Moccasin-shaped footwear is an elegant solution to the problem of covering the irregular shape of the human foot. Native American examples beautifully
illustrate the basic concept: A boat-hull-shaped bottom (not unlike a canoe) cradles and covers the bottom of the foot, while an ovoid top piece connects the front sides of the “boat,” accommodating the flatter shape of the foot’s front. Popular in Norway as early as the 1900s, modern “Aurland Moccasins” were worn all over Europe. The design found its way to America, popularized by Esquire magazine and the G. H. Bass company (which added the decorative strip across the instep on their “Weejuns”) in the 1930s. By the 1950s, high school and college kids everywhere were wearing moccasins. After some clever soul discovered the instep strap could hold enough change for an emergency phone call, the nickname “penny loafers” stuck. This knitted version is soft and beautiful, made in the traditional shape, with only two main pieces. The decorative instep strap sports cables to frame your pennies. Heavenly!

Note: Slippers are worked at a firmer gauge than that suggested by the yarn manufacturer.

Construction: Slipper soles are worked from heel to toe; uppers are worked separately, then joined to soles.

Finished size: 9¼ (10, 10¼, 11, 11¼)“ (23.5 25.5, 26, 28, 28.5 cm) foot circumference, 8¾ (9½, 10¼, 11, 11¾)” (22 24, 26, 28, 30 cm) foot length