Thursday, July 18, 2013

The easiest ever crochet baby sandals




These are so easy to make that you can easily whip up a pair in less than an hour. They're perfect for these hot days and are very comfortable for little feet.

They are basically two ovals with double crochet front and ankle straps and a button  for closure. 



The best thing about these sandals is that you can make the ovals (i.e soles of the sandals) longer, shorter, wider, thinner, to match your baby's feet. 



Here's how I made them. I used a size 4 crochet hook and acrylic yarn.

Round one :
Chain 15 (for longer feet chain more, for smaller feet chain less)
On the 4th chain stitch from the hook, 2 dc. ( leftover ch 3 counts as the 1st dc)
dc in the next ch and continue (1 dc in each ch st) until the one before last.
6 dc in the last ch. 
Don't turn. Continue down the other side.
dc in each ch until the last one. 3 dc in the last ch. Join with sl st to the top of ch3. (30 dc)

Round two:
ch3(always counts as 1st dc). Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. 2dc each into next two dc.
dc into next st. dc each into next 8 sts. 2 dc each into next 6 sts.
don't turn. dc into next st. dc each into next 8 sts. 2 dc each into next 3 sts.
Join with sl st to the top of ch3. (42 dc)

Round three.
ch3. Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. dc into  the next st. 
(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)twice. 
dc each into next 9 sts. 
(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)6 times.
dc each into next 9 sts.
(2 dc into the next st. dc into the next st.)thrice.
Join with sl st to the top of ch3.(54 dc)

For babies who are less than 3 months old, stop the oval here.

Round four.
ch3. Don't turn. dc into the same st as sl st. dc each into  the next 2 sts. 
(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next st.)twice. 
dc each into next 9 sts. 
(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next 2 sts.)6 times.
dc each into next 9 sts.
(2 dc into the next st. dc each into the next 2 sts.)thrice.
Join with sl st to the top of ch3.(66 dc).


Fold the sole lengthwise. At both ends, tie a marker at the exact middle of round four. One will be where the ankle rests and the other will be the middle toe point. 

Back piece:
Make a ch on a new yarn. From the marker count four to the right and draw the ch made, through it and ch 2 more. dc in the next 7 sts. The marker should come exactly between the 4tg and 5th dcs.
turn. ch3. dc each in the next 7 sts. 

Ankle strap:
Ch 15. dc in 4th st from hook and dc each in all ch. After the final dc is made, attach strap to back piece with sl st.

Front strap:
Make a ch on a new yarn. From the marker count 6 to the right and draw the ch made, through it and ch 15 more. Attach chain to 6th st from the marker on the other side with sl st. dc in 4th st from hook and dc each into all ch. After the final dc is made, attach strap to the sole with sl st.

Attach button to the back piece.To make  the other sandal, flip the sides and crochet straps. 

To wear the sandals, slip the button through any two dcs in the ankle strap where it fits snug.

Let me know if you have any questions.


dc: double crochet
ch: chain
st: stitch
sl st: slip stitch



Sunday, July 14, 2013

Elephant softie

My very first attempt at plushie making. Doesn't look all that great. But baby seems to like it, so I just might try my hand at making some more.