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Upcycled Sweater Boots

Upcycled Sweater Boots
What do you get if you mix and old sweater, some cheap flat shoes, and lots of hot glue? Sweater boots, that's what!
 
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Step 1The supplies

The supplies
To make your boots, you'll need a big bulky sweater with nice large sleeves, some cheap flat shoes, a hot glue gun, and some buttons, as well as a sewing machine and a needle and thread. I machine embroidered my boots as well, but it's not necessary, just awesome :)
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94 comments
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May 22, 2012. 7:28 PMRowan_Winterhaven says:
1) I've been drooling over Urban Threads for more than a year now and wishing I could afford an embroidery machine with which to embroider everything I own with nearly every single one of your designs.

2) These boots are so darned CUTE! And simple? Sacred bovine! I can't find boots to fit my big fat calves but you can bet I've got sweaters and cheapo pairs of flats that I can cobble together.

Now I'm probably going to go and save every single one of your instructables then dream crazy little dreams of awesome embroidery bits all over everything.

Thank you! :D
May 22, 2012. 3:26 PMbeeta says:
love it
May 22, 2012. 11:39 AMCatTrampoline says:
Amazingly awesome! The embroidery adds just the right touch of chic. I cannot fit into off-the shelf boots so these are perfect.
Jan 2, 2011. 7:20 PMjadedjas says:
omg..thank you! I have bigger calves but size 6 feet..so finding these kind of boots is near to impossible for me!
May 22, 2012. 11:34 AMCatTrampoline says:
I have a similar problem. I finally put duct-tape gussets in a pair of black rubber work boots but never thought of doing something cute or fashionable.
May 22, 2012. 1:09 AMDusk Shadows says:
cool
Mar 30, 2012. 8:34 PMrdigiacomo says:
The flats you use are flats i just got like a week ago hahah
Oct 9, 2011. 1:00 PMgrt57 says:
I admit I didn't read all the comments...sorry if this was already covered... but could you make these with dorks? (AKA Crocs).
Dec 2, 2011. 4:54 PMwilgubeast says:
It seems like Crocs should work. You might be better off with the flat versions rather than the full-on clogs. A very sharp knife (Ginsu, perhaps, since it's shoe-tested already) to cut the foamy rubber should leave you with those sweet, cushy soles. Make a version.

Bounty: 3 months of pro membership to anyone who responds in this comment thread with a Crocs version of these. grt57, will you accept the challenge?
Mar 8, 2012. 2:04 PMKateOriginals says:
This instructable was soo great I has to have a go. I had a pair of the clog style imitation crocs, which are sooo comfy. I just trimmed them back a little on the top and then followed the instructable. (I used a lambswool sweater and washed it hot to make them felted)
They are so awesome!
do I get the bounty??
Kate
x
Mar 8, 2012. 2:25 PMwilgubeast says:
Most definitely. Post the full step by step of your Crocs version for a full year of pro. Those are definitely better looking than any Crocs I've ever seen. Absolutely deserving of 3 months of glorious ebooks, pdfs, ad-free viewing, and seeing all steps on one page.
Mar 9, 2012. 12:31 AMKateOriginals says:
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou!
Darn it though I knew I should have taken photos as I did them. Still it just means I will hae to make another pair!!

Kate
x
Sep 14, 2011. 2:01 PMvlavertu says:
This is amazing!! I love it so much and I have got to make these. I featured this on my blog today. Check it out if you want! http://vixenmade.blogspot.com/2011/09/upcycled-sweater-projects.html
Mar 31, 2011. 8:33 AMLelouchZero says:
Seriously awesome.
Jan 26, 2011. 11:00 AMtriciab1212 says:
these are so well done! awesome choice of everything! love them. i wanna make some now. thanks!
Jan 8, 2011. 10:10 AMSophielinker says:
I try them out with one of my husband old wool sweater. I love them!
But unfortunaly I use a cheap dollar store pair of rubber sole slippers, and when I washed them the rubber tore up in the dryer!!! :(
So, I guess I'll have to take them apart and attach a new pair of slippers to them......
Dec 10, 2010. 3:26 PMnerdmom920 says:
Awesome instructable. Getting shoe sizes from family for some quick Christmas gifts.
Dec 6, 2010. 4:56 PMmoutngrrl says:
I love your embroidered design! I don't have a machine :( May I suggest the possibility of you embroidering designs for sale? I would love to purchase some like the ones you used on these boots!
Dec 2, 2010. 5:23 PMjamipetner says:
Awesome Awesome Awesome...love all of the great additional ideas.
Dec 1, 2010. 2:22 PMgoincraz says:
I hit a 50% off sale at the salvation army today and scored some awesome sweaters to hack. I also plan to make these using those OH SO UGLY Crocs that are oh so comfy!
Nov 24, 2010. 2:44 PMdesya says:
hey I bet you could do that with a shoe that has a small heel too
Nov 24, 2010. 5:20 AMsheilamommy says:
Thanks much! I think I just hit upon a great idea for Chritmas gifts for several little girls on my list. Thinking of making slippers in the style of boots. Thanks so much!
Nov 19, 2010. 2:18 AMLadyofevilness says:
I love your design! I am totally trying to make a fux fur pair for the Renaissance Festive this year.
Nov 3, 2010. 9:53 PMKinosha says:
you should make a youtube video i love em mine are pink
Sep 21, 2010. 5:59 PMCuttiePiie says:
this is cool
Sep 17, 2010. 4:52 PMkolleenk says:
these are great
Sep 17, 2010. 4:22 PMSinAmos says:
You are my kind of Instructabler.
Sep 14, 2010. 6:53 PMplatinum15 says:
im sorta confused :\ but im reading all the comments and they'r all positive (: could you make a video ?
Sep 14, 2010. 6:59 PMplatinum15 says:
LOLOLOL NVM(: I GET IT NOW!! <3 TYYYY!!!!!
Sep 2, 2010. 3:52 PMAlinora says:
OMG! I love them! They're sooooo easy to make! 1st step: find a sweater XD
Aug 23, 2010. 6:00 PMCeasars Thumb says:
Has anybody tried this with leather? It seems plausible to do so. Am I right?
Aug 21, 2010. 1:29 PMApplejuice11 says:
This is great! I really need to make them!
Jul 17, 2010. 7:33 PMmrsvee says:
I have never been so happy to find anything else on the interwebs as I am to find this. I'm totally making myself a pair of Zelda boots now. GAME ON URBAN THREADZ. I LOVE YOU.
May 24, 2010. 5:22 AMhayley_maree says:
Awesome instructable! I dont have a machine that can do embroidery so i made a star design out of felt and buttons for decoration.  I love my sweater boots so much - thank you!
May 2, 2010. 9:30 AMbonecholampworks says:
It's a conspiracy, I say!!!
The planet is going to hell in a handbasket, and we're all off making the coolest sweater boots!
(are you trying to take over the world, by chance???)

These are awesome!
And my feet are always cold!!!
Thanks for this...*wanders off in search of a sweater*
Apr 28, 2010. 7:40 PMLittleWolf says:
I am in the process of trying out your idea.  I really like the little embroidery on the side. Does your machine make them or do you do them by hand?

May I ask what sewing machine you have, and if you like it? I want to buy my first sewing machine and I've been asking for opinions from people that use them a lot.

Thank you again for sharing this!
Mar 9, 2010. 3:42 PMdancing_sam says:
Thanks for the great instructable- have made a flowering version: www.floweringelbow.co.uk
Feb 15, 2010. 6:38 PMbaba87 says:
LOVE IT!!! I'm gonna have to try this.
Jan 14, 2010. 9:19 AMsgtroest says:
Wow your boots are so fly.  What kind of machine do you have?  It looks like the design is fairly large and really neat looking.  Just curious...
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Author:UrbanThreads(Urban Threads)
Art Director and Evil Genius of Urban Threads, an alternative machine and hand embroidery site. Every week I cuss and swear in my studio and macgyver together a new tutorial. You can see all of them ...
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