How to Make Spats for Boots for a Dance Costume
Spats are fabric coverings that were traditionally worn in the 1800s by soldiers, marching bands and as part of formal wear ensembles for gentlemen during the Edwardian and Victorian periods. Today, they are often seen as part of a dancer's costume, to cover the shoes and change the look of an outfit. If you dance, learning how to make your own spats is a way to save money when you need to switch up your style.
Things You'll Need
- 1 yard of heavy-duty cotton fabric
- Scissors
- Thread that matches your fabric
- Sewing machine
- Computer printer and paper
- Straight pins
- Iron and ironing board
- 1 yard of 1/2-inch-wide elastic
- Seam ripper
- 6 - 12 buttons (depending on the height of your boots), each 1 inch in circumference
- Pencil
- Ruler
- 1 yard of scrap fabric, like muslin
- Binder clips
- Transparent tape
- Pattern paper
Instructions
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Make a Custom Spats Pattern
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1
Cut out two pieces of scrap fabric that measure 12 inches wide and as tall as your boot shaft.
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2
Fasten one piece of fabric to the outside of the boot using binder clips to attach it at the leg opening. Trim off any excess fabric so that the scrap can be comfortably draped around the boot and tape into place. Repeat with the inside part of the foot.
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3
With a pencil, draw lines along your scrap fabric down the back boot seam, around the laces and along the sole. Draw another line down the center of the outer part of the boot where you wish to place your buttons. This will create a spat shape that will fit your boot. Remove the fabric from the boots.
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4
Use scissors to trim along the pencil lines of your fabric pattern pieces -- you should have three pattern pieces. Place the pieces on your pattern paper and trace around them with a pencil.
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5
Add 1/2 inch of seam allowance to all paper pieces. Add an additional 1 inch to the button seam of the outside foot back section -- this will create an overlap where the buttons will be placed. Cut out all paper pattern pieces.
Sew the Spats
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6
Fold your fabric in half and lay it down on a large flat surface. Attach your pattern pieces to the fabric using straight pins -- pin through both layers of fabric to create two sets of spats. Cut the spats out by trimming around the clothing pattern pieces.
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7
Stitch the pieces of the left spat together on your sewing machine, attaching the long sides of the pieces to each other. Follow the markings on your particular pattern to ensure that you attach them together in the correct order. Repeat with the right spat.
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8
Turn under 1/2 inch of seam allowance all the way around your spats. Press with your iron and stitch down permanently on your sewing machine.
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9
Mark your buttonholes using a pencil. On the inside edge of the left spat, draw lines that are 1/2 inch from the edge and 1 inch long to accommodate your buttons. The buttonholes should also be spread evenly up the edge of your spat.
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10
Following your pencil marks, use the buttonhole setting on your machine to stitch the buttonholes. Once you have finished sewing, use your seam ripper to carefully slice the buttonholes open. Repeat with the right spat.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Get creative with your buttons -- instead of using buttons that are all the same, try out different colors and shapes. Just remember to use buttons that are the same diameter.
