Toddler Gladiator Sandal - Pattern

As promised, here is the pattern for the Toddler Gladiator Sandal. It took me awhile to work out the pattern to be understandable to others, but I think it's okay. I've added lots of pictures to help. If you have problems please let me know. I have made my standard two sizes for now, Toddler 9/10 and 11/12. I will try for a size 7/8 soon. I've started a new project and it's a big one, so I'm immersed in that at the moment (a post on that coming). Plus my nephews have asked for things so I need to get motivated to do those before I see them again next month. Good thing these are warm weather shoes so I have a little time.

Materials:
worsted weight yarn, two or three colors
Hooks - G (4.00mm) for sole, F (3.75mm) for body
six little buttons
Needle and thread

Abbreviations:

ch – chain

st – stitch

sl st – slip stitch

sk – skip

sc – single crochet

hdc – half double crochet

dc – double crochet

sc2tog – single crochet two stitches together

dc2tog – double crochet two stitches together

dc3tog – double crochet three stitch together

Notes:

This pattern is written for two sizes. First size measures about 6 ¼ inches or a toddler size 9/10, the larger size is in ( ) and measures about 7 inches or a toddler size 11/12. If there are no ( ) then it is the same for both sizes.

A double sole is optional, I like them because they add a little padding for toddlers. It also tends for make the sandals a little more solid and less flimsy.

Sole
Hook G

make four for double sole

with color A, ch 19 (23)

R1: 2 sc in 2^nd ch from hook, sc 10 (12), hdc, dc 5 (7), 7 dc in last ch, working opposite side of ch, dc 5 (7), hdc, sc 10 (12), 2 sc in last ch, sl st to first sc – 43 (51) sts

R2: ch 1, sc, 2 sc, sc 15 (19), *hdc, 2 hdc* repeat x 4, hdc, sc 15 (19), 2 sc, sc, sl st to first sc – 49 (57) sts

R3: ch 1, 2 sc, sc, 2 sc, sc 17 (21), *hdc, 2 hdc* repeat x 2, 2 hdc, *2 hdc, hdc* repeat x 2, sc 17 (21), 2 sc, sc, 2 sc, sl st to first sc – 58 (66) sts

R4: ch 2, hdc, 2 hdc, hdc 21 (25), *hdc, 2 hdc* repeat x 3, *2 hdc, hdc* repeat x 3, hdc 21 (25), 2 hdc, hdc, sl st to first hdc, fasten off – 66 (74) sts

Flower Motif

make 2

change to Hook F

with color B, ch 4, sl st to form ring

R1: ch 1, 6 sc in ring, sl st to first dc

R2: ch 1, sc in same st, ch 3, *sc, ch 3* x 5, sl st to first sc (total of 6 sc  and 6 ch 3)

R3: sl st in ch 3 sp, *sc, hdc, dc, dc, hdc, sc* in ch 3 sp, repeat * in each ch 3 sp, sl st to first sc, fasten off (total 6 petals)

R4: join color A to any petal at first dc, ch 3 (counts at first dc), dc in same st, ch 3, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 4, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc in next st, ch 2, sk 4, sl st 2, ch 2, sk 4, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, sk 4, 2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, sk 4, sl st 2, ch 2, sl st to ch 3

R5: sl st in next dc, sl st into ch 3 sp, ch 1, sc 2 in ch 3 sp, sc in each dc, sc 2 in ch 2 sp, sc in each dc, sc 2 in ch 3 sp, turn

R6 - R14: ch 1, sc 10, turn

R15: ch 1, sc 10, fasten off

left motif is front side, right motif is back side

notice the pink stitching showing on the back side

Heel/Back

Hook F

Left R1: looking at right side of sole, count 7 (8) sts back from seam (to the left), join, ch 1, sc in same st, sc 10 (12), turn 

stitch from red marker to blue marker

Right R1: looking at right side of sole, in 4th (5th) st from seam (to the right) join, ch 1, sc in same st, sc 10 (12), turn

stitch from red marker to blue marker

R2: ch 1, sc 11 (13), turn

R3 - R15: Repeat R2

R16: ch 1, sc 11 (13), ch 6 (7), sc to first st of motif's R15, sc 9, ch 10 (11), turn

first connect to motif

second ch of R16, which will connect to button

R17: sl st in 5th ch from hook, sl st around to end of heel piece, fasten off.

Ankle Straps
- on motif count 5 sc rows down and place markers on each side, count 4 rows down from first marker and place 2nd marker on side.
- on heel, count 5 sc rows down and place marker on connected side, count 4 rows down from first market and place 2nd marker

- on connected side, starting at top marker of heel, join, ch 6 (7), sl st in to motif at top marker (insert hook front to back), turn and sl st in each ch st, sl st into heel at same sp as join, fasten off
- Repeat at 2nd marker

- on button side, join at top marker, ch 10 (11), turn, sl st into 5th ch from hook, sl st in to each ch st, sl st in to same sp as join, fasten off.

- Repeat at 2nd marker

Toe
join in sp between bottom dc sts of motif on connected side of shoe, ch 3, sl st around post between 1st and 2nd sp over from R2 middle sp of sole (see picture below), turn, sl st in each ch st, sl st into same sp as join, fasten off.

Left shoe

Right shoe

Foot Straps
- on sole of shoe, place markers in 8th (10th), 12th (14th), and 16th (18th) st from heel section of each side

- on motif, place markers in sp between side dc sts and between dc of petal that has the sl st across the top.

-join on sole at first marker, ch 4, sl st into motif at first marker, turn, sl st in each ch st, sl st into same st as join, fasten off.
-Repeat on other side.

-Repeat for second and third markers, each side

Buttons
on heel sew on buttons at top row, 5th row down, and 9th row down so they match with the button straps. Easy way to find correct row is to find where straps connect to other side of heel and follow it over to button side. I sewed the button at the 2nd sc of the row.

Attaching the double sole
Pull all yarn ends through the bottom of the top sole.
Place wrong side of bottom sole against wrong side of top sole, making sure all ends are tucked between.
Sl st around between posts of hdc, fasten off.

(I haven't got a picture of this yet since I still haven't sprayed the non-slip on the bottom sole. I used the same color for the top and bottom sole and plan on using the accent color for the stitching.)

And voila, the sandal is done!

Hopefully it all made sense, but comment or send me an email if you need clarification.

This pattern is for personal use only. If you would like to sell a finished product, please credit me for the design. Happy Stitches!