The feet dresses! Next – sew on the sole.

Probably the toughest part is fitting the sole onto the body of the slipper. Hard because we are making up our patterns from tracing our feet, and not measuring. So, lots of pins and slow and smooth sewing.

Then, once the muslin fits, moving on to the actual slippers.

Pictures next week of finished slippers, and hopefully pics too of our next project – Scrap Scarves!

We drafted our own patterns from our own feet.  I didn’t used to be a pattern person.  When I was in school, I’d make my own clothes and clothes for my roommate before we’d go out. I’d cut bodices, sleeves, pants, skirts, all without a pattern.  Then, after several years of intensive patternmaking, I’ve come to LOVE making patterns for things. I love it when things look good and have a great fit!

The orange and pink slippers were made with wonderful thick wool felt.  They are comfy and warm.  I think these will be the first of many.  I think family members and friends will be knocking down the door…

These are mine (note the stars):

I don’t think you know this about me (except for those of you that have gone shoe shopping with me), but I have EEE wide feet.  What this really means is that NONE OF MY SHOES FIT. ever.  IT SUCKS!  Shoe shopping is, while I try to keep a chin up and hopeful, one of the most devastating things I’ve ever done.  I can literally leave a shoe store in tears because NOTHING FITS, not even the ugly shoes.  sad, but so true.

Anyway, I made these slippers, and they fit.  I added stars to remind me of the left and right.

I added a layer of fleece to the sole. They are warmer than I could have imagined.

With a few dabs of fabric paint, I added grippers to my slippers.

I might have to add a few pairs to my list for Christmas presents.  They are fun, and would work with old sweaters and blankets too.  I think my next pair will have even another layer for the sole, just for a bit more cushy-ness.

On another note, tonight was the first part of the Christmas Tree Skirt class.  Below is the winner of the BostonMamas.com LuckyStitches certificate, using her dollars wisely.  She’s starting this really great business around her ideas and sewing (maybe more on that later…), so we talked about that for a while, then got busy working on our skirts.

What I came to realize from our talk about Christmas Tree Skirts, is that they are so much more than the 2 pieces of hot pink satin I’ve been draping around our trees for years.   Rather, they are an opportunity for family tradition and memories.  While they are displayed for just a few weeks, they can come to mean so much in a lifetime.