Fast Fat Quarter: how to make baby booties
Dinky feet will look oh-so-sweet in Jennie Jones’ gorgeous baby booties! They make great baby gifts and are a lovely quick sewing project. This free tutorial is part of our Fast Fat Quarter series of quick and easy sewing projects using only one or two fat quarters of fabric. Enjoy!
How to sew baby booties: step-by-step guide
You will need
Two pieces of fabric approx 15 x 40cm each (we used a fat quarter each of Blueberry Crumble Peach Cobbler, 30387-12 and Crumb Cake, 30388-13 from the Persimmon range by BasicGrey for Moda)
- Paper for the template
- Basic sewing kit, sewing machine
- 15cm length elastic, 0.5cm wide
- Download our free baby booties template
Instructions
Step one: Cut your pieces using your templates. Take the top of the backs in corresponding fabrics and pin right sides together. Sew 0.5cm from the top.
Step two: Cut the elastic to about 10cm (depending on how tight you want the heel to be) and pin to the top of the back piece, close to the seam. Pin the elastic the full length of the back, and zigzag stitch with your machine.
Step three: Open out so the fabric is right sides out. Pull the elastic taut and pin together. Make sure it’s flat so when you top stitch along, it looks straight. Top stitch, just below the elastic.
Step four: Join the top and back together on one side along the straight edge, matching patterns facing, RS together. Pin.
Step five: Repeat for the other side then place the corresponding fabric top piece over the pinned back part, RS facing in. You’ll now have a clam-type shape with the back piece sandwiched between the two top pieces. Sew along the straight edge of the tops, securing the back sides in place.
Open out and you’ll start to see the shoe shape.
Step six: Match up the middle of the shoe and sole pieces by folding both in half lengthways and pinning. Sew a section around 3cm at the top edge of the bottom and top.
Step seven: Pin the remaining sole piece WS out, to the top of the other pieces.
Step eight: Sew around the edge of the sole – leave the 3cm stitched area, so you have a small gap.
Step nine: Turn RS out, pulling the bootie through the opening. Slip stitch the gap, and you’re done!
Simply Sewing Magazine