A step-by-step master class for knitting adult Christmas slippers: cast on 46-50 stitches, work 4 cm of 1 x 1 ribbing, knit the cuff with a wavy motif while changing red, white and green yarn, work the front section over the middle 13 stitches, decrease to 7 stitches, then shape the sides, the sole over the middle 14 stitches and the heel with a flat seam.
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Things you will learn
The sample is knitted with medium-weight Alize Lana Gold; you need three skeins in different colors.
Start with 46-50 stitches and knit 4 cm of 1 x 1 ribbing.
The cuff is decorated with a simple wavy motif: red as the base, with white and green yarn added in turn.
The front of the slipper is worked in garter stitch over the middle 13 stitches to a length of 10 cm.
The sole is knitted seamlessly in green over the middle 14 stitches, and the back of the heel is closed with a flat seam.
What you will make
You will make adult house slippers with red ribbing, a green-white-red wavy motif, a striped front section and a green sole. In the source, the model is shown as a festive option for Christmas and New Year.
Materials and tools
Materials
Medium-weight Alize Lana Gold yarn, 3 skeins, in different colors of your choice; the sample uses red, green and white
Tools
Circular needles on a cable, for casting on, ribbing, the cuff and the side section
Size 3.5 double-pointed needles, for the middle front section and stitch handling
Two spare needles, to hold the side sections temporarily before knitting the sole
Large-eye needle, for sewing the back of the heel with a flat seam
Preparation
Choose your cast-on count
The source gives a range of 46-50 stitches: the exact number depends on size. Before you start, choose a number within this range and keep the stitch division symmetrical afterward.
Arrange the three colors
In the sample, the Christmas look comes from red, green and white. Red is used at the start of the cuff, while white and green are introduced in turn in the pattern repeat.
Ribbing and cuff
The slipper starts from the top: first the ribbing, then a simple wavy motif with slipped stitches and color changes.
Cast on and knit the ribbing
Cast on 46-50 stitches on circular needles, depending on size. Work 4 cm in 1 x 1 ribbing.
Starting the slipper: 46-50 cast-on stitches and 4 cm of ribbing.
Start the wavy motif
Row 1: with red yarn, knit all stitches. Row 2: purl all stitches. Row 3: introduce the white yarn: edge stitch, then repeat *knit 1, slip 3 stitches without knitting them*.
In row 3, the white yarn forms the repeat with slipped stitches.
Repeat the motif rows while changing colors
Row 4: edge stitch, purl 1, then repeat *slip 1 with yarn in front, purl 3*. Row 5: knit all stitches. Row 6: purl all stitches. Row 7 and onward: repeat rows 3-6, alternating the green and white yarn.
Repeating rows 3-6 creates the colorful wavy cuff motif.
Yarn position for the slipped stitch
The source specifically notes that in row 4 the slipped stitch is worked with the yarn in front. This is important for the wave pattern.
Front section of the slipper
After the cuff, divide the stitches into three sections. The middle section forms the striped top of the slipper.
Move the middle 13 stitches onto a double-pointed needle
Divide all stitches into 3 sections. Move the middle 13 stitches onto a double-pointed needle and knit them in garter stitch: 4 rows in red, 2 rows in white and 4 rows in green. According to the source, the total length of this part of the slipper is 10 cm.
The middle 13 stitches form a striped front section 10 cm long.
Shape the front with decreases
Keep the color sequence going. Row 1: after the first edge stitch and before the last stitch, knit 2 stitches together. Row 2: purl according to the pattern. Rows 3-5: work the decrease rows. At the end, 7 stitches should remain on the middle spare needle.
After the decreases, 7 stitches remain on the middle spare needle.
Stitch-count check
After the decreases, the source gives a precise checkpoint: 7 stitches remain on the middle spare needle.
Sides, sole and heel
The side section brings the stitches onto one circular needle, then the sole is knitted seamlessly in green over the middle stitches.
Transfer the stitches and knit the side section
Transfer all stitches onto one circular needle. The source gives a final count of 86 stitches. Knit the side section as follows: 4 rows in red garter stitch, 2 rows in white, and 4 rows in green.
The side section is knitted in garter stitch with red, white and green rows.
If your stitch count is different
The source records 86 stitches after the transfer. If your count differs because of size or gauge, do not adjust the pattern at random: first check the 46-50 stitch cast-on, the middle 13 stitches and the decreases down to 7 stitches.
Knit the green sole over the middle 14 stitches
The sole is knitted in green yarn without a seam over the middle 14 stitches. Temporarily place the two side sections on 2 spare needles. To form the sole, knit the first of the 14 stitches together with the neighboring knit stitch, and knit the last stitch together with the neighboring stitch on the main needle as well. Continue these decreases to the end of the side section.
The sole is knitted seamlessly in green over the middle 14 stitches.
Shape the heel and close the slipper
When 5 stitches remain on each side needle, move on to the heel. Work all stitches on the middle needle as follows: edge stitch together with the neighboring stitch, knit 2 together, knit to the last 3 stitches on the needle, knit 2 together, then edge stitch together with the neighboring stitch. Knit the last 2 stitches together, pull the yarn tight and thread it into a needle. Sew the back of the heel with a flat seam.
Finish and variations
Finish
Close the heel with a flat seam
After the last two stitches, pull the yarn tight, thread it into a needle and sew the back of the heel with a flat seam.
Knit the second slipper
For a pair, repeat the same color order and stitch-count checkpoints so both slippers match.
Variations
Color palette
The source suggests choosing any three colors you like. The sample uses red, green and white for a Christmas look, but the same stripe-and-wave principle can be kept with another palette.
Discussion variation: Christmas tree slippers
In the comments, Koschka separately described Tasha Dercach’s Christmas tree slippers: cast on 31 stitches, knit 2 rows, then work the “Christmas Trees” pattern, increasing to 47 stitches, and then knit the sole over the middle 9 stitches. The same comment mentions a video for an intermediate version: YouTube ptCy3MDpX5Q. This is a separate pattern, not part of the main master class.
Child-size note from the discussion
For children’s slippers, the discussion suggests casting on fewer stitches at the start while keeping the same number of stitches for the motif itself.
The white and green waves look uneven or do not form properly.
Likely cause
The stitches were slipped incorrectly in rows 3 and 4, or the yarn was on the wrong side of the work.
How to fix it
Check row 3: *knit 1, slip 3 stitches without knitting them*. In row 4, the slipped stitch should be worked with the yarn in front, followed by purl 3.
You are not sure how many stitches to cast on
Problem
You need to choose between 46 and 50 stitches.
Likely cause
The source gives a range because the stitch count depends on the adult size.
How to fix it
Choose a number from the 46-50 range for your size and gauge. As a check, first knit 4 cm of ribbing and assess the width on the foot.
You do not have 7 stitches after the decreases
Problem
A different number of stitches remains on the middle needle after the front section.
Likely cause
A decrease after the first edge stitch or before the last stitch was missed.
How to fix it
Recheck the first decrease row and rows 3-5. Source checkpoint: after the decreases, 7 stitches remain on the middle spare needle.
You do not get 86 stitches on the circular needle
Problem
After transferring all stitches, the final count is not 86.
Likely cause
Your size, gauge or earlier decreases differ from the sample.
How to fix it
Do not add stitches at random. First check the 46-50 stitch cast-on, the 10 cm front section and the decreases down to 7 stitches.
Gaps appear along the sole
Problem
Small holes remain between the sole and the side sections.
Likely cause
The first and last stitches of the middle 14 were not knitted together with the neighboring side stitches.
How to fix it
On each working pass of the sole, knit the first of the 14 stitches together with the neighboring knit stitch, and knit the last stitch together with the neighboring stitch on the main needle.
?FAQ
What yarn do I need for Christmas slippers?
The source uses medium-weight Alize Lana Gold. You need 3 skeins in different colors; the sample gets its Christmas palette from red, green and white.
What needles do I need?
The source lists circular needles on a cable and size 3.5 double-pointed needles. You will also need two spare needles for the side sections and a large-eye needle for the heel.
How many stitches should I cast on?
Cast on 46-50 stitches on circular needles. The exact number depends on size, according to the source.
How long should I knit the front section?
The front section is knitted in garter stitch over the middle 13 stitches to a total length of 10 cm.
Is there a video for this master class?
There is no video in the main material. The comments include a separate Christmas tree slipper variation and YouTube ptCy3MDpX5Q for an intermediate version, but that is not the main Christmas slipper pattern.
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BeginnerFree
I also like the Christmas-tree slippers by Tasha Dercach. They are another festive option, and you can knit them in two evenings.