Crochet Espadrilles with Granny Square Shoes: A Complete Guide to Making Your Own Bohemian Footwear

What Are Crochet Espadrille Granny Square Shoes?

Crochet espadrilles with granny square uppers are one of the most charming intersections of traditional textile craft and practical footwear design. These shoes combine the classic silhouette of Mediterranean espadrilles — lightweight, open, and perfect for warm weather — with the beloved granny square motif that has been a staple of crochet culture for generations. The result is a pair of shoes that feels simultaneously vintage and fresh, handmade and intentional, comfortable and visually striking.

The granny square itself has a long and storied history in the world of fiber arts. Originally popularized in the early twentieth century as a way to use up yarn scraps, the granny square is built from a central ring that expands outward in rounds, typically featuring clusters of double crochet stitches separated by chain spaces. When applied to footwear, these motifs create a lacy, breathable upper that allows airflow while still providing a sense of structure and support across the top of the foot. The visual effect is immediately recognizable to any crafter or fashion lover.

What makes this style of shoe particularly appealing is the incredible degree of personalization it offers. Because granny squares can be worked in virtually any color combination, a maker can produce shoes that coordinate with a specific wardrobe, match a favorite summer dress, or simply reflect their own aesthetic sensibilities. Whether you prefer a neutral palette of cream, sand, and sage or a bold riot of neon colors, the structure of the granny square accommodates your vision beautifully and without compromise.

Materials and Tools You Will Need

Before you begin your crochet espadrille project, gathering the right materials is essential to achieving a finished product that is both beautiful and durable. The foundation of any espadrille is the sole, and for crochet versions, you have several options. Pre-made jute espadrille soles with pre-drilled holes around the perimeter are the most popular choice among crafters because they allow you to sew or crochet your upper directly onto the sole without needing any adhesive. These soles are widely available online through craft retailers and in some specialty fabric stores.

For the yarn itself, cotton is almost universally recommended for crochet shoes. Cotton yarn is sturdy, washable, and holds its shape well underfoot — qualities that are critical when your creation needs to function as actual footwear rather than a decorative object. A medium weight cotton yarn, commonly labeled as worsted or DK weight depending on the pattern, will give your granny squares a satisfying density without feeling heavy or stiff on the foot. Mercerized cotton, which has a slight sheen to its surface, gives finished shoes an especially polished and professional appearance.

In terms of tools, you will need a crochet hook sized appropriately for your chosen yarn — typically a 3.5mm to 4.5mm hook for cotton worsted weight. A tapestry needle is essential for weaving in ends and for sewing your completed granny squares together if your pattern calls for joining them before attaching to the sole. A pair of sharp scissors, stitch markers to keep track of your rounds, and a measuring tape round out the basic toolkit. Some crafters also keep a seam ripper handy for correcting mistakes in the attachment process.

• Pre-made jute espadrille soles with perforated edges in your shoe size
• 100% cotton yarn in your chosen colors, approximately 100–150 meters per shoe
• Crochet hook sized 3.5mm to 4.5mm to match your yarn weight
• Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
• Stitch markers, scissors, and a flexible measuring tape
• Optional: leather or suede lace for ankle ties or decorative trim

How to Make the Granny Square Upper

The granny square that forms the upper of these shoes is typically a straightforward construction, though its exact dimensions will depend on your foot size and the specific design you are following. Most patterns begin with a magic ring or a foundation chain of four stitches joined into a circle. From this center point, you will work your first round of clusters — usually three double crochet stitches grouped together, separated by chain-two spaces at each corner. This first round establishes the fundamental geometry of the square and sets up all subsequent rounds.

As you continue adding rounds, the square grows outward in a predictable and satisfying way. Each new round simply builds on the previous one, placing cluster stitches into the corner chain spaces and working additional clusters along the sides. For a shoe upper, most patterns require between three and five complete rounds to achieve a square large enough to cover the top of the foot adequately. As you work, check your progress frequently by laying the square flat against the top of your foot to ensure proper sizing. It is far easier to add another round than to rip back multiple rounds of work after the fact.

Color changes are one of the most exciting creative decisions you will make during this process. A traditional granny square uses a different color for each round, creating a series of concentric frames that give the motif its distinctive appearance. You can honor this tradition faithfully, using three or four carefully chosen colors, or you can experiment with gradient effects by transitioning through shades of the same hue. Some makers prefer a monochromatic approach, working the entire square in a single color and relying on texture alone to create visual interest. All of these approaches are valid and produce beautiful results.

Once your square or squares are complete — some designs use a single large square per shoe, while others join several smaller squares together — you will need to finish the edges cleanly before attaching them to the sole. A single crochet border worked all the way around the perimeter of your completed upper will neaten any uneven edges and create a stable foundation for the attachment round. Take your time with this border, keeping your tension consistent so that the edges lie flat and the corners are crisp. A well-executed border makes the entire shoe look more polished and professionally finished.

Attaching the Upper to the Espadrille Sole

Attaching your crocheted upper to the jute sole is arguably the most technically demanding part of the entire project, and it is the step that will determine how durable and wearable your finished shoes actually are. The pre-drilled holes around the perimeter of your espadrille sole are designed specifically for this purpose, and working through them with a tapestry needle and a length of yarn creates a remarkably secure bond between the textile upper and the rigid sole. Before you begin, use a stitch marker or a piece of removable tape to mark the center front and center back of the sole so that you can position your upper symmetrically.

Thread a length of your main yarn color onto your tapestry needle — a length of about sixty centimeters is manageable without tangling — and begin sewing the edge of your upper to the sole by passing the needle up through a sole hole and through a stitch on the border of your square, then back down through the adjacent sole hole. Work your way around the perimeter of the shoe, keeping your tension even and checking periodically that the upper remains centered on the sole. It can be helpful to pin the upper in place with sewing pins or binder clips before you start sewing so that it does not shift as you work.

Some patterns suggest using a crochet hook to work a round of single crochet stitches directly into the sole holes rather than sewing with a needle. This approach creates a slightly different visual texture along the shoe’s edge but is equally secure and may feel more natural to crafters who find working with a needle somewhat awkward. If you choose this method, you will essentially crochet the upper and sole together simultaneously, inserting your hook into a sole hole, drawing up a loop, and then completing the single crochet stitch as you would normally. Either method produces a sturdy, attractive seam.

1. Mark the center front toe and center back heel of the sole with stitch markers or removable tape.
2. Position your completed granny square upper centered on the sole and hold it in place with pins or clips.
3. Using a tapestry needle and a length of yarn, begin sewing through sole holes and upper border stitches, working from the center toe toward one side.
4. Complete the first side, then return to center and work toward the other side to ensure even distribution.
5. Sew the heel edge of the upper securely, reinforcing any corners with extra stitches.
6. Weave in all ends thoroughly and trim to a clean finish.

Design Variations and Customization Ideas

One of the greatest pleasures of making crochet espadrille granny square shoes is the sheer variety of design directions available to you once you understand the basic construction. The granny square upper is really just a starting point; from there, an enormous range of stylistic choices can transform a simple pair of summer shoes into something truly unique and personal. Ankle ties are one of the most popular additions, and they can be made from crocheted chains in a matching or contrasting color, from leather lacing, from ribbon, or even from braided yarn for a more textured look.

The silhouette of the shoe itself can also be varied significantly depending on how you shape and position the upper. A single square placed across the toes creates an open, sandal-like feel that is ideal for very warm weather. A larger square that extends further back toward the ankle provides more coverage and a slightly more structured appearance that some wearers prefer. Some advanced patterns incorporate multiple motifs joined together to create a wrap-around upper that covers the sides of the foot as well, giving the finished shoe the appearance of a closed-toe flat rather than an open sandal.

Beyond the granny square itself, other crochet motifs can be incorporated into the upper design. Flowers worked in a contrasting color and stitched onto the completed upper add a whimsical, garden-party quality that suits the espadrille aesthetic particularly well. Small shell or fan stitches crocheted along the border of the upper create a delicate, lacy edge treatment. Some makers incorporate beads or small sequins into their work, threading them onto the yarn before crocheting so that they appear within the stitches themselves, catching light as the wearer moves.

Color theory plays a surprisingly important role in the final appearance of these shoes. Because granny squares are traditionally multicolored, the combinations you choose will dramatically affect the overall mood of the finished footwear. Analogous color schemes — those that use colors sitting adjacent to each other on the color wheel, such as coral, orange, and yellow — create a harmonious, sun-washed feeling that is very well suited to beachwear and resort fashion. Complementary combinations, such as navy and mustard or sage green and dusty rose, create more visual tension and a slightly more sophisticated look that transitions well from casual to smart-casual settings.

Caring for Your Crochet Espadrilles and Making Them Last

Handmade crochet shoes require a little more attention than mass-produced footwear, but with the right care habits, a well-made pair of crochet espadrille granny square shoes can remain in excellent condition for multiple seasons. The most important thing to understand about caring for these shoes is that the jute sole and the crocheted upper have somewhat different care requirements, and keeping both materials happy simultaneously requires a gentle approach. Jute, the natural fiber used in espadrille soles, is vulnerable to prolonged moisture exposure, which can cause it to deteriorate, discolor, and eventually break down structurally.

For regular cleaning, spot cleaning the upper with a damp cloth and a small amount of mild soap is the safest approach. Cotton yarn handles moisture quite well and will not be damaged by gentle wiping, but you should take care to keep the cleaning moisture away from the jute sole as much as possible. If the entire upper needs a more thorough wash, removing the shoes from any situation where the soles would be submerged is critical. Some crafters protect their espadrille soles with a thin coat of clear rubber or waterproofing spray applied before first wear, which significantly extends the life of the sole material.

Storage is another important consideration for handmade crochet shoes. Unlike leather or synthetic footwear, crochet espadrilles should be stored in a place with good air circulation rather than sealed in plastic bags or airtight boxes. A breathable cloth bag or simply an open shelf is ideal. Stuffing the shoes lightly with tissue paper while storing them helps them retain their shape and prevents the soft upper from collapsing and becoming misshapen over time. Keeping them away from direct sunlight during storage will also prevent the cotton yarn from fading prematurely.

With thoughtful wear habits, your crochet shoes will last considerably longer than you might expect from a handmade textile item. Avoiding wearing them in rain or on very wet surfaces is the single most impactful protective measure you can take. Rotating between multiple pairs rather than wearing the same pair every day gives each pair time to air out fully between uses, reducing the buildup of moisture from perspiration that can weaken fibers over time. And if the sole does eventually show signs of wear, many cobblers who work with espadrilles can replace the jute sole while preserving your original crocheted upper entirely, giving your handwork a completely new lease on life.

Tips for Beginners and Where to Find Patterns

If you are new to crochet or new to making crochet footwear specifically, approaching this project with patience and a willingness to experiment will serve you far better than trying to rush toward a finished product. The granny square is genuinely one of the most beginner-friendly crochet motifs in existence — its construction is logical, its instructions are widely available in every format imaginable, and the skills required to complete it are foundational ones that will serve you in dozens of other projects. Even if your first attempt at a granny square upper does not turn out perfectly, the practice will sharpen your skills rapidly and meaningfully.

One common piece of advice for first-time shoe makers is to make a test square in scrap yarn before committing to your final project yarn. This allows you to check your gauge — the number of stitches and rows per centimeter — against what the pattern specifies, and to make any necessary adjustments to your hook size or tension before you invest time and good materials in a square that turns out the wrong size. Getting gauge right in footwear is more important than in many other crochet projects because a shoe that is even a centimeter too small or too large will be unwearable regardless of how beautifully it is made.

Online platforms are extraordinarily rich sources of patterns and inspiration for crochet espadrille granny square shoes. Pinterest is perhaps the most visually abundant of these resources, where searching for terms like “crochet espadrilles granny square” or “crochet sandals granny square pattern” will return hundreds of photographs of finished projects along with links to the patterns used to create them. Ravelry, the dedicated platform for knitting and crochet enthusiasts, hosts a searchable database of thousands of patterns including many specifically designed for crochet footwear, with user-submitted project photographs that show how the pattern looks in different yarn colors and weights.

YouTube is another invaluable resource, particularly for visual learners who find written crochet patterns difficult to follow. A number of experienced crochet content creators have published detailed video tutorials covering every step of the crochet espadrille process, from the initial magic ring of the granny square through to the final attachment of the upper to the sole. Watching these videos before you begin, and pausing to work alongside them in real time, can make the project feel far less intimidating than diving in with only a written pattern as guidance. The crochet community online is also exceptionally generous and welcoming, and posting questions in forums or Facebook groups dedicated to crochet footwear will almost always result in helpful, encouraging responses from more experienced makers.