I think I’ve got it!

Odd count on decrease at toe was bothering me so I decided to try making it a nice even number. Left out trying to round corners with shaping and added shaping at heel to grab foot and hold on better. Final version of this pattern:

By Jove Slipper Booties
As in “By Jove, I think I’ve got it!”

Worsted weight yarn
Size G hook.

Corrects symmetry issue that was bothering me in previous versions.

Sole: worked in double sided single crochet.
Chain 12, turn. Sc in each chain. 11 sc. I like the look best when I work the sc in the back bump of the chain and leave the row of V’s on the bottom. Doesn’t matter. Ch1, turn.
Establish pattern/second half of round 1: Insert hook under one loop from chain, and closest loop from last worked sc. Work sc. Leaves an unworked loop on the back side of work. Continue working this way across. 11 sc. Ch1, turn. First round of double sided sc established.
Rounds 2-22: Work sc by inserting hook under unworked loop of first sc of round 1 and closest loop of last sc worked. Continuing in this manner, work 11 sc, ch1, turn, 11 sc, ch1, turn. Round ends after second turn.
To close round 22, work a row of sc under front loop and BOTH loops of the back half. Ch1, turn.

Upper: worked in front post/back post dc ribbing
Round 1: Foundation. Work 11 dc along heel edge, 21dc along long edge, 11 dc along beginning chain side toe edge, 21 dc along other long edge. 11+21+11+21=64sts. I do not join so that I can spiral around. I like to mark the first stitch, but isn’t necessary.

Round 2: fpdc/bpdc rib around. Heel and toe start and end with front posts. Long sides start and end with back posts.

Round 3: fpdc/bpdc rib around.

Round 4: Work fpdc, skip bpdc, then resume rib for 7sts(fpdc, bpdc repeat 3 times, end fpdc) then skip next bpdc and resume rib with last fpdc of heel side. Work 11 stitches along side in rib(bpdc, fpdc 5 times, end bpdc) then work 16 fpdc skipping the bpdc between them. Resume rib for last 11sts. 1+7+1+11+16+11=47sts.

Round 5: fpdc2tog over skipped bpdc, rib5, fpdc2tog over skipped bpdc, 11 rib, 8fpdc2tog over skipped bpdc toe section, 11 rib. 1+5+1+11+8+11=37sts.

Round 6: It is so easy to see what stitch to do, but so hard to write it up! Fpdc over each fpdc2tog post (near the top) and otherwise work rib as established. Heel shaping is complete.

Round 7: Work rib until back to the front posts that don’t have back posts between them. Should be 7 across heel, then 11 across side. 4fpdc2tog. Resume rib for last 11 along side. 33sts.

Round 8: Work rib as established, working fpdc around each fpdc2tog.

Round 9: Work rib until back to the front posts that don’t have back posts between them. Should be 7 across heel, then 11 across side. 2fpdc2tog. Resume rib for last 11 along side. 31sts.

Round 10: Work rib as established, working fpdc around each fpdc2tog.

Round 11: Work rib until back to the front posts that don’t have back posts between them. Should be 7 across heel, then 11 across side. 1fpdc2tog. Resume rib for last 11 along side. 30sts.

Rounds 12-15 or desired height: work even in rib. I like to work until there are four fpdc above the last fpdc2tog. To stop spiral, work last back post as an sc instead of a dc, then join to next front post with a slip stitch and fasten off.

Lining: Flip completed upper inside out and work another upper from round 1 using the same holes. Make sure you are looking at the upper right corner of the heel section to begin. This yarn will show through to the other side, so if using a different color, make sure you like them together. I find it neater to work to the same side of the original stitch, and I tend to always work to the left of it.

These are technically reversible, but not sure how the sole wear will do yet. I am the queen of frogging old projects to make new ones, so it’s okay with me if the bottoms do wear out and I remake the uppers into new slippers. So far so good, though, on my previous creations with this sole idea.