Baby or Toddler Shoes – the update I promised (better late than never right?)
October 17th, 2011 § 1 Comment
Baby shoes Mk 2 - the finished product
A little while ago I posted a pattern and instructions for some cute, but time consuming baby shoes. I mentioned at the time, that I had come up with a less time consuming method, well I have finally got around to writing the post. Better late than never I suppose.
These little shoes have fabric soles and use the same pattern as Baby Shoes Mk 1, you can check out that post here and find the free pattern here.
As before, you will need:
- Pattern (this pattern is a size 4, but you can use your printer to shrink/enlarge it to suit, make it so that the sole piece is about 2cm longer than your babies foot)
- Fabric scraps – contrasting colours for the outside and something softer for the lining
- thread (I just used white for everything)
- About 10cm of elastic for the straps
- Scissors, sewing machine, needle (for hand sewing)
Baby Shoe cut pattern pieces
2. Follow steps 2 through 7 of my original baby or toddler shoe post here. You should then have something that looks like this:
Part finished Baby toddler shoes
NOTE: I used a zig-zag stitch when sewing the contrast fabric(denim) to the shoe upper to stop the fabric from fraying. if your contrast fabric is a knit or felt fabric you can just use a regular straight stitch here.
3. Next pin the sole lining in place, and stitch a small section (around 3cm) on one side as shown in the following pics:
Pin the sole lining in place
Stitch a small section of the sole lining to the upper
4. Place the sole fabric on top of the upper with the outside(the side of the fabric that you want to be able to see in the end) facing inwards towards the shoe upper. Pin the sole fabric in place.
The sole fabric pinned in place
5. Sew around the shoe, leaving open the one small section where you have already sewn the lining to the upper.
Sole sewn to shoe upper
6. Now turn the shoe right way out through the small opening you have left, and you should have something that looks like this:
Baby shoe turned right way out
7. Finally you just need to slip stitch the small opening closed and your shoes are finished – very minimal hand sewing involved.
Baby shoes Mk 2 - the finished product
Baby or Toddler Shoes – are you a sewing nerd like me?
August 10th, 2011 § 1 Comment
Baby or toddler shoes - the finished product
So…
Are you a sewing nerd like me?
I found myself today, standing in front of the baby shoe section at the shops, there was a pair in my daughters size, they were perfectly presentable, and they were on special for $6.75. Instead of buying them however,I decided to spend the only available ‘baby sleeping time’ today making some instead.
What can I say, I am a sewing nerd, I have no logical justification for making these shoes, and I have no excuses that you can use either, but if you would like to have a go, the pattern is here and the instructions are below 
Bits and pieces I started with
You will need:
- Pattern (this pattern is a size 4, but you can use your printer to shrink/enlarge it to suit, make it so that the sole piece is about 2cm longer than your babies foot)
- Fabric scraps – contrasting colours for the outside and something softer for the lining
- thread (I just used white for everything)
- Fold over elastic, or Bias binding (long enough to go around both shoes)
- About 10cm of elastic for the straps
- Scissors, sewing machine, needle (for hand sewing)
Baby or toddler shoe cut pattern pieces
2. Sew the contrast part onto the shoe upper using a straight stitch – use a knit or felt fabric for the contrast piece so that no hemming is required and you just have to sew it on flat.
Attach contrast fabric to shoe upper
3. Put the upper lining piece and the upper piece right sides together then sew around the inside curve with a 0.5 mm seam allowance.
Attach the lining piece to the shoe upper
4. Open up the seam you have just sewn and place the heel portion of the upper together, right sides facing, and sew the lining and upper fabrics at the heel seam as shown in the pic:
Sew the lining and upper fabrics at the heel seam
5. Turn the shoe out, wrong sides facing and stitch around the shoe opening around 1cm from the seam (stitch along the seam you already made sewing the contrast fabric onto the shoe upper).
Top stitch the shoe opening
6. Pin and sew the darts in the front of the shoe marked on the pattern. (If you haven’t done this before, it’s easy, just fold along the centre line of the dart, wrong side out, and sew down the dart line through all layers of fabric)
Pin the darts in the front of the shoe
Sew the darts in the front of the shoe
7. Pin the elastic pieces to the shoe upper and sew them in place (you can adjust the positioning and length of these to suit your childs foot)
Pin and sew the elastic to the inside of the shoe upper
8. Pin both layers of the sole to the upper, making sure they line up correctly, and sew through all layers of fabric 0.5 to 1cm from the edge.
Pin the sole to the upper
Sew the sole to the shoe upper
9. Trim the excess fabric close to the seam, and then cover the seam, by hand stitching the fold over elastic or bias binding to the side and sole of the shoe.
Hand sew the binding around the base of the shoe
And there you have it, baby or toddler shoes.
Baby or toddler shoe in action
AFTERTHOUGHT: Since making these, I have realised a much easier (read: no hand sewing involved) way to finish the soles.
- Sandwich the finished shoe upper between the two sole pieces, making sure the lining piece is on the bottom, wrong sides facing out.
- Sew most of the way around the sole leaving a small space for turning out.
- Turn the shoe out and slip stitch the small hole closed.
If this is a bit hard to follow, as I imagine it is, don’t worry I shall post some pics and more detailed instructions shortly.
