How to Crochet Your Own Sneakers
You’ll Need:
Sock weight yarn in white, red, and the color you want the sneaker to be.
Crochet hook 2.5 mm.
Needle for darning in ends.
Instructions
Sole
Round 1: With sole color, ch 16 (26) sts. Sc into second ch from hook and every foundation ch to end – 15 (25) sc total. Sc twice more into last ch and then ch back along the foundation ch – 13 (23) more sc.
Sc twice into nxt ch, and sl st onto turning ch to join. I found it very helpful to place markers at sts 1 and 15 (25) on both edges to keep track of position.Round 2: Ch 1. Inc in 1st st. sc 12 (23), inc in next 3 sc (to help you keep track, these 3 increases are into the 3 sc into 1 ch space to turn on previous round), sc 13 (23), inc into last 2 sc. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
Round 3: Ch 1. Inc into 1st st, 1 sc in next 15 (25) st (i.e., marker to marker if using), inc in each of nxt 4 sc, then sc 15 (25) (i.e., marker to marker again), inc in last 3 sc. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
Round 4: Ch 1. Sc into 1st st, inc into nxt st. Sc 15 (25) sts, [inc into nxt st, sc into nxt st] twice, [sc into nxt st, inc in nxt st] twice. Sc 15 (25) sts, [inc into nxt st, sc into nxt st] twice, sc into nxt st, inc in last st. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
Round 5: Ch 1. Sc into 1st st, inc in nxt st, sc in nxt 17 (27) sts. [inc in nxt st, sc in nxt 2 sts] three times, inc in nxt st, sc in nxt 17 (27) sts, [inc in nxt st, sc in nxt 2 sts] twice, inc in nxt st, 1 sc in last st. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
Round 6: Ch 1. Sc into 1st st, inc in nxt st. Sc 19 (29) sts. {inc in nxt sc, 1 sc into nxt 3 sts, inc in nxt st, 1 sc into nxt 2 sts, inc in nxt st}, 1 sc into nxt 3 sts, inc in nxt st. Sc 19 (29). Repeat pattern between { } once, then 1 sc into each of last 2 sts. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
Round 7: Ch 1. Sc into 1st st, inc in nxt st. Sc 21 (31) sts. {inc in nxt st, 1 sc in nxt 3 sts, inc in nxt st, 1 sc in nxt 4 sts, inc in nxt st}, 1 sc in nxt 3 sts, inc in nxt st. Sc 21 (31). Repeat pattern between { } once, then 1 sc into each of last 2 sts. Join to ch 1 with sl st.
You can now block the sole to enable it to lie flat before continuing.
“Rubber” Section
Round 1: With white, pick up and sc around the sole.
Rounds 2-6: Ch 1, sc around through back loops of each st. Join to ch 1 with sl st. With red, sl st embellishment between rows 4 and 5.
Toe
Choose which end you want to be the toe, and find the center of this semicircle. Count 15 sts out either side of this so you have 30 sts to work across.
Using white:
Row 1-2: Ch 1, sc 30, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc2tog 15 times (15 st rem), turn.
Row 4-6: Ch 1, sc 15, turn.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc3tog 5 times, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, sc 5, turn.
Row 9: Ch 1, sc5tog.
Fasten off but do not break yarn. Instead, move to the first st of toe in round 1. Make 1 dc per row across the toe: 18 dc in total.
Fasten off.
Sides
Using main sneaker color, pick up and sc remaining sts from around the “rubber” section. Once you have completed this first row, work as follows:
Row 1: Ch 1, sc all sts, turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 1, ch 1, sc to last 4 st, ch 1, sc 1, sc2tog. Turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, sc all st (inc making 1 sc in ch spaces), turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc to last 2 st, sc2tog, turn.
Repeat these 4 rows 3 more times, then repeat rows 1 and 2 once more. Sc next two rows.
Fasten off.
Tongue
Using main sneaker color, pick up the 18 dc from the toe area. Turn.
Rows 2-4: Ch 1, sc all 18 st, turn.
Row 5: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 14 st, sc2tog. Turn.
Rows 6-21: Ch 1, sc all 16 st, turn.
Row 22: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc 12, sc2tog, turn.
Row 23: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc nxt st, hdc nxt st, dc in nxt 6 sts, hdc in nxt st, sc in nxt st, sc2tog on last 2 sts.
Fasten off.
Laces
With white, ch 250 sts and fasten off. Repeat for the second lace.
Block if required.
Finishing
With white, pick up and sc around the edge of the tongue and sides to make a neat border.
Optional finishing: You can also add a sl st or embroidered detail on the sides of the sneaker if you wish. Weave in all loose ends. You can stuff and block if required.