Adorable Stretchy Baby Gladiator Barefoot Sandals: (EASY!) Free Crochet Pattern

These darling crochet gladiator barefoot sandals for baby are easy, stretchy and stylish! They use very little yarn and are a super cute accessory for summer. Pair them with leggings or a cute little summer dress, they go with everything!
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Designing cute little baby accessories has always had a piece of my heart. This baby gladiator crochet barefoot sandals design was first published about 6 years ago. The original design used cute buttons to attach around the foot. I had a few people express concern that the buttons are unsafe for infants, which is a valid point. With Cubbie being the perfect age to model them, it seemed like the perfect time to get them done!

The design came together nicely and she was such a sweet model for me!
Oh those chubby toes!

One of my favorite things about the new pattern is the use of knitting-in elastic thread. I stumbled on it several years ago and I love the finished, stretchy effect. It takes a bit of practice to master, But you can certainly do it!

BABY CROCHET GLADIATOR BAREFOOT SANDALS – FREE CROCHET PATTERN 

I hope you enjoy this pattern! But please remember, the content contained herein is a copyrighted work, tediously designed by myself. Distribution of this pattern (or parts of it) in any way, digital or physical, or use of this pattern (or parts of it) to create your own patterns beyond personal use is strictly prohibited. You are welcome to sell what you make from this pattern, but please do not use any of my photos in your listings.

Abbreviations: US Terms
Ch – chain
Sc – single crochet
Dc – Double Crochet
Hdc – Half Double Crochet
Sl st – Slip Stitch
St – stitch

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CROCHET GLADIATOR BAREFOOT SANDALS – ELASTIC STYLE

Gauge:  (Gauge Pattern)
Large Hook: 14 sc = 4″
Small Hook: 10 sc = 2″

What you need: (affiliate links)
– 6mm, 3.75mm hooks
– Shine Worsted Yarn in Willow / Comfy Worsted Yarn in Flamingo 
– Knitting-In Elastic (get from Amazon or direct for Prym.com)
– Darning Needle


Prefer the button detail? Scroll down to get the older version of the pattern! 

TIPS FOR USING ELASTIC YARN THREAD:
– The hook will be larger than you would normally use with this weight of yarn. This allows your stitches to be larger, and looser, so the elastic has farther to stretch.
– Keep your yarn loose and your thread tight. If you let the thread become loose, it will not provide any stretch in your finished item
– Your finished chains will look scrunched up when not in use, this is normal! They will look nicer when worn and will have a lovely stretch to them. The more scrunched up it is, the more stretch it will have. 

Notes: Use your larger hook to work the chains. Always switch back to smaller hook to work the dc and sc stitches. Give yourself slack on your elastic while working the sc and dc stitches.

Watch a video demonstrating how to use elastic thread here. 

6- 12 MONTHS

SANDALS: (Begin with 6mm Hook)

Worked from the toe up:
1. Ch 20. Sl st into first ch (going through both loops( forming loop (being careful not to twist it).
2. (switch to 3.75mm hook) Ch 2. Make sure you are working through both loops on the chain. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. (Switch to 6mm hook) Ch 17. Being careful not the twist the chain, sl st with first st, forming a loop, going across the back.
3. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
4. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Turn. Ch 22. Being careful not to twist the chain, join with the first st, making sure the loop comes across the front.
5.Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
6. Ch 1. Sc in same st. Sc in next 2 sts. Ch 22. Join with a sl st with the first sc, making sure the loop goes across the back.
7. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
8. Sc in same st. Sc in next 2 sts. Ch 22. Join with a sl st with the first sc, making sure the loop goes across the front.
9. Ch 2. Dc in same st. Dc in next 2 sts. Turn. (3 sts)
10. Sc in same st. Sc in next 2 sts. Ch 22. Join with a sl st with the first sc, making sure the loop goes across the back. 
Tie off.

FRONT PIECE:
(Use 3.75mm Hook)
1. Ch 3. Work a Dc foundation of 15 sts. Turn. (15 sts)
2. Ch 1. Sc in each st across. (13 sts) 
Tie off, leave a long tail.

CONSTRUCTION:
Be sure to weave in all ends of the sandal before sewing on the front piece. 

On the front piece, weave in the beginning tail. 
Place the front piece on the front of the sandal. Using the long tail, sew all around the outside of the front piece, sewing it to the sandal Be sure you sew it as close to the edge of the front piece as possible.

BAREFOOT SANDALS  – BUTTON STYLE

What you need:
– F hook
– Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn
– 10 Small Buttons
-Super glue or clear nail polish (to seal the button threads)

Gauge: 9 sc = 2″   (Gauge Pattern)

Click here for a video tutorial

6 MONTHS

This piece is all one round, but I have divided it into 6 STEPS for ease of use: The middle foundation, and 5 straps. 
 
 1. Ch 15. Hdc into 2nd ch from hook. Hdc 13 down the ch. (this is the foundation middle part, where you will sew your buttons when you are done)

2. Ch 25. Sl st into 5th ch from hook. Sl st all the way down the chain. Work 3 sc into the top st on the other side. Sc in next 2 sts. (this will form an L shape)

3. Ch 23. Sl st into 5th ch from hook. Sl st all the way down the chain. Sc into next st on the foundation strip. Sc in next 2 sts.

4. Ch 21. Sl st into 5th ch from hook. Sl st all the way down the chain. Sc into next st on foundation. Sc in next 2 sts.

5.Ch 21. Sl st into 5th ch from hook. Sl st all the way down the chain. Sc into next st on foundation. Sc in next 2 sts.

6. Ch 21. Sl st into 5^th ch from hook. Sl st all the way down the chain. Sc into next st on foundation. Sc in next st. Sl st into the middle st on the foundation strip. 

CONSTRUCTION: 
With all your straps dangling, you must sew on your buttons to make it look like a sandal. Your top strap will go off to the right, and the rest of your straps will go off to the left. Sew all 5 buttons so the straps can wrap around baby’s foot and line up evenly. Take extra care to make sure the buttons are sewn on very well, and don’t leave baby unattended while wearing these shoes. Seal the threads of each of the buttons with super glue or clear nail polish. 
 Push each button through the end of each strap, where you created a button hole by skipping stitches before sc back into the chain. I like to leave the bottom two buttons done up to for quicker on and off of the sandals. 

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xoxo,

Originally posted on One Artsy Mama