By Aldona Bird
Newsroom@DominionPostcom
Now that our hands are cozy warm when we head outside, thanks to the upcycled mittens we made last week, it’s time to keep our feet cozy warm when we are spending time safely at home.
Cold floors are no fun. Even if this chilly weather we are having doesn’t penetrate your floor, slippers just add an extra level of warmth and comfort.
With some scrap fabric — especially a felted wool sweater (such as the rest of the sweater left after you make mittens from part of it), you can make cozy slippers in a flash and keep your feet comfortable for the rest of the winter.
To make slippers, you will need:
- Fabric (two types, if you want thicker slippers)
- Needle and thread or sewing machine
- Pins
- Measuring tape
- Scissors
- Paper and pen (or printed slipper pattern)
If you don’t have a wool sweater felted or that you want to felt, (to felt, wash it in hot with soap and lots of agitation — if in the washer having other clothing in with the sweater helps) you can use other material like scrap fabric or worn-out clothing.
If you prefer fluffy slippers, you can use a fleece sweater or blanket as material for the slipper lining. Jeans work well as an outer layer or to make lighter-weight house slippers for warmer weather. Flannel makes a nice soft lining.
There are many different styles of slippers you can make. The tops can just cover your toes, or come up your ankles. You can make the top in one or multiple pieces. If you don’t want to make your own pattern, there are free or paid patterns available on blogs, Etsy, or other sites.
If you choose to make your own, trace your foot onto a piece of paper for the sole of the slipper.
For the top, you can trace from your toes to the middle of your foot — then widen the edges of this outline so the piece will have room to fit your foot into, like a clog.
Then measure around your foot from either side of the toe piece, and cut a rectangle for the heel and sides.
Sew lining (if you are using) right sides together, so your toes won’t feel the seam. You can sew the outer layer right sides together and then turn it right sides out for hidden seams, or you can sew with the fabric rights sides out, using thick thread (even multiple strands of embroidery floss) and a neat whip stitch for an outer seam look.
If you want to make the top out of just one piece, you can cut a long rectangle — the length should exceed the circumference of the sole piece.
Pin the top piece to the sole around the edges, with the ends of the rectangle hanging over the toe edge of the bottom. Try on before sewing together, and adjust as needed.
Round the corners of the rectangle so you smoothly sew it onto the sole of your slipper without any tucks or gathers. Sew one slipper lining together, and use the other (cut to fit your foot) as a pattern for the outer material.
Tuck the lining material into the sewn outer slipper, and finish off the top edge. You can tuck it in and stitch or add a trim.
Once you have worked out a good pattern for your perfect slipper, use up worn out or ill fitting clothing to make a few pairs — they are great to have on hand in case one pair gets wet or dirty, or to keep friends and family members feet warm when they (safely) visit.
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