Cloth Baby Shoe Tutorial | Baby shoes diy, Baby shoes tutorial, Cloth baby shoes
My pattern will result in a shoe with a 4" sole. To adjust it, just photo copy the pattern and increase it by 10% for each size up you want to go (or adjust settings on your printer to print larger). There are a lot of sizing charts out there but adjusting the sole by 1/2 inch seems to be pretty standard:
0-3 months = 3.5" sole
3-6 months = 4" sole
6-9 months = 4.5" sole
9-12 months =5" sole
12-18 months = 5.5" sole
Cut fabric & iron interfacing
Trace the pattern pieces on your fabric and cut out. You will need four of each interfacing and two of each fabric (be sure to flip the shoe pattern to create a left and right shoe). Iron the interfacing to the
wrong side of each piece of fabric. This will stiffen and stabilize the fabric.
Prepare soles
Prepare the soles of the shoes by stacking the outer fabric and inside fabric wrong sides together so that the right sides are facing out. Use a long (basting) stitch to secure the pieces together. Use the smallest seam allowance you feel comfortable with (inside of presser foot for me). This will be hidden later so don’t worry about perfection here.
Prepare the uppers
To make the upper part of the shoe, line up the uppers right sides together and stitch along the long edge. Fold the pieces back along the seam so that the wrong sides are together and the right sides are
facing out. Press the seam with a hot iron. Stitch a finishing seam on the outside along the long edge to secure the fold. Repeat for 2 nd shoe.
Prepare the heel
To prepare the heel, line up the heel right sides together and stitch along the top edge. Press the seam open with a hot iron. Fold in the sides ¼” and press. Secure the sides by sewing along the edge with a small seam allowance (1/8”). Fold the pieces together along the seam so that the wrong sides are together and the right sides facing out. Press the fold.
Insert elastic
Cut a piece of 1/8” or 1/4” elastic about 8” long. Open the fold of the heel and slide the elastic into the fold. Sew a finishing seam along the top edge to create a casing for the elastic (about 1/4” or more depending on the size of your elastic). Repeat steps 5& 6 for 2 nd shoe.
Assemble the shoe, upper
If you haven’t already, mark the “midpoint” on the front and back of the sole and the wrong side of the uppers and heels. Line up the midpoints of the upper and toe of the sole. Pin with right sides together.
Starting at the midpoint, stitch one side--toe to side of shoe, working the fabric as you go to line up the edges. Flip, and starting from the midpoint, stitch the rest of the upper and sole together. Be sure to backstitch at the end of each seam. Repeat for 2 shoe. (Don’t stress if this doesn’t go well. It took me a few tries to get it right the first time. Remember, the seam ripper is your friend!)
Assemble the shoe, heel
Line up the midpoint of the heel and the back of the sole. Pin with right sides together. Starting at the midpoint, stitch one side of the seam. Keep working the fabric to keep the edges lined up. Flip, and again starting from the midpoint, stitch the rest of the heel and sole together.
Be sure to backstitch at the end of each seam. Repeat for 2 (Stitch very slowly and watch for when the heel, upper and sole all connect on the sides of the shoe. The fabric will be THICK and your machine may not like it!)
Prepare the elastic casing
If you haven’t already, mark the inside of the upper to finish the casing for the elastic. Basically mark two 1/2 “ lines a half-inch apart at the center of the upper below the finishing seam. Use a seam ripper to open the two lines.
Run elastic through
Pull one side of the elastic through the two holes. I use tweezers for this but if you have a small safety pin or even a fat headed pin, you could use those too. Whatever you have around!
Connect the elastic
Stretch the elastic to make sure your fabric is bunching some along the heel and the elastic isn’t too loose. Tie a secure knot* connecting the two sides of the elastic. Clip the excess elastic and push the knot into the elastic casing along the heel. Repeat steps 8-10 for 2 shoe. (*Yes, you could also stitch the elastic together with a needle and thread but I’ve found that tying a knot is just as secure and, frankly, easier.)
Trim and turn right sides out!
Makes sure that all of the seams around the sole are secure. (You may want to turn the shoe right side out and press your finger along the seams to check this.) With wrong sides out, trim the seams along the sole and clip any excess threads. You can rip out the basting stitch from step 3 around the sole if needed.
Turn the shoes right sides out and celebrate! You did it!
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