Step Two

Tape together pages 2-4 by removing the un-printed edge of page 3 and taping it to align with the images on pages 2 and 4. It should look similar to the image.  This is how you create the pdf pattern.

Once you have done that you can cut out the TOE, BOOT SHAFT and SHOE SOLE paper pattern pieces in your desired size.

Step Three

Before we dive into created the felted sweater material and patching our up cycled sweaters together, we are going to use the pattern pieces to cut our lining fabric and wool batting.

I used an oversized men’s shirt from the thrift store as a lining for the boot. If you do the same, make sure the shirt has some rayon or other material to give it a little bit of stretch.  Otherwise, just use a sturdy interlock knit.

Using your pattern pieces, cut out a TOE, Back BOOT SHAFT, SHOE SOLE and a Front BOOT SHAFT as directed on the pattern pieces in your lining and wool batting.  Notice that the Front BOOT SHAFT is almost he same as the Back BOOT SHAFT except it has a front cut out.  This leaves room for the toe. Also, the lining BOOT SHAFT is cut slightly shorter. Make sure you cut the lining at it’s cut line at the top.

Be sure to include markings where indicated on the pattern pieces. You may also find it useful to mark the top of the back BOOT SHAFT as it’s difficult to tell the difference from the top hem and heel before it’s sewn.

Set these aside.

 

Step Four

Now the fun part of felting wool! Begin by gathering your sweaters that have holes in them or are too small but are 100% wool or cashmere. You will need approximately 2-3 sweaters to make the boot slippers.

 

Step Five

Cut apart the sweaters at the seams.

 

Step Six

Take the cut up sweaters and put them in a washing machine on a hot water cycle and then throw them in a high heat dryer.  It make take up to 3-4 washes to get them to felt up. Felting works best with heat, friction and water. You may find that washing the sweaters with towels or jeans helps speed the process up.

Felting means that the sweaters will no longer unravel and form a non-fraying edge while also gaining strength and decreasing size.  They will also have less stretch to them and be quite warm. They should look something like this.

Step Seven

Once you have felted pieces you can begin to piece them together.  It is easiest to form one big piece and then cut out the pattern pieces from that large (scrapped together) piece of “fabric” formed out of the felt.

Be sure to iron, with steam, after every time you stitch pieces together. This keeps the seams flat and re-adheres the fabric together.

Step Eight

Use the pattern pieces and your newly formed wool sweater ‘fabric’ to cut out a TOE,  SHOE SOLE, and  Front and Back BOOT SHAFT.  Be sure to include the markings as indicated on the pattern pieces. Just like you did before.

You will now have all of those pieces in sweater wool, wool batting and lining fabric.

 

Step Nine

Once the fabric is cut we are ready to start construction of the boot slippers! Begin with your sweater fabric.

Place the midway point of the front BOOT SHAFT curve and the marked middle of the TOE edge right sides together. Pin in place.

Step Ten

Connect the side edge of the TOE with the furthest edge of the front BOOT SHAFT.  Pin.

Step Eleven

Repeat with the other edge. Next, stretch the material so that the raw edges of both TOE and front BOOT SHAFT are aligned.

Sew in place at 1/4″ seam allowance and press with an iron when done.

Step Twelve

Place the front BOOT SHAFT and the back BOOT SHAFT (the one that doesn’t have a front cut out) right sides together.

Pin along the long raw edges.

Sew at a 1/4″ seam allowance. Press with an iron after sewing.

Step Thirteen

Fold the bottom of the boot slipper in half as show below.  Mark the midway point of the TOE and HEEL.

Step Fourteen

Attach the SHOE SOLE right sides together with the boot slipper body lining up the markings with the midway points.

Step Fifteen

Pin in the place the rest of the shoe sole so that it aligns with the raw edges of the boot shaft.

Sew in place with a 1/4″ seam allowance. Turn the boot slipper right sides out and press with an iron the best you can.

Step Sixteen

Repeat this process for the wool batting. Do not worry about ironing the wool batting pieces.

Step Seventeen

Repeat the same process for the lining fabric with one exception.  Leave a small opening (around 5-6″ ) as you attach the SHOE SOLE to the BOOT SHAFT. Iron as you go.

Set aside lining pieces.

Step Eighteen

Place the wool batting boots inside of the sweater fabric boots with the WRONG sides facing.

Pin to align at the top (sides seams should meet side seams) and sew with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step Nineteen

Slip the boot LINING  around the sweater/batting so that the right sides are facing each other.  Line up the side seams and be sure the tops are aligned each other. The boot lining is purposely ONE INCH shorter than the sweater fabric boot so that the lining isn’t visible when you are wearing the boot slippers.  This means that you will need to scrunch the sweater boot down a little to line up the top edge. You may also find you need to stretch the lining fabric to fit. This is fine.

Sew at a 4/8″ seam allowance all the way around the top. Do not turn it right sides out just yet!

Step Twenty

If you wish to add an optional elastic band to the inside of the boot slipper follow the next two steps. If not, skip ahead to Step 22.

Measure, with a measuring tape, around the area just below your knee.  Decrease that measurement by 1 and 1/2″ and cut two pieces of elastic to that length.

Overlap the raw edges by 1/2″ to create a loop.  Make sure the elastic isn’t twisted.  Sew to hold the loop in place.

Divide this elastic loop into four equal parts using either a marking tool or pins.

Divide the top of the boot slipper into four equal parts as well. The easiest way to do this is the use the side seams as 2 of the marks and then fold in half aligning the side seams to find the other 2 equal parts.

Step Twenty-one

Align the elastic quadrants with their counterparts on the boot. Pin in place.

Set your machine to a narrow zigzag stitch and sew the elastic to the seam allowance. You will need to stretch the elastic as you sew.  This will create a bit of a band to help hold up the boots when you wear them.

Step Twenty-two

Using the opening at the bottom of the shoe lining, pull the whole boot slipper right sides out.

Step Twenty-three

Fold the opening inward on the boot slipper lining and stitch to close it up. Do not sew anything but the lining piece.

Place the lining inside of the sweater fabric to create your Upcycled Sweater Boot Slipper! It make take some finagling to get it in place.

Step Twenty-four

Slip them on and enjoy a hot tea alongside your crazy cozy boot slippers!