Nola's Slippers. Photos © annakg
Nola's Slippers by Nola Miller is a classic free slipper knitting pattern from the Seamen's Church Institute Christmas at Sea program.
Warm, practical and surprisingly straightforward to construct, these slippers are worked flat using two strands of worsted-weight yarn held together. Most of the project is simple garter stitch, with a comfortable ribbed cuff around the ankle.
Nola's Slippers Pattern Details
- Designer: Nola Miller
- Publisher: The Seamen's Church Institute – Christmas at Sea
- Craft: Knitting
- Category: Adult slippers
- Pattern availability: Free
- Construction: Worked flat and seamed
- Yarn: Worsted weight held double
- Yardage: Approximately 500 yards (457 m) total
- Needles: US 9 (5.5 mm) circular needle, 24 inches or longer
- Gauge: 12 stitches × 24 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in garter stitch
- Finished height: Approximately 9 inches from top of cuff to sole
- Finished length: Approximately 11 inches from heel to toe
- Techniques: Ribbing, garter stitch, shaping, picking up stitches and seaming
- Skill level: Level 3 in the official Christmas at Sea handbook
- Language: English
A Classic Cozy Slipper Pattern
Nola's Slippers have a wonderfully traditional handmade look, with a tall ribbed cuff, garter-stitch foot and substantial fabric that helps keep feet warm.
The design was created for the Christmas at Sea program, which provides handmade knitted and crocheted gifts to mariners.
The official handbook describes the slippers as a welcome comfort after spending a day in steel-toed boots.
Worked Flat, Not in the Round
One detail worth emphasizing is that the original Nola's Slippers pattern is worked flat.
You do not need double-pointed needles or magic loop to follow the official instructions.
A circular needle is recommended, but it is used to accommodate the stitches and make picking up stitches around the foot easier—not because the slipper is knitted continuously in the round.
Two Strands of Worsted Yarn Held Together
The official pattern calls for two strands of worsted-weight yarn held together throughout the project.
Holding the yarn double creates the thick, warm fabric that gives these slippers their cozy character.
Approximately 500 yards (457 m) of worsted-weight yarn are listed for the pair.
Can You Use One Strand of Bulky Yarn?
Some knitters choose a bulky or super-bulky yarn instead of holding two strands of worsted together, but that is a substitution rather than the original pattern specification.
If you make this change, choose your yarn and needle size according to the required gauge rather than relying only on the yarn-weight label.
For the original pattern, the target gauge is 12 stitches and 24 rows = 4 inches in garter stitch.
US 9 / 5.5 mm Needles
The official instructions recommend a US 9 (5.5 mm) circular needle, or the needle size required to obtain gauge.
A circular needle at least 24 inches long is useful when the pattern reaches the stage where stitches are picked up along both sides of the foot.
Again, the circular needle is being used for convenience while working flat; the original slippers are not constructed in the round.
Ribbed Cuff
The project begins with a tall 1×1 ribbed cuff.
Ribbing gives the upper portion of the slipper elasticity, helping it sit comfortably around the ankle while providing extra warmth.
After the cuff is established, the construction changes as the center stitches are used to form the tongue and upper foot.
Garter-Stitch Tongue and Foot
Much of Nola's Slippers is worked in garter stitch, making the fabric thick, stretchy and comfortable.
The tongue is formed from the center section of the cuff. Stitches are then picked up along its sides so that the knitting can expand around the foot.
This unusual construction is one of the reasons the slippers look much more structured than a simple flat rectangle even though they are knitted back and forth.
How the Toe Is Shaped
The toe takes shape through a series of decreases at the end of the knitted tongue.
After that shaping is complete, stitches are picked up along the sides of the tongue and combined with stitches from the cuff.
This creates the upper foot section without needing to knit a separate piece and sew it on later.
How the Sole Is Finished
After the foot has reached the required depth, decreases shape the sole of the slipper.
The official instructions provide two options for joining the live stitches underneath: Kitchener stitch or a three-needle bind-off.
The Seamen's Church Institute specifically notes that Kitchener stitch creates the smoother finish because it avoids leaving a ridge along the center of the sole.
Why Kitchener Stitch Is Useful Here
A ridge that would be harmless on a shoulder seam can become uncomfortable when it sits directly beneath your foot.
Kitchener stitch grafts the live stitches together and creates a much flatter join.
If you have never tried grafting before, a pair of slippers can be a practical project for learning the technique because the benefit of a smooth seam is immediately noticeable.
Final Seaming
Once the sole has been joined, the remaining yarn tail can be used to sew the heel and cuff seam.
The official pattern suggests either whipstitch or mattress stitch for this finishing step.
After the ends are woven in, the flat knitted piece has transformed into a warm, structured slipper.
Finished Size
The official finished measurements are approximately:
- Height: 9 inches from the top of the cuff to the sole
- Length: 11 inches from heel to toe
The original pattern is essentially a single adult size rather than a graded pattern with a full range of shoe sizes.
Keep this in mind if you are knitting for someone with particularly small or large feet.
A Unisex Slipper Design
Nola's Slippers have a simple, practical shape that works well as a unisex design.
The appearance can change dramatically depending on the yarn you choose. Natural wool shades create a rustic traditional slipper, while brighter or multicolored yarns can give the same pattern a more playful look.
Great for Using Worsted Yarn
Because the pattern uses two strands together, it can be a useful way to combine worsted-weight yarns already in your stash.
You can use matching strands for a solid look or experiment with two coordinating colors for a marled effect.
Just remember that changing yarns can affect gauge, thickness and the final size, so checking gauge remains important.
Skills Used in Nola's Slippers
Techniques used in the original pattern include:
- Knitting and purling
- 1×1 ribbing
- Garter stitch
- Working flat
- Holding two strands of yarn together
- Basic decreases
- Picking up and knitting stitches
- Kitchener stitch or three-needle bind-off
- Whipstitch or mattress stitch
- Weaving in ends
Is Nola's Slippers Beginner Friendly?
Most of the actual knitting uses very accessible stitches, particularly ribbing and garter stitch.
The more interesting learning opportunities come from the construction: picking up stitches along the tongue, shaping the foot and joining the sole.
The current Christmas at Sea handbook labels the pattern Skill Level 3, so it is better viewed as an approachable project for a knitter who already knows the basic knit and purl stitches rather than an absolute first project.
A Practical Handmade Gift
Thick knitted slippers make a useful cold-weather gift, and this pattern has a particularly practical history.
It comes from the Seamen's Church Institute's Christmas at Sea program, whose volunteers make handmade items for mariners.
That practical purpose is reflected in the design: warm yarn, a secure ribbed cuff, substantial garter-stitch fabric and a smooth sole are more important here than decorative complexity.
Why Knit Nola's Slippers?
Nola's Slippers are a great choice if you want a cozy accessory that looks more complicated than the individual stitches actually are.
You get to practice ribbing, garter stitch, picking up stitches and shaping while producing a genuinely useful finished project.
The doubled worsted yarn also creates a satisfyingly substantial fabric, making these slippers especially appealing for cold floors and winter evenings.
Get the Free Nola's Slippers Knitting Pattern
Nola's Slippers by Nola Miller are part of the official free Christmas at Sea pattern collection from the Seamen's Church Institute.
Get the Free Nola's Slippers Knitting Pattern →
Pattern availability was checked when this article was updated. Availability and access on external websites may change over time.
