Toasty Slippers

Intro: Toasty Slippers

These slippers are made from recycled woolen blanket, recycled fleece fabric and scraps of brightly coloured fabric from my stash! I have a pair with red polka dot binding, they are so comfortable and keep my feet nice and warm.

STEP 1: The Pattern

This pattern will be available for download once i have worked out different sizings. The pattern has a seam allowance included.
As you can tell, this pair is for my friend Justine!

STEP 2: Cutting Out the Pattern Pieces

I will show you the steps for making one slipper, you will do the same for the second slipper but reversing everything, we don't want 2 left feet do we?!

You will need:
~an old woolen blanket, mine was found at the thrift store for around $5
~some warm recycled, i have used fleece also found at the thrift store
~ a scrap of colourful fabric big enough to make bias binding

From the woolen blanket cut 1 sole piece and 1 of each side piece.
From the fleece cut one sole piece.

STEP 3: Sole

Pin the soles together and baste around the edge.

STEP 4: Slipper Top

Sew the top pieces together with a 1cm seam allowance then trim seam allowance and press open like you see in the photo.

STEP 5: Slipper Heel

Sew heel edges together with a 1cm seam allowance, trim the seam allowance and press open.

STEP 6: Sewing the Slipper Together

pin the slipper top to the slipper sole wrong sides together (so the fleece inner will be on the outside), using a 1cm seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance.

STEP 7: Turn

Turn the slipper right side out and press the seams. Trim the opening to your desired size, making sure you can fit your feet inside.

STEP 8: Cutting the Bias Binding

From your scrap of colourful fabric cut some strips on the bias. Mine are 3cm wide but you can make them wider if you like.

STEP 9: Fold Your Bias Binding

Fold your bias binding in half and press. Open up and fold one edge towards the centre, press again.

STEP 10: Attaching the Bias Binding-step 1

Pin the unfolded edge of the binding to the outside of the slipper. Sew around with a 5mm seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance.

STEP 11: Attaching the Bias Binding-step 2

Fold the binding to the inside of the slipper and pin. Slip stitch into place folding under the end of the binding to give a neat look.

Now make the other slipper in the same way but reversing the pattern.

STEP 12: All Finished!

The finished slippers. Now put them on and keep your feet toasty warm!

STEP 13: My Slippers

My slippers have red polka dot binding.

Comments

[Jaina Solo]

How long does it take? Can you make them in a few days? I want to make some for my brother, he needs/wants to have slippers. He always steals my dads.

[elizabeth.michelin]

I look forward to the pattern. Great job. I am all for recycling/

[JoyfullJuneBug]

Super cute! I fond lots of patterns by image searching (DIY slipper patterns) I'm going to make some soon. Thanks =)

[CrystalB01]

so cool i want to make these now

[Craftielady]

very cute

[kpaget]

I love these, they sort of remind me of medieval type shoes. :)

[downunda_oz]

I'm loving these for around the house! Especially on our cold tile floors! Any chance you could post the pattern if you've got one figured out :)

[wobbler]

Why not just cut the top shapes out this shape in order to save resewing it back together?

[Thetis]

Sure you could.

But then you wouldn't get the funky seam down the front of the slipper for that great medieval look!

[Teensy Doodles]

Where is the pattern?

[ThePrintPlace]

These are beautiful. I love the trim.
I've just published an instructable about how to turn an old wool jumper into slippers which you might find interesting. (not quite as stylish as yours though!).
https://www.instructables.com/id/Cosy-slippers-from-your-old-woolly-jumper/

[dancing_sam]

Thanks for this instructable. I have just finished a pair, and after fiddling around with a pattern for a while, am very happy with them. I used leather (from a thrown out sofa) and a double layer of old, thin sweatshirt for the soles, with a thick woollen jumper for the upper, with a bit of old t-shirt for the trim. It made the sewing and pinning tricky, and I zig-zagged all the edges to help avoid unravelling of the woolly stuff. Hopefully they will last a while. Thanks!

[AnaLou]

I have a thin rubber mesh pad that I bought at a hardware store, that would be great for the bottoms of these slippers. This thin rubber mesh pad was originally purchased to keep my rugs from slipping on my hardwood floors. Bet it would go through a good sewing machine or serger.

Great Instructable. Easy and fun! Very cool.

[neverboredinportland]

I LOVE this idea! I just had two problems solved with one guide; a mysteriously shrunken wool sweater and wool slippers that gave out on me. I was going to try to fix them, but now I'll just make some more! Thanks!

[taraderuiter]

this is great. I have been felting an old poncho to make slippers from. Any chance you have the sizing worked out for the patterns yet? my feet are mighty chilly

[cuteaznprincesss]

these are sUper cute! and i love the idea of using an old mousepad for the sole = ]

[Marysewfun]

That looks neat - and easy enough. Would be especially great with a pattern download with maybe small, med, large foot - just for starting. I like the idea, and I imagine you might be able to put a very narrow elastic in the top (binding). Thanks for the detailed instruction.

[alvincredible]

wow my mom bought something like this...she could've just made a pair.. haha! nice job

[ccesclk]

What about using an old mouse pad for the sole. Would that work??

[almostgotit]

I thought of also trying some vinyl or oil-cloth (or some nylon fabric, cut from an old jacket, so long as we're recycling- yeah!) for the bottom layer of the sole (for waterproofing and a little toughness) with a soft fleece or wool layer next to the foot. I also wonder what might give it a bit of traction too, e.g. for an older person who needs to avoid slipping? Ironing or sewing something onto the sole before sewing the sides on? Some store-bought slippers (or "slipper socks") have those little dots of rubbery stuff applied right to the fabric on the bottoms of the soles..