DIY Ballet Soft-Sole Baby Shoes for Newborns
Soft-soled shoes are not only adorable and stylish but also healthy for a newborn's growing feet. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, they're the best footwear option for newborns because they allow babies' foot muscles, nerves, and bones to grow without restriction. If you have access to a sewing machine, you can make easily make a pair for your bundle of joy.
Things You'll Need
- 12 x 12 square of pink cotton fabric
- 12 x 12 square of coordinating pink bonded fleece or minky fabric
- Coordinating-color thread
- 12 x 12 square of fusible interfacing
- 3-yard roll of 3/8- or 5/8-inch satin ribbon
- 18 inches of 1/4-inch wide elastic
- Pattern (see "Resources" below)
- Sewing machine
- Scissors
- Seam ripper
- Straight pins
- Iron
- Ironing board
- Printer
Instructions
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Create Shoe Pieces
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1
Print the shoe pattern pieces (provided below in the article listed in "Resources").
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2
Fuse the fabric pieces together with the iron. Following the interfacing manufacturer's instructions, fuse the cotton fabric and the fleece (or minky fabric) with the "right" (outer) sides facing out.
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3
Cut out the pattern pieces and place them onto the prepared fabric. The patterned cotton fabric should be the outer section of each shoe, and the fleece (or minky fabric) should be inside. The only exception would be if you want the bottom sole of the shoe to be minky or fleece, with the contrasting cotton fabric on the inside bottom sole of the shoe.
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4
Cut the shoe pieces from the prepared fabric, using the pattern pieces as a guide.
Sew the Shoes
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5
Fold and sew the top of the shoe along the straight edge, 1/4 inch from the edge. Mark two lines for the elastic on the "wrong" (inner) side of the fabric and cut open the inside fabric with a seam ripper, leaving the outer fabric uncut.
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6
Sew the top section of the shoe onto the coordinating sole with the "right" (outer) sides of the fabric facing one another, leaving a 1/4 inch seam around the edges.
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7
Fold and sew the heel piece of the shoe 1/4 inch down from the straight edge. Draw 9 inches of elastic through the sewn opening of the heel piece, leaving the two edges hanging out of each side.
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8
Pin the prepared heel piece onto the sole of the shoe with the "right" (outer) side facing the right side of the sole. The visible heel fabric should match the visible fabric on the top piece. Sew the heel piece onto the sole, leaving a 1/4 inch seam around the edges.
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9
Pull the elastic through the open slits in the top portion of the shoe and draw it tight, but not so tight that your baby's foot will not be able to fit into the finished shoe. Draw the two pieces together and pin. Sew the elastic pieces together with several stitches and trim the shoe with excess elastic.
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10
Cut two pieces of satin ribbon to your desired length, but no longer than 12 inches. Sew a piece of ribbon to each side of the shoe, at the junction of the top and heel pieces, being careful not to sew through the elastic.
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11
Turn the shoe inside out and it's done. Repeat the above steps to make the second shoe.
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12
When you put the shoes on your baby's feet, cross the satin ribbons in the front and back of your baby's heels and tie into a delicate bow.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For boys' shoes, substitute buttons for the ribbons.
Watch over your baby while he or she wears the shoes to ensure that the ties don't come undone, and make their way about your baby's neck, or that the buttons don't come off and pose a potential choking hazard.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
