First attempt at crocheted Mary Janes with sole for toddler

Funny how I finished my last post saying I should go finish one of my unfinished projects, because yesterday I started a new one :P

Last Wednesday, my sweetheart and I went to Tallinn, Estonia. I didn't buy souvenirs there, but I did buy some yarn(it was crazy cheap, compared to Norway) and a roll of felted something, maybe a wool blend of some kind. It's perfect for soles on slippers etc. So, when we got home from our trip yesterday, I just had to try it out.

 

Now, I have to tell you, I have never tried this before, and it is 100% improvised, so I am well aware that the shoe is not prime goods. But practice makes perfect, and for my first try, I'm pretty satisfied :)

Time spent on one shoe: 2,5 hours.

  First, I drew the outline of a small sole in a colour that doesn't stand out too much, like yellow.

Then I cut a little bit around the outline.

Then I put the one I just cut over the material and used that as a template and cut around it so I got one that matches.

 

Fortunately, I had this hole making thingy. I don't know why I have it, I've never used it before, but, I have it. So I used it to make holes along the yellow outline.

To be able to pull the yarn through the small holes I used crochet hook no.2....

 ...then for the crocheting itself, I switched to hook no. 3,5, so that the loops would be bigger and easier to work with.

I made two loops between each hole, as it matched the distance between the holes, used hook no.2 to pull the yarn through the holes and no. 3,5 to crochet between the holes. I made a point to keep the loops on the under side of the sole, since the edge of the sole is supposed to be inside the shoe.

Then I just went around and around and around with single crochets (fastmasker, in Norwegian), until I felt the edge was high enough.

Put a heel and strap on. Made the heel by going back and forth with single crochets, and the strap with double crochets (enkel stav).

For the top of the shoe I just made a flower by going around and around with chain stitches (luftmasker) and single crochets.

 

And sewed it onto the shoe.

Aaaand, put a button on the side, to fasten the strap.

I probably should have written down exactly how many stitches and crochets etc I did, but that's not how I roll. Impro is my game.

Now, I gotta go make the other one. Cheers!