Soul Slipper Tutorial

Ok, so here's my very first ever turotial on how to knit the slippers I made for the youngest's cali team members.  It is not my pattern - but I repeat it here for those interested enough to try and make their own.  I hope it makes sense.

What you need:

8ply yarn - any will do whether it be wool, a blend or acrylic.  Cottons tend to not have much give in them, so if you are going to use cotton yarn I suggest you be prepared for some unravelling.  I have not used bamboo yarn so can't comment on the amount of give it has.
1 pair of 4mm or 4.5mm needles
yarn sewing needle
scissors.

Cast on 7 stitches.  Use any method you like - I prefer the cable method.  I'm not going to explain it here - so go look it up.
Knit every stitch for 7 rows.  (This is called garter stitch.)
Next row: Knit into the front and the back of the 1st stitch without taking the stitch off the needle; knit the rest of the row.  (That first stitch is called 'increase'.  It is different to 'make 1' - with this you pick up the loop that lies between 2 stitches and knit into the back of the loop.  Make 1 leaves a hole - we don't want that here.)
Repeat the last row until you have 22 stitches.

At this point if the receipient has a very long foot you may like to keep increasing until you have more stitches.  Not always necessary as these will stretch quite a bit.

Now you need to increase in every stitch - thus doubling the number of stitches on your needles to 44.
Next row: *Knit 2 stitches, purl 2 stitches. Repeat from * to the end. (This is a double rib.)
Repeat this row 43 more times.

At this point you may like to work more rows if the recipient has a very wide foot - again not always necessary due to the stretch.

It is within this rib that I did the colour changes to make up the stripes of the ones I made.

So, continuing on.......

Knit 2 together across the row - thus halving the number of stitches back to 22.
Next row:  Knit 1 stitch, Knit 2 together, knit to end of row.
Repeat this row until you have 7 stitches.
Work 7 more rows of garter stitch and then cast off.

Now you will have a very odd shape of knitting - that's ok.

Sew the cast on and cast off edges together - making sure you do this with the right sides together - if you can figure that out.  It is easy on some stripe patterns, not so easy if there are no stripes.

Sew the sides together.  It will now resemble a small knitted handbag - and could be used as such for a doll.  Turn it right side out and there you have 1 soul slipper.

Now make another one - unless you have 1 foot, then in that case you are done.

You slide your foot into it so you have the 7 sts wide strips go across the top of the foot - kind of like a mary jane shoe - and the sewn together side bits up the back of your heel and down the top of your foot to your toes.  Make sense - yeah I didn't think so......