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!

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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!

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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

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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

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

Take another basting stitch through all three layers at Point 1.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

Take another at Point 3.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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.

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho

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!

Stacked Felt Slippers | Purl Soho