Baby DIY: Scallop Trim Suede Moccasins

*This pattern is free for personal use ONLY! Please donโ€™t use my pattern to make products to sell.

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I’ve been debating for a while whether or not to put up a DIY of this, because really, who other than me is crazy enough to hand-sew a pair of baby shoes (or multiple pairs…), but in the end I decided WHAT THE HECK since I was making a new pair anyway.

When I was first researching how to make my own baby shoes the biggest problem I had was that most of the instructions were for machine-sewed shoes (and my beanbag recovering debacle the other weekend proves I’m NOT READY for machine sewing) and the patterns I found were super complicated, with lining and separate elastic channel pieces and buttonholes and just no. I’ve made a few different patterns and this one is the simplest- it’s only three pieces per shoe!

This pattern is for making suede shoes only; it won’t work with leather since both sides of the fabric are visible. Suede shoes are suitable for babies of all ages- tiny ones who just lay there, crawlers and scootchers, and even walkers- the suede soles are less slippery than leather would be.
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A note about what suede to use: You’ll want to use a piece that looks the same on both sides since you’ll be folding the scalloped edge over. Mine was a little scruffy on the back in one area so I used that part for the soles since it wouldn’t show. You’ll also want to use a suede that is soft and flexible so it’s comfortable on baby’s feet, and thick enough that it’ll hold the shape and not get worn out but not so thick it’s impossible to sew. Mine is about 2mm or 3/32″ thick, and very soft.

You’ll need…

pattern PLEASE NOTE: Due to some people not understanding what “FREE FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY” means I have had to remove the pattern, please email me if you’d like a copy // cardstock // suede // 1/4″ elastic // heavy gauge & regular thread // small needle, leather needle and friggin’ huge needle // mini binder clips // pliers (optional)

My suede is a coral pink and I used cream thread and white elastic, because that’s what I had on hand, but you might want to use darker thread or black elastic for a darker colour of suede. You could match the thread to the suede or use a contrasting colour (ie orange thread on blue suede) to get the look you want for these shoes.

Measure the length of the sole of your baby’s foot.
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Add one-half inch to the length of your baby’s foot for the seam allowance. Then take that measurement (your child’s foot length + .5″), figure out what percentage it is of the pattern’s sole length (4.75″) and print the pattern at that percentage.. FOR EXAMPLE:

for a child with a larger foot:
a child has a foot 5″ long
5″ + .5″ = 5.5″
5.5 /4.75 = 1.16
1.16 x 100 = 116
print the pattern at 116%

for a child with a smaller foot:
a child has a foot 3″ long
3″ + .5″ = 3.5″
3.5 /4.75 = 0.74
0.74 x 100 = 74
print the pattern at 74%

This will scale all the pattern piece sizes up or down, not just the sole, but be aware that if you scale the pattern up too large you’ll end up with a bag-like shoe. The largest size I’ve made is a toddler 8 and I wouldn’t go above a toddler 10 (a 6.5″ foot).

You’ll want to make the shoes a little big so your baby can grow into them, otherwise you’re doing a lot of work for something she/he will only fit into for a week.

Print the pattern on cardstock at the percentage determined above and cut out the pieces. Printed at 100% on US Letter Borderless (the borderless is very important here!!) the pattern has a sole 4 3/4″ long. This is the size I used for Gwen’s tan shoes, which at 9 months she’s almost outgrown, so I printed the pattern at 105%.
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This increased the sole length to 5 1/4″, only half an inch longer, but as you can see, this small increase made a HUGE difference!
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Trace the pattern pieces onto the back of the suede and cut out. You need to trace two of each of the three pieces.
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Make sure to flip the pattern for the sole over to trace the second one as it’s not symmetrical; there will be a distinct left and right sole. When cutting the scallops, trim INSIDE the line you’ve traced so no marks will show once they are folded over.
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Fold over the scalloped edge on the heel and vamp pieces at the fold line and clip down with binder clips.
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Using heavy-gauge thread and a leather needle, stitch straight across the scallops 1/4″ down from the fold, and then stitch back across the opposite way. This will form the channel for the elastic.
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Next, you need to clip your heels and vamps to the soles.
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It will take a little adjusting to place them correctly, you want the ends of the vamp and heel pieces to line up evenly on either side of the sole. Clip them right sides facing, with the vamp on the outside of the heel.
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The vamp and heel pieces will overlap, so try to make sure they overlap the same amount on both sides.

Leaving a 1/8″ seam allowance at the edge, sew your heel and vamp pieces to the soles. Sew all the way around the sole twice. I usually start on the side where the heel and vamp pieces overlap because sewing through 3 layers of suede is the worst and I like to get it over with.
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Once you’ve sewn both shoes, turn them right side out.
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Thread the friggin’ huge needle with the elastic.
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I think this one is meant for like… sackcloth or something? idk, you just want a needle that is thick, blunt and with an eye large enough for the elastic. Feed the needle through the channel on the heel piece.
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Use the pliers if you have trouble getting it through. Once it’s through the heel channel, feed it through the vamp channel.
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Using the regular needle and a matching thread, sew the ends of the elastic together.
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You need to make sure it’s tight enough to keep the shoe on baby’s foot, but not so tight that you can’t even get it on in the first place. This is actually the part I have the most trouble with! I’ve tried measuring the ankle circumference and using specific lengths of elastic but it never works out for me, so I just try to ~guesstimate how big I need it to be. If your elastic is too loose or tight just cut it out and try again! Once you’ve got them sewn at the right tightness, pull the elastic through the channel so the seam is inside.

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That’s it! You’re done! Good job! If you’ve sewn them well these shoes will last longer than your baby will fit into them. If anyone actually uses this I would be THRILLED to see your finished shoes so please leave me a comment with a pic or a link, tweet/instagram me with the hashtag #unicornparade, email me or post a pic on the facebook page.

*This pattern is free for personal use ONLY! Please donโ€™t use my pattern to make products to sell.

If you would like me to make a pair of these (or another style of baby/toddler shoe) for you, please check out my Kickstarter campaign!

180 Replies to “Baby DIY: Scallop Trim Suede Moccasins”

    1. I’m going to paste my email here as well in case anyone else has this question:

      Most of the suede I use for my baby shoes I buy at Michael’s craft store. The have pieces you can buy in specific colours (tan, brown, black) but they also have bags of scraps, either 8oz or 1lb, and that is what I usually got. If you have a 40% off coupon (and they almost always have a 40% off coupon) they are pretty cheap. you just kind of have to guestimate whether there is enough of one colour in the scrap bag to make 2 shoes.

      Some other sources:
      -etsy! I’ve bought both new and reclaimed (from old clothing) leather and suede from etsy, some people way overcharge for shipping but if you search a lot you can find some good deals. I once got an entire hide of gold goatskin leather from Italy for $40 including shipping to Canada.
      -thrift stores! you can take apart old suede clothing yourself. Suede skirts in particular are usually pretty cheap, but bear in mind the suede will be very thin. This makes it easier to sew but if your little one is walking you’ll want to get a thicker suede for the soles or it’ll wear right through.
      -leather stores! tragically the only leather store here moved way out in the suburbs but obviously they would have a good selection of suedes in the different thicknesses and colours.

  1. Thanks for the tutoral on your little moccassins! My 5 year old granddaughter wants to be Pocahantas for Halloween and we have an Indian dress started. I found a long suede skirt at Goodwill today for $4, so now I’m ready to try and enlarge the moccasin pattern! Going to do fringe instead of scallops….thanks again!

  2. So so cute. I can’t wait it make some for my baby. This is probably a silly question but did you hand sew these or use a sewing machine? Thanks for a great tutorial.

    1. I hand sewed them! If you have a sewing machine that can handle leather & the know-how required you could sew them by machine but I am like… sewing machine incapable so I do pretty much everything by hand.

    1. You’re very welcome! If you have any questions or problems please don’t hesitate to comment or email me about it, I’m happy to help ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Wow you are so awesome! I have looked EVERYWHERE for petal moccs because the only shop I found that made them isn’t making them anymore ๐Ÿ™ Now I MUST learn how to sew lol.
    Does the printed pattern fit on one sheet of paper? I’m wondering if two 8×12 pieces of suede would be enough for a pair?

    THANKS SO MUCH!

    1. As-is the pattern will fit on one sheet of paper, and 2 8×12 pieces of suede should be plenty, one piece for each shoe. If you have to resize the pattern to make it larger for an older baby or toddler then it might not be.

  4. Hi! Just wondering if you used microsuede or regular suede? I can’t seem to find suede anywhere, online or in stores but I see micro suede everywhere ! Thank you

    1. I used regular suede, you can find pieces of it at Michael’s- there is usually a small leather section that has 8×12″ pieces of suede, as well as bags of scraps that sometimes have suede it them (although you can’t really tell how much is in the bag). Microsuede would work as well but it’s thinner so it wouldn’t be as durable (especially for a mobile baby or toddler) but it would be easier to sew.

    1. I did hand sew them, if you go to a craft store that has leather they should also have needles that will go through it- I know the Michael’s store by my house has them. If you can’t find leather needles you could also get a leather awl, which you can use to make the holes and then sew through your pre-made holes with a needle.

  5. Do you use an awl? I’m also using the suede from Michael’s and I’m finding it incredibly difficult to stitch by hand. I’ve already broken two leather needles ๐Ÿ™ You must have super-human strength. Also, how long does it normally take to sew a pair?

    1. Also it took me quite a while to sew the first pair I made, but since then I can get a pair done in idk, a couple evenings’ worth of tv watching?

    1. Just a basic basting stitch, I sew each seam in one direction and then the other. I use a sturdy needle that will go through leather, if you have trouble finding one (I have bent/broken more than a couple!) you can use an awl to punch the holes.

  6. I love this!! Thank you so much for sharing, I am going to try making these for my daughter! I have a question though, She is 2 and wears a size 7-8 in toddler shoes. What should I do while printing these out for a size like hers?

    Thank so much!!

    – Brandi

    1. Hi Brandi! A toddler 7-8 is about 5.5″-5.75″. The pattern printed at 100% has a sole 4.75″ long so you’ll need to print it at 120%-125% to get the right length. After you’ve printed the pattern, measure the sole piece against your girl’s foot- the sole pattern piece should be at least half an inch longer than her foot.

      If you have any problems or other questions please feel free to leave a comment or email me, I’m happy to help ๐Ÿ™‚

      1. Thanks so much! I emailed you the same question so just ignore that haha!

        Also – should it be a bit bigger against her foot so she has room to grow??

        Thank you!! ๐Ÿ™‚

        1. Yes, it should be a bit longer than her foot. The seam allowance is 1/8″ so the length will lose 1/4″ from that, so the sole piece should be minimum 1/2″ longer than her foot now (sorry, I left out the minimum before!) so they will fit. If you’d like her to be able to grow into them then definitely make them longer than that.

            1. The suede for the soles should be about 1.5 to 2 millimeters thick- if you go to Michael’s and look in the leather section they have rectangular project pieces of suede & leather, and the tan suede is the perfect thickness for the soles. This is what I use for the soles of most of the shoes I’ve made and it’s thick enough that it won’t wear out but you can still sew it by hand. For the uppers you can either use the same thickness of suede or go a little thinner if you want. Just not too thin or the shoes will look like floppy little foot sacks, haha.

        2. Oh and if you still aren’t sure about the sizing, a good idea is the make a quick mock up of one shoe from fleece or felt- something easy & fast to sew, just so you can get an idea of how it’ll fit once you make it in the suede. This is what I do when I develop new patterns.

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  9. I would love to attempt a pair of the moccassins for my granddaughter. I can’t seem to get the pattern downloaded though. When I click the link it brings me to the page, I printed and it came out on 4 pages all messed up. I didn’t see an option for borderless as instructed. Please help … anxious to get started. Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Laurie! Are you printing directly from the web browser? That might account for the trouble you are having. When you open the page with the pattern try to right-click on it and you should be able to download or save the pattern and then print it. If you are still having trouble let me know what size you need for the shoes (like the length of the sole) and I can email it to you directly.

  10. These are so cute! What should I print them to make a pair of either newborn or 0-3month size for a gift?Thank you.

    1. Thanks Jessica! To make a newborn size you want to print the pattern out at 70%, this will give you a sole about 3-3.23″ long after they are sewn. Remember though that it’s always best to make these shoes a little bigger than you think you’ll need so the baby doesn’t grow out of them before they have a chance to wear them! If you aren’t sure of the foot size then maybe print the pattern at 75 or 80%, just to be safe.

  11. Hey can I get a copy of this cute pattern to make for my sweet babe? She is 3 months, will it be way too big for her?

  12. Hi I am interested in the moccasin pattern. For personal use only ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you so much! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Amy

  13. So adorable! Just picked up some purple suede and would love to make a pair for my daughter. May I please have the pattern?

  14. I would love an email with the pattern. I have and 20 month old and an 8 month old that I would love to make these for. They are darling! Thanks!!!

  15. I am in love with these shoes! Can you please email me the pattern? I have a 19 month old son and I can not find soft sole shoes for him anywhere…I would love to try these for him.
    Thank you!

    1. if you can share pattern of ballet shoes, it will make us even more happier (thinking less detail will work better for boy (??)

      1. Hi Oksana, I don’t have a pattern for the ballet flats to wear anymore. but to make the scallop-trimmed ones less “girly” you can replace the scallops with a zig-zags, fringe, or just a plain straight edge. I will email you the pattern now.

  16. Hi! I’d love to try making these for my little one. All the other tutorials I’ve seen are for sewing machines and I’m more comfortable sewing by hand. Please email me.

  17. I emailed you maybe 2 weeks ago and I finally was able to use the pattern you emailed me. I bought suede cloth instead of actual suede. Rookie move! I was wondering where you purchase your suede for your moccasins.

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Amy! I get my suede either in the leather scraps bags OR the cut project pieces they sell at Michaels- the old tan shoes pictured in this post were made with one of the project pieces and to coral suede came from one of the bags of scarps. If there isn’t a Michaels near you you can also get it online. My fave is the etsy shop PeggySueAlso, they sell lots of different suedes in pre-cut squares/rectangles that it’s very expensive. Depending on what size shoes you are making a 12×12″ or 20×20″ piece would be good. You just want to check that the one you choose is about 1-2mm thick, especially for the soles.

  18. Hey ! I love these little Mocs and would love to give them a try for my little one is it possible that I could have the pattern ??

  19. Hi, I’d like a copy of the template if you can share it, I bought a pair from one seller and it doesn’t look as nice as what was on the website. I’d like to try to make my own so I don’t need to buy from anyone else. Thanks

  20. I would love to have one of the little baby moccasin patterns. Also, when you say you stitch across and then back again, are you putting your needle back in the same holes on the way back, so that it makes it with double thread? (does that make sense?) And, have you ever tried to use ribbon that ties (for a girl look anyway) instead of the elastic? Thanks!

  21. You are so talented and your daughter is adorable. I would love a copy of your Baby DIY: Scallop Trim Suede Moccasins Pattern.
    Thank you in advance,
    ELIN

  22. The Moccasins are the cutest. I sew by machine, so to see your precision hand work blew me away I had to take a double take. I want to make as gifts may I please have a copy of your lovely pattern.

  23. These are adorable. I’ve been searching for a great pattern to make for my little girl. Would be so grateful if you would share your pattern.

  24. These are so cute. I have been looking for an easy moccasin pattern for my 1 yr old granddaughter. She has outgrown the pair that was purchased for her and they are too expensive to buy at when I find them at a store. I keep telling her mom I will try to make her a new pair. I would love to get your pattern, please.
    Thanks,
    Heidi

  25. I would really appreciate a copy of your suede moccasin pattern. I just have a new grandchild and am excited about all the different things to make for him. Thank you very much.

  26. I would love a copy of the pattern for personal use please! My daughter is going to be a flower girl in my brother’s woodsy and is supposed to wear Mocs! These are PERFECT!

  27. You did a very straightforward and easy to follow demo.
    I think I could do those shoes, can you send me a pattern?

  28. I’d love the pattern also please!
    My little one has 6″mocs right now so I would need to cut them to 6.5 right? And print at 116%?

  29. I went out and bought all the supplies today I’m so excited to make these for my.baby boy!! Please please send me the pattern!

  30. These are adorable! I am hoping you are still sending the pattern. If so, please email me at anneadamrose@aol.com. I am wanting to make some for my son to go with a Peter Pan costume I sewed him for Halloween. These will be perfect!

  31. Hi! Ar you still sharing tje patterns? Im from chile and id like to make My own moccs forma My baby! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Thanks forma sharing tour ideas!!!!

  32. First moccasin almost complete! I think my first pair will be too small so I’ll have to make another set. Do you find the seam around the sole to be rough once it’s turned inside out? Maybe I stitched greater than 1/8″ in some spots, seems a little rough on the inside. Any thoughts on avoiding that on my next set? Thank you! Once I nail the size I think these will be perfect. Also, I’m having good luck with this awl from Michaels: http://www.michaels.com/artminds-stitching-awl/10045624.html#q=Awl&start=1

    1. Good to know the awl is working for you! I got one of these hand sewing punches when it was 50% off and it works great.

      I haven’t had a problem with the seam around the sole being rough but I’ve also started finishing that seam with a overlock stitch which keeps the two edges together, maybe that would work for you as well?

  33. I would love a copy of your pattern. I just found out that I am going to be a great grandma and would love to make my new great granddaughter a wardrobe of these. Thanks!

  34. They are so beautiful! I have 2 baby showers to go to next month and would love to make both babies a beaded pair.

  35. I would like to know if you are still e-mailing the baby moc pattern ? I will be having a new granddaughter in Febuary . I have a pattern but love the scallop you used !!โค๏ธThank you for sharing !

  36. Not sure if I am doing this right, but I would love a copy of the pattern for the adorable moccasins..
    I have been looking for a pattern and found yours. So cute and look easy enough to try. I see little children wear them and I will be coming a Grandma soon and would love to make them. Thank you in advance for the pattern. Sue

  37. Hello, I just saw these and they are adorable I would like your pattern to try for my daughter can u email me the pattern please.

  38. This looks great,I have a 18 month baby would like to make her these shoes may youvplease send me pattern.

  39. These are so cute. I tried the email link but it doesn’t work for me. Are you still sending the pattern?
    Thanks
    Esther

  40. Just came across your baby scalloped edge mocs …they are so cute!!! Would love to make a couple of pairs for my grandbabies – could you please email me your pattern? Thanks so very much for sharing!

  41. Hi can you please send me the template i have some squirrel pelts, and i am going to do fur inside for my newborn boy. first time doing something like this so it will really help if you could send me the template.

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