Sweet Slippers

We are currently engaged in an ongoing battle with the Tallest to get her to keep something on her feet, so I thought that some super cute slippers might be the way forward. She calls them her princess slippers and anything that keeps her bare feet off the cold wooden floors is definately a good thing!

I used a pattern that I already had for a baby shoe and drawing around the Tallests foot as a guide just enlarged it fit her size 10’s (big I know!) The materials are really just what I had to hand. The uppers are felt with a fleece lining, and the soles are fleece lining, felt, fleece again and non slip fabric. I had to use the stuff for carpets and mats, as the non slip dots type doesn’t seem to exist round these parts! (The hunt continues!)

Here are the pieces cut and ready to use. Machine stitch (or handsew if you have the time!) the uppers together all along the inside edge (the top part nearest the ankle) attaching one part of the elastic strap on the long side. I used what I had, but if I make some more I’ll use lace elastic so that it’s a bit cuter. Then snip the corners, turn it right side out and then top stitch the inside edge again. This gives it a neater finish I feel.

Add your embellishments, sewing only to the top layer of the upper so that there will be no knots or stitches by the toes.

Put all the layers of fabric together and then top stitch round the entire slipper. Try to catch all the layers with each stitch, and if the top layer of the upper is slightly larger than all the others when you draw the stitch down it will cover the layer edges and give a neat finish. I finished mine with a couple of mother of pearl buttons at the side, I did not want a seam by the ankle as they would be worn without socks mainly. But alter the pattern to suit your needs.

Next time I need to make the short edge longer and the long edge shorter (does that make sense?) so that I have more to play with for finishing, and can make a better job of it. Each time I make a pair I’m sure I’ll adjust it to suit.

Give them to your ‘little princess’ to enjoy.

Oh, and as an aside, I made these in about three evenings probably spending around 90 minutes each night. Not including the breaks to deal with a poorly baby! So not actually that time consuming and IMHO worth the effort. Slippers cost around £6 at our local discount shop – these were all made with materials that I already had – so a saving all round and fun to make to boot.