Soft Home Slippers from Fabric Scraps

Things you will learn

Knit socks are very comfortable, but they wear through quickly; instead, you can sew slippers from fabric scraps — warm and soft, they'll hold up through several washes and won't cost you a cent.
For the pattern, you need three measurements: foot length (trace your foot while standing on a hard surface), instep height (from the base of your toes to the desired depth of the slipper), and foot circumference (around the widest part).
For the insole, you need sturdy fabric in 3 layers — trace your foot and cut with a 1 cm seam allowance on all sides; for the top piece, cut a rectangle (length equals foot length plus 2 cm, width equals foot circumference plus a 1 cm allowance); you'll need 4 of these pieces, folded in pairs right sides together and then in half lengthwise again, shaping a rounded toe.
On the top piece, mark the instep height from your measurement, and from that point mark a 2 cm notch for the slipper's opening; fold the sole into 3 layers and quilt it for thickness and firmness, using a free-motion foot or a regular sewing machine.
Stitch the top piece along the inside, turn it right side out, and topstitch the edge; sew the back seam, trim away excess fabric, and finish the seam, then join the sole to the top either with the seam facing out and bound with bias tape, or with the seam turned to the inside.

What you'll get

You'll get a warm, soft pair of home slippers with a back piece, sewn from fabric scraps.

Materials and tools

Materials

Sturdy fabric for the insole, 3 layers
Fabric for the top piece, 4 rectangular pieces
Bias tape, optional, for finishing the seam on the outside

Tools

A tape measure, for taking your foot measurements
Paper for the pattern
Sewing machine, with a free-motion foot, if you have one
Scissors

Take your measurements

You need three foot measurements for the pattern.

Measure your foot length

We need to take 3 measurements: foot length — be sure to stand on a hard surface to trace your foot!

Marking a home slipper pattern on black fabric — Marking the pattern on black fabric

Measure the instep height

Instep height. Measure from the base of your toes to the desired depth of the slipper.

Measure the foot circumference

Foot circumference. Measure around the widest part.

Cut the pieces

Cut the insole and top piece based on your measurements.

Cut the insole

For the insole, you need sturdy fabric in 3 layers. Trace your foot and cut with a 1 cm seam allowance on all sides.

Black sole piece for a home slipper — The black sole piece

Folded sole pieces for a soft slipper — The folded sole pieces

Cut and shape the top piece

For the top piece, cut a rectangle: length equals foot length plus 2 cm, width equals foot circumference plus a 1 cm allowance. You'll need 4 of these pieces; fold them in pairs right sides together, then in half lengthwise again. Shape a rounded toe.

Marking the light-colored piece for a home slipper — Marking the light-colored piece

Mark the slipper's notch

Measure out the instep height from your measurement, and from that point mark the slipper's notch — 2 cm.

Quilt the sole

Layer the sole and quilt it.

Layer and quilt the sole

Fold the sole into 3 layers and quilt it for thickness and firmness. You can quilt it with a free-motion foot or on a regular sewing machine.

Finished sole of a soft home slipper held in hand — The finished sole in hand

Sew the top piece

Join and finish the top piece.

Stitch and topstitch the top

Stitch the top piece, joining the pieces in pairs — sew along the inside. Turn the pieces right side out and topstitch the edge.

Top piece of a home slipper with a cutout — The top piece with a cutout

Sew the back seam

Sew the back seam, trim away the excess fabric, and finish the seam.

Stitching a soft home slipper on a sewing machine — Stitching the slipper on the machine

Join the sole and the top piece

There are two ways to join the pieces.

Join the pieces one of two ways

Join the sole to the top piece. You can do this one of 2 ways: with the seam facing out and finished with bias tape, or with the seam turned to the inside.

Finished soft slipper with an open entry — The finished slipper with an open entry

Try them on and enjoy

Your finished slippers are ready to try on.

Try on the slippers

Try on the slippers and enjoy the comfort!

Measuring a finished slipper with a tape measure — Measuring the finished slipper

Fitting a soft slipper to the shape of the foot — Fitting the slipper to the foot

Finish and variations

Finish

Your soft slippers are ready

Try on the slippers and enjoy the comfort! Your warm, soft pair is ready to replace those knit socks.

Variations

Finish the seam on the outside with bias tape

You can join the sole to the top piece with the seam facing out and finished with bias tape — that way the seam becomes a decorative element.

Tuck the seam to the inside

The second way to join the pieces is with the seam turned to the inside, so the allowance is fully hidden between the layers.

Troubleshooting

The insole comes out too thin or too thick

Problem

After assembly, the insole feels too thin and soft, or, on the contrary, too stiff.

Likely cause

More or fewer than three layers of fabric were used, or the layers weren't quilted evenly.

How to fix it

Layer the insole with exactly 3 layers of sturdy fabric and quilt it evenly across the whole surface for the right thickness and firmness.

The rounded toe comes out uneven

Problem

After folding and cutting the pieces, the slipper's rounded toe turns out asymmetrical.

Likely cause

The pieces weren't aligned exactly at the edges before cutting the rounded toe shape.

How to fix it

Line up all 4 folded pieces exactly at the edges before cutting the rounded toe, so the shape comes out symmetrical.

The seam bulges where the sole meets the top

Problem

After joining the sole to the top piece, the seam looks bulky and noticeable, regardless of which method you chose.

Likely cause

Excess fabric in the seam wasn't trimmed before finishing it, or the seam allowances were uneven.

How to fix it

Trim away excess fabric in the seam before finishing it with bias tape or folding it to the inside, so the seam lies flat and neat.

FAQ

What measurements do you need for the slipper pattern?

Foot length, instep height, and foot circumference around the widest part.

How many layers of fabric does the insole need?

3 layers of sturdy fabric.

How many pieces do you need for the top?

4 identical rectangular pieces.

What are the two ways to join the sole and the top piece?

With the seam facing out and finished with bias tape, or with the seam turned to the inside.

Why do you quilt the sole?

For the right thickness and firmness; you can quilt it with a free-motion foot or on a regular sewing machine.

KislinkaJan 25

Awesome! Really looks like gym slippers — just put them on and forget about it (y)

TatyanaJan 28

Great slippers! You can even wash them, the main thing is that they don't run color. Is there elastic threaded through a casing along the top edge, or am I imagining that? It would make sense — with elastic, the slippers would stay on the foot better.

Sew the Softest, Warmest Slippers from Scratch

Things you will learn

What you'll get