Keep your feet and toes toasty this winter with this project that reuses old wool sweaters! If you’re retiring some of your old wardrobe for the new year, think twice before you toss those wool pieces in the trash! These homemade slippers are just challenging enough for the novice craftster, and all the materials can probably be found in your house. So heat up a warm drink, find your favorite chair, and you’ll have an adorable new pair of footwear in no time!
Photo and directions courtesy of Homemade Simple
Materials
- Large piece of tightly-woven, 100% wool
- Batting
- Strip of hook and loop tape
- Buttons or other accents
Directions
Felt the Wool: Put your 100% wool sweater, blanket, or coat in the washing machine and wash it with a little bit of soap on the longest, hottest wash cycle. Then dry on high heat for as long as possible, but don’t forget to clean your lint filter several times throughout this step
Cut Patterns: Using this pattern, trace the outer edges of each of your feet, twice for each foot, on the felt. Cut out with scissors. These are the “soles” of your slippers, so leave a little bit of room on the outside edge to allow for seams. Cut two of these same-sized pieces from the batting. Then cut two “over-the-toe” pieces and two “strap” pieces.
So Sole-ful: Place one of the soles right side up on a flat surface. Top this piece with another sole lying right side down, and top this with a piece of batting. Using a needle and embroidery thread, whipstitch these three pieces together, or, if you feel like a tighter stitch, use a sewing machine. Leave space near the toe open, with enough room to turn the entire piece right side out. Once the right sides are facing out and the batting in is the middle, use a pen or pencil to shape the batting into place. You won’t have to close the top, since you will do that when you attach the top piece to the sole. Repeat for the other foot.
Top It Off: Fold the right foot over-the-toe piece in half, right sides touching, so the piece looks like a candy cane. Pin together at the toe and heel, and sew the heel edges together with a gradual curved line. This will start the heel.
Next, pin the hooked edge of the “candy cane” to the center of the right foot sole at the toe (the hook should be facing in toward the slipper). Flip the over-the-toe piece inside out, and pin the heel of this piece at the corners at the sole. This shapes the heel of the slipper.
Tip: To add some decorative reinforcement to the heel of the slipper, cut off the ribbed cuffs of your sweater, trim to fit around the heel and stitch on.
Using a tight whipstitch, sew together the touching edges of the top piece and the sole. Repeat this process for the left foot pieces.
Attach the straps across the tops of the two slippers with hook and loop tape and garnish with a button or two.