How to make a baby shoes

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one pair, 3–6 months)

• Main fabric (cotton, corduroy or felt) — about 30 × 30 cm (12 × 12 in)
• Lining fabric (gauze or cotton) — the same amount
• Lightweight batting — about 30 × 30 cm (12 × 12 in)
• Optional: narrow elastic for the opening, or ribbon

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Baby” → “Baby shoes” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
   Enter foot length, foot width and the opening height. Presets cover newborn, 3–6 and 6–12 months.
3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the sole, the toe and the heel, and mark the notches — they set where the pieces overlap.
2. Cut
   For one pair: two soles, two toes and two heels, each in outer and lining. Remember to mirror the second shoe.
3. Finish the edges
   Everything is enclosed, so no edge finishing is needed.

4. Sewing

4-1. Make the toe and heel

1. Sew the toe outer and lining right sides together along the upper curve — that curve becomes the shoe opening. Turn and press.
2. Make the heel the same way, sewing along its opening edge.

4-2. Arrange them on the sole

1. Lay the outer sole right side up and place the toe piece at the front and the heel piece at the back, both right side up.
2. Overlap their side edges slightly and baste all the way around the edge of the sole, using the notches to place them.

4-3. Close the sole

1. Lay the lining sole on top, right sides together, sandwiching the toe and heel between the two soles.
2. Sew around the sole, leaving a 4 cm (1½ in) gap.
3. Clip the curved seam allowance, turn through the gap, close it and shape the shoe. Repeat for the other foot.

✏️ Sandwiching the toe and heel between the two soles and sewing them in one pass is what makes these look neat — attach them separately and every raw edge shows on the inside.

5. Tips & variations

• Keep them on: elastic through the opening, or a strip of elastic at the heel, stops them being kicked off.
• Once they pull to stand: add a non-slip sole sheet or use non-slip fabric for the sole.
• As a gift: tiny, sweet and made from scraps — one of the best things on this site to give away.