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Cosplay Crochet Tutorial: Zori/Sandals

So I managed to make a pair of Zori (thong sandals) to test if it would be a viable option for my Nezuko and Rengoku casual cosplay. I managed to make my test pair, and it's pretty comfortable, but I learned a lot and will gladly share. 

The pattern I used and adjusted is by Whistle and Ivy. 

Additional Resources

Before I jump into what I did for my tiny-ass feet, I wanted to share some resources on how to make Sandal soles for your zori. The videos in this list show how to crochet a sole for multiple sizes of feet. The videos use Medium weight or worsted-weight yarn, which is different from what I use. But it should serve as a good guide. Also, it includes how to make a Rope Sole or convert a foam flip-flop sandal into a base for your crochet shoe project. 


You may also want to consider ways to make the bottom of the sandal non-skid or a bit more durable on other terrains. Whistle and Ivy shares 7 methods for making crochet slippers non-slip. 

My Supplies

Onto the show. These are the supplies I used to make my zori. 
  • Bulky Weight acrylic yarn (Loops & Threads Charisma color Cloud Multi)
  • Worsted Weight acrylic yarn (Caron Soft Autumn Red for Rengoku and Pale Pink for Nezuko)
  • 6.5 mm Hook
  • 5 mm Hook 
  • Metal Awl
  • 3 mm Felt
  • Metal Darning Needle 
  • Clippy scissors
  • Place Markers

Recommended Supplies

  • A light grey or beige color for the sandal sole Bulky weight (something that'll feel squishy and nice on your foot. However, worsted weight is also fine.) 
  • Worsted weight yarn for the straps (again, something that feels nice on your skin. The pattern recommends a bulky yarn that is elastic-y but not necessary for what I did.) 
  • Appropriate size hooks. The pattern recommends 7 mm. I used a smaller size to gauge it to my foot size. 
  • scissors
  • Yarn Needle/Darning Needle
  • Optional: Something to help poke holes in the sole. An Awl, skewer, Leather Punch or something. 
  • Optional: Material for the Sole: Felt, Suede, Foam Flip-flop/thong sandal, Rope, leather
  • Optional: Stitch Markers/scrap yarn

My Method

Stitch Key: 
sc - single crochet (double crochet UK)
sl - slip stitch
hdc - half double crochet (half treble UK)
dc - double crochet (treble crochet UK)
ch - chain 
sk - skip a stitch

First, I crocheted the sole of the sandal, following the Whistle and Ivy pattern for a size 6 shoe. Thanks to using a smaller hook size, it measured close to my foot size. I used my whiteish-colored bulky yarn. 
One sole


With the sole, I traced over the felt, which would serve as my reinforcement to the soles later. I set the felt soles aside for the time being. 

Similar to the Whistle and Ivy pattern, I crocheted a slip stitch border, but I continued to use my light-colored bulky yarn and fastened off. 

The Straps

Continuing with the Whistle and Ivy pattern, I switched to my strap yarn and hook and started 12 stitches from the back of the heel. I followed the instructions for the Body of the sandal. The heel band was closer to 20 chain stitches on account I was using a lighter yarn weight and smaller hook than the pattern recommended. I did count 18 stitches to secure down the other side. Then I chained about 30 or 40 stitches which would be the toe portions, before meeting back up at the beginning of the round. 

I worked the second round just like the pattern suggested, but I also included a 3rd round. 

Before starting the 3rd round, test the sandal and place a stitch marker on the stitch that will go between your toes. 

For round 3, starting at the beginning of the round, I continued with 5 single crochets (sc), then 2 hdc, then continue the heel strap in dc until 3 stitches away from where the strap connects. From there 2 hdc, and 6 sc. Then 2 hdc and continue in dc until 4 stitches away from the stitch marker for your toe. Go 2 hdc, 1 sc, and then skip the stitch with a place marker. Remove the stitch marker if you want. Then 1 sc, 2 hdc, then continue in dc until you are 3 stitches away from the beginning of the round. 2 hdc, 1 sc, then slip stitch to join the round and fasten off. 

Note: If you want a bit more thickness, you can do one more row of single crochet all around. 


Toe Post

You can follow the instructions in the Whistle and Ivy pattern, but I did this before attaching the felt sole. 
  • Found the appropriate double crochet stitch in the sole as the pattern outlines. 
  • Attached yarn to my smaller hook and made a slip stitch around that dc post. 
  • Chained one (you may need to chain more I did some tests for these)
  • Slip Stitch into the hole made by the skip stitch in round 3. 
  • 1 sc on the chain stitch
  • Another slip stitch around the sole stitch
  • 1 sc on the chain stitch again
  • Fasten off, leaving a long tail. 
  • Weave through the skip stitch hole OR wrap around both sides of the post to make it look like a little knot. 

    Knotted down

Heel Loop/Tab

Now we're getting into where we deviate and add something to help keep the heel strap up. 
Using the smaller hook, slip knot yarn to it and insert it near the middle of the heel strap. About two stitches away from the center. 

Slip Stitch to secure then sc in the same stitch. 
2 sc along the heel strap.(3 stitches) Ch 1 and turn. 
sc into every stitch (3 stitches) Ch 2 and turn.
hdc into the first stitch, ch 1, 2 hdc into the last stitch. Ch 1 turn. 
sc into every stitch, fasten off. 


This gives the back of the heel strap a little loop or kind of a buttonhole. You can weave some spare yarn through the hole and tie it around your ankle or weave a flat elastic band through it. 
Like this! Totally stays on...but a more elastic solution would be more comfortable.



Alternatively, you could crochet an ankle strap then graft it to the top of this heel tab. 

Personally, I plan to KNIT an ankle strap and then graft it to the heel tab. (Since knit stretches while crochet does not.) 

Adding Sole

For me, I just followed the instructions for the felt sole on the Whistle and Ivy pattern. I think I agree with her sentiment on suede being a slightly better option. You can get sticky suede sole things if you prefer not to sew things on. Or attach to foam flip-flop sandals. 

Immediately covered in cat hair. LOL. 


Et Voila! A pair of crochet zori sandals in the style of Demon Slayer. 


Hooray!

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