Shoes Easy Espadrilles

tute1 by elve, on Flickr

These are just a prototype as I'm lazy & impatient & didn't measure anything or have a plan - I just made it up as I went along. But even so I'm so happy to have something resembling footwear on my doll, after 12yrs of buying expensive shoes which never fit them!

So this tutorial is just a guide which you can definitely improve on - I didn't want to buy anything for it so used what I had lying around, which wasn't much as I have no stash now. However I'm pleased with how they turned out and they were super easy to make.

sewing project 'seasonal' by elve, on Flickr

First I made a template then cut 2 sole pieces from triple wall corrugated cardboard. Then I plaited normal cotton string and glued it around the edge with PVA glue.

hmm... by elve, on Flickr

Then I covered the right side of the base (the footbed) with PVA glue and wound string around to cover it. I had a length of grosgrain ribbon so decided to use that as it was non-fray and sturdy. Decided to make the heel piece from a simple loop of ribbon as I couldn't figure out how to do anything more realistic LOL

I abandoned the idea of using ribbon for ties as I didn't have enough 3mm ribbon, so instead cut strips of tee shirt fabric cut about 1/4" wide (for a midi doll) then pulled them gently to make 'strings' - which actually look more authentic than shiny ribbon would have.

I stitched them to the front/top of the grosgrain ribbon, then simply threaded them through the loop of ribbon at the heel, crossed them at the ankle, wound them around the leg, crossing them again at the back, then tied them in a bow.

I intend to make another sole piece, edged with plaited string, to stick over all that mess on the current sole piece, but will probably never get around to it LOL