Nola Slippers
April 2, 2011
I just finished knitting these slippers on the plane on our way to Utah. The guys will be skiing, but my bad knees and I will be having our own fun off the hill. I will be driving into Salt Lake City one day to hang out at Blazing Needles and then I am excited to be meeting up with my food blogger friend, Maria, from Two Peas and Their Pod for lunch one day.
I read a post where Adrian Bizilia, one of my favorite knitting designers, wrote about these slippers and I wanted to make some. I thought they were so cute. They are written for a man’s size so I thought I would go ahead and knit a pair for one of the men in my family (Barry has claimed them) and see how they measured out. I could then adapt them later to make a pair for myself, possibly.
The pattern calls for these to be knitted in a worsted weight, held double, which is what I did (although I saw a few people on Ravelry knit these with bulky weight yarn, single). I used Ecolana, a beautiful alpaca/wool blend from AslanTrends. I did change the pattern a little – I did stockinette stitch on the top, the tongue part, instead of garter stitch. I just thought it looked nicer.
The slippers are knit flat, on a circular needle, in one piece and then sewn up at the end to make the slipper. I used kitchener stitch on the bottom to knit up the sole and that created a nice flat seam that is comfortable.
They were so fun and a very quick knit. It was fun to use #9 needles with big yarn after all the fingering weight yarns I’ve been using and tiny needles. I can see in the future if I knit these again it would be fun to knit the tongue in a completely different color – I’m definitely going to do that! Maybe even a variegated yarn. Oooh…. the possibilities.
Pattern: Nola’s Slippers
Yarn: Ecolana by AslanTrends
Needle: US#9 Circular
Ravelry Page
This is what I’m doing in the condo while the guys are skiing and I am a very happy camper.
Italian Dish Knits 
how did you knit the tongue? I cant figure out this part.
You only work the center 13 stitches to make the tongue. For the first row, you knit 26 stitches, turn the work around and then knit 13 stitches. Turn the work, knit these same 13 stitches again to make the tongue. You do this for 34 rows. Does that help?
I am confused by this!!
It says it is worked on 13 stitches but tells you to knit 26. Where are there additional 13 stitches coming from?
Sheena: Which row do you specifically mean? I will try to help you.
Hi, I’m just a begginer and before starting, I’d like to understand the whole pattern 🙂
When you finish the cuff part, you do have a 39 stitches work,don’t you? To start witht the tongue, you have to continue from the last cuff row, I understand. So, if you have to work with the 13 central stitches, how do you get the other 13 to make the 26 needed on the first row of the tongue? The central 13 and then…? 6 more of the right side and 7 of the left side?
I’m not sure I’ve got this properly…would you mind to help me?
Another question I may have is if it’s needed to be used circular needles or if it’s just an option to make it easy..
Thank you so much! 🙂
Beatrix: #1: Yes, you have 39 stitches on your needles to begin the tongue. #2: This is how you get to the 13 central stitches to do the tongue: In row 1, you knit across the first 26 stitches. Then, ignoring the last 13 stitches on your needle, you turn your work and knit across the first 13 stitches on this row. Then turn your work again, and knit just across these 13 stitches. Try it – it will make sense once you do it! #3: I like using circular needles, even to knit flat pieces. The stitches just stay on easier, I think. Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any more questions. Good luck!
kind of…I’m using a circular needles. Maybe that’s my problem. After I stop knitting the cuff, should I transfer the stitches to 3 different needles? that way I only work the center 13? I did try to knit it as it said in the pattern and ended up with 13 stitches to one side that where not being work and the first 26 building up…I had no tongue, lol. Thanks so much for replying.
🙂 I just figured out the problem. The pattern says to “continue in this manner until you have 17 ridges” I assumed it meant working rows 1, 2 & 3. But it means only work rows 2 & 3.
I’m so glad it’s working for you!
Hi!!!!! Loving the pattern! I am a beginner and have had no problems following the pattern up until now. I am at the very last note of the pattern and have nine ridges in total but I don’t understand what to do next? Do I knit 26 and cast off or…
Mandy: You knit 26 stitches, cut the yarn (leaving a 24 inch length) and then sew up the whole slipper using kitchener stitch. Look at what you have knitted so far. Can you see how to do that? Once you sew up the foot and then the heel and cuff it all comes together. With a tapestry needle threaded with the yarn, just do kitchener stitch off the remaining stitches on the knitting needle. Does this make sense?
Thank you!!! 🙂
Hi everyone!!! I made these and they are super cute!! But I am wanting to make them smaller. I am a beginner (only a could of months!) and don’t want to mess it up. Is there anyone who has made a smaller pair that can help me out with the changes in the number of stitches and ridges etc through the pattern?
Thanks!!!!
Mandy: I have made things smaller before by just going down a needle size or two. This would be a whole lot easier than trying to adjust the number of stitches. Hope this helps.
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Thanks! I didn’t think that would work!! I appreciate the advice! Thank you so much!
How do you sew the part off the needles up