Let’s be realistic here…no baby really needs shoes. In fact, I have a drawer full of baby shoes that never get worn. They are totally adorable, but when I look at them and look at baby Micah’s feet, I just can’t bring myself to stuff those scrumptious little feet into those stiff shoes.
However, I have been greatly intrigued by the latest in baby shoes coming from companies like Robeez and Shooshoos. These baby shoes, that go all the way up to toddler sizes, are made from a soft leather and have adorable little designs on them. They do cost a pretty penny, though.
A couple of weeks ago, while at a cloth diaper Chat-n-Play, the hostess showed us a pair of homemade soft soled shoes that were very sweet and looked fairly easy to make. The soles were not a soft leather like the name brands, but rather a suede type material. Those of us in the group who sew, turned the shoes inside out and studied every inch of them, confidant we could make something similar. Thus began my quest to find material suitable for the bottoms of some homemade soft-soled baby shoes.
Never did I expect to find some so soon! Sitting in the WalMart remnant basket, there it was…
A brown suede like material that was perfect for making shoes and at an unbeatable price! Giddy little me snatched up that remnant and threw it into my cart, trying hard to conceal my glee!
So, tonight I began researching patterns online for these sweet little shoes so my find would not go to waste. I found this pattern for making my very own pair of soft-soled baby shoes!
I quickly printed the pattern and went to work. In about 15 minutes I had a pair of shoes completed! Amazing!
Here’s the finished product…
It is too late to be trying them on Micah (and the pattern does say it generally fits size 6-9 months), but I am pleased as punch to have found such a bargain and have acquired a new homemade baby gift to give to friends!
(ps-yes, I know I said I was cutting down on projects…I am…I really, really am!!)
Anonymous says
I have made those from a pattern too. I went to goodwill and bought a leather skirt and a pair of suede pants for a couple dollars each and also a fleece jacket for the lining. That makes a lot of baby shoes! We have always bought those shoes, so this is a huge saving!
Delilah says
Oh, I wanted to mention that I am also planning on starting a gallery of handmade baby shoes on the site. I think it would be cool to be able to look at pictures of everyone else’s shoes, to kind of gain some inspiration. It would be cool if you added yours to it. I should be adding it sometime this week.
Delilah says
YAY!! I’m glad you found my page on soft soled baby shoes! I just made 3 more pairs myself! One for my three month old, and two for friends who are due to give birth this summer. I am so addicted to making these shoes it’s not even funny. I even made some for my toddler by enlarging the pattern in a paint program. She uses them for slippers around the house.All you have to do is use the snapshot tool in your PDF reader to copy each pattern piece and then paste it to a paint type program where you can change the size. Measure your baby’s feet and then resize the pattern based on the measurements.I even considered making adult sized slippers with it. LOL!For slippers or warm shoes I line them with super soft fleece or faux mink. So luxurious!Well thanks for mentioning my website!
Rebekah says
Wow! Those are really cute! How long did they take? I’ve been looking for a shoe pattern for my little sister, Have you seen any patterns for 12-18 months?
Manda @ Lambs In His Arms says
What a great way to save money on soft shoes! And it hardly counts as a project if you can do it in just 15 minutes, right? 😉 What material did you use for the upper part of the shoes?
Kristy says
That is so neat – and they are so cute. I wish I could sew! Maybe if I get a sewing machine one of these days, I could learn.I was the same way – I liked shoes, and it seemed that every other mother I knew had their babies in cute little shoes all the time. But I would look and my babies chubby wide feet, and just couldn’t do it. My first son was a year old before he ever wore shoes (other than those little cloth kinds).
SunflowerMom says
Way to go, Amy! Those look great!
Lilyofthevalley - Tanya says
Those are really cute! My mom has keep our babies supplied in Robeez, those are all I use, they look so much more comfortable on a baby/young toddler than hard shoes!You did a great job!!
Amy @ Raising Arrows says
Wading through mounds of email here! In answer to your question Manda, I just used a cotton for the upper. My husband would like for me to make a pair with the suede all the way around (to look like moccasins)