or chart above for visual explanation.
Find the approximate midpoint of the front of the slipper. Place stitch markers at the 1:00 and 11:00 positions with 11 sc between them. (See “clock” photo at top of pattern.)
Join yarn in 11:00 marked st. (Left handed crocheters, join in 1:00 marked st and reverse mentions of “right” and “left.”) Weave in the tail from attaching yarn now before this section is worked.
Row 1: With the toe facing toward you, (sk 3 sc, cluster in next sc) 2 times, skip 3 sc, sl st in next marked st, sl st in next 3 sc of Rnd 9 (up left edge of slipper), turn. (2 clusters) (See photo below.)
Row 2: Cluster in center of each of next 2 clusters, skip 2 sc in Rnd 9, sl st in next sc of Rnd 9 to join, sl st in next 3 sc (up right edge of slipper), turn. (2 clusters)
Row 3: Half cluster in sl st where Row 2 joined Rnd 9, cluster in center of each of next 2 clusters, half cluster in last sl st of Row 1, skip 2 sc in Rnd 9, sl st in next sc of Rnd 9 to join, sl st in next 3 sc (up left edge of slipper), turn. (2 clusters and 2 half clusters)
Row 4: Cluster in sl st where Row 3 joined Rnd 9, cluster in center of each of next 2 clusters, cluster in last sl st of Row 2, skip 2 sc in Rnd 9, sl st in next sc of Rnd 9 to join, sl st in next 3 sc (up right edge of slipper), turn. (4 clusters)
Row 5: Cluster in center of each of next 4 clusters, skip 2 sc in Rnd 9, sl st in next sc of Rnd 9 to join, do not turn. (4 clusters)
Round 6: Sc in each st around entire shoe, do not turn. (See photo J.) (Crochet over yarn tail at heel as you work.)
Round 7: Sc in each sc around heel stopping once you reach the slipper top section, sl st 1 into edge of top.
Fasten off and weave in end. Repeat pattern with second flip flop sole. Tap your toes together, smile and run around your house because you just made your own crochet slippers with flip flop soles!
That was so fun! Now what?
Invitation to our Facebook group
Come discuss crocheting flip flop slipper patterns and lots of other crochet projects and techniques in our Make & Do Crew Facebook group. Here thousands of helpful crocheters answer each others questions and share their stitches. Come join us here.
More Free Crochet Patterns Using Flip Flop Soles
- FAQS: How to Crochet on Flip Flops – and will they fall apart?
- Crochet Boots With Flip Flops Soles
- Free Crochet Ugg Boot Pattern
- Chukka Crochet Slipper Boots with Flip Flop Soles
- Crochet Moccasins Shoes
- Crochet Beach Shoes Pattern
- Crochet Festival Boots Pattern
- Crochet Boat Shoes Slippers (for kids)
Now that your toes are comfy, you might enjoy these free crochet patterns:
Cocoon Cardigan — free crochet pattern made with two simple rectangles!
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Ashley says
Hi.. was wondering if worsted weight acrylic yarn would work or is it only cotton yarn that works best?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yup! That would work too!
Michelle says
I’m having a hard time with Row 9. I had started the heel portion of the pattern only to see that one side of the heel is higher than the other. I pulled out all the way to just before Row 9.
Per the pattern, I began Row 1 on the heel. I am just about ready to start Row 9 and I’m at the heel where I originally joined my yarn. Do I start Row 9, place the first stitch marker once I pass where it is supposed to go and continue all the way around to where I joined the yarn (placing 2nd stitch marker where necessary) and then continue around to the 1st marker? If that’s the case, one side will be higher by an additional row. I’m making these slippers for my sister-in-law and I am hoping you can clarify.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Michelle,
When you get to the back of the heel (row 9), you’ll place your stitch markers and then continue on in the same direction to the first stitch marker (so just a few inches down the side of the slipper). This is called “row 9 cont.” in the pattern. Once you finish row 9, you’ll turn your work and head back around the heel in the other direction. Doing it this way should result in both sides being the same height.
Hope that makes sense!
Jess
Val Lee says
Thank you so much for sharing this gorgeous pattern. I’m a learner crocheter and have two daughters egging me on to to give these a bash as they love them..so today this is my mission.. thanks again. 🙂
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Val,
Congrats on learning a new life skill! I think everyone could benefit from having something so wonderful to do with their hands.
Good luck!
Jess
Jillian says
I am having some issues with the first row for the slipper top where it says “sl st back into sc where right marker is”. So I’m essentially working to the right and not to the left? I’m having a hard time getting my yarn to want to do this without becoming a mess. Please help! Thank you.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Yes, you’re working back to the right for just one stitch to anchor the right side of your cluster to the edge of the slipper side. Does that make sense? Once it’s anchored, you work to the left just like normal crochet.
Hope that helps!
Jess
Jillian says
Yes that does help. And then you do the 2 hdc where you did the first sl st correct? I might be getting more confused than I need to because when I do this, I don’t have 2 stitches to skip before doing a sl st in the marker on the left side.
Janelle says
This is where I am having difficulty, as well. I just can’t figure out how the instructions are supposed to fit in a 10 stitch area. For each “sk 2 sc”, if I skip one and sc into the 2nd stitch each time, I still end up with 11 spots, sl st into stitch 12 to the left before turning. If I skip the 2 and sc into a third stitch, I end up with the last sl st 15 stitches to the left. I am not used to following patterns, though, so I may be reading something wrong?
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey!
So, the sk 2 sc should be skipping two single crochets. So you’ll be putting the next stitch that’s called for (a hdc, I assume) in the third stitch over. (There will be two empty stitches in between.) Does that make sense? Good for you for giving pattern reading a shot! 🙂
Jess
Margaret says
Thought you might get a chuckle out of this. When I was growing up my mom called these sandles/thongs SNAPPING SLIPPERS!!!
Robin Howell says
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern. I am trying to make these, but am having difficulty with the top (toe) part as a lot of others have. But I think my BIGGEST issue is this part:
“Find the approximate midpoint of the front of the slipper. Place stitch markers 10 stitches apart at the toe.”
Do I need to count 10 SC from the center on the R and L or do I count just 10 SC altogether like, 5 on the R and 5 on the L.
Jennifer says
Hi,
Working on crocheting a pair now. I have a question about round 9 should I do the enitire row sc then put the markers in or put the markers in before row 9. I keep getting one side higher and not sure what my issue is. These are super cute!
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Put the markers in once you’ve worked the first part of row 9. So follow exactly the steps of the pattern by (row 9) sc to the heel point you began the slipper at. Then place the markers. Then (row 9 cont.) keep sc in the same direction you were already going until you reach the first marker and follow the directions for the end of row 9.
Hope that makes sense! Let me know if not 🙂
Dianne says
Thank you that helped with row 9
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
So happy to hear that, Dianne!
Tally erp 9 says
I wish I knew how to crochet! They’re beautiful!
JP says
Why won’t anyone answer my question? I made one pair of these and now I want to make a pair for my granddaughter but she is five years old. Would 9 rows not be too big for her? Any suggestions? Thank you for the great pattern! I love it!
Megan says
I have just started mine and I just have a quick question…when doing the first row, you say to insert the needle from top to bottom. Is this crocheted with the wrong side out…? I just want to be sure I am starting right since its crocheted in the round. So as I placed my first row, I went around the sole in a counterclockwise direction. I hope this makes sense.
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hey Megan,
I do mine in the clockwise direction with the outside (right side) facing me. Has it worked out for you okay to do it the other way?
Jess
Linda Ann says
I have crocheted for years, and found this extremely frustrating. I made one slipper, and it was huge. I ripped it out, used a smaller needle and again it was too big. (My holes are 1/4″ apart like you said.) The third time I decreased one or more times in almost every row. Too big. This time, I’m again decreasing and eliminated 2 rows completely. If it doesn’t fit now, I’m throwing the whole project away. I think you need help writing patterns.
A Bee says
Or, you could try the other things mentioned in the pattern. Namely, getting flip flops a size down from your usual size and trying the holes 1/3″ apart (pattern does say 1/4″ to 1/3″).
My first try with a regular size flip flop and holes 1/4″ was waaaaay too big and no “curl”. I sized down and made the holes 5/16″ apart, and they’re turning out fabuloso.
Danielle says
Hi Jess, fabulous crochet pattern. I’m crocheting the same size 9 as you (Australian though) so might be slightly different. I’ve shaped the heel and are ready to commence the toe, however the height isn’t enough based upon your pattern. My question is could I just continue some more rounds to get the correct height, even though I’ve already shaped the heel?
Kind regards, Danielle
Jess @ Make and Do Crew says
Hello from the USA, Danielle! Yes, I think you could. It would just mean that your top section would come a little higher up on your foot (toward your ankle). It would be pretty minor though.
Happy crocheting!
Jess