Step One

Print out the two pattern pieces from the included PDF pattern file. I created these patterns by altering outer patterns that come with the Dritz Flat Espadrille Soles. If your feet are more narrow, take in the toe pattern width at the centerline. If your feet are wider, widen the toe piece at the centerline. This pattern is for regular or medium width feet. The heel is adjustable already, because of the ankle wraps being already adjustable. Cut out the patterns with scissors, around the outline.

Step Two

Set the iron to cotton. Iron both fat quarters flat. Iron fuse Smooth interfacing on one half and Soften interfacing on the other half of each fat quarter. The Smooth portion is for the toe and heel. The Soften portion is for the straps. I used solid black to line my toe, heel, and straps, but a print would look great too.

Step Three

On the Smooth halves, with a black marker trace the toe and heel patterns twice on each fabric piece. Don’t worry about the marker lines showing on the finished shoes. The raw edges will be nicely encased. Cut out the pattern pieces with scissors.

Step Four

On the Smooth fabric halves, with the black marker and clear ruler, mark out rectangles 10″ long by 2.5″ wide. Cut out the rectangle pieces with scissors.

Step Five

Load the sewing machine with black thread. Pair the pattern pieces together, outer with a matching lining piece, right sides together. Straight pin the edges if needed. For the toe pieces, stitch around three sides, leaving a gap on a short side. Cut slits along the two long curved edges. Cut the sew corners diagonally. Don’t cut through the stitching. Turn the toe pieces inside out. Use a chopstick to help shape the corners. Press flat with the iron.

Step Six

Along the top curve of each heel piece, make a mark at 1.5″ and 2.75″ from each end. These indicate where not to sew, for the ankle wraps to be inserted later. Sew around the heel pieces, 1/2″ from the edge, avoiding those marked sections. Cut slits along the curves to help with turning. Cut the sew corners diagonally. Don’t cut through the stitching. Turn the heel pieces inside out. Use a chopstick to help shape the corners. Press flat with the iron.

Step Seven

Pair the strap pieces right sides together. Straight stitch around 1/2″ from the edge, leaving a short edge open. Cut the sew corners diagonally, making sure to cut through the stitching. Turn the straps inside out. Poke the corners into place with a chopstick. Topstitch around the straps 1/8″ from the edge.

Step Eight

Insert a strap end into a heel piece opening, at an outward angle. Fold in the opening edges, to be even with the sewn seam. Topstitch around the heel piece 1/8″ from the edge, backstitching at the straps. My fabric has even stripes, making quilting straight lines easy. Topstitch straight lines about 1/2″ from each other, vertically down each heel piece. I topstitched between every other stripe. Repeat for the other heel piece and straps.

Step Nine

Fold in the toe piece openings even with the sewn seam. Topstitch around 1/8″ from the edge. Topstitch every 1/2″ horizontally. I topstitched every other stripe.

Step Ten

Put a foot onto the matching sole. Lay the heel piece against your heel, wrapping the straps gently over the foot. Press straight pins through the heel piece ends into the sole. Use as many pins as needed. Lay the toe piece over the foot, back from the toes. We found that slightly farther back fit better than more forward. Yes, my shoes are slightly different fitting.

Step Eleven

Cut a long piece of Dritz creative yarn. Pull it through the yarn wax. Fold over one yarn tip, and thread it through the large straight needle. I like using the straight needle better on these shoes than the curved one, because it gives me more control. Knot one yarn end. Pull the knot tight with pliers. Insert the needle through the sole side and top edge at a diagonal, beside the toe piece. Pull the yarn through until the knot stops the yarn. The first section of stitching will go into the toe fabric. About 1/4″ away, insert the needle through the sole side, sole top and toe fabric side. Pull the needle up through the layers, using the pliers. Insert a straight pin through the layers, behind where the yarn came up. Wrap the yarn around that straight pin. Pull the yarn tight. Insert the needle again, 1/4″ away, through all the layers. Leave the straight pin in place. Repeat this blanket stitch technique, adding another straight pin. Leave both straight pins in place. Repeat this blanket stitch technique again, but this time move the 1st straight pin to the new yarn hole.

Continue sewing a blanket stitch around the shoe sole until the thread gets about 4″-6″ long. To tie off the yarn, insert the needle behind the wrapped yarn, back down through the layers the needle just came up. Make a double knot around the bottom of the stitch post by the sole side hole. Pull the knots tightly with the pliers. Cut the yarn close to the knot. Cut another piece of yarn, wax, and thread it. Insert the needle back through that same hole, and continue the blanket stitching until both shoes are finished.

Step Twelve

Slip the finished shoes on your feet, lining your heels up with the fabric heel pieces. There are three ways to wear these. As show, double wrap and tie the straps in the front. Or, single wrap and tie a bow in the back. Or don’t wrap them and tie a big bow across each foot. The various tying styles are great for making the shoes adaptable to different ankle sizes.