When we were kids we had slippers that were like a combination of knee socks and mocassins and we called them mukluks. The leg portion and instep were knitted or crocheted, but the sole was leather stitched to the sock portion, with short sides on the sole wrapping around the foot.  

Has anyone here made these from scratch, knitting the tops and then attaching the sock to the sole?

I'm curious about how you did it, what materials you used for the sole and how you attached it to the sock. Also was the sock a full footed sock, or just the leg/instep portion? 

Edey

22 yrs ago one of the stores in my area (out of business for many many years) sold the soles for these. They were leather soles with lamb skin lining and holes in the sides for crocheting hooks. The only time I made a pair (that didn't turn out right) I started from the soles then worked my way to the top of the sock. I goofed up at the top taking too much out and making them too tight for anyone's foot to fit in there.

 The reason I was looking for this idea, other than they are snuggly warm, is that I've got a pair of knee-high socks that I knitted from a couple of years ago, and the sole has worn out. I only wore them around the house and my old wood floors wore them through.  I could knit a new sole, but so far taking out the raveled hole has only produced a bigger hole, even though I've caught some of the loose stitches on a holder. I thought one way to save them is to put a leather sole on them like the mukluks, as the top and instep are still good. Edey

I have a couple pair of those  I  think we got them at Walmart last year

I think I seen a pattern for them on line...  it sole ges up slighty on the top they are great ....

I made a couple of pairs last year for friends who had sent me some scrap leather. I just knitted from a heavy sock/slipper pattern and sewed the leather to them with plenty of "give." It seemed to work well. Have you thought about just knitting a sole and sewing it to the bottom of your socks? Maybe you could draw around your food on newspaper and knit more or less to that shape and size.

Pat:

Have you thought about just knitting a sole and sewing it to the bottom of your socks

That is another option. It would probably be easier than trying to make a heel fit into that space.  I know it can be done, but I haven't done it before. After trying to find a good stopping point of unraveling the torn yarn, I just stopped out of bewilderment of going any further.  I could just see myself unraveling the whole thing looking for a place to start the new heel. I could crochet a sole, that actually might go faster, be thicker and last longer. 

One pair is knit with a beautiful subtle stripe of heavy worsted; I'm surprised they did not hold up better. I think the yarn was either Paton's Classic Wool  or Lion Brand Wool Ease. This is the one I want to save for sure.  The other pair is an acrylic yarn that never was meant for sock use; it was my first pair of knitted socks and they are pretty loose on me anyway. They have been good for bed socks. Edey

Edey:

After trying to find a good stopping point of unraveling the torn yarn, I just stopped out of bewilderment of going any further.  I could just see myself unraveling the whole thing looking for a place to start the new heel.

I have never completed a project like that either. Part of it is because yarn tends to mat and sort of meld together after it's worn a lot, so it's harder to take apart than a freshly knitted piece. Part of it is because I'm lazy in a weird way, I guess. I figure it's easier to make a new pair.  

Edey:

I think the yarn was either Paton's Classic Wool  or Lion Brand Wool Ease.

I made a pair of slippers from Lion Brand Wool Ease and was disappointed that they didn't last any longer than the cheap acrylic yarn slippers I make before I had to darn them. They were warmer, though.

 I've got several old knitting books and one internet page that describes the process of re-heeling. The instructions are written plain enough; the pictures from the internet page are good, the old books only have inked drawings, but that is better than nothing. I think it would actually be easier to knit a separate heel, then sew it on or try to attach it with Kitchener stitch, then to try and knit a new one in place. Or just make a separate sole, like Pat mentioned. 

 These are WILD!!!!!!

From Knitty.com:   Macarons Slipper Socks

Too much for my tastes. 

Edey

I'd say they were! LOL A little too wild for me, but you wouldn't have to use those colors or all the embellishments. It looks like the wildest parts are added on rather than knitted in.