This raised-crochet slipper from 1847 uses a clever center increase to shape the front while creating diagonal rib lines. Its concise construction is a good example of how Victorian crochet books expected the maker to combine written directions with practical fitting.
The historic pattern does not provide a standardized shoe size. Make a paper foot template and compare the work to it during construction. “Raised crochet” is a source-specific historical technique; consult the book’s own explanation rather than assuming a modern rib stitch equivalent.
Materials
The source does not give a precise yarn quantity for this slipper. Choose a warm, firm yarn suitable for footwear and a hook that produces a dense fabric. The historical text suggests either a leather sole or a separately crocheted coarse-wool sole.
Pattern Instructions
Front
Begin with a chain of 7 stitches.
Work 46 rows back and forth in the raised or ribbed crochet method described by the source. In the center stitch of every row, work 3 stitches into the same loop. This repeated center increase shapes the front and causes the ribs to run diagonally on each side.
Back
After the front is complete, work 26 stitches along the right-hand side. Continue back and forth for enough rows to form the back of the slipper; the historical example suggests about 90 rows.
Sew the end of this band to the opposite side of the front.
Sole and Edge
The original book offers two sole options: leather, or crochet worked in coarse wool. For a crocheted sole, cut a stiff paper template to the desired foot shape and crochet until the sole matches that template.
The top edge may be finished with a decorative trim. If the slippers are intended for modern floor wear, consider adding a suitable non-slip treatment to the finished sole.
Vintage Source
Publication: My Crochet Sampler
Author: Miss Lambert
Publisher: D. M. Peyser, New York
Year: 1847
Original pages: 134–135
Project Gutenberg eBook: #57595
Rights note: Project Gutenberg identifies this work as public domain in the United States. Readers outside the United States should check the copyright law that applies in their location.
About This Crochet Board Edition
This Crochet Board page is an editorially organized presentation of a historical public-domain pattern. The original construction, counts, color sequence, and period terminology have been preserved where they are important to the design, while punctuation and layout have been clarified for easier reading. Historical yarn names, hook conventions, sizing practices, and stitch terms may differ from modern standards.
Explore more: Browse the Vintage Crochet archive or read How to Read Vintage Crochet Patterns before working from nineteenth-century instructions.