Slippers, toddlers snow mitts, a mini Christmas stocking, an Elf's boot and a mouse for the cat
The slippers I made from a pattern I made for soft quilted ones, and I find that the ones I've made from the wool are too big for me. I reckon they'd fit a size 4 and I need a little smaller
I'm going to put them in with a dark wash and see if I can shrink them down a bit, but for the present, here they are.
To make a pattern for these draw round your foot and leave about half a cm all round. I cut out four sole pieces because I wanted a padded warmth under my foot. Mark the centre heel and toe.
Find a sock like the one that was used for the boot liner and draw out the shape of it on a piece of paper. Widen the ankle as needed and measure around your foot again. Check you have enough width in the sole and two uppers to fit comfortably around your foot.
I cut the ankle to fit high on my ankle bone for warmth, but I didn't take it up my calf. If you lengthen the pattern there this would make a different boot liner.
If you look at the pattern piece for my slipper uppers in the photo above you can see how the toe is curved at the sole.
This makes a better fit without any extra seams.
When you have drawn out a trial pattern, try it against the sole pattern, from the centre toe mark to the centre heel mark. Remember the upper will need a seam allowance at both ends.
If you can manage to get both sides of the slipper upper from one piece of fabric, remember to reduce the length of the upper by the seam allowances at the heel.
All I had left were scraps so I have a seam at the heel but it's stitched down flat and smooth.
If you can't, cut two uppers one way up and then turn over the paper and cut two more.
This gives you the same fabric outside on both sides of the slipper.
Stitch the heel seam if needed, then begin to stitch from the toe along the upper to the ankle. These slippers could be left a little more open and elastic or a drawcord threaded in, but I made mine close fitting so once on they shouldn't slip off. Just make sure you leave enough of an opening to get your foot into the slipper
Start to stitch the sole and upper together. I found it easier starting from the heel seam and the centre heel mark on the sole. I did this for both sides.
Then I slip stitched the extra sole piece over the entire sole seam. Turn the slipper inside out and repeat
Children's snow mitts were cut as the adult ones, though I had to reattach the cuff that had been the neckline. I just herringboned that onto the mitt cut outs.
I embroidered snowflakes just for fun. Overcast the edges of the mitts and made a twirly keeper cord to stop the child from losing a mitt.
The scraps were looking sort of, "that's a shame to waste...",
So, since it is Christmas time, I made a mini Christmas Stocking, and a Pixie boot
Really ought to have gone to town with the sequins and bells, but they'll do
The cat, who had patiently kept me company, looking vaguely interested as I drew and cut and sewed the blue woolly things, got a toy mouse
I stuffed it with the tiny scraps and she can really get her claws into it. It's a new favourite toy, especially since Madam has decided to stay in out of the snow
So, that's the lot from this jumper
Thanks for your patience, and I'd love to see what you make from yours
cheers,
Toddy
:notworthy
