My favorite DIY baby gift (part 3): Cloth Baby Shoes

If you recall, part 1 was a flannel blanket; part 2 was adorable burp clothes.

Do you want to get an ooooh..ahhhhh... out of every mouth at a baby shower? Make adorable shoes. 

That's it. People will freak. 

This shoe type is common and there are a ton of patterns out there. My inspiration and first pair came from a very simple pattern for FREE on the blog stardustshoes posted on Michael Miller Fabric's website.

I am proud to say that I've finally put together my own pattern and tutorial tutorial here! Check it out!

thatssewnina Cloth Baby Shoe Tutorial

This was my very first pair.

I remember when I finished them I literally jumped for joy they were so adorable! I made them for a friend who has a love affair with owls and an adorable little gal so I couldn't wait for her to see them. Since then, I make a pair any chance I get. Once you've invested in the fusible web and lining fabric, you can really just make them with leftover scraps of any project.

To make a pair of shoes, you’ll need:

• A scrap of a sturdy fabric--an 8x8ish square is about it (I like to use coordinating flannel if I'm making a full baby gift. I've also used home dec fabric. Cotton quilting fabric is okay too but not as thick and sturdy)
• A scrap of fabric for the interior lining of the shoe. (you could just use your same flannel here)
• A scrap of fusible web (e.g. wonder under)
• Two 8" lengths of 1/8" elastic
• Matching thread
• A sewing machine

The stardust pattern is for 0-6 months (which is truly more like 3-6 months). The trouble with making anything sized for babies is that they grow out of it so darn quickly. I've experimented with making the shoes in a variety of sizes and resizing them is actually pretty simple.

The stardust pattern will result in a shoe with a 4" sole. To adjust it, just photo copy the pattern and increase it by 10% for each size up you want to go. There are a lot of sizing charts out there but adjusting the sole by 1/2 inch seems to be pretty standard:

0-3 months = 3.5" sole
3-6 months = 4" sole
6-9 months = 4.5" sole
9-12 months =5" sole
12-18 months = 5.5" sole

I've made a few shoes for kids 12 months and up used gripper dot fabric for the bottom sole so that they're not on a slippery surface if they are standing or walking. Love this! ...but watch your sewing machine with that fabric. I broke a few needles on my first pair.

Enough with the writing... let's just oooh, ahhh at some adorable shoes.