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 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.
Sew 4 Bub 
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