Soft Soled Leather shoes

Sewing Skill: Medium, small applique skills needed.





Materials: Small leather scraps (old leather skirts, etc, work great). The thinner leather makes for softer shoes and can be sewn on a regular machine. The pattern is for sizes 6 months to 18 months. I also sell these in my store as well as a paper pattern for sizes up to 24 months.





These are recommended for new walkers. They provide slip protection and the soft soles help develop arches and improve balance.





Pattern can be found here and here. You need both pages, be sure it prints the correct size. You can use your childs foot to guage which size to use, just make sure there is about 1/4-1/2" of space around the foot. on the pattern for seam allowance and room.

I used my imagination for the decoration, but you can do anything to cover the elastic holes..
Here are the directions.

Cut pieces...2 of each pattern piece no need to flip pieces, they are ambi-foot!

Cut out your elastic hole cover (not on pattern) this will be a flower, circle, stripe etc about 1"square to cover the slits where the elastic would show. For a stripe, just trace the toe pattern again on the contrasting color and cut about 3/4"to 1" deep.

Cut elastic to the length of your elastic casing pattern. If using a thick leather, or if you elastic is very stretchy (they all vary), cut 1/2" less than your casing. I use stretchrite 1/4" elastic and cut it 1/2"short. Cut 2 pieces

Cut 2 small slits in the center top of toe portion. These should be about 3/8" apart and 3/8" down from the edge of the side that will go across the bridge of the foot.

Thread one end of your elastic up from the wrong side,then back down through the other hole. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic (small pin)

Sew elastic casing to upper part of heel piece, leaving short ends open and backtacking all ends. Sew close to the edge, as you will have to pass a small safely pin through there.

Sew your decorative stripe, flower, applique, etc over the place where your elastic shows. BE SURE to not sew ON your elastic...move the ends around as you sew around the hole.

Thread the safety pin from your toe portion through the elastic casing, keeping it threaded through the toe part as well. You will have to hold one end and gather as much slack as you can, gathering an inch or more on bothends of the elastic. I sew them together with about an inch tail, but you can do less than this if you want them looser on the ankle.

Then I trim to just beyond my stitching, then thread that thick part into the elastic casing and scoot the elastic around so that the bump is near the back.

Sew you toe/heel (now attached via elastic) to the bottom piece. 1/8" seam allowance. You can use a 1/4" S.A.for a slightly smaller shoe.

Sew right sides together. Heel portion should overlap OVER the toe portion about1/2" when you sew it on. This will make the toe portion be on TOP once you turn.

Reinforce the stitches all around,sewing just next to (outside of) your first stitches. No need for these to be neat, and are not absolutely needed.

Turn and smile, you are done.

Here is another free pattern online, but I found these to be too narrow and I just love my homemade pattern :)


If I was a good knitter, I would try these slippers from felted yarn. They look adorable, but I just dont have time to learn to knit well....although I did buy some nice yarn and needles, Im too afraid to just try it after a few failed projects.