In August of 2009, I quit my full-time job at a clinic so that I could stay home with my 2 year old daughter. I had plans to expand my web design hobby into a career. I also kept myself busy that first year by selling on eBay. In November of 2010, I started crocheting again after a long hiatus. First I tried a dog sweater, and then...well, I'll get to that. I had only made afghans up to this point. Both my grandmothers had a hand in teaching me to crochet when I was a little girl and I always loved it, but I didn't have a lot of time to crochet when I was working outside the home.
So anyway, the next pattern I tried was a free one I found online, for a pair of toddler slippers. This pattern got me HOOKED on crocheting again. I learned some new stitches (front and back post double crochet) and it made me realize that when I got stuck, I could look online for help. You can find that pattern here: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/bevs-winter-slippers.html
Over the next couple of months I tried more free patterns, then I eventually got brave and bought one online. At that point, the web design was kind of sporadic since I was just relying on word-of-mouth and hadn't really done any advertising...and I was watching my spending, so it was a little nerve-wracking buying patterns that I wasn't sure if I'd be able to follow. But I was having so much fun trying new patterns and very quickly realized I was modifying them to put my own spin on them. I wrote my first pattern just a month or two later. Because I jumped into designing patterns so quickly, I sometimes feel like it was a little bit too rushed....but I have learned soooo much along the way, thanks to some fabulous pattern testers (and friends) that have helped me grow.
Fast forward to June of 2012...I was having incredible success selling my patterns...so much more than I ever dreamed possible. Enough so that I was able to quit the web design business entirely (although I still have a few clients I work with). Then one day I get an email question from a lady who bought a pattern from me and can you imagine the THRILL I felt when I realized it was Bev Qualheim...the lady who wrote the slipper pattern that inspired me to get back into crochet?!?! I couldn't believe it!! I wrote to her right away (and of course refunded her money for the hat pattern as a 'thank you' for inspiring me) and told her how excited I was that she found my patterns, and how she inspired me.
Over the years I've made many slippers and by no means do I wish to take credit for the IDEA of these slippers. I've just expanded the sizing, added more details and tweaked it a little bit. So with all of that, I wish to thank Bev Qualheim and invite you to check out her website for some fabulous free patterns: http://www.bevscountrycottage.com. Please tell her I sent you!
 |
| Adult Chunky Slippers, pattern by Crochet by Jennifer. Photo copyright Angelina Rossi. |
You can find my free pattern for Adult Chunky Slippers here.
You can find my free pattern for Kids Chunky Slippers here.
You can find my free pattern for Kids Chunky Slippers here.
I love this story! And I love these slippers too. Thanks for sharing Jen :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Kyla!! :)
DeleteThank you for sharing your story. It is wonderful to get the back story on designs. Makes me want to do them even more!
ReplyDeletelove these slippers, have made a pair for every member of my family for Christmas, I would like to make some for the grand kids not sure how, would using a smaller hook and lighter yarn work
ReplyDeleteHere's my children's version, Jeannette. ;)
Deletehttp://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kids-chunky-slippers
Thanks so much for crediting my website ! Makes me very happy that you go there, and that you are inspired to create patterns of your own. These look like snuggly slippers!! HUGS! BevQ
ReplyDeleteI'm a visual learner I would love to see this pattern in a video.
ReplyDeleteWe would like to adapt these booties to incorporate leg warmers and be all one piece. These are for men who are homeless or come into a shelter and can wear when they sleep to keep their feet warm. Can this be done? Either knit or crochet or both>
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shari
I'm so sorry I didn't see this until now. You could certainly try just making them longer to help keep their legs warm (just repeat the last row multiple times). What a wonderful project, best of luck to you!
DeleteI am so thankful for this pattern. I have an injury on my right foot that's caused substantial swelling and also requires my foot to be wrapped in thick bandaging by a wound care specialist. Since the injury occurred, I've been wearing a pair of ballet slippers with a slit down the top, as none of my other shoes fit any longer. I recently purchased a pair of very uncomfortable men's size 10 5E wide shoes (the only pair of shoes in the store I could get my foot into) to keep my feet dry in the snow, but these are not practical to wear except when going out, which I only do to go to Dr. appts, because they're too long and I trip over them if I'm not very careful. Anyway, my foot has been so cold all of the time. I haven't been able to find any slippers that will fit my ginormous foot, and I wear socks slit down the top but they leave my heel exposed. I have hardwood floors, rather than carpet, so I've been sitting with a heating pad for my foot whenever it gets particularly cold. On a whim, I looked for a crochet pattern for an extra wide slipper and found yours. I'm thinking that if I crochet very loosely, this will stretch enough for my needs. Thank you so very much.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer
ReplyDeleteI would love to make these slippers however, I have size 6 Bernat softee chunky yarn. Would this pattern work with that yarn? If so what crochet hook size would you recommend?
Hi, that is a thicker yarn and therefore the slippers would end up being much larger. You could try making a smaller size (but use the same length measurements listed) and the hook size listed on the yarn label. I cannot help with adjustments otherwise though as I have not done this. Best wishes!
Delete