How to follow a DROPS pattern

Is this your first time working with a DROPS pattern and are you having trouble understanding what to do first? Then read over this lesson, where we show you how to follow one of our patterns.

The first step is to choose which pattern you wish to make.

Are you a beginner? Then it’s a good idea to choose an easy pattern for your first project. We have chosen a pair of slippers, Side Step (DROPS Extra 0-1279) as an example for this lesson, but you can find other simple patterns which are a good starting point for beginners at the bottom of the page.

Every pattern on our site has a DROPS number, a descriptive title, tags that will direct you to related patterns and, in most cases, a name - but if the name is missing, please feel free to suggest one!

If you have already found a pattern you’d like to work with, the next thing to do is to choose what size you need to make, and what yarn you will be using.

To do this you’ll move to the next section of the pattern (which comes after the pattern pictures on mobile). In this section you will find information about the pattern’s yarn group, the pattern model number, the sizes available, the amount of yarn you need for each size and which needles to use.

DROPS design: Pattern no de-121
Yarn group A + A + A + A or C + C or E

If you are already thinking of using a different yarn than the one suggested on the pattern, the easiest is to choose another yarn that belongs to the same yarn group. Read about the DROPS Yarn Groups here.

You can also easily replace the yarn by using our yarn converter, just look for this text on your pattern:

“Want to use a different yarn? Try our yarn converter!”

Size

In the case of these slippers, you’ll find 2 rows of equivalent sizes, shoe sizes and foot length (in cm). Choose the size you wish to make and mark this size with a coloured marker throughout the pattern. We have chosen for this example size 35/37.

Size: 29/31 - 32/34 - 35/37 - 38/40 - 41/43 - 44/46
To fit foot length: 17 - 19 - 21 - 23 - 26 - 29 cm

Right under the sizes, you’ll find the materials. Here you will find the name of the yarn suggested and the amount of yarn you need (for each of the colours used on the pattern). Sometimes, like with this pattern, you’ll find suggestions for alternatives, separated by a

Or use:

We have chosen size 35/37, and that means we will need the 3rd amount of each colour, counting from the left.

Materials:
DROPS DELIGHT from Garnstudio
100-100- 100 -100-100-150 g colour no 12, rainbow
Or use:
100-100- 100 -100-100-150 g colour no 17, raspberry cake
Or use:
50-50- 50 -50-50-100 g colour no 08, green/beige
50-50- 50 -50-50-100 g colour no 07, beige/blue

To make sure you get the same measurements/size as given in the pattern, it is important that your knitting tension corresponds to the knitting tension described in the text!

We therefore recommend that you always make a small swatch – In this pattern you need 14 knitted stitches to give you a width of 10 cm, using 4 strands of DROPS Delight. You find this information together with the recommended needle/hook.

DROPS STRAIGHT NEEDLES SIZE 5.5 mm – or size needed to get 14 sts in garter st with 4 strands = width 10 cm.

We start all our patterns by describing all the different techniques which are to be used.

Scrolling to the bottom of the pattern you’ll find a number of instruction videos and lessons on these various techniques; they are easy to follow and useful when you are uncertain about how to do certain things.

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EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:
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GARTER ST (back and forth on needle):
K all rows. 1 ridge = 2 rows K.
COLOUR OPTION:
Use 4 strands rainbow or 4 strands raspberry cake or 2 strands green/beige + 2 strands beige/blue (= 4 strands).
NOTE: Use yarn from both inside and outside of the ball.
KNITTING TIP:
Tighten yarn when sts are worked K 2 tog to avoid big holes.

Then we get to where we start to work on the pattern.

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START THE PIECE HERE:
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SLIPPER:

First we give some information on how to start the piece and in which direction to work!

Work back and forth from the heel towards the toes.

Now we are ready to begin. We always start by casting on the number of stitches needed for the chosen size (look for the numbers marked in bold).

Cast on 23-23- 27 -27-29-29 sts on needle size 5.5 mm with 4 strands Delight - read COLOUR OPTION (let the yarn end be approx. 20 cm; used for assembly).
Work in GARTER ST – see explanation above, until piece measures 13½-15½- 17½ -19½-22½-25½ cm

If you have forgotten how to work GARTER ST ,go back to the top and follow the description of GARTER ST under EXPLANATIONS.

Even if you have worked a swatch already, it is a good idea to check your knitting tension as you go, so you are certain you will get the right size – that’s why we say;

- REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!

Work next row from RS as follows: K 1, then K sts tog 2 by 2 = 12-12-14-14-15-15 sts – READ KNITTING TIP! K 3 rows.
On next row from RS work as follows: * K 4-4-5-5-3-3, K the next 2 sts tog *, repeat from *-* 2-2-2-2-3-3 times in total = 10-10-12-12-12-12 sts on needle.

When we use *-* in the text, work whatever has been written between the stars, repeating this however many times stated in the pattern. Here you knit 5 stitches, the next 2 stitches are knitted together, then you knit 5 stitches and finally knit 2 stitches together again. In this way you have decreased 2 stitches and have 12 stitches left.

K 1 row.
On next row K sts tog 2 by 2 = 5-5-6-6-6-6 sts.
Piece measures approx. 17-19-21-23-26-29 cm. Cut the strands (let the yarn end be approx. 20 cm long; used for assembly) and pull it through the remaining sts, tighten tog.

Finally we will assemble the slipper.

ASSEMBLY:
Fold cast-on edge double and sew tog mid back. Sew tog edge to edge from toe and up to 1/3 of the slipper. Sew in edge sts to avoid a chunky seam.

Scrolling to the bottom of the pattern you’ll find our Help Resources section. Here you will find information on everything; how to cast on, working knitted stitches, decreasing stitches, casting off, assembling the slippers and much, much more. You will also find a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) and a form to leave your own. Hope this helped you understand the structure of a DROPS pattern. Remember that if you knit or crochet any of our designs we’d love for you to submit it to the #dropsfan gallery!

Inspiration for beginners

Find more beginner patterns here