Granny Square Slippers
My cousin Katie recently spent some time in the Republic of Georgia and brought me back these amazing blue and pink crocheted slippers. 
She reported that similar slippers were for sale at all the marketplaces, always in bright and unexpected color combinations.
Upon closer inspection, I saw that each slipper was made up of six equally sized granny squares. How beautifully simple! I love when intelligent design meets handcraft, when innovative engineering meets a house slipper.
For my take on the traditional design, I wanted the slippers to look even more homespun and funky, so I used Manos del Uruguay’s Handspun Semi Solid yarn. I think the unevenness of the spin and the variations in the kettle dyed colors add a little cozy character to the slippers.
Adjusting the size of these slippers is so easy that I made a pair for both my husband and me. I’m really looking forward to a cozy winter in our matching slippers!
The Materials
- 3 skeins of Manos del Uruguay’s Handspun Semi Solids. For the women’s pair I used Persimmon W, Cerise 47, and Rust U (above left), and for the men’s pair I used Cinnamon V, Rust U, and Coffee G (above right). (If you’re following my pattern exactly and making both pairs of slippers, you will only need one skein of the Rust color.) (NOTE: We no longer offer Manos del Uruguay’s Handspun Semi Solids, but choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
- A US size G crochet hook
- A tapestry needle
The Pattern
Gauge
4¼ single crochets = 1 inch
Finished Sizes
Women’s Slippers: 9¼ inches long – to fit women’s US shoe sizes 7 – 9½
Men’s Slippers: 11½ inches long – to fit men’s US shoe size 9 – 11½
How to Adjust the Size
If you know the length of the foot that is going to wear the slipper you can custom fit the slippers by adjusting the size of the granny squares. You can crochet two, three, or four rounds and then fine tune the sizing by adding rounds of single crochet around the outside edge.
The final length of the slipper is the measurement from one corner of a square to the opposite corner, times two, plus 1/4 of inch (the 1/4 of an inch is a result of sewing the pieces together).
This square from the Women’s Slipper measures 4 1/2 inches x 2 = 9 inches + 1/4 inch = a total length of 9 1/4 inches.
Please also note that the sizing can be quite approximate. The slippers seem to comfortably fit a wide range of sizes.
Women’s Slippers
Each slipper is comprised of six granny squares (12 squares total for a pair). (Please visit our Granny Square Tutorial if you’ve never made a granny square or need a refresher.) Each square is three rounds plus a round of single crochet around the outside edge.
(At the corners of the outside round of single crochet, make a single crochet into the corner, chain 1 and make another single crochet into the corner.)
Here is how I arranged the colors for the Women’s Slippers:
Assembling
Crochet the squares together by passing the hook under the two strands of the single crochet of one square, and then under the strands of the adjacent stitch of the square you are joining.
Pull the yarn through and make a single crochet.
Keeping track of the placement and order of the squares can be tricky. I found the easiest way was to start with the center of the sole, to work my way around one Side Square and then the other, and then to cut the yarn. Then I crocheted around the Toe, cut the yarn, and finally attached the Heel Square.
Confused? Here’s a visual step by step:
Join a Side Square to a Sole Square.
Attach the Toe Square to the next side of the Side Square.
Make single crochets along the next side of the Side Square.
Attach the other Sole Square to the remaining side of the Side Square.
Continuing along this Sole Square, join one side of the other Side Square.
Turn the corner of the Side Square and make single crochets along the next side.
Attach the next side of the Side Square to the Toe Square.
(When you are at a place where three squares meet, you should end up with two single crochets in each corner space.)
Complete the Side Square by joining its remaining side to the Sole Square. Cut the yarn.
Join new yarn, and connect the Toe Square to the Sole Square, up one side…
…and down the other. Cut the yarn.
With the Sole side facing you, join new yarn…
…and attach the Sole Square to the Heel Square.
Turn the corner of the Heel Square, and begin the next side by joining it to the Side Square. Just as you have been doing, insert the hook under the single crochet strands of the outside edges.
After three stitches…
…continue along the Heel Square without attaching it to anything. Just make a single crochet edge along the side, around the corner and down the other side, stopping three stitches short of the end.
For the final three stitches, attach the Heel Square to the Side Square the same way you did on the other side.
After you weave in all your ends, here’s what the top and bottom of the completed slippers should look like. Ready to wear!
Men’s Slippers
Like the Women’s Slippers, each Men’s Slipper is comprised of six granny squares, twelve squares total. (Please visit our Granny Square Tutorial if you’ve never made a granny square or need a refresher.) Each square is four rounds (unlike the Women’s Slippers, there is no outside edge of single crochet for this size slipper).
Here is how I arranged the colors for the Men’s Slippers:
Assembling
Crochet the squares together the same way the Women’s Slippers are done (see “Assembling” above). The end result will look like this:
Don’t wear your slippers alone if you can help it!
Hello love these slippers, are the granny squares made up of single or double crotchets?
Hi Mel,
They're made up of double crochets. Here is our Granny Square Tutorial which shows you exactly how to make one: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/crochet-tutorials/granny-squares.html
Thanks for your question and good luck!
Whitney
I love this tutorial! I'm making my second pair right now. I put roses on the toe square of one of the pairs and bows on the other one 🙂
This is the best and most detailed tutorial I have ever seen. Really well done! Your extra work in presenting this really shows. Thank you so much!
These are so cool! This post might be too old for you to see this comment, but do you think it would be possible to attach two more granny squares to the opening, to create an ankle?
Hi Rachel,
That sounds like a great idea! Please let us know how it goes!
Whitney
I have a pair of these that I bought in Ukraine – they have the extra two ankle squares, which are then folded down diagonally when you wear them, making the slippers feel extra durable. There are also cute pom-poms on the front centre opening 🙂
THANK YOU for making this pattern available for free online! i love it..im using it to make holiday gifts. its quick. easy, and they come out exactly like the picture <3
Loved finding these. My mom used to get these from someone we knew when I was younger. I’ve been looking for the pattern for a long time. When we were kids my sisters and I loved them. Thanks!
Thanks so much for this tutorial! Planning on making these for Christmas presents this year.
Would be perfect for Operation Christmas Child boxes, especially, for the older kids (in the men/women sizes), or reduce the hook size and make them smaller for children.
Great idea for operation Christmas child. Thanks for the thoughtful suggestion!
I had gotten a pair of these in Quebec 40 years ago when we went to visit family. They were a little different with one large square on the bottom which was the size of 4 smaller squares sewn together. There was then a smaller square for the top front and one for the back of the foot. I make my squares solid because I don’t like the air conditioning of the granny holes .(living in Maine) any type of squares will function and still be pretty with yarn colors 🙂
I bought a pair made like this on the coast of California about 20 years ago. I made several pairs then and after seeing this post I think I’ll make them again for my friends this Christmas! Thanks for the reminder! <3 (Millie)
I made this version (one big and two small) after someone asked me to create a bigger version of the baby sized ones they had received as a gift years ago. The problem I have is that the longer I want the shoe to be, the wider it goes. and at least for young sizes (ex.1-3..), they get longer before they get wider. I’ve thought about solutions but I’m just not sure what a good fix would be…or do I just live with the roomy slipper?
Hi Ame,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct that due to the construction of these slippers, there isn’t a good way to only add length without adding width; however, since these are quite stretchy and forgiving, they do tend to fit quite a wide range of sizes without drastic modifications!
Best,
Julianna
I just want to say I LOVE these! They remind me of the slippers my Grandmother use to make for Christmas for my brothers and I. And I love doing Granny Squares. This is a perfect project for me. And I agree with Barb, this would be perfect for Operation Christmas Child boxes. Thanks for sharing this pattern with us!
The granny square slippers are so graticule and easy to make. I’m going to make a bunch up for Christmas!
I just made one, they are very cute, thank you!
Thank you for making this a free pattern I have been looking for this pattern for a very long time. They are so neat to make. Thanks again
these idea’s are so cute! i am looking at them and my mouth fell open.
My grandmother used to make these for me and my sister. Glad to have the pattern and make some for my daughter.
Thanks so much for this free pattern!
wow! how can i make these for a 3 year old?
Hi Alma,
We talk about resizing these slippers in the section at the beginning of the pattern titled How to Adjust the Size. For a three-year old,instead of the worsted weight yarn we used here, you may want to use a sportweight or even fingering weight yarn, which would give you a bit more precision in the sizing!
Thank you so much for asking and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Whitney
So happy to see this pattern in print! I made a couple dozen pairs for the local women’s shelter on year, using a partially assembled slipper someone sent me as a pattern. So easy to adjust for different sizes, and a super way to use up scraps. Thank you!!
The house shoes I make are similar to your except I only crochet three squares of single crochet.
My grandmother used to make these slippers all the time. She had a stash at her house and whenever we needed a new pair we would just call Grandma……she had all sizes and colors. Thanks for this pattern it has brought back wonderful memories for me of one of my favorite people……….
My grandmother made me a pair of these… oh… back in the 1970’s. I still have them. (They are quite worn.)
Many times, she offered to teach me to crochet. I was always busy now, but maybe later, but later came too late. Now I’m probably going to have to teach myself. Maybe I’ll start with this first.
Thank you for this pattern. Although it looks simple the detailed tutorial for the assembly made it a lot easier. I think this is the perfect pattern for crocheters who are just beginning to crochet.
These are so pretty! Perfect mid-project projects! What I mean is, I’m in the middle of making a blanket, so these will be a good break from knitting. How long do they take to make?
Hi Jane!
Thank you for writing in! These Granny Square Slippers hook up very quick! You could probably crochet a pair in a week or two depending upon how much time you spend on them.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I love these slippers,i had made quite a few for seniors but have lost the pattern. so when I saw this pattern. I was happy to see it..wouldn’t mind having it again.
Thanks
Heather
I look for Manos del Uruguay’s Handspun Semi Solids, you used for these slippers – its not the same as “manos … silk blend”??
I tried to do it with Silk blend with crochet USsize G (german size 4) but 4rows are much smaller. What do you suggest??
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for writing in! It is true that we no longer carry the yarn used here. The Manos Handspun is not longer made but you can certainly use alternate yarns! It was a Bulky weight yarn coming at 3.5-3.75 stitches per inch on a US 9. The Manos Silk Blend that you have is closer to a DK or Sport weight and would need to be held doubled or tripled to get a similar gauge. When looking to replace this yarn for this project, I would look for a Bulky yarn, perhaps Cascade 128 or other similar weight yarn!
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
My mother-in-law requested these slippers several years ago for Christmas and it was a very fun project to make for her. Here it is 3 years later and she asked for new ones since she wore the others to pieces. I have a feeling these will be a regular gift to make for her every 2 to 3 years.
Funny, someone at work asked me if I could make a pair like this. What size are the men’s squares? If I missed it, I’m sorry, I just don’t see it.
Thanks for posting this pattern.
Karen
Hello Karen,
Thank you for reaching out! I’m happy you found this pattern- The finished length of the men’s slipper is 11.5 inches long so each square will be about 5.6 inches because the length of the slipper is the measurement from one corner of a square to the opposite corner, times two, plus 1/4 of inch (the 1/4 of an inch is a result of sewing the peices together). This means you can customize the size of your slippers.
I hope this all makes sense and let me know if you have any further questions!
Warmly,
Marilla
Thanks for the pattern. My co worker gave me a bag of granny squares that a family member had done. I was looking for things to make out of them and found the slippers. Worked up quick
I have no bulky yarn in my stash can I use 2 strands of red heart super saver to make these slippers?
Helo Kia,
Thank you for reaching out! It will be hard to say if this will work until you have swatched to see what gauge you are getting, but I would say it is certainly worth a try! I would test out the yarn to see if you are getting 4 1/4 single crochets to 1 inch and then go from there.
I hope this helps and good luck!
-Marilla
Are the single crochet seams bulky and uncomfortable on the sole to walk on?
Hi Cindy,
Thanks for reaching out! These are made using a double crochet stitch! I haven’t heard of anyone experiencing any discomfort from the soles of these, many actually find the soles very comfortable!
Warmly,
Gianna
Hi! What would you recommend as a replacement yarn for this pattern? Would the super soft merino work?
Hi Maria,
Thanks for reaching out! I would recommend using our lovely Worsted Twist for this pattern! As always, I would recommend working a gauge swatch prior to beginning to ensure you are consistent with the pattern.
Happy crafting!
Gianna