Soft toys to Slippers - an upcycle tutorial

This is one of a few projects I had set myself a while ago - find something to do with these old soft hobby horses that my girls had grown out of!

The unicorns were too cute and cuddly to get rid of - so I wanted a way we could keep them - they just needed a new purpose!

So re-purposed they were - and they are now enjoying a new life as a pair of cute and cosy slippers!

So here's how to convert a pair of old hobby horses - or other soft toys, into a pair of slippers!

You will need:

2 soft toys for the top of the slippers.

Denim or or other thick fabric for the main slipper part

Foam for the slipper bases

Paper, pen, scissors and pins

First draw around the foot that the slippers are meant for:

Then cut this shape out - leaving and extra 2 cm (approx 1") around the edges. This is your slipper base template.

Cut two pieces of foam using this template:

Now cut 4 pieces of denim (or other thick fabric), 2 to cover each foam piece. These should be a little larger again than the foam pieces - allow an extra 1.5cm (approx 0.5") all the way around.

Next, with right sides facing - sew two denim pieces together, leaving a gap around what will be the front of the slipper. 

Turn this right sides out and push in one of the foam pieces.

Repeat for the other foot. You should now have two slipper bases.

Now to the cuddly toy part.  You need to cut open the soft toy and pull out most of the stuffing.  

Now place the shell of the toy over the front of the slipper to guage the size and trim the fabric to size.

  Then use the offcuts to pin around the bottom of the toy to enclose it.  Basically you want to make it the size you'd like to sit on the top of your slipper under your toes.

Stitch around the edges, leaving a small gap - then push some stuffing back in. You need enough to keep the shape of the animal - but also not so stuffed as you need to be able to squeeze the edges to stitch around them.

Once you feel you have enough stuffing in - hand-stitch the opening closed.

Now place your soft toy at the top front of your slipper bases. Making sure all the raw edges are turned in - pin the toy to the slipper around the front:

Then carefully stitch the top to the base with your machine. Run the stitches backwards and forwards several times to secure at the edges.  You may also like to use a double row of stitching for extra strength! 

HINT:  If you use your zipper foot - it's easier to stitch around the bulky edge of the toy!

And there you have a new pair of slippers - and a way of preserving old soft toys!

I only wish I'd made them my size!! 

For the downloadable PDF version of this tutorial, click here.

So tell me - what do you think???

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