Throwing away your old slippers? Better give them an upgrade!

A few months ago I threw away my favorite house slippers. They were comfortable, made of good material and were not cheap. However, I was unable to buy new ones: shops and markets were closed due to the pandemic. What could be found on the shelves of chain supermarkets did not meet my requirements. The fact is that I can’t stand plush synthetics and prefer an open “nose”.

Recently, while cleaning the balcony, I found some old slippers and decided to upgrade them.

How I revived old slippers

First of all, I carefully examined them, assessed their advantages and disadvantages. The only plus was the sole. Everything else: synthetic dust-collecting material and a closed top - my personal anti-trend - plus an unusable appearance. Nevertheless, I decided that I would not spend a penny on new slippers.

What was useful for work

It so happened that everything I needed was in my “bins”, namely:

1. Leftover old jeans (my favorite material for crafting: thick but breathable).
2. Stationery knife and scissors.
3. Needles (regular and darning).
4. Threads, thin fishing line, propylene.
5. Sewing machine.

The transformation took about three hours (with breaks). Now I can share my work experience step by step.

Step one: “dissection” and sorting

First you need to rip out the old slippers. This can be done conveniently with a stationery knife. The “kit” included:

• sole;
• cardboard insole;
• heel pad made of thin foam rubber;
• fabric insole;
• the top of the sneaker.

After the “opening” is complete, everything except the first “ingredient” can be thrown away.

Step two: cutting and assembly

We make denim insoles. First, we apply the washed and dried soles with the outer side up to the wrong side of the fabric. Then we trace them with a pen and cut out the blanks with scissors. It is better to immediately process the edges in a circle with a zigzag or overlock so that they do not crumble. And finally, we sew the insoles to the sole using a thin fishing line threaded through a needle. We use old holes for this.

Important! On the outside of the sole, parallel to the contour, there is a small “groove”, inside of which all the holes are located. The thread with which the parts are sewn is recessed in this groove and does not fray due to friction.

Model the top: cut out denim rectangles and fold them in half, with the cut facing toward you. We try on this edge approximately in the middle of the foot and cut off the excess from the sides. With a leg size of 36–37, my width turned out to be 18 cm, height – 12 (if unfolded – 24).

Fold the front edge away from you a couple of centimeters and stitch in the middle. It should be tight so that it is comfortable to insert your foot. I ruffled the folded edge a little.Then, from the bend towards the toes, we cut off the fabric, since the foot narrows there. On the outside I reduced 3 cm (the rounding is due to the shape of the sole), and on the inside – 2. We sew a zigzag on three sides in the direction of the arrows (side edges and the middle of the fold).

We sew the top - using the same fishing line, along the same holes (more often) - starting from the middle.

Step three: finishing

In general, the slippers are ready, but they should be sheathed in a circle. Otherwise, the edges of the insole will bend inward and spoil the appearance. For processing, I used polypropylene folded in half and a darning needle.

As soon as I finished the needlework, my daughter tried on the slippers and decided that they suit her better. You'll have to give it away and do more for yourself. My husband liked it too and ordered the same ones. So I have something to do this coming weekend.

By the way! I'll try to improve the slippers. For example, insert a felt insole inside for softness and warmth. If you have time and desire, the top can be decorated with embroidery (not for your husband, of course).

Are you still throwing away old slippers? Why, if there is an opportunity not to spend money on new ones, and even get rid of unnecessary scraps. I made my choice and, with some effort, received durable and breathable indoor flip-flops for free. And to you, dear readers, I wish you success in your creativity.