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| Today I am sharing my all time favorite baby item. Is there anything better than soft shoes for a little babies feet? The fun in making your own is you ca make a variety of them my daughter probably had at least 20 different pairs, it was fun making sure my little girl had a cute pair of shoes for every outfit. They also make great baby shower gifts as paired with the Abbey dress the set is my go to gift. So they are a pretty simple Mary Jane shoe, the kind that everyone and her best friend have a pattern for, but since I like things a little different I added a sweet little pleat to the shoe. (plus it goes with the pleats in the Abbey top bonus!) |
So here is the pattern to download, and I hope it prints the right size for you. The sole for the 0-3 months should be about 4.5 inches printed.
FREE Pleated Mary Janes Pattern
The Pattern comes in sizes 0-12 months.
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| Ok once you print the pattern and determine the size you want cut out your pieces. I like to use felt as my base layer (the inside of the shoe) One because it is super soft but two because it offers some structural support for the shoe. So in the badly lit picture above you can see all the pieces cut out. |
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| First pin the top pieces together right sides together and you are going to pin the pleats in place. Pin the pleats so the pieces fit together and they should lay flat together. For example if you are getting a gap or bubble along the side you may need to make bigger pleats. You can do as many or as few as you want I like to add three. Then sew along the edge. |
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| Then turn it right side out and top stitch the same edge, leaving 1/2 inch at each end unstitched so you can sew them together on the next step. |
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| Then fold the shoe joining the two ends. Lay the shoe out so you sew fabric to fabric and felt to felt. Be sure to match the middle seam up. |
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| Then fold the layers so the seam you just made is on the inside and you should have a shoe form that looks like this. Optional step, I sometimes top stitch around the lower edge to secure the pleats you don’t have to but sometimes it helps. |
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| Next for the buckle. Since I used piping in the top I added piping around the buckle but it is optional, just sew the piping around the buckle on the right side, turn it over to the back and then I add a strip of felt to the back side. I also often just make a strap out of the felt (examples at the end of the post) The choice is yours. |
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| Next turn the top piece inside out and with the right sides together line up the top with the sole. (both layers of the sole with the fabric on top) Also pin your buckle into the seam (as shown above) The buckle covers the side seam. To help your shoe lay nicely clip the curves after you sew the piece together. |
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| There are a lot of ways to secure the buckle. Snaps, buttons, or as I like to use elastic. The nice thing about the elastic loop is that it allows the buckle to stretch, which is nice for little baby feet. But I have also used snaps. To use elastic sew a small loop to the inside of the buckle as shown above. |
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| Then sew a button to the other side of the shoe |
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| Then the elastic loop goes around the button and secures the strap. I especially like this method if the shoes are for a gift, baby feet come in all different sizes and widths and the elastic allows for even chubby baby feet to be comfortable in the shoe, where the buckle may not fit with a snap. |
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| Then you are done with some sweet little baby shoes. |
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| Here are some variations I made, where I added a little flower sewn to some felt and added on the buckle. |
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| Or these where I added a little flower. (and the strap is felt) |
Get creative! Shoes are fun! Oh and for walkers or crawlers who are rough on their shoes I have made them out of the heavy vinyl (you know the stuff that looks like faux leather) I use fabric on the inside then since the vinyl is thick and they hold up very well to kids that are hard on their shoes.
Enjoy!
Thank you this is wonderful! I have a one year old who could use a couple extra pairs of soft sole shoes and I've been wanting a pattern. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
These little baby shoes are SOOOO SWEET! I linked to your pattern & tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:<br />http://sewing.craftgossip.com/free-pattern-pleated-mary-jane-baby-shoes/2010/11/09/<br /><br />–Anne
Came over after seeing these beauties at Craft Gossip on facebook. SO!! cute, great tutorial! Thanks for sharing!
Oh…my…goodness!!!!!!!! I am in love with these!! Just found out we are having another baby (we already have a girl)…and this makes me want another girl! SO cute! I am saving this incase we have another little lady to fill them:)
When I try and down load the pattern it installed a cookie onto my computer. and the pattern never downloaded ? whats up with that?
These are darling!
I am sorry that there was trouble with the pattern, I can download it just fine so I am not sure why you had trouble. sorry.
Oh my gosh these are so, SO cute! I'm in love. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
This is so cute, I love them! I've been wanting to make some baby shoes forever. Thanks for sharing your talent!
I made these today and they turned out super cute. thanks for the pattern; i have been looking for one like this. cant wait to make several pairs. One suggestion though; I don't see any place that you gave a seam allowance. I just used about a 1/4 inch, but going bigger or smaller really changes the fit of a shoe this tiny. <br /><br />Also, to Anon…I had trouble downloading the pattern
I really appreciate the feedback, and that everyone seems to like them so much. With the seam allowance there is a seam allowance included in the pattern that would be the solid line drawn just inside the outside of the pattern. (I know the whole this is pretty roughly drawn) Also with the sole the seam allowance is built in so the cut piece for 0-3 months should be 4.5 inches from heel to toe
These are adorable! I love the cream bow button on the first pair and the felt rose flower on the pink ones. Very very cute!<br /><br />justenoughstyle.blogspot.com
Shwin,<br /><br />Ok, I traced the pattern off of my laptop screen because I don't have a printer, so looking back I see the seam allowance now. <br />Here is the pair I made, I love them.<br /><br />http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8152/dsc05275t.jpg<br /><br />I can't wait to make the matching dress with my leftover fabric.
Oh so cute! I love the little flower you added! Thanks for sharing it is so fun to see what others come up with!
I also LOVE these little shoes. I put your link on my blog: rainydaydoller@blogspot.com
so cute!!! i cant wait to try them for my niece!
Awesome. Thank you!
THANK YOU!! I cannot tell you how awesome this is! Can't wait to get sewing – thanks!
What a lovely pair of shoes, thank you so much, i have a niece about to have a baby and i would love to make these. Thanks again heaps
even with pop-up blocker disabled, I couldn't open the pattern file, but it re-routed me to a raunchy video that was almost impossible to back out of.<br /><br />I really want to make these sweet shoes and dress for my new granddaughter,,,can you help?<br /><br />Thamks
Texana, I am really sorry there seems to be some trouble in downloading the pattern, and even more sorry that is brought you to some raunchy video, that's horrible. If you send me an email at shwinandshwin@gmail.com I will send you the file via email. <br />I hope that helps!
Adorei obrigada por compartilhar
Wow I'm so excited! I've been looking for a mary jane pattern, I think I'm probably gonna make about a million pairs for my daughter 🙂 Thanks
Thank you for sharing this. It's so hard to find patterns online and these are adorable!
the downloading of the pattern files do not work! Hope you can send me the pattern by email<br />scrapsaffiertje at planet dot nl
i saw you on craft gossip!<br />this is just great! thank you so much for sharing!!!
they are soo cute! thanks for sharing the pattern with us!
I like your handmade<br />think you very much!!
Thank you so much for this great tutorial and the pattern!<br />Andrea
So stinking cute love the pleats, I make soft sole shoes to mostly pointy if you would like to check them out http://patriciaraedesigns.blogspot.com/, i'm in love with your blog<br /><br /><br />Amanda
These are to die for! Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous tutorial. I will be featuring you on our blog ziggycrafts.blogspot.com I can't wait to make 'em!
Love, love these! I also love the fabric–where did you get it?
I got the fabric at Joann fabric, it is a quilting flannel.
Hi- couldn't help but be #300 follower! I also make soft soled shoes- thanks for putting the pattern for the pleated shoes on your blog. Stop by my blog and say 'Hi' sometime!!<br /><br />http://ticklishmoose.blogspot.com/
i have a daughter who is fixing to be 1. your pattern is up to 12 months is there a way if it is small to make it bigger. just wondering really new and don't know how to make patterns yet.
Kari,<br />To make this bigger you can try two things, 1 increse the print size of the pattern so it prints at 150% I haven't tried that but I bet it would work. Or trace around your daughters foot leaving a little room for growth then measure around the foot tracing (all around the edge) Then take the foot top piece and make the front toe part curve down a little more (as it did for other
Muito bonitos parabéns
Thank you for the tutorial!! I made these for my niece who will be arriving next year. They were precious!
THANK YOU for the pattern I hope I can make them they are so cute.
Thank you, they are so cute shoes!!!!<br />The tutorial is very detailed.<br />Sandra (SP-Brazil!)
Love the shoes! I gave the link to my sister and she has made me a few pairs. So cute! Thank you!
So cute! I can't wait to make some for my youngest niece. I linked back to you at:<br />www.sewinfaith.blogspot.com
These are very cute and I wanted to make them for a baby shower gift. When I tried to download the pattern, I could only get the second page to download, and for some reason, the first one wouldn't download. Can you help me figure this out or email me the link to the pdf page or something? Thanks so much, Aimee<br />ajcrazies@gmail.com
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I am very new to sewing and am learning a lot and enjoying myself! I have a question though… i made this shoe and it turned out ALMOST perfect. It is absolutely adorable BUT my seam always ends up on the pinky side of the shoe instead of on the great toe side. So then my strap will snap on the great toe side instead of the pinky toe side… hope that makes sense. I figured that on the pattern
Jeni,<br />What you are saying does make sense. You do have to reverse the pattern for the other foot, which will hopefully help. The side seam should go on the inside of each foot, as should the strap and then it would always buckle on the outside of the foot (or with the pinky toe) There isn't a lot of curve with the sole pattern so sometimes I accidently make to left feet and just make it
These are such cute shoes and a great tutorial. I featured it on my blog. http://corner–house.blogspot.com/2011/03/baby-shoes.html
Adorable!<br />Linked this tut at: http://shwinandshwin.blogspot.com/2010/11/pleated-mary-jane.html
does the pattern include the pleats or should I put more inches to the pattern for the pleats
Mae Mae,<br />Page 2 of the pattern is the piece that has space allowed for pleats to be added. Just add pleats so it fits the size of the lining (the upper sole on page 1)
I used your pattern to make my daughters booties for her halloween costume. I also blogged about you!! Thanks so much for your wonderful tutorial!!<br /><br />http://invisiblecapemommy.blogspot.com/
what an awesome idea. I recently started crafting to customize a few things for my baby girl. I am dying to give this tutorial a try. Thank you for sharing! Would you please send me the two patterns? I was not able to download them. Thank you once again.
I was so excited I forgot to include my email address lol it is nekcam@hotmail.com
Thank you so much for the pattern. I can't wait to make my granddaughter a pair of these. 🙂
Yes really I enjoy reading this article. I will try it as soon as possible. Great work! <a href="http://www.realbabycenter.com/baby-shoes/" rel="nofollow">baby shoes</a><br /><br />Thanks <br /><br />Zareen
Awesome post.The information present here is helpful for the readers.The post is absolutely fantastic! Thanks for sharing this info.<br /><a href="http://www.thelittlelavendertree.co.uk" title="" rel="nofollow">Baby Shoes</a>
These are so cute! Here is a link to the post where I put up pictures of the ones I made.<br />http://joyofdawn.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/sewing-crocheting-and-babies/
thankyou so much for this lovely cute shoe pattern i made one for my niece thnaks alot <3<br />
Thank you for sharing. Your designs, patterns and fabric choices are great! New to sewing so having patterns with lots of detail, along with pictures helps so much. I will for sure try making your summer breeze dress, so cute! 🙂
Que bien, hermosos, muchísimas gracias!! era lo que buscaba!!
These little shoes are so adorable! I love the pleats! Thanks for sharing this pattern and tutorial.
I featured it on my blog, you can see it here: http://www.sewingshop.net/blog/pleated-mary-jane-shoes-for-baby/
So adorable!