How to sew baby booties

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Use up one or two fat quarters with this fast baby bootie project created by Jennie Jones.

Dinky feet will look oh-so-sweet in Jennie Jones’ gorgeous baby booties! They make great baby gifts and are a lovely quick sewing project.

This free tutorial is a quick and easy sewing project using only one or two fat quarters of fabric. It only requires some simple stitches and elastic is used to secure the boots in place, making it an easy sewing project that even sewing beginners can try.

How to sew baby booties

You will need

Two pieces of fabric approx 15 x 40cm each (we used a fat quarter each of Blueberry Crumble Peach Cobbler, 30387-12 and Crumb Cake, 30388-13 from the Persimmon range by BasicGrey for Moda)

Paper for the template
Basic sewing kit, sewing machine
15cm length elastic, 0.5cm wide
Download our free baby booties template

Step 1

Cut your pieces using your templates. Take the top of the backs in corresponding fabrics and pin right sides together. Sew 0.5cm from the top.

Step 2

Cut the elastic to about 10cm (depending on how tight you want the heel to be) and pin to the top of the back piece, close to the seam. Pin the elastic the full length of the back, and zigzag stitch with your machine.

Step 3

Open out so the fabric is right sides out. Pull the elastic taut and pin together. Make sure it’s flat so when you top stitch along, it looks straight. Top stitch, just below the elastic.

Step 4

Join the top and back together on one side along the straight edge, matching patterns facing, RS together. Pin.

Step 5

Repeat for the other side then place the corresponding fabric top piece over the pinned back part, RS facing in. You’ll now have a clam-type shape with the back piece sandwiched between the two top pieces. Sew along the straight edge of the tops, securing the back sides in place.

Open out and you’ll start to see the shoe shape.

Step 6

Match up the middle of the shoe and sole pieces by folding both in half lengthways and pinning. Sew a section around 3cm at the top edge of the bottom and top.

Step 7

Pin the remaining sole piece WS out, to the top of the other pieces.

Step 8

Sew around the edge of the sole – leave the 3cm stitched area, so you have a small gap.

Step 9

Turn RS out, pulling the bootie through the opening. Slip stitch the gap, and you’re done!

Take your handmade booties to the next level with our how to make leather baby shoes tutorial.

Sew a brilliant baby romper

Now that you’ve made baby a brand new pair of shoes, why not make them a whole outfit with our free baby romper sewing pattern?

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Jennie Jones

Jennie Jones discovered sewing when she had children and her work is featured regularly in Simply Sewing magazine. Her Fast Fat Quarter designs show makers how to craft modern gifts, accessories and homewares using just one or two pieces of fabric. She shares a mix of handmade loveliness with a bit of vintage thrown in on her Instagram @thestitchinghut. Jenny harbors a fairly serious fabric buying habit

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