Both soft and flexible, handmade baby shoes are ready to keep little feet protected! Using just two fat quarters of fabric, baby shoes make a great stash busting project, or you can mix-and-match designs with Fill-a-Yard™ to make multiple pairs from one yard.
Protect tiny, precious toes with a pair of made-with-love baby shoes. Create a pair that matches a dress, bonnet or onesie. This is the perfect hand-made gift for a baby shower, birthday or sweet surprise. Want to match your mini-me? Check out this post about making your own pair of espadrilles with Spoonflower fabric. We know you’re excited to make (and see) these cute slippers, so let’s get started!
Choose The Right Baby Shoe Fabric and Design
When choosing a fabric, stick to lightweight woven fabrics like Organic Cotton Sateen (the fabric we used for this tutorial!), Cotton Poplin or Lightweight Cotton Twill. Thicker fabrics are more difficult to work with, especially when you’re working with multiple layers. For a pair of shoes with a little stretch, Modern Jersey or Organic Cotton Knit will do the trick.
The Spoonflower Marketplace is home to hundreds of thousands of designs. To help you find the best one for this project we have some tips:
- Choose the right scale in your favorite design: You’ll want to choose a small scaled design. At the largest size, a finished baby shoe is only 5″ long x 2.5″ wide—so smaller scaled designs will shine more on your shoes than larger ones.
- Consider a ditsy design: A ditsy design is small in scale, and the design motifs are usually scattered or random rather than being ordered in a definable pattern like rows or stripes.
- Preview your design on a swatch first: Open the page where you can order your design and in the ‘size’ section of the page, select ‘Swatch 8″ x 8″‘. This will give you a better idea of what parts of the design will fit within your shoe pattern pieces.
Now that we’ve gone through the tips, let’s go through the steps!
Materials To Make DIY Baby Shoes
- 1 Fat quarter of 1/4 yard of fabric for the outer fabric—We’re using the design Happy Pears by wanart
- 1 Fat quarter of 1/4 yard of fabric for the lining fabric—We’re using the design Dunes – Geometric Waves by heatherdutton
- 1 Fat quarter for the sole fabric—Faux leather will provide a nice grip for a standing or walking baby but you can also use Tulip® Puffy™ Dimensional Fabric Paint to create a fun non-slip sole pattern!
- Spoonflower’s free baby shoe pattern—Available for sizes 0-15 months
- 1/4 yard of fusing lightweight interfacing
- 1/4″ wide braided elastic—the length will be determined by the shoe size below, but will require no more than 10″
- Thread
- Pins (applique pins work really well for me)
- Iron
- Fabric scissors
- Sewing machine – We’re using our BERNINA B350
- 1/4 yard fusible batting (for extra cushion, optional)—We’re using Fairfield Fusi-Boo Fusible Batting
- (Optional) Corner pusher
- (Optional) Tailor’s ham
- (Optional) 2 Safety pins—they’re helpful when working with elastic
Sewing Tip:
How To Make DIY Baby Shoes
Part 1: Prepare Your Materials
Step 1: Cut out your paper pattern pieces
Select your paper pattern page from the PDF based on the final shoe size you’ll be making. Then print out the page and cut out the pattern pieces. When printing your pattern, make sure to select Actual Size on your printing options. To double-check that the pattern printed at the correct scale, make sure the test square measures 2”x2”.
Step 2: Cut out your fabric to your paper
lay out your pattern pieces on the fabric and cut out your pattern pieces. We suggest making a mark at the center of the top and bottom of the toe and sole with a washable fabric marker. When you’re done cutting, you should have the following pieces:
Toe:
- 2 outer fabric
- 2 lining fabric
- 2 interfacing
Sole:
- 2 outer fabric
- 2 lining fabric
- 2 interfacing
Heel:
- 2 outer fabric
- 2 lining fabric
- 2 interfacing
Cut two pieces of elastic for each pair of shoes using the guide below:
- US Size 1 – 3 ¾” long
- US Size 2 – 4” long
- US Size 3 – 4 ¼” long
- US Size 4 – 4 ½” long
- US Size 5 – 4 ¾” long
Optional Step 3: Trim the batting
If using the optional batting, trim your sole pieces an additional 1/4” from the edge so they’re slightly smaller than your outer fabric sole pieces.
Step 4: Attach the interfacing
Iron on the fusible interfacing to the wrong side of the outer pieces for the toe, heel and sole following the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re adding the optional fusible batting to the sole for extra cushion, iron it in place on the wrong side of the sole. The batting should be sandwiched between the outer sole fabric and interfacing.
Make Both Shoes At Once
Part 2: Create The Heel
Step 5: Stitch the fabric and interfacing together
Pin the right sides together of the outer heel and lining heel, and sew the longest edge (labeled A on your pattern). Press the seam open and trim about 1/8” off each side of the seam.
Step 6: Fold and press the fabric
Fold the heel in half (wrong sides should be together now) and press the seam.
Step 7: Create the elastic casing
Sew a 3/8″ seam from the folded edge to create a casing for the elastic.
Step 8: Insert the elastic
Attach a safety pin to one edge of the elastic. Insert the safety pin and elastic into one open end of the casing. Once all of the elastic is inside, secure the unpinned end of the elastic with a small stitch to hold in place. Push the elastic through the rest of the casing and once you have reached the edge, secure the other side with a small stitch. The elastic for the heel should now be secure! Repeat steps 6 through 8 on the second heel.
Part 3: Create the Toe
Step 9: Organize your toe pieces
Lay the finished heel piece on top of the main toe piece (the finished elastic edge should face towards the center of the toe piece). Now it’s time to create a baby shoe sandwich: place the toe lining piece right sides together on top of the heel piece.
Here’s what your baby shoe sandwich should look like:
- Bottom layer – outer toe piece, printed side up
- Middle layer – finished heel piece
- Top layer – lining toe piece, printed side down
Step 10: Stitch the heel and toe pieces together
To complete this step we’re going to break it down into two parts.
Part 10.1 Stitch to the center of the toe piece. Starting from the far left side, stitch to the center of the toe piece, making sure to catch both the toe piece layers and the heel piece.
Part 10.2 Finish attaching the heel to the toe pieces. Remove the fabric from your machine and create a second toe/heel sandwich for the other end of the heel. To do this, pin the unsewn end of your heel between outer toe and lining toe piece. Stitch in place. These stitches should meet up with the stitches you made in part 10.1.
Step 11: Press the shoe piece
Turn the top of the shoe right side out. Delicately press the top of the toe piece and heel if necessary. We recommend using a press cloth during this step! Repeat steps 10 and 11 to create the second shoe top.
Part 4: Attach the Sole
Step 12: Organize your sole pieces
Place the sole fabric that you want to be on the bottom of the shoe right side down on top of the shoe top. Next, place the lining sole fabric right side up underneath the completed shoe top (be sure to line up any center lines during this process).
Step 13: Pin your sole pieces
Pin in between center lines and leave a 1” opening on one side. For thicker fabrics like Lightweight Cotton Twill, we recommend leaving a 1 1/2″ opening.
Sewing Tip:
Step 14: Stitch your sole pieces together
Sew all the way around with a 1/4” seam, and then trim only the sewn edges to 1/8”. Repeat steps 12 through 14 for the second shoe.
Part 5: Finish the Baby Shoe
Step 15: Turn the shoe right side out
Now it’s time to see how everything has turned out so far. Turn your shoe so it’s right side out—you may need a corner pusher to complete this process
Step 16: Hand stitch the opening close
Fold in the lining fabric and the outer fabric at the unfinished opening and pin. Hand stitch the opening closed.
Step 17: Press the baby shoe
Press any wrinkles and all finished seams. Repeat steps 12 through 17 for the other shoe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Size 1 (0-3 months) = 3.75” length
Size 2 (3-6 months) = 4” length
Size 3 (6-9 months) = 4.25” length
Size 4 (9-12 months) = 4.5” length
Size 5 (12-15 months) = 4.75-5” length
Wendy you can sew the sole of the foot all the way on first then attach the lining piece using the previous stitching as your guide and leaving the gap in it to turn it all through. Then hand sew that gap closed and you have a reversible pair of shoes with just the one inch of hand sewing to do ( I will avoid hand sewing at all costs haha ). Great little pattern, thanks Spoonflower!!
Thanks for sharing your helpful tip, Kerrie! 🙂
Best,
Betsy
Spoonflower
Is the seam allowance included in the pattern or not? Because I made size 2 by adding the 1.4″ seam allowance to the pattern, but the result was bigger. I read that size 2 should be 4″ long and mine 4.5″. So I conclude that you don’t need to add the seam allowance,but I can’t find any exact information about this anywhere. :/
Anyway, thanks for the pattern!
Hi Rebecca,
Underneath the materials section in this post, it states to use a 1/4 (.25″) seam allowance unless said otherwise in the steps. We have plans to test this pattern again soon and update this post to make things a little clearer overall, so thank you for your feedback on this!
Crafty regards,
Anna
Spoonflower
Thanks for sharing amazing post. I think it is very helpful. Love you
I figured out why it said leave opening at toe. It’s not at toe but at side on toe piece. You have to sew past the heel/toe seam so you have 4 layers of material not 3. Then from the outside you sew the middle layers together by hand in a running stitch and then the outer layer in a closure. This way the shoe can also be reversible if you had two different materials.
Wendy, you’re a superstar!
Thanks for coming back and sharing what you discovered so that others (including me, as I learned something new too!) can benefit.
Best,
Betsy
Spoonflower
The most difficult part was sewing the three layers together at the end. I tried basting it seems time consuming and wasn’t working well. The best thing was to pin with 4 pins, top, bottom, each side. Then ease in more pins. It is also important that pins be fairly short. As you sew and remove pins it’s also possible to ease fabric a bit. A couple of ticks here and there won’t make a big difference. If you don’t like one side just turn the shoe inside out. I found it was easier just to use the same fabric on both lining and outside.
Under no circumstances should you leave the opening at the heel or toe. It makes it SO hard to sew up the opening. I have no idea why that is the recommendation here. I think it’s a mistake since the pictures show the opening on the side. I unfortunately followed the written instructions instead.
Hi there
In turning the shoes inside out I find that I am not encasing the seam – it is visible inside. Your photos look like it is encased. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Elizabeth, this pattern uses a lining fabric, so that the seams will be enclosed inside the lining. I hope that helps!
I am so sorry to be so inept but I am stuck at step 8- Does the sole go on top of the toe and the sole liner go underneath the toe so the toes piece is in between the two like bologna, or do both go on top of the toe? I can’t visualize it and I can’t sort it out from the pictures ANd you don’t say anything about easing, which I assume we do. Plese help. Baby due in 8 weeks and I need the time for seam ripping! 🙂
Hi Maisie,
Thanks for your interest in our project! Noelle shared that the need to ease the pattern pieces can really depend on the fabric type you are using. If Cypress Cotton Canvas or Fleece is used, for example, you may prefer to use basting stitches to make the toe portion a bit easier to reduce any puckering, but the easiest and quick option for all fabric types was to use applique pins and clips. The appliqué pins she uses in the photos help immensely with keeping excess fabric from gathering around the toe. If you’re using regular sewing pins, it can push the fabric further into the shoe and make it harder to sew as well. If neither are an option, basting can help and will make it easy to work around while stitching. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Wishing all the best for you and your baby-to-be!
-Amy
Spoonflower
Hello, where can I buy non skid fabric for sole of baby shoe please?
Hi Chrystal,
Thanks for your interest in our baby shoe tutorial. We would suggest checking out your local fabric store for non-slip fabric. You can also use faux leather. Best of luck with the project!
-Amy
Spoonflower
What are the finished sizes of each size? I cannot find it anywhere.
Thanks
Hi Bri,
That’s a great question! We’ve reached out to out the pattern designer to request this information and will update the post as soon as it’s available.
Best Regards,
-Meredith F.
Spoonflower
Hi Bri,
Please find the measurements for each size based on the sole of the shoe below.
Size 1 (0-3 months) = 3.75” length
Size 2 (3-6 months) = 4” length
Size 3 (6-9 months) = 4.25” length
Size 4 (9-12 months) = 4.5” length
Size 5 (12-15 months) = 4.75-5” length
I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Best Regards,
-Meredith F.
Spoonflower
Thanks for the shoe pattern. Your instructions were great along with the pictures. I only made one mistake! But of course that was mine not yours.
I was able to make white little shoes for a baptism. Just what I was looking for.
Hi Marge,
We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed the pattern and found the instructions clear. We’ll be sure to pass this feedback along to the pattern maker.
Best Regards,
-Meredith F.
Spoonflower
Muchas gracias por el patrón y el tutorial, una consulta el patrón incluye la medida de las costuras?
Hola Alexandra,
¡Nos alegra que hayas disfrutado del patrón! Todos los permisos de costura son ¼” a menos que se indique lo contrario.
-Amy
(Por favor, disculpe cualquier error, usé un traductor en línea)
Thanks for this great pattern and tutorial! Just finished my third pair for my first grandchild. Such a fun little project! He is going to have a wardrobe of these. Love them so much!
Hi, I was wondering if these would work out well with leather fabric? I am looking to make these soon. Thank you 🙂
Hi Priscilla,
We have not tried this tutorial with leather and cannot make a leather recommendation here. If you do try it out, we’d love to hear how it goes!
All the best,
Laurie S.
Spoonflower
I\’m in love with these little shoes! I just finished making three pairs (sizes 2,3, and 4) for a new baby\’s first winter. For the soles of size 4 I used pleather, which looks and feels lovely and has great grip for toddling. Thank you so much for making this pattern available!
Made these last night for my daughter named Meredith! I found that the suggested length of the elastic for the back to be way too long. I cut off nearly an inch of the suggested length for size 5. Any thoughts on where I went wrong?
Hi Leah,
Thanks so much for sharing your feedback and we’re sorry for the unexpected trouble! The length of the elastic can vary based on your preference, especially if it’s for a child that often kicks off their socks and shoes. The recommended length is a bit longer just so ensure the shoes aren’t too but if you want more of a rippled look, we recommend shortening the elastic. Please keep in mind it also depends on the elastic you are using. Noelle used this cotton elastic for the shoes in this tutorial. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
Thanks for the great pattern! I tagged spoon flower on Instagram if you’d like to see pictures @maria.rose.sews
Thanks so much, Maria! We took a peek at your post on Instagram and the shoes are absolutely adorable. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you so much for the pattern and tutorial!! I\’ve struggled following patterns in the past and your tutorial really spelled it out plainly. My finished shoes look amazing. I\’ve made a handful of these for baby showers and they have been very well received!!
I am curious if there are any thoughts to making larger size patterns of these for kiddos? I would love to make some of these for my toddler to wear around the house in the winter months.
Hi Kyrie,
We’re so happy to hear you’ve enjoyed this tutorial! Unfortunately we don’t have plans to expand the size range at this time, we’d love to know what size range you’d be interested in in the event we are able to expand.
Love these! Easy❤️
Hi! Thank you for the tutorial! I keep having an issue when sewing the bottom to the top, the top (toe section) always seems to be bigger than the sole and causes a “gathering” on the toe? What ami I doing wrong?
Hi the next time I make these I am going to baste the top to the sole, maybe in a step 7.5. I think that will help with the ease.
Hi Sandy,
We’re sorry for the trouble! Noelle recommends using smaller pins or using clips to prevent gathering at the toe. The appliqué pins she uses in the photos help immensely with keeping excess fabric from gathering around the toe. If you’re using regular sewing pins, it can push the fabric further into the shoe and make it harder to sew as well. If neither are an option, basting can help and will make it easy to work around while stitching. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!
These little shoes are adorable!!! I just made a pair for my 3 month old daughter. So simple to make. I’m not quite a beginner, and certainly not a pro and these were a snap to make thanks to the instructions and printable pattern. I will definitely be making more in other sizes and fabric designs. Thanks so much Spoonflower for posting this pattern. I look forward to more great instructions.
Hi Lea,
We’re so happy to hear you’re enjoying the free baby shoe pattern! I’ve got this project on my sewing table for this weekend. -Meredith from Spoonflower
I loved making these! I am very much a beginner sewer and pregnant with my first baby- I made these on a cold rainy afternoon with one of my best friends. They turned out beautifully!
Thanks very much!
Hi Irene,
We’re so happy to hear you made a pair of the baby shoes. We’d love to see a photo if you’d be willing to share!
Such an inspiring post besides, the shoes are really cute!
Love these! Ive found that neoprene is the best bottom fabric for little walkers! It has a great grip and withstands a little outside play too!
Me encanta la costura y las manualidades pero soy incapacitada y tengo que hacer las cosas al paso suave para no ladtimarme