A Square Toed Mary Jane Slipper Pattern- Crochet

OK, I've never written a pattern before so please forgive me if I have not done it correctly. As is my habit, I saw many patterns for Mary Jane slippers on the internet but they didn't look the way I wanted them to so I experimented with a few pairs and created this pattern. I love the squared off toe opening. They are really fast and easy to make. Have fun and enjoy the pattern. How perfect that this also is one of  Mama Kat's Workshop prompts this week for Writer's Workshop Wednesday! 2 birds with one post!!


Square Toed Mary Jane Slippers

Materials

• 1 skein of worsted weight yarn. I used Vanna’s Choice 
• A small amount of a contrasting yarn for trim- use some of that leftover yarn I know you have laying about.
• Size H hook
• 2 Buttons

Begin with a magic circle.

DC 8 into the circle.  Pull the little tail and your circle is made. Once you have formed the circle slst into the top of the first DC and ch 2






Round 2- place 2 DC into each stitch, slst into the top of the first DC, ch 2 (16 stitches)

Round 3- 1 DC into same stitch, 2 DC into the next stitch, *1 DC into next, 2 DC into next to the end of the round, slst into the top of the first DC and CH2 (24 stitches)

Round 4- 1 DC into the same stitch, * 1 DC into next 2 stitches, 2 DC into next, 1 dc into next two stitches and 2 DC into next, repeat until you have 3 stitches lest and single crochet each of them. (31 stitches) For slightly wider foot go ahead and DC 2 in the last stitch for 32 total.

Round 5 Work 1 DC in each stitch around, slst in top of first DC and chain 2
Round 6 Work 1 DC in each stitch around, slst in top of first DC and chain 2

Row 7- DC into the first 22 stitches and chain 2. Turn work. You will be leaving the rest of the stitches unworked and just going back and forth on these 22. When you turn the work, the two chains in the turning chain you just made count as the first double crochet of the new row. So you will want to skip the first DC double crochet and work a double crochet in the second stitch. Be sure to insert hook under top two loops of stitch. Work a double crochet in each remaining stitch across the previous row; at the end of each row, be sure to work the last double crochet in the top of the turning chain from the previous row. Be sure to insert hook in the center of the V (and back bump) of the top chain of the turning chain
Rows 8- Turn work, DC in second stitch and work across making sure to Dc in the turning chain from previous row.
Rows 9, 10 , 11 , 12, and 13- Repeat row 8

Row 14- After chaining 2 and turning work, make your first DC in the first stitch (By making a stitch into the first stitch, you will be increasing the number of stitches by one for a total of 23 stitches.) and work across the row making sure to work the top look of the turning chain from the previous row. Chain Row Row 15- repeat row 13- 24 stitches
Row 16- repeat 13- 25 stitches
Row 17 repeat 13- 26 stitches
Row 18- Turn work, DC in second stitch and work across making sure to Dc in the turning chain from previous row.- 26 stitches
Row 19- Turn work, DC in second stitch and work across making sure to Dc in the turning chain from previous row.- 26 stitches
Row 20- DC 5, hdc 4, sc 8, hdc 4, DC 5- This helps round off the heel.

The length of the slipper is determined by the number of rows that you do. For a shorter foot, stop at row 16 and then do row 20, longer, stop at row 17 or 18 then end with row 20. 20 rows is equivalent to a size 8 or 9 woman’s.

Seam up the heel by putting right sides together and slip stitching from the top to the bottom of the heel by putting the crochet hook through the back loop of the side closest to you and the front loop of the back half, to make a nice even seam.

Finishing the top edge:
Still using the same color yarn as the slipper; Begin at the center of the back of the slipper. SC the center back 3 stitches together, SC4, SC2 tog, SC6, SC2tog, SC to stitch before corner. SCthe last stitch of the side and the fist stitch of the front together (the 2 corner stitches), SC across the toe, SC the 2 corner stitches together. SC down the side until you have 14 stitches left, SC2tog, SC6, SC2tog, SC4. You don’t have to follow this exactly. All you are doing with the SC2tog is making the top edge more snug so that the slipper fits and doesn’t slide off. Making your decreases on the back half of the slipper helps it to fit better.
When you get back to the beginning, Slst into the beginning stitch and weave in end.

Contrast and Strap
Put the slipper on your foot and see how well it fits. If the fit is still too loose, you will need to add a couple of SC2togs to this last contrast row to tighten up the fit.
With your foot in the slipper, take the end of your contrast yarn and figure out where you want the strap to go across.

Once you can see where you want the strap to be, place your crochet hook through the stitch on the outside side of the slipper . This is where the strap will come across. To the button.
Begin SC from that point around the front of the slipper, at each corner SC the 2 stitches from each side of the corner together . SC around
to the opposite side of the slipper from where you started. If you started the strap 16 stitches from the front on the beginning side, SC 16 on the opposite side so that the strap will go across evenly.

Chain 20 to 21 stitches depending on how wide your foot is.
I try the slipper on and see if the strap is as long as I want it to be. Turn and begin working back into the chain. SC in the first stitch from the end, SC, chain 4 to 6 (the diameter of the button)

skip the same number of stitches in your strap as you just crocheted and SC into that stitch. So if you have a 1” button you would chain 4 and then skip 4 stitches down on the strap before reconnecting the small chain you just made. This creates the Button Hole.

SC back down the strap to where you began it. SC in that same stitch on the slipper then continue around the back of the heel to where you started. This is back half of the slipper is where you would add some additional SC2togs if you needed to tighten up the fit. Sl st in the beginning stitch and weave ends in.
Sew your button onto the outside of the slipper and you are done!