Ballet Slippers x2..........this is too cute

Ballerina Slippers: Free Pattern + Tutorial

July 07, 2010 |

UPDATE: Several of you have had trouble with the pattern link - it is updated below!!

Yay... Finally! The tutorial for the ballerina slippers... plus a free pattern!

A few year's ago I saw these ballerina slippers in Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine. I went out and bought all the materials, and they sat in a bag until now :). The first pair I made, I used the pattern included in the magazine, but I felt that the sizes and shape were a little off, so I made a new pattern and made a few tweaks to the design. You can download the pattern pieces below! The pattern is available in three women's sizes: small (6-7.5), medium (7.5-9), and large (9-10.5).

You will need:

• 2 coordinating fat quarters of medium weight quilting fabric
• 40" of medium size rick rack
• Coordinating thread
• 1/8th of a yard wool felt (darker colors that coordinate with your fabrics are best, since this is the part that hits the floor as you walk around = dirty!)
• 6" length of 1/4" wide elastic
• Coordinating embroidery thread
• Hand needle

1. Download the patterns here and cut out your pieces. Decide which of your quilting fabrics will be the outside and which fabric is going to be the lining of the slipper. With the fabric that will be your outside, fold it right sides together and place the pattern piece for the "uppers" on the fold as marked on the pattern. Cut 2. Repeat with your other quilting weight fabric. From your lining fabric, also cut 2 from the sole pattern, using the bold line of the pattern piece.

2. Sew the heel seams of your uppers. Fold both of your "outer uppers" and both of your "lining uppers" in half and sew the heel seam with a scant 1/4" seam.

3. Assemble slipper's upper. Place one of your out uppers and one of your linings on top of each other, right sides together. You'll also need to insert your rick rack between the two layers, running it around the entire opening, and overlapping tails of rick rack over the heel seams. Pin. When it's all pinned, you want the edges of the rick rack to be flush with the fabric edges. Sew through all three layers, trying to sew down the center of the rick rack (about a 1/4" seam).

4. Turn right side out and press. Repeat with the remaining upper and lining.

5. Insert elastic along heel. Cut your 6" length of elastic into two 3" lengths. On the inside of your slipper, measure 3" in each direction from the heel seam and mark. Pin the elastic on one of the 3" marks, sew a stitch or two to anchor it. Stretch the elastic as you sew it, stretching it all the way to the other mark. IMPORTANT: sew the elastic to the wrong side of the "upper" fabric, so that it will curl the right way.

6. Sew raw edges of slipper. Pin the raw edges of the slipper together, and sew, using a scant 1/4" seam.

7. Sew a gathering stitch along the toe. Using a basting stitch on your machine, sew a gathering stitch, about 1/2" from point to point, as shown on the picture below (see blue arrows).

8. Connect the slipper body to the insole. Start by centering the heel seam on the heel of the insole. Working your way around, pin the slipper body to the insole. Use the gathering stitch to shape the toe. Sew with a scant 1/4" seam.

9. Sew wool felt sole on. Using the dotted line on the sole pattern piece, cut 2 soles from the wool felt. Press the seams of the slipper body toward the center of the bottom. Pin the wool felt sole on, and using embroidery thread and a blanket stitch, sew the sole onto the slipper.

10. Put your feet up and relax!

UPDATE 9/9/10: Use and Care Instructions: Wash on cold with like colors and let air dry.