Women’s Crochet Vacation Shoes

Every summer my husband and I take our 4 kids on week long family vacation. We always stay a few days with family, and then a few days being tourists in different cities. This year I wanted a pair of shoes that were comfortable to walk in through all the tourist site-seeing, but something that also was cute. I wanted something different than my usual running shoes.

I went shopping at different stores and quickly found out that the type of shoe I wanted either cost way more than I wanted to spend, or if they were around the price I wanted then they were by no means comfortable since there was barely anything to them.

From previously seeing that there were shoe patterns crocheted on flip flops for bases I figured I could make me a pair to be what I wanted for vacation. Luckily Dollar Tree had a large inventory of flip flops for $1, I had some Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton in my stash; so with little investment I was ready to try making me a pair of shoes.

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Before our vacation I had the shoe bases prepped and ready to be crocheted. They were trimmed and the holes punched. I also did the first round of crochet since I wasn’t sure how delicate I would need to work, and if a bumpy road would give me more issues during that part than I wanted. During our 11 hour drive (one way) I worked on the shoes. Working a little, trying it on, working a little more, trying it on, ripping some out and trying again. Just like fitting a garment, there was some trial and error.

Finally I got a pair of shoes that fit, were comfortable, and I was happy with the design appearance. I was unsure how the Dollar Tree shoe bases would hold up to walking. I was worried that the crochet part might pull out and rip free if the heel was stepped on.

After wearing the shoes over the summer I am happy to say that they did hold up, and they didn’t rip out. I made a mini pair for my daughter, and they even held up over several weeks of school recess. The sole does squish down some, but has not caused any issues. With the yarn being cotton both of ours did stretch out, but not to the extent of being an issue. I did not glue the strap plugs into my shoes, and if I walked on sandy areas I would feel the sand in my shoes. Also, water would easily find its way to my foot. For my daughters I glued the plugs in, and they seemed to help – till the climbing on the jungle gym made a couple disappear.

With how happy I was with this first pair I wanted another that was white. I found Lion Brand’s RE-UP at Michael’s and was eager to try it. It is a little thinner of a yarn than the 24/7, but I liked how it looked after being crocheted. I found that it did split easily while being worked, but not to where it frustrated me enough to stop. It also made this pair tighter at the beginning knowing that the yarn will stretch after wear.

I was able to make the full pair in just over 4 hours, timed from taking the tag off the sandals to putting both on with ends woven in.

I really do like wearing these shoes. However, if you are making them for someone else it may be a bit of trial and error. I made a pair for our other daughter similar to the first kid’s. I had to add more rounds to her heel area for her to feel they were comfortable. So, below there are notes for adjustments or modifications. With a little patience I know you will be able to get a great fitting and comfortable shoe. Be sure to write down your changes so you can repeat the same process on the second shoe.

Now, make a pair, strut your stuff, and enjoy all the compliments on your handmade shoes!

Women’s Crochet Vacation Shoes
By City Farmhouse Studio
Get the printable PDF version of the pattern (without ads) HERE
Add it to your Ravelry queue HERE

Lion Brand RE-UP – 1 skein
Flip Flops to fit length of foot +¾” – not shoe size
Crochet Hook: 3.75mm (US F/5) 
            2.25mm  (US B/1)
Utility knife or scissors
Tapestry needle or awl
Tape measure
Stitch markers

Pattern has notes for Women’s shoe size 6-10
Gauge:  4” x 4” = 14 sc x 20 rows 
To watch this pattern as a video go to:

Rnd 1: 1:25
Rnd 2: 2:42
Rnd 3-6:  3:20
Rnd 7:  4:00
Rnd 8:  4:37
Rnd 9:  6:24
Rnd 10:  7:56
Rnd 11-12:  9:34
Rnd 13:  9:58
Rnd 14:  11:42
Rnd 15-18:  13:10
Heel Short Rows:  13:43
Rnd 1:  16:34
Rnd 2:  17:55
Rnd 3:  19:06

Shoe Base:
With a utility knife or scissors cut off and remove the straps that go over the foot, leaving only the foot bed.  

Optional: Flip flops have a wide heel width.  For a more fitted looking shoe stand with your foot on the shoe base with toes about ¼” away from front edge, mark the back of the heel with a pen.  Mark a second line approximately 3/8” on the outside from the first line, making the shoe slightly larger than your foot. With utility knife cut the extra shoe base material away using the second line drawn.

For the second foot repeat the same, or line the toe area up and cut to the same shape.

To mark where the stitches will be placed, with a pen make a line on the side of the shoe at the heel back center.  When the marks are made only towards the top of the shoe side they will be covered when you crochet over them. With a tape measure, make a mark every 7.5mm going around.  NOTE: when you get close to the first mark made you may have to make several stitches larger or smaller to not have one large or small space between the last and first stitch.  

Line both shoes up and copy the mark locations from the first shoe to the second.  

With a tapestry needle or awl, poke a hole starting at your mark about half way down the side of the shoe.  Poke in towards the shoe and up, coming out about ¼” from the edge on the shoe foot bed. Repeat for each mark on each shoe.

Make an extra mark to designate the stitch that is closest to the center of the toe area.  Line the two shoes up and transfer the mark to the same stitch on the other shoe. This will be the stitch you start crocheting in.

Crochet Shoe Sides:
Rnd 1:  With hook B:  With slip knot on hook, starting at the center front of the toe area insert from side of the shoe and up into foot bed.  Pull a loop through the hole, and then pull another loop through both loops on hook for a sc. Sc around through all holes.  Sl st through first sc.  

Rnd 2:  With hook F:  Ch 1. Turn if needed to work towards the inside shoe edge.  Sc in each st around. Sl st in first sc of round.

Rnd 3-6:  Ch 1 and turn.  Sc in each stitch around.  Sl st in first sc of round.

Rnd 7:  Ch 1 and turn.  Sc 6. Sl st in next st.

Rnd 8:  Ch 1 and turn.  Sc in last sc. (Sk 2 and 5 dc in next st.  Sk 2 st and sc next st). Repeat from ( to ) once.  

Rnd 9: Ch 2, sk 2 st of shoe body.  Sl st in next st. Ch 1 turn. Dc in last sc of previous rnd.  Sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, make 5 dc in next stitch, sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, 2 dc in next stitch.  Sl st in 3rd unworked st of body side.

Rnd 10:  Ch 1 turn.  Sc in last dc of previous rnd.  Sk 1 st, make 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, make 5 dc in next st, sk 1 st, sc in ch 1 of previous row. 

Rnd 11:  Repeat Rnd 9.

Rnd 12:  Repeat Rnd 10.

Rnd 13:  Ch 2, sk 2 st of shoe body.  Sl st in next st. Ch 1 turn.  Make 2 dc in last sc of previous rnd.  Sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, make 5 dc in next stitch, sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, make 3 dc in next st.  Sl st in 3rd unworked st of body side.

Rnd 14:  Ch 1 turn.  Sc in last dc of previous rnd.  Sk 2 sts, make 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc, sk 2 sts, make 5 dc in next st, sk 2 sts, sc in ch 1 of previous row. 

For Size 7-8: Rnd 15-16:  Repeat Rnd 13 and Rnd 14.
For Size 9-10: Rnd 15-18:  Repeat Rnd 13 and Rnd 14. 

Add heel short rows:
Place a stitch marker in top st of the heel center.  Count over and place a marker in 10th st on each side of the first marker.  Remove the marker in the center of the heel.

Without turning, continue sc along the side of the shoes toward the stitch markers.  At the first stitch marker, sc in that stitch, and move the marker to the just made stitch. (Continue sc around to the next marker.  Sl st in that stitch. Ch 1 and turn. Sk 1 sl st and one sc, sc in next st. Place another stitch marker in the stitch just made.) Repeat from ( to ) until you have 3 stitch markers on each side.  

Rnd 1:  Sc around, sc in each marked st of heel short rows.  Skipping st of sl st between shoe sides and top, continue sc in sts of shoe top until last sc of shoe top.  Sl st in 1st unworked sc of shoe side.

Rnd 2:  Ch 1 and turn.  Sk sl st and sc in each st of foot top.  Sk 1 st in corner of foot top and shoe side.  Continue sc around. Sc in each marked stitch of heel short rows.  Sl st in corner of 1st sc of round.

Rnd 3:  Ch 1 and turn.  Sk 1 sc, sc around and sl st in 1st sc of foot top.

Bind off.

Modifications for fit:
-For a wider shoe repeat an additional round of Rnd 3-6 as needed.
-For a narrower shoe do not make the Rnd 6 of Rnd 3-6.
-If the patterned top area comes up too far on the foot, remove a few rows.
-If the patterned top area does not come up far enough on the foot, repeat Rnd 13 and 14 as needed.
-If the heel area feels too short, repeat the last round of the pattern, or add an additional set of heel short rows for even more height – making there be 4 stitch markers on each side.
-If the heel area feels too high, do not make the last Rnd 3, or do not make the second set of heel short rows – only have 2 stitch markers on each side.
-If the shoe feels too loose and slips, weave a separate piece of yarn or ribbon through the sc posts of the last row to tie in a bow. Starting the weaving at the center of the foot top will make an attractable location for the bow.