With temperatures dropping, I wanted to keep my little feet warm in some slippers. It was clear that the ones I bought last year were really too worn out... I thought it was silly to buy new ones when I could sew them myself. So, I started looking for a pattern and came across Artesane's February masterclass again. In no time, I was off for the first test version, kitsch to the max... but isn't that part of the charm of little house slippers?

I took the time to cut out each assembly step, with a little summary so that you too can create your own slippers or offer them to your loved ones! Besides, I think it would make an excellent Christmas gift. 

Let's go, grab your needles!

The pattern

The pattern is available for free on the Artesane website in sizes 29 to 42. It is therefore possible to make it for children or women. It can be enlarged for men but you will need to widen the sole.

To download the pattern, you must create an Artesane account, add the pattern to your cart, and then confirm your order.

The pattern is very simple as it consists of two pieces (the sole and the top of the slipper). The seam allowances are included and are 0.8cm.

In the seamstress's basket

To sew a pair of slippers, you will need several supplies.

1. To make the sole, you will need a "non-slip" material. There are ready-made soles that you can buy but they are quite expensive. Also, Artesane suggests working with bulgomme, the rubber foam used as a table protector. The textured side allows making soles and the thickness is adequate. 

2. To make the top and inside of the slipper. You will need:

• stretch fabric: jersey, fleece, sweatshirt ...
• some pre-folded elastic bias tape
• some matching thread

3. The necessary materials consist of scissors (fabric, paper, and embroidery), pins, your sewing machine

4. To decorate your slippers, you can use ribbon to make bows or wool to make pom-poms...

You can also decide to do embroidery. In short, everything is possible with a little creativity!

The sewing steps

1. Preparation of the soles

Cut the soles from the bulgomme. Be careful to cut one right foot and one left foot. Then repeat the operation on the fabric of your choice.

Glue the two layers of fabric. To do this, place the wrong side of your fabric on the smooth side of the bulgomme and stitch the sole edges at 0.5cm, lengthening the stitch. For sewing the bulgomme you can use a standard needle No. 80 or No. 90. If you have a double feed foot, this can also be useful.  

2. Preparation of the slipper top 

Cut two slipper tops (again be careful to have a right foot and a left foot). Close the edge of the slipper top by pinning the back of the slipper right sides together. Stitch the back of the slipper with a zigzag stitch. You can also assemble this part with a 4-thread overlocker. 

3. Placement of the pre-folded bias tape

Start placing and sewing the pre-folded bias tape at the middle back (let it extend a few millimeters). Begin sewing with a zigzag stitch to hold the bias tape well. Then continue sewing while gradually placing the pre-folded bias tape on the fabric. It is necessary to apply tension by stretching the bias tape and carefully flattening it. 

Cousez l'ensemble du pourtours. Quand vous arrivez de nouveau à hauteur du milieu arrière, placez le biais au-dessus des premiers mm. Ils doivent se superposer sur environ 1cm. Coupez l'excédent et brûlez au briquet les extrémités. 
 To finish, make a straight securing stitch to firmly secure the overlap. 

4. Placement of the back tongue

To finish the back of the slipper, place an open pre-folded bias tape strip on either side of the slipper. Pin the strip leaving 1cm protruding on top, this will create a small allowance to slip the slipper on. 

Stitch the bias tape onto the slipper with a straight stitch to hold it. Stitch a line at each end and a line of stitches in the middle of the bias tape. Stop each seam when you reach the already placed bias tape. 

Finally, make a straight stitch parallel to the edge of the slipper at the tongue to secure it well.

5. Assembly of the slipper top and sole

Place the slipper top right sides together on its sole, try as best as possible to ease the fullness all around the edges. Stitch the edges at 0.8cm. 

Generously trim the inside of the slipper

Turn your slippers inside out and tada... try them on! 

Here is the full Artesane masterclass video, if you want to watch it in its entirety. 

6. Decoration

All you have left to do is decorate them if you wish or start over. 

My next pair will be in fleece now that I have validated the size to make. 

And you, in which material will you make yours?