How to Make a Fabric Baby Bootie
The fun of dressing up a baby is coordinating a little outfit with the perfect matching booties. Create charming, simple booties of your own design to match your baby's outfits by sewing baby booties from fabric and/or felt. Make a handmade booty with personalized accents, decorative items or special stitching. The booties can be stitched on a machine or hand-sewn. Add a blanket stitch edging and other decorative stitches as desired for a splash of color and to give the booty a finished look.
Things You'll Need
- Fabric or felt
- Pencil or tracing marker
- Fabric scissors
- Self or premade pattern or template
- Sewing machine or needle and thread
- Iron
- Iron-on tape or fusing
- Decorative accents or felt shapes
- Lace, yarn, shoelaces or ribbon for ties
Instructions
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Make a pattern. Trace the baby's foot to make a pattern and add at least 1/8-inch for the seam allowance or use a pre-made pattern for the sole. Upper part can be made by making another sole and cutting out the center of the fabric or felt so that the front is in a U shape. Slit back edge. You will have one piece for the upper and a sole.
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If using templates, lay out pattern pieces on fabric. Cut four upper pieces--two soles and two heels. Double your pattern pieces for fabric that ravels. Cut out your pattern pieces. If contrasting colors are desired, cut out two pieces of each pattern piece so you have an inner and outer piece in two colors or fabric prints.
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3
Assemble the pattern pieces. Use a one- or two-piece pattern for easier construction. Fold one-piece bootie in half, right sides together and stitch at back edge. The pattern should have a round toe in front and meet in a straight line at the back of the ankle. Stitch back edge by hand or machine.
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Iron pieces together. Place a piece of iron-on tape between the fabric pieces and fuse with an iron on the appropriate setting, as specified according to the iron-tape's directions. Cut out small decorations in felt or fabric, or add decorations to pattern pieces in the same way before final assembly.
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Assemble the pieces. Attach the sole to the upper part of the bootie and hold with regular office binder clips. Attach, using a blanket-stitch with embroidery thread or yarn around the edge in a contrasting color for added flair. Punch holes in the tie area of the shoe and insert grommets, if desired, for laces. (Glue edges of the hole and let dry if not using grommets.) String in short laces or use thick yarn or ribbons. Knot at end if needed.
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Tips & Warnings
Use quality cottons and threads for durability. Prewash fabrics or choose color-fast items. Choose fun color combinations to match favorite outfits or for seasonal charm.
