How to Make Animal Slippers

Cat slippers

Furry animal slippers are fun footwear for all ages. Not only do the slippers keep you warm, but they also bring a smile to the face of the wearer and anyone who sees them. Making your own animal-shaped slippers provides the opportunity to customize them however you'd like.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Pencil
• Paper
• Calculator (optional)
• Furry fabric
• Lining fabric
• Non-skid fabric
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Needle and thread
• Pins
• Polyester stuffing
• Pipe cleaners (optional)
• Craft eyes
• Brown or black fabric paint
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter or craft knife (optional)

Instructions

Measurements and Calculations

1. 

   Measure the foot of the person who will be wearing the slipper. Measure from the back of the heel to the tip of the longest toe. Measure the circumference of the foot.

2. 

   Divide the circumference of the foot in half. Use a pencil and paper to scale the provided basic slipper template to match the measurements you took. Add 1 inch of seam allowance around all sides.

3. 

   Determine what animal your slippers will look like. Every animal requires a different style of ears and nose. A template with the most common types is provided. Add 1/2 inch of seam allowance on all sides.

4. 

   Calculate your yardage. The standard measurement for furry fabrics is sixty inches. Lay your templates side by side in a row, with approximately 1/2 inch between them to fit within 60 inches.
   Place any template pieces that do not fit in a separate row beneath the first, with 1 inch between the rows and 1/2 inch between the pieces. The height of these pieces is how many yards of outer, furry fabric you will need to purchase.

5. Use the same procedure as in step 4 to determine the yardage of lining fabric. The lining fabric may be of a different width, so plan accordingly. Buy 1/2 to 1 yard of non-skid outer fabric for the soles of the slippers, depending on how large the slippers will be.

Cutting and Sewing

1. Cut your pattern pieces from your fabrics.

2. Sew the non-skid outer sole fabric and the sole lining together around the edges.

3. For the outer side edges, sew the lining fabric to the outer fabric with the wrong sides together. Leave a small hole. Use the hole to turn the sides right side out, and use the polyester stuffing to plump up the sides. Sew the small hole shut using a needle and thread.

4. With the wrong sides together, sew the sides of the fabric together at the tips of the toes, and press them open so they lay flat. Repeat for the heels.

5. Pin the "upper" that you have created from the side parts to the sole of the slipper. The entire slipper should be inside out. Sew around the pinned edges, and turn the slipper right side out.

Embellishments

1. Cut your chosen ear pattern out of the remaining fabrics, as well as a nose, if your slipper has one. Sew each ear together, inside out. Use polyester stuffing to plump up the ears. Sew the ears to the front of the slipper, about two-thirds of the way to the toe.

2. Cut out the selected nose, if applicable. Gather the circle around a tuft of polyester stuffing and attach to the front of the slipper with a needle and thread.

3. For cats, sew on pipe cleaners as whiskers. For dogs and cats, add a strip of fuzzy fabric to the back end of the slippers for a tail.

4. Attach the craft eyes to the slippers in their appropriate places. Dog, cat and bear slippers require the eyes to be halfway between the nose and ears. Frog eyes should be attached to the frog eye bumps

5. Use the fabric paint to draw the appropriate mouth, smile or any other embellishments onto the face of the animal slippers

Tips & Warnings

• When cutting furry fabric, it is often easier to cut the fabric from the non-fuzzy side using a craft knife or rotary cutter.

• Use proper safety precautions when working with sharp objects including scissors, rotary cutters, craft knives, pins, needles and sewing machines. The furry fabric will shed when cut. Be prepared to clean up errant fibers.

Resources

• Basic Sewing Hints, Tips, and Tutorials