Tropical Leaf Overlay Slides: Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

These Tropical Leaf Overlay Slides are a perfect first project for anyone who has mastered single crochet and wants to make something they will actually wear. Each slipper starts as a simple flat rectangle that folds and seams into a soft, closed-end sole, then gets topped with a bold monstera-style leaf worked right onto the surface in overlay crochet. The deep rust sole and gold leaf, both in a fuzzy mohair-silk blend held double, give off a warm spice-market glow that feels made for pumpkin season. Slip them on and you get a squishy, lightweight slide with a little tropical flair — cozy enough for the couch, cute enough for the porch.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Lace weight mohair-silk blend (70% mohair, 30% silk), held double throughout. Color A (deep rust): 50 yd. Color B (gold): 30 yd. Yardage is per pair.
• Hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6), or the size that meets gauge.
• Notions: Tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, a few stitch markers (optional), and a spray bottle for blocking.
• Finished size: Women's medium. Sole length 9.5 inches (24 cm), sole width 3.75 inches (9.5 cm). Leaf overlay approximately 4 inches (10 cm) long.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• 2 sc in st — work two single crochet stitches into the same stitch (an increase).
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• sp — space (here, the ch-2 space).
• RS / WS — right side / wrong side (the outside / inside of the fabric).

Gauge

16 sts and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in single crochet with the yarn held double. To check it, crochet a small swatch with both strands held together, measure a 4-inch section in the middle, and adjust your hook size if you have more or fewer stitches than 16.

Tips Before You Start

• Hold the two strands of mohair-silk together as if they were one yarn; keep even tension so the fuzzy texture stays consistent across the sole and leaf.
• Work the sole rectangle a little loosely — a firm, tight sole is less comfortable underfoot and harder to seam evenly.
• Before seaming, lay the folded rectangle against your foot to confirm the 9.5-inch length; mohair-silk relaxes slightly after blocking.
• When working the leaf directly onto the sole, count your 1-inch margins from toe and heel first and mark them with stitch markers so the leaf stays centered.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sole (make 2, Color A)

Row 1: Ch 39, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (38 sts).

Rows 2–15: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (38 sts). Do not fasten off.

Fold and seam: Fold the sole in half lengthwise with WS together. Working through both layers, sc evenly along both short edges (about 15 sc each) and one long edge (38 sc). Fasten off. Turn RS out. Leave the remaining long edge open for the foot opening.

Leaf Overlay (make 2, Color B)

Work directly onto the sole surface, centered on top of the sole, leaving 1 inch of bare sole at the toe and 1 inch at the heel. With B, join yarn at the bottom center of the sole top.

Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next 2 sts (3 sts).

Row 2: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next st, 2 sc in last st (5 sts).

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (5 sts).

Row 4: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 3 sts, 2 sc in last st (7 sts).

Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (7 sts).

Row 6: Ch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st, sc in next 5 sts, 2 sc in last st (9 sts).

Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (9 sts).

Row 8: Ch 1, turn, sc in first 4 sts, ch 2, skip 1 st, sc in next 4 sts (8 sc, 1 ch-2 sp).

Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st and in the ch-2 sp across (9 sts).

Row 10: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (9 sts). Fasten off.

Leaf Edging (Color A)

With A, join to any st of the leaf. Sc evenly around the entire leaf, working 3 sc in each corner. Fasten off.

Second Slipper

Repeat the Sole, Leaf Overlay, and Leaf Edging for the second slipper.

Assembly and Finishing

Both slippers are assembled as you go: the sole is folded and seamed before the leaf is added, so there is no separate seaming step at the end. Weave in all ends on the wrong side, threading each tail through a few stitches before trimming. Block lightly: mist the slippers with water, shape the soles flat and smooth the leaf edges, and let them dry away from direct heat. Mohair-silk blooms softly after blocking, which softens the single crochet texture and evens out the leaf outline.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap Color B for a deep emerald or teal to make the leaf pop against the rust sole for a greener tropical look.
• Add a second leaf in a smaller size, offset beside the first, for a fuller botanical overlay.
• For a grippier sole, work the final long-edge seam row with a strand of smooth cotton held alongside Color A, or add a few dots of fabric puff paint to the underside.