Stacked Felt Slippers
I love how sewing transforms a flat piece of fabric into something with shape and dimension and life! One second you have a bunch of oddly shaped pieces and then with nothing more than a few seams, you have a sleeve or a stuffed animal or… a pair of cozy slippers!
I made our Stacked Felt Slippers with three layers of Wollfilz’s thick and cushiony 5mm Precut Wool Felt. This extra sumptuous felt holds its shape so beautifully, it inspires a sculptural approach, just what I like!
I sewed all three layers of felt together with Londonderry’s Linen Thread for stitches that feel nice and sturdy. But best of all, in the end, you’ve sculpted/ sewn a pair of handsome handmade slippers, all with just a few simple seams! -Molly
Materials
The materials pictured above are for women’s size slippers. Listed here are materials for both women’s and men’s sizes, with the information for the men’s size in parentheses.
- Main Color Felt: 2 (3) pieces of Wollfilz’s 5mm Precut Wool Felt. We used Lemon Yellow for one set of slippers and Light Gray for the other.
- Contrast Color Felt: 1 (2) pieces of Wollfilz’s 5mm Precut Wool Felt in Ecru
- Main Color Thread: 1 spool of Londonderry’s Linen Thread 30/3 to match the Main Color Felt. We used Jonquil with the Lemon Yellow Felt and Ash with the Light Gray Felt.
- Contrast Color Thread: 1 spool of Londonderry’s Linen Thread 30/3 to match the Contrast Color Felt. We used White.
- A thimble. We used Considine Creation’s Goat Leather Thimble.
- An embroidery needle
- An erasable fabric marker, like Clover’s Chaco Pen.
- A free Stacked Felt Slippers Template, printed and cut out. (For the men’s size, be sure to tape together the two Sole pieces.)
If you’d like to keep your finished slippers from sliding around too much, we have heard of people having success with a thin application of Non-Skid Rug Backing to the bottom of the soles.
Sizes
Women’s
Length: Small fits women’s US shoe sizes 6-7, Medium fits shoe sizes 8-9 and Large fits shoe size 10 and above
Width: One size fits all; toe is approximately 4 inches wide.
Men’s
Length: Small fits men’s US shoe sizes 8-9, Medium fits shoe sizes 10-11, and Large fits shoe sizes 12 and above
Width: One size fits all; toe is approximately 4 1/2 inches wide.
NOTE: You can make these Slippers any length you like by cutting the back of the Sole pieces shorter or longer. Also, all the pattern instructions are the same for every size; just make sure to cut the correct size from the Template!
Pattern
Cut
Using the Template, cut the following pieces:
From the Main Color Felt:
- 2 Soles. Transfer Points 1, 2, and 3 onto these pieces, using the fabric marker.
- 2 Toes. Transfer Point 2 onto these pieces. (Points 1 and 3 are the left and right points of the Toe piece.)
From the Contrast Color Felt:
- 2 Soles. Transfer Points 1, 2, and 3 onto these pieces, using the fabric marker.
Baste
Lay flat one of the Main Color Sole pieces, marked side up, then place the Contrast Color Sole on top, marked side up. Carefully align Points 1, 2 and 3 on the bottom Sole with the same Points on the top Sole.
Place the Toe on top of the two Soles, marked side up. Align Point 2 of the Toe with Point 2 of the Soles.
Using the Contrast Thread, take a small stitch at Point 2 through all three layers, taking care to keep the marks and edges lined up. Tie a knot on the top side and snip the ends. This is a basting stitch that you will take out later.
Take another basting stitch through all three layers at Point 1.
Take another at Point 3.
Add a few more basting stitches around the entire Toe, making sure that the edges of all three layers are flush at each basted point.
Sew
Tie a knot at the end of a 20-inch length of the Main Color Thread and thread it onto an embroidery needle. Starting at Point 3, insert the needle between the two Sole layers and bring it out at the top of the Toe, approximately 3/8 inch from the outer edge. This will hide the knot between the Sole layers.
To begin sewing you will probably want to put on your thimble. Take two stitches through all three layers at Point 3 in order to anchor this point of the Toe piece.
Pinching the three layers together with their edges flush, sew all three pieces together with a small running stich along the perimeter of the Toe, approximately 3/8 inch from the edge. Cut and pull out the basting stitches as you reach them.
When you reach the end of the thread length, tie a small knot on the bottom side of the Sole. Insert the needle through just the bottom layer and exit approximately ½ inch away from the entry point. Snip the thread end to hide the tail.
Stitch all the way around the toe in this manner. When you get to Point 1, take two stitches, to anchor this side of the Toe, as you did in the beginning.
Now using the Contrast Color Thread, sew the two layers of heel together in the same manner. Repeat for the second slipper and you’re all done!
Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!
These are inspired…I LOVE them. Great job Molly!
These are gorgeous! How would we wash them?
Hi Heidi-
We recommend spot cleaning these. I have been surprised by how naturally stain resistant wool felt is! But if they ever need a real deep clean you can gently hand wash them, they will just take a while to dry 🙂
Thank you for your getting in touch and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Molly
Beautiful! I`ll try to make some. I have some wool felt 5mm in anthrazit <3
do you think you could use the felted wool made from old sweaters? seems like it might be wonderful…
Hi Surita-
I think a felted sweater would not be stiff enough for these, unfortunately! Thanks for your question!
Molly
You could also spray the bottoms with Plasti Dip or something similar–it’s a rubbery coating used to make tools easy to hold and non-slip.
These are adorable and look comfy. Can I use sewing machine instead of hand stitching?
Hi Arita-
The felt used in these is so thick that most sewing machines will not sew through more than one layer of it. But the hand stitching is really fun!
Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Molly
Wow, really nice and ispired. I think I’ll try to sew them.
Thank you for this great pattern…
cool idea! Luv it 🙂
Thanx for sharing.
These are so beautiful. What thread color would you recommend for the Anthracite wool? Thank you for the patttern!
Hi Stacy-
I would still use the Ash color (as recommended for the light gray). We seem to be sold out of it at the moment but it should be back soon. If you’d like to be emailed when it comes back in stock. please let us know! You could also try sewing the entire piece with white, the contrast stitching could be cute!
Thanks!
Molly
Wow! what a comfortable look. I love the idea of hand stitching. I will try to make one for every family member.
I love these slippers and can see a pair in every stocking. However, I have not been able to successfully print the template. The pattern instructions yes, but the template link does not link. Thank you.
Hi Sandra-
I’m so sorry to hear this! Perhaps if you go to the following link, you can print it ?: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/StackedFeltSlippers_Template.pdf
If this doesn’t work please email me at [email protected]
Thank you!
Molly
Molly! It worked! Thank you for your help. Again, I love the idea of these for Christmas.
I just love these slippers! I’m going to make them for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Thanks for another great free pattern Molly.
Very cute. I would like to make them. May add some appliqués – using old felted sweaters. Is there a way to add a back to them, I find my feet don’t stay in slides?
Thank you
Vivienne
Hi Vivienne-
Thanks! You may try adding ribbon or elastic that goes from point 1 to point 3 around the back of the slipper? Or you could experiment with a solid backing like in my Felt Baby Slippers project: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2015/01/12/felt-baby-slippers/
Thank you for getting in touch!
Molly
merci pour les explications et les patrons de ces chaussons si comfortables, cela fait un moment que j’en cherchais
I really took a shine to these slippers so I’ve downloaded your instructions but wondering where the template for them is. Have I missed/overlooked something on here somewhere?
Kind regards,
Zofia
Hi Zofia,
Thanks for reaching out! If you look in the “Materials” section of the pattern, you will see that the final bullet point is a link to the Stacked Felt Slippers Template. Just in case, you can also find it by clicking here: Stacked Felt Slippers Template.
Best of luck and happy stitching!
Julianna
Your creative slipper design is wonderful and i like the colors that you have chosen. i would like to make these slippers however i am unable to find the template to which you refer. i cannot see with the pattern instructions nor does it show up when i search.
please help.
thank you!
Hi Kathleen,
Thanks for reaching out! You can find the template in the last bullet point in the MATERIALS section, but I’ve also linked it here, for quick reference. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili