Worked on the glider, counted out loud —
A lavender cotton crochet high-top pattern for confident stitchers, with a ribbed cuff and rubber sole, roughly a weekend project.
This pair is for the quiet stretch of the week when you want your hands busy and your feet eventually cozy in something you made yourself. I designed these high tops for anyone who loves the look of knit sneakers but wants a sturdier, washable cotton version. They are a good match for a crocheter who already knows single crochet well and is ready to build something three-dimensional, from flat sole to shaped heel to a long ribbed cuff that wraps the ankle.
If the swatch tells you 16 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches is coming up different for you, adjust your hook size half a step before you commit to the full 72-stitch sole, since the fit depends on it more than on anything else. For color, you could swap the lavender for any solid worsted cotton and keep the white only on the sole stripe, or flip it so white becomes the main shade and lavender takes the stripe instead. The ribbed cuff strip is a natural spot for a second color too, since it is a separate sixty-row piece you can work in a contrasting cotton before sewing it on. If you want a lower-profile shoe, you could stop the ribbed strip a few rows short of sixty, though check the fit against your ankle first. Laces are flat and about 45 inches each, so a bold contrasting lace color is an easy swap that changes the whole look without touching a single stitch count. For indoor-only use, skip the glued rubber sole and crochet a plain fabric backing instead, which keeps the shoes soft and quiet on hardwood.
The rounds, in full
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Everything this one takes, in the order you will reach for it.
Yarn
Main Color
Hook
Notions
Gauge
Skill Level
The sole creates the foundation. We're working in continuous rounds with a sturdy single crochet stitch.
Foundation: Using smaller hook if desired, ch 25.
Don't worry if your sole isn't perfectly flat. It will shape itself once attached to the base and worn.
The toe box uses a denser stitch to protect your toes and create that classic sneaker look.
Pick up yarn at center front of sole.
This is where the magic happens! The mesh creates that beautiful open lattice pattern visible in the design.
Setting Up the Mesh Foundation:
Right Side Panel:
If your mesh looks uneven, don't panic. The laces will pull everything together and hide small inconsistencies.
Foundation: Ch 14.
The cuff gives these high tops their signature look. Working in back loops only creates that stretchy ribbed texture.
Foundation: Ch 10.
That cute little tab at the back adds authentic sneaker detail.
Foundation: Ch 8.
Using white yarn, ch 80 (or length needed to go around sole edge).
Now comes the satisfying part where everything comes together!
Step 1: Attach Tongue Position tongue at center front, overlapping bottom edge with top of toe box. Using tapestry needle and matching yarn, whip stitch bottom 2 inches of tongue to inside of toe box.
Step 2: Join Ribbed Cuff Wrap ribbed strip around top opening of shoe. The ribbing should sit vertically. Whip stitch short ends together first, then stitch bottom edge of cuff to top edge of mesh panels and toe box.
Step 3: Add Back Tab Fold decorative tab in half. Position at center back of heel, tucked just under cuff edge. Stitch securely in place.
Step 4: Attach White Stripe Using fabric glue or stitching, attach white chain stripe around the bottom edge of crocheted upper, just where it meets the sole.
Step 5: Attach to Rubber Sole Apply fabric glue liberally to top of rubber sole. Press crocheted sole firmly onto rubber base. Allow to dry completely (at least 24 hours) before wearing. For extra security, stitch through rubber sole with sturdy thread if sole allows.
Step 6: Add Eyelets and Laces Using tapestry needle, create 6-8 evenly spaced holes along each side of the front opening for laces, then thread the flat shoelaces through the eyelets and lace up to secure the fit.
Tension matters more here than in most projects, since the gauge swatch of 16 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches is tied directly to the rubber soles you are gluing onto.
The ribbed strip works every row in the back loop only, so keep an eye on which loop you are catching across all sixty rows or the rib pattern will drift.
This pattern is written for a Women's US size 7-8. For smaller sizes (5-6), reduce sole rows by 2 and side panel rows by 1. For larger sizes (9-10), add 2 rows to the sole and 1 row to the side panels. Always measure against your actual foot or the base sole you're using.
the ones that come up on the glider
Yes, start from your gauge swatch, since 16 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches is what the whole sole and panel counts are built on. Adjust your hook up or down slightly rather than changing stitch counts, and compare the sole length to your rubber sole base before you finish it.
The 4.0mm hook is for the main body of the shoe, while the smaller 3.5mm hook tightens up the sole work so it holds its shape better once glued to the rubber base. You can skip the second hook if your 4.0mm fabric already feels dense enough.
I recommend 100% cotton or a cotton blend, since it gives the structure and washability this style needs, and plan on about 300 yards total for one pair. Worsted weight is what the gauge is built around, so stick close to that weight for predictable results.
Use fabric glue or a hot glue gun to secure the finished upper to a flat rubber shoe sole or flip-flop base in your size. The long tail left after fastening off the sole foundation is there for stitching through the edge before gluing, which helps everything stay put.
Go back to your gauge swatch first, since a too-tight shoe almost always traces back to tension that ran tighter than 16 sc and 18 rows over 4 inches. Sizing up your hook slightly for the next pair is simpler than reworking stitch counts mid-pattern. Also double check that the ribbed cuff was worked in back loops only, since that's what gives it the stretch to pull on over your foot.
That sixty-row, back-loop-only strip becomes the stretchy cuff that wraps the ankle and gives the shoe its knit-sneaker look. Working every row in the back loop only is what gives it that ribbed stretch instead of a flat, stiff band.
Sunday evening, from the glider —
A pattern and a note from the glider, most weeks.
That was the last round. Would you like the letter when the next one goes up?