August 22, 2017 - starting with 49.6g of yarn. I would like to thank RebeccaJean’s, Nishad75’s and Cleverknits’ profusely for their perfect modifications to make the project easier, faster, and even more handsome than the original pattern. I am following their project notes and combining them below:

German Twisted Cast on 42 sts. Slip the first st of every row after the first knit row so as to make picking up sts easier later on (this is a tip other knitters have mentioned many times in their projects). All sts are slipped purlwise. Work as per written pattern until 18 BO sts (end of section 3 of pattern). Don’t BO sts. Instead, work as below:

Sl1, K17, pm, k12, pm, knit rest of row. Turn. Sl1, P17, sm, p12. Turn.

Work center 12 stitches for 12 rows, slipping the first stitch of each row purl-wise. (The unworked 18 sts on each side I call “held” stitches).

Sl1, k11, with left needle tip pick up each of the next 6 sts from back to the front and knit it so as to twist the st. Knit the 1st held stitch, pass the last picked-up-and-knit stitch over it. Turn.

Purl 18sts. With the right needle tip pick up each of the next 6 sts from back to front and purl each st while twisting it. Next, purl 1st stitch of held stitches, pass the last picked-up-and-purled tbl st over. (This is a mod done by other knitters as well and it tightens things up!). TURN

17 held stitches on each side remaining.

Then, starting with the right side:

1A: Slip one, knit to 1 stitch before gap, ssk; turn. 1B: Slip one, purl to 1 stitch before gap, p2tog; turn.

2A: Slip one, knit to 1 stitch before gap, sssk; turn. 2B: Slip one, purl to 1 stitch before gap, p3tog; turn.

Repeat these 4 steps 1A to 2B, ending on 1B (1 held stitch remains on each side), then repeat 1A-1B once more.

24 stitches are now on the needle and all 36 held stitches have been incorporated.

I LOVE the heel join showing up as a horizontal row of Vs (third pic from top).

Continue with section 6 of pattern. I am using magic loop method with one 32 inch circular needle.

K12, new BOR, k12, pick up 7 sts, pm, pick up 3 sts, cast on 12 sts. Pull needle and pick up the remaining sts while joining in the round as follows: join in the round, pick up 3 sts, pm, pick up 7 sts, k12, End of round.

I used the German twisted cast on again to cast on 12 sts. Also I twisted the tail and the ball yarn once just before casting on. This tightened the corner up nicely. No unsightly loose sts.

Once I came to the beginning of round, this is what I did for 3 rounds:
k19, p9, divide sts for magic loop, p9, k19

At this tight of a gauge the slipper is not very stretchable. I am making this for a US size 8 foot (about 9.5 inches heel to toe as in a straight line; it is 10 inches if I follow the heel to the back). I knit 38 rounds of plain stockinette for the Foot section of the pattern (instead of 24 rounds as in the original pattern), about 7 inches from the heel end to the last round before starting toe decreases, with the slipper laying flat.

Toe decreases - k11, k2tog, k1, pm, k1 ssk, k11; magic loop break, k11, k2tog, k1, pm, k1 ssk, k11, BOR. Followed rest of the pattern as is.

Followed this fabulous video for a modified Kitchener’s Stitch so as to minimize the two ears at the two corners that tend to stick out if done the usual way. There is no set up row. The mantra is:
Front needle: knit off, purl on
Back needle: Purl off, knit on.
Last stitch - cast off with the purl on (front needle) and knit on (back needle). No need to go back and knit the front needle stitch and purl the back needle stitch.

Each sock takes 17.4g ~ about 56 meters of yarn. This pair is more like a slipper. I love it.

These slippers look fabulous with clogs. It’s a gift for my best friend’s birthday. Happy Birthday Linda!