​Knit Slippers with Ears

You’ll need:

2 (3, 4) skeins Big Bad Wool Weepaca (95 yds/87m each);

Knitting needles 5,5 mm;

Darning needle;

2 stitch markers.

Size: Small: 16.5cm length, fits up to 22cm foot; with 6.5cm long ears;

Medium: 20cm length, fits up to 25cm foot; with 9cm long ears;

Large: 24cm length, fits up to 29cm foot; with 9cm long ears.

Stitches control: 16 sts = 10 cm.

Instructions

With yarn held double, using long-tail cast-on method, cast on 27 (33, 39) sts, leaving a 12"/31cm tail for sewing up later.

Garter Heel

Row 1 (WS): K8 (10, 12), PM, P1, K9 (11, 13), PM, P1, K8 (10, 12).

Note: Markers will remind you when to purl on WS rows; on subsequent WS rows, slip marker then purl next stitch.

Row 2 (RS): Knit.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 10 (13, 15)cm, ending with a WS row.

Ribbed Toe

Row 1 (RS): (K1, P1) to last st, K1. Note: Remove markers on first ribbed row.

Row 2 (WS): (P1, K1) to last st, P1.

Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until piece measures 15 (19, 23)cm, ending with a WS row.

Toe Shaping

Row 1 (RS): K1, then K2Tog 13 (16, 19) times. [14 (17, 20) sts remain]

Row 2 (WS): Purl.

Row 3 (RS): K2Tog across row; for medium size only, knit last st. [7 (9, 10) sts remain]

Assembly

With a darning needle, thread tail (both strands if using yarn doubled) through all remaining stitches and draw up tightly. Run the ends through these same stitches again for strength. Use one of the ends to sew edges of ribbed toe together using mattress stitch and taking a half-stitch seam, so one full K1 rib remains. Take a couple of small stitches at the end to secure.

Using one of the cast-on tails and mattress stitch, sew heel seam all the way down to end. Don’t worry—the little heel ‘corner’ will flatten nicely and disappear as you wear the slippers.

Weave in all ends on the inside.

Blocking

Wet- or steam-block if desired. To wet-block, soak for 20 minutes in tepid water with a little no-rinse wool soap. Gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Roll in towels and squeeze out more moisture; or run through spin-only cycle in washing machine in lingerie bag or zippered pillow case. Dry flat or stuff with crumpled newspaper and shape slippers. To shorten drying time, place on a baker’s cooling rack.

Ears

Size S only

Using long-tail method, leaving 8"/20cm tail, cast on 10 sts.

Row 1 (RS): K7; W&T.

Rows 2, 4, 6 & 8 (WS): Knit to end.

Row 3 (RS): K5; W&T.

Row 5 (RS): K5, knit next st together with wrap; W&T.

Row 7 (RS): K6, *knit next st together with wrap*; repeat between * * one more time; W&T.

Row 9 (RS): K8, *knit next st together with wrap*; repeat between * * one more time; WYIB Sl 1.

With WS facing and slipping first st purlwise, bind off all sts. Cut yarn, leaving 20cm tail for finishing.

Make three more identical ears.

Size M & L only

Using long-tail method, leaving 8"/20cm tail, cast on 14 sts.

Row 1 (RS): K11, W&T.

Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16 (WS): Knit to end.

Row 3 (RS): K9, W&T.

Row 5 (RS): K7, W&T.

Row 7 (RS): K5, W&T.

Row 9 (RS): K5, knit next st together with wrap, W&T.

Row 11 (RS): K6, *knit next st together with wrap*; repeat between * * one more time; W&T.

Row 13 (RS): K8, *knit next st together with wrap*; repeat between * * one more time; W&T.

Row 15 (RS): K10, *knit next st together with wrap*; repeat between * * one more time; W&T.

Row 17 (RS): K12, knit next st together with wrap, WYIB Sl 1.

With WS facing and slipping first st purlwise, bind off all sts. Cut yarn, leaving 20cm tail for finishing.

Make three more identical ears.

Attach Ears

Fold one ear lengthwise, by bringing corners with tails attached together. Thread one set of tails into darning needle and tack corners together. Position ear on top of foot approx. 4 (4.5, 4.5)cm back from tip of toe and two sts away from your seam. Continue to use tails to whip-stitch ears to slipper, working along one side of folded base towards back of ear. Pass tails to inside of slipper and weave in tails. Repeat along other side of base of ear with second set of tails.

Attach remaining three ears onto slipper as for first.

Pom-Pom

Using pom-pom maker instructions, make two pom-pom bunny tails and attach to back of slippers just above base of heel.