Got cold floors? Got a bag of felted, wool sweaters lying around? (oh, that's probably just me. Hmm, wash 100% wool sweater on hot. Dry in dryer. Voila! Felt! ok, moving on) Need some slippers?
These took about an hour total. First, up, make the pattern. Look, here's a scan of my pattern complete with a ruler for scale. And here's the pattern I used to visualize the shape the upper part needed to be. Since that was an adult pattern I had to wing it. Here's what I did.
Trace the foot and cut out a rough foot shape about 1/2 to 3/4 inches larger than your traced foot. I did a scant 1/2 inch and it was barely enough. Can you see the trace line inside the foot shape above? Also, my toe should have been a bit more rounded on these.
Then, here's a trick for making the curved pattern pieces fit together. Use a string to determine the circumference of the foot shape. Start your string at a line (marked near the toe, above) and move along around with the string following the pattern edge until you're back at the mark. Cut or knot the string. The length is the distance around.
Since the upper will be in two pieces, each half of the bottom edge of the upper needs to be the length of half the sole circumference. Got it? I ignored seam allowances throughout because 1. wool felt is forgiving and 2. I was hand stitching so seam allowances would be minimal.
Okay, now sketch the curve of the bottom of the slipper using the Martha pattern as a visual aid.
Make the curve of the sole extra long and use half of the string length as a guide for where to put the heel. (obviously the string isn't held tight in the photo above but you get the idea). Then sketch the upper sole and heel. Cut out two uppers and a sole for each foot being sure to make a left and a right foot (flip the pattern for the sole). No need to add a seam allowance.
Hand stitch together using a whip stitch and a double strand of durable thread (ideally in a matching color if your stitches are as messy as mine!). Follow the directions at Martha or just do the center seam in the upper to the dip for the ankle and the back seam at the heel to create the upper. Then pin the upper to the sole (pin in about 4 places to ensure it fits and to center the heel seam on the back of the sole heel.) The stitches will face out in the final slipper creating a bit of a ridge.
That's it! I have grand plans of adding another layer of wool in the sole for padding/warmth/durability and maybe even stitching some leather to the bottom for anti slip/durability. Odds are I'll leave them just like this. Done is nice.
haha! my grandma made me one of those when i was young. they are lovely
Posted by: potenta | March 09, 2010 at 05:05 AM
I love these slippers! I gotta try them, and I'll send you a picture.
Posted by: Susan Huffman | July 05, 2010 at 09:30 PM
I figured the construction of felt slippers would be a little more complicated. Well, heck...I might be able to do that. But i have a question: is that REALLY how you make felt?
Posted by: Boom Trucks | July 12, 2010 at 01:06 PM
Boom Trucks,
You really can make felt with a sweater (I think its technically called fulling not felting) for felting you would really make it straight from wool roving (I have also made felt that way) but knit sweaters are cheap and it works.
Melissa
Posted by: Melissa Haworth | July 12, 2010 at 02:43 PM
I have always wanted to make cute shoes for my kids. One of these days, I'm going to make one for my little girl.
Posted by: Kids boots | May 13, 2011 at 06:55 AM