Apples 'n Chocolate - Wool Felt Baby Shoes

I'm in the process of making another pair of baby shoes, but I ran out of brown embroidery thread.  I thought I'd post some photos in the interim!

I'm so pleased with how this pair is shaping up.  I broke the tension knob on my sewing machine yesterday, so this pair is completely hand-stitched, lining and all.  

The exterior is 100% wool felt and are size 6-9 months (approx. 4.25").  Apple green for the body, and chocolate brown for the sole.  For the lining, I used an upcycled natural 100% cotton baby onesie.  It is butter-soft knit cotton in a natural cream color.  My daughter actually never wore this particular onesie; it still had the tags on it!  I was about to take it to GoodWill, but decided it needed a new life as shoe lining instead.

After placing the lining inside the shoe and stitching the strap in place, I used a blanket stitch around the top opening to secure the lining and give the shoes a decorative edge.  I hope to finish them today after purchasing additional embroidery thread!

Red Cherry Mary Jane Baby Shoes

Red Cherry Baby Shoes - $22 by pammy dawn

I was curious to make a pair of fabric baby shoes, but wasn't sure how to create a pattern.  I had a pair of crocheted and felted baby shoes that were a bit irregular, so I cut them apart and traced the pieces.  I added about 1/4 inch all the way around to allow for seams.  After cutting out the pieces using 100% wool felt, I hand-stitched them together, trimmed the edges and flipped them right-side-out.  

The shoes resembled little ballet slippers, minus straps.  The seams on the inside were a bit bulky, so I decided to line them with some lovely cotton cherry fabric I had by designer Robert Kaufman.  I also fashioned straps of the same fabric and applied velcro tabs for closure.  I think they will look darling adorning some sweet baby feet!


Sweet cherries for sweet baby toes - 100% wool exterior, 100% cotton fabric lining and strap. Velcro closures for easy fitting. Sweet and soft, the cotton lining is pink, red, and green swirling cherries by Robert Kaufman. Hand-stitched exterior, machine-stitching and hand-stitching on lining and straps. Approximately 3.75 inch footbed, about size 3-6 months.

Chocolate Brown Crocheted and Felted Wool Baby Booties Mary Janes

In my ongoing crochet quest, I searched and searched for a cute pattern for baby Mary Janes.  More than 3 of my girl friends are pregnant and having girls, so I thought these would be fun shower gifts.  I finally found a pattern that I liked at Michaels, of all places, in a baby book of crochet projects.  

I had to tinker with the pattern a bit for sizing because I planned on washing the booties to "felt" them (make the fibers dense and fabric like, losing the crocheted look).  First I tried enlarging the pattern, but the resultant shoe was floppy and oddly shaped.  I finally just increased my hook size by 2 sizes and lengthened the strap a bit.  I washed the booties in ultra hot soapy water (the sanitary setting in my washer) and checked on them frequently for amount of shrinkage.  After they came out, they were so tiny!  I had to stretch and shape them up a bit, and they ended up at about a newborn to 3 month size, perfect for a baby shower.  I have yet to stitch on the velcro closure for each strap, but I anticipate that step to be pretty quick.  

If you'd like any tips, I'd be happy to share what worked best for me.  Leave me a comment on this post for further information on felting!